Planning to visit New York? Here are some essential tips for your stay in the city that never sleeps.

Where to stay?

• Midtown (Times Square / Theater District / Chelsea): You will be close to the major attractions, with a large selection of hotels.
  
  
• Lower Manhattan (SoHo / TriBeCa / Greenwich Village): These neighborhoods in southern Manhattan offer a more relaxed atmosphere.
  • SoHo and TriBeCa are famous for their lofts, art galleries, high-end designer boutiques, and trendy restaurants.
  • Greenwich Village is the historic artist neighborhood, home to New York University (NYU) and legendary jazz clubs.
    
    

• Brooklyn (Williamsburg / DUMBO): If you are looking for a more local, cooler vibe with stunning views of the Manhattan skyline, cross the East River!
  • Williamsburg: The bastion of New York cool, with antique markets, bars, microbreweries, and innovative restaurants. Easy access to Manhattan via the L subway line or the ferry.
  • DUMBO: Famous for its cobblestone streets, industrial architecture, and, of course, the iconic photo of Manhattan framed by the bridge.
    
    

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How to get around?

• The Subway: It runs 24/7 and serves all 5 New York boroughs (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, Staten Island). We recommend using the contactless OMNY payment system with your credit card/phone, which caps weekly fares. Caution: Local lines stop at every station, while express trains only stop at major stations (be sure to check the "Local" or "Express" signs).
  
  
• Walking: Manhattan is built on a grid, making it easy to navigate and find your way (Avenue / Street). It is the best way to soak up the atmosphere. Pack comfortable shoes; you will walk for miles without even realizing it!
  
  
• Yellow Cabs / Uber: They are ubiquitous but quite expensive during rush hour.
  
  
• Buses: Useful for routes not served by the subway or for crossing wide avenues, but they are subject to the same traffic as cars.
  
  
• The Ferry (NYC Ferry): A great alternative for getting around. Not only is it cheap, but it offers spectacular views of the skyline (the East River line between Manhattan and Brooklyn/Queens is like a mini cruise!).
  
  

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What to see?

The city that never sleeps is overflowing with things to see and do. There is something for everyone; here are the classics and our recommendations:

• Midtown:
  • Times Square: A luminous chaos to experience at least once, by day or night.
  • Central Park: The city's green lung. Take a walk to Strawberry Fields, Bethesda Terrace, or have a picnic on Sheep Meadow.
  • Museums: The MoMA (Museum of Modern Art), the Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met), or the Museum of Natural History, which is suitable for both kids and adults—pretend you're Ben Stiller in the movie "Night at the Museum"!
    
    

• The Views:
  • Top of the Rock (Rockefeller Center): The most classic view, with the best angle to see the Empire State Building. Book in advance.
  • One World Observatory (Freedom Tower): Stunning views of Lower Manhattan and the harbor, built on the site of the World Trade Center (visit the 9/11 Memorial & Museum as well).
  • The Edge (Hudson Yards): An outdoor observation deck offering a 360° view of Manhattan.
  • Summit: Offers original staging and art installations across 3 different levels of the city! The perfect observatory for taking unique photos!
    
    

• Lower Manhattan:
  • Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island: Take the Staten Island Ferry (it's free!) for a quick, up-close view. To visit the actual monument, book your tickets for the pedestal or crown in advance.
  • The High Line: An old elevated railway track turned into a pedestrian park. Perfect for a walk above the traffic, connecting the Meatpacking District and Chelsea Market to Hudson Yards.
  • Brooklyn Bridge: Walk across it from DUMBO (Brooklyn) toward Manhattan for the best view of the skyline (especially at sunrise and sunset).
    
    

• Neighborhoods: Culture and Gastronomy
  • Chinatown & Little Italy: Two adjacent cultural districts for a gourmet and colorful immersion.
  • Bushwick (Brooklyn): The trendy street art district, home to the Bushwick Collective, an open-air art gallery.
    
    
• Shopping:
  • Neighborhoods: SoHo, 34th Street, 5th Avenue, Times Square, Brooklyn
  • Stores: Marshalls, Macy's, Bloomingdale's
  • Outlets: Woodbury Common Outlet, Century 21, Empire Outlets, Marshalls, Jersey Gardens
    
    
• Broadway Shows: The Lion King, Moulin Rouge!, Mamma Mia!, Hamilton, MJ, Wicked, ... (Tips: Book your tickets in advance online via official or partner sites, or try going to the box office at opening time to access unsold tickets at reduced prices.)
  
  
• Gospel Mass in Harlem: Check the schedules for Wednesday or Sunday services. (Tips: Do not go to churches that are too large and too famous; dress appropriately; filming and taking photos inside the churches is prohibited unless authorized; and do not trust organized tours that charge you to attend, as access is free and requires no reservation.)

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What about sports?

• MLB (Baseball): The two giants.
  • New York Yankees: The most decorated team in American sports history, playing at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. Their caps are a global symbol.
  • New York Mets: The Queens team, playing at Citi Field. The "Subway Series" rivalry with the Yankees is legendary.
    
    

• NBA (Basketball):
  • New York Knicks: The Manhattan team, playing at the mythical Madison Square Garden (MSG), often called "The Mecca of Basketball." The atmosphere there is electric.
  • Brooklyn Nets: Moved from New Jersey in 2012, the Brooklyn team plays at the modern Barclays Center.
    
    

• NFL (Football):
  • New York Giants & New York Jets: Although both teams represent New York, they both play at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
    
    

• NHL (Ice Hockey):
  • New York Rangers: One of the "Original Six" league franchises, they share MSG with the Knicks.
  • New York Islanders: Historically based in Long Island, they are big rivals of the Rangers. They play at the UBS Arena near JFK airport.
    
    
• The Marathon: The New York City Marathon, one of the most famous in the world, is one of the 7 World Marathon Majors. It crosses all five boroughs and takes place every November, bringing together nearly 50,000 runners and attracting millions of spectators.
  
  
• US Open (Tennis): One of the four Grand Slam tournaments, held at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens in late August/early September.

After all that sightseeing, where to go out and what to eat?

Where to eat:

• New York Pizza: A slice is a rite of passage. The slices are large, thin, and eaten folded.
  • Joe's Pizza (multiple locations) or Grimaldi's (under the Brooklyn Bridge) are classics.
  • Roberta's: Wood-fired pizzas.
    
    
• Bagels & Delis: For breakfast. A bagel with cream cheese or a pastrami or corned beef sandwich stacked sky-high at a historic deli like Katz's Delicatessen (don't miss the setting of the movie "When Harry Met Sally").
  
  
• Shake Shack: Considered by many to be the best fast food.
  
  
• Ethnic Cuisine: NYC is a paradise for world food. Try Dim Sum in Chinatown (e.g., at Jing Fong) or a Gyro (Greek cuisine) in Queens.
  
  
• Chelsea Market: (in the former Nabisco factory building, where the famous Oreo was invented) offers an impressive variety of food stalls and shops.
  
  
• Time Out Market: On the other side of the Brooklyn Bridge, it offers a magnificent view of the skyline.
  
  
• Burger Joint: Considered one of the best burgers in New York; can you find the entrance? 😉

Where to go out:

• Rooftop Bars: Unmissable for admiring the skyline. Try 230 Fifth Rooftop Bar or The Press Lounge for memorable views.
  
  
• Speakeasies: These hidden bars are reminiscent of the Prohibition era; look for places like The Dead Rabbit or Please Don't Tell (PDT) (the entrance is an old phone booth in a hot dog shop!).
  
  
• Jazz Clubs: The musical heritage is strong, especially in Greenwich Village. Venues like the Village Vanguard or the Blue Note are institutions for seeing legends or the next generation of jazz talent.
  
  
• Broadway / Theater District Bars: Perfect for a drink after a show; the atmosphere is always lively.

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1st image: Fernand Stöhr - Unsplash