Flights to New York

There’s plenty of great ways to explore New York City, but the more you can avoid being in a car, typically, the better! Of course, if hopping in a classic yellow taxi is part of your NYC bucket list, by all means, go for it! But otherwise, the subway will serve you very well: it’s the cheapest and fastest way to get around the city, so get an unlimited riding card if you can! The city is also reasonably walkable and bikeable as well.

Yes! New York is safe, and in fact is actually one of the safest big cities in the US and the world. As of March 2019, New York City’s crime rate was at an all-time low and it’s certainly just as safe (if not safer than) other big cities in the US. The subways are safe as well. As with any large city, crowded areas—especially around tourist attractions—can be a target for pickpockets, so keep an eye on your belongings and be aware of your surroundings, and you’ll be just fine!

New Yorkers often get the reputation for being rude, but that’s not really true. If you can learn some basic New Yorker etiquette, you’ll find many locals to be friendly and super knowledgeable about their city! The main thing to keep in mind is that for New Yorkers, time is their most precious resource. If you need help or directions, feel free to ask—just be brief and to the point. If you need to stop and look at directions while you’re walking somewhere, move out of the middle of the sidewalk so you don’t disrupt the flow of pedestrian traffic. Get out your Metrocard before you get to the subway turnstiles, and so on.

Of course, if you don’t try some authentic New York pizza (and a morning bagel!), you haven’t really even been to New York. But there’s a lot more food to try in New York besides just pizza! Make room for some New York style cheesecake and a classic New York pastrami sandwich. However, New York is also full of delicious food from all over the world, so make time to grab some authentic ramen, oysters, tacos, bahn mi, babka… the list is endless!