Plan a Visit

Getting around

Most New Yorkers don't own a car in the city. Between walking, the subway and the buses, you won't need one either.

• Subway: it runs 24 hours a day, every day. Tap a contactless card or phone at the OMNY reader to pay, and the same tap works on buses.
• Uptown or downtown: on many lines the entrances are separate, so read the sign before you swipe in. Express trains skip stops and locals stop everywhere.
• Buses: they're slower but scenic, and good for crosstown trips. Select Bus Service routes have you pay at the curb before you board.
• Ferries: the Staten Island Ferry is free. NYC Ferry routes link Manhattan with waterfront neighborhoods in Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx.
• Citi Bike: the city's bike-share, with docks across much of the city. Use the bike lanes and ride with traffic.
• Taxis: yellow cabs work anywhere. Green Boro Taxis pick up in upper Manhattan and the outer boroughs.
• Walking: in Manhattan's grid, avenues run north to south and streets run east to west. About 20 street blocks make a mile.

Getting here

Three major airports serve the city, and so do big rail and bus hubs.

• JFK (Queens): the AirTrain connects to the subway and LIRR at Jamaica, and to the A train at Howard Beach.
• LaGuardia (Queens): MTA buses connect to the subway and LIRR. Taxis and rideshares are the other main option.
• Newark (New Jersey): AirTrain Newark connects to NJ Transit and Amtrak trains to Penn Station.
• By train: Penn Station serves Amtrak, NJ Transit and the LIRR. Grand Central serves Metro-North, and Grand Central Madison serves the LIRR.
• By bus: most intercity buses use the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown.

When to go

• Spring: mild days, cherry blossoms and the first outdoor dining.
• Summer: hot and humid. Free outdoor concerts, beaches and long evenings.
• Fall: often the best weather of the year. Foliage peaks in late October and November.
• Winter: cold, with occasional snow. The holiday season is busy and festive, and January and February are the quietest months.

Itineraries you can follow

One day: downtown and the bridge. Ride the Staten Island Ferry past the Statue of Liberty, then visit the 9/11 Memorial and walk the Financial District. Cross the Brooklyn Bridge on foot and finish in DUMBO.

Two days: add Midtown and the park. See Grand Central, Bryant Park and Fifth Avenue, then spend the afternoon in Central Park and a museum on either side of it. End with a Broadway show or a sunset view.

Three days: add a borough. Pick one: food in Flushing or on Arthur Avenue, Prospect Park and the Brooklyn Museum, or a summer day at Coney Island or the Rockaways.

Sidewalk & subway etiquette

• Walk on the right, and step to the side to check your map or take a photo.
• Let people off the train before you get on, and don't lean on the pole.
• Take off your backpack on crowded trains, and offer your seat to anyone who needs it more.
• For emergencies call 911. For non-emergency city questions, call 311.