New York City is one of the most iconic cities in the world.
With its bustling streets, iconic landmarks, and unique culture. It’s no wonder why so many people flock to the Big Apple. But before you head off to New York City, there are a few things you need to know about this amazing city. From travel tips to must-see attractions.
Here are some of the most important things you need to know before going on your next trip to New York City.
1. Welcome to NYC
Well, the first thing you need to know about New York City.
It consists of 5 boroughs which are:
- Manhattan – Manhattan is New York’s most famous borough and also its most visited. In fact, most people believe Manhattan to be a synonym for New York City.
- Brooklyn
- Queens
- The Bronx
- Staten Island
If you’re coming to New York City, make sure to visit the outer boroughs. Make sure you wear some comfortable shoes because you’ll be doing a lot of walking and I do mean walking. Also, ladies, you may have seen Sex in the City. The women on that show were wearing heels everywhere as they trotted around the city. Let me tell you that’s actually not the case if you’re a tourist. Women would just throw on some sneakers, while their pair of heels are in the bag in case they have an after-work event or party they want to attend.
But, no worries, the New York City subway map can make your life a lot easier. When looking at the map, you will see colors, letters, and numbers. Focus on the letters and numbers to save yourself from a world of trouble getting lost. For budget travelers, staying here for a vacation is not that advisable since the land in Manhattan is one of the most expensive in the US.
Two general reminders that you must also keep in mind: Other tourists are under the impression that New Yorkers are rude and the truth is they just like to be very efficient. They will start the quickest conversation with you just to get you through a particular process. Secondly, there are very few public toilets. The good ones are not for free, you have to pay for it. Talk about unexpected expenses.
2. NYC Weather
Okay, let’s move to number two and what most travelers complain about when visiting NYC in the winter. It’s the weather. I say 8 months out of the year it’s really cold since this particular place is surrounded by rivers, so don’t forget to pack some warm clothes, jackets, gloves, and scarves before you fly to New york.
Also, if you’re coming during the winter, make sure to bring some rain boots because it rains a lot and snow turns into giant puddles. This uncertain weather pattern is just not good for any fabric shoes.
3. Going to New York City
Make sure you are prepared by reading the Best Apps for Travelling and TSA Rules that you must read.
There are three airports that service the area which are JFK Airport, Laguardia Airport, and Newark Airport. Newark is in New Jersey but some people tend to fly into Newark because JFK and Laguardia often have delays due to sharing this really busy airspace, so do expect some delays.
If you’re going to take Newark, there are 2 transportation which is Grand Central Terminal and Penn Station. Whatever you do, do not get off at Newark Penn Station instead of New York Penn Station. They sound pretty similar but they’re two different places.
Also, you can take the Megabus if you’re on the east coast which is a cheap way to get to New York City. They have buses that come from different cities nearby that you can take. Another option is to drive if you are going to rent a car, but expect to pay for parking and tolls. Parking Near Airports will be offering parking deals so you could save a lot because everything is a little bit more expensive in NYC compared to other cities. You can read Things You Should Know About Parking at JFK Airport which is very helpful if you’re planning to park in that area.
4. NYC Subways
When you’re already in New York the next thing you need to know is about transportation. The most iconic way to get around New York City is to take the New York City Subway. Always remember that the NYC subway in Manhattan runs only North and South, it doesn’t run East or West. So make the subway map your best friend.
On the map, you’ll see a black dot that represents the local trains while the white dots are for express trains. Pay close attention to those dots, because you might end up taking the express train when you’re supposed to be on the local train. The local trains stop at every stop and express trains only stop at a few stops. Rule of thumb, make sure you get in the correct subway entrance because different subway stations will have entrances on opposite sides of the street or on different city blocks that will take you only to certain lines and directions.
No need to waste your time getting lost on your adventure!