New York City Guide
Quick answer: For a budget trip to New York, stay in Manhattan, get around by subway, and prioritise the Statue of Liberty, Central Park, Times Square, the Empire State Building, Little Italy and Chinatown, and the Brooklyn Bridge. This New York City guide covers where to stay, how to get there, the top places to visit and how to reach each one.
New York is one of the most visited cities in the world and features on every traveller’s bucket list. Every culture is represented here, there is always something to do, and you could spend a lifetime exploring without seeing it all. The city’s five boroughs (Manhattan, The Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn and Staten Island) sit where the Hudson River meets the Atlantic Ocean.
Where to Stay in New York City
The biggest dilemma for a traveller is finding a base from which most attractions are easy to reach. The good news is that there are places that won’t cost much, so New York doesn’t have to take a big bite out of a backpacker’s budget.
Manhattan, often called “The Big Apple”, is the right place to stay. It is close to almost all the major attractions, which you can reach by subway or simply on foot. These Manhattan hostels and hotels are among the best rated and quite reasonably priced:
- New York Budget Inn: 200 E 34th St, New York, NY 10016, United States. (Click here to find out more or to book)
- Chelsea International Hostel: 251 W 20th St, New York, NY 10011, United States. (Click here to find out more or to book)
- Blue Moon Hotel NYC: 100 Orchard St, New York, NY 10002, United States. (Click here to find out more or to book)
- The Bowery House: 220 Bowery, New York, NY 10012, United States. (Click here to find out more or to book)
- International Student Center: 38 W 88th St, New York, NY 10024, United States. (Click here to find out more or to book)
Getting to New York
By Air
The city’s gateways are John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), LaGuardia (LGA) and Newark Liberty Airport (EWR) in neighbouring New Jersey.
By Train
Pennsylvania Station, or Penn Station, is the city’s main intercity train station, and trains from Canada also terminate here. It is in Manhattan between 7th and 8th Avenues and 31st and 33rd Streets.
Top Places to Visit in New York City
Statue of Liberty
New York’s prime attraction will undoubtedly be first on your list. The lady with the torch-bearing arm stands in Upper New York Bay on Liberty Island, south of Ellis Island.
Getting there: Ferries to the island leave from both New York (Battery Park) and New Jersey (Liberty State Park). Tickets were from $18 at the time of writing. Click here to book a ferry or find out more.
Central Park
Spread over 843 acres (341 ha), Central Park is one of the most visited urban parks in the United States and one of the most filmed locations in the world. It is home to over 25,000 trees, including a stand of 1,700 American elms, and has plenty to keep you entertained.
Getting there: The IND Eighth Avenue Line runs along the western edge of the park, with a transfer to the IRT Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line at Columbus Circle. The IRT Lenox Avenue Line stops at Central Park North–110th Street, and the BMT Broadway Line stops at Fifth Avenue–59th Street.
Times Square
Brightly adorned with billboards and advertisements, Times Square is a major commercial intersection and neighbourhood in Midtown Manhattan. Often called “the crossroads of the world”, it stretches from West 42nd to West 47th Street.
Getting there: Times Square is easily reached on most subway lines.
Nearby: Rockefeller Center and Grand Central Terminal
- Rockefeller Center: A major complex of 19 commercial buildings covering 22 acres (89,000 m2), about a 10-minute walk from Times Square along 49th Street.
- Grand Central Terminal: One of the busiest railway stations in the world, on a site that has served as a rail hub since 1871. It has 44 platforms, some of the city’s most beautiful Beaux-Arts architecture and several great restaurants. It is a 5–7 minute walk from Rockefeller Center via Madison Avenue.
Empire State Building
This 102-storey skyscraper is one of the city’s most prominent landmarks. It stands 1,454 feet (443 m) tall in Midtown Manhattan and has one of the most popular outdoor observatories in the world. Tickets started at $32 at the time of writing. It is a 10–12 minute walk from Grand Central Terminal along 5th Avenue. Click here to buy tickets.
Little Italy and Chinatown
Little Italy and Chinatown are ethnic neighbourhoods in Lower Manhattan, separated by Mott Street and linked by Grand Street, just a 3–5 minute walk from each other. Click here to read more about Little Italy.
Brooklyn Bridge
The Brooklyn Bridge was the first steel-wire suspension bridge ever built and is one of the oldest in the United States. Open to the public since 1883, the 5,989 ft (1,825.4 m) bridge connects Manhattan and Brooklyn. It is about a 30-minute walk from Chinatown.
Nearby: Brooklyn Museum and Coney Island
- Brooklyn Museum: The city’s third-largest art museum by physical size, with a collection of roughly 1.5 million works. It is at 200 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn; take the 2 or 3 Seventh Avenue Express to Eastern Parkway–Brooklyn Museum station.
- Coney Island: Famous for its amusement parks and seaside resort, it is the westernmost part of Long Island’s barrier islands and about 4 miles (6.4 km) long. From the Brooklyn Museum, take the subway and change at Atlantic Avenue to the N or D line.
Getting Around New York City
New York’s subway can get you to almost every corner of the city. Pick up a MetroCard at any subway station. Click here to find out more.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the best place to stay in New York on a budget?
Manhattan, as it is close to almost all major attractions. Options include New York Budget Inn, Chelsea International Hostel and The Bowery House.
How do you get to the Statue of Liberty?
Take a ferry from Battery Park in New York or Liberty State Park in New Jersey.
What is the best way to get around New York City?
The subway reaches almost every corner of the city, and many Manhattan sights are within walking distance of each other.
Conclusion
New York can be done on a backpacker budget if you base yourself in Manhattan, walk between neighbouring sights and use the subway for the rest. Start with Lady Liberty, work your way through Midtown and finish with a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge.
Still one of the cities I wanted to go. Brooklyn Bridge looks fascinating as I love old stuff. The subway is incredible; reminds me of the subway in Seoul. Really convenient and travelers friendly.
Sounds great. NYC is has a lot to offer. Thank you for sharing your thoughts Jessica.
I felt like I was actually in New York, looking at the Statue of Liberty, staring up at the Empire State Building and walking through Central park. Nice post with lots of important information.
Thank you Voyager. Glad to hear that
It’s great to know about some affordable places to stay in New York! I have only stayed with friends there, but I do remember being able to take public transportation easily to just about any areas of interest. Thanks for adding the subway map too! That can be pretty handy.
Thanks Tracie. NYC is undoubtedly an expensive city.