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City guide

New York (Manhattan), NY

New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States. It is located at the southern tip of New York State on New York Harbor, one of the world's largest natural harbors.

Type City

Why go

  • Most populous city in the United States.
  • 10 curated must-see attractions on record, including South Street Seaport.
  • 1 hand-picked place to stay.
  • 3 recommended spots to eat and drink.
  • Served by John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK).

History

New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States. It is located at the southern tip of New York State on New York Harbor, one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs—Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island—each being coextensive with its respective county. It is the geographical and demographic center of both the Northeast megalopolis and the New York metropolitan area, the largest metropolitan area in the United States by both population and urban area. New York is a global center of technology, finance and commerce, culture, entertainment and media, academics and scientific output, the arts and fashion—and as home to the headquarters of the United Nations, international diplomacy. New York City is known for its fast pace and continuous urban energy.

Must-see attractions

14 E 60th St, Central Park Conservancy, New York, NY 10022
Outdoor
350 5th Ave, New York City, NY 10118
Outdoor

Where to stay

768 5th Ave, New York, NY 10019
Indoor

Eat & drink

Restaurant
Indoor
Restaurant
Indoor
Restaurant
Indoor

Airports

John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) 14 mi to the centre
New York, NY, US — You board from the indoor waiting area — no need to plan for the weather. ✈ 74 airlines (Delta Air Lines, JetBlue Airways, American Airlines, US Airways…) · direct flights to 162 destinations incl. London, New Orleans, Paris, Milano, Barcelona… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 74 airlines, 162 direct destinations

Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.

Indoor
Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) 11 mi to the centre
Newark, NJ, US — You board from the indoor waiting area — no need to plan for the weather. ✈ 35 airlines (United Airlines, Lufthansa Cargo, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines…) · direct flights to 153 destinations incl. London, Atlanta, Brussels, New Orleans, Amsterdam… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 35 airlines, 153 direct destinations

Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.

Indoor
LaGuardia Airport (LGA) 6.2 mi to the centre
New York, NY, US — You board from the indoor waiting area — no need to plan for the weather. ✈ 15 airlines (Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, US Airways, Southwest Airlines…) · direct flights to 70 destinations incl. Atlanta, Montreal, Toronto, Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 15 airlines, 70 direct destinations

Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.

Indoor
Morristown Municipal Airport (MMU) 23 mi to the centre
Morristown, NJ, US — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day. ✈ direct flights to 2 destinations incl. Cincinnati, Cincinnati (OpenFlights route data).
Indoor | Outdoor
Teterboro Airport (TEB) 7.6 mi to the centre
Teterboro, NJ, US — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day. ✈ 1 airline (T.J. Air) · direct flights to 1 destination incl. Nantucket (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 1 airline, 1 direct destination

Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.

Indoor | Outdoor
Linden Airport (LDJ) 16 mi to the centre
Linden, NJ, US — Indoor waiting area, but you walk out to the aircraft to board — bring an umbrella or a coat if the forecast is poor.
Indoor | Outdoor

Regional airports

Further out, but often the cheapest way in — the airports the low-cost carriers use. Each links to its own town's guide for getting from there into the city.

Westchester County Airport (HPN) 26 mi to the centre
White Plains, NY, US — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day. ✈ 9 airlines (JetBlue Airways, American Airlines, US Airways, Cape Air…) · direct flights to 15 destinations incl. Atlanta, Chicago, Charlotte, Orlando, Philadelphia… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Feeder airport · 26 mi from New York (Manhattan) · JetBlue Airways, American Airlines, US Airways · Getting around Purchase, NY →
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 9 airlines, 15 direct destinations

Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.

Indoor | Outdoor
Long Island MacArthur Airport (ISP) 46 mi to the centre
100 Arrival Ave, Ronkonkoma, NY 11779 — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day. ✈ 7 airlines (AirTran Airways, Southwest Airlines, American Airlines, US Airways…) · direct flights to 10 destinations incl. Baltimore, Boston, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Philadelphia… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Feeder airport · 47 mi from New York (Manhattan) · AirTran Airways, Southwest Airlines, American Airlines · Getting around Long Island, NY →
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 7 airlines, 10 direct destinations

Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.

Indoor | Outdoor
Trenton-Mercer Airport (TTN) 55 mi to the centre
Ewing Township, NJ, US — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day. ✈ 1 airline (Frontier Airlines) · direct flights to 14 destinations incl. Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Feeder airport · 55 mi from New York (Manhattan) · Frontier Airlines · Getting around Trenton, New Jersey →
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 1 airline, 14 direct destinations

Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.

Indoor | Outdoor

Getting there by ferry

Midtown/West 39th Street
Ferry terminal · 0.9 mi from the centre
Outdoor
East 34th Street/Midtown
Ferry terminal · 1.2 mi from the centre
Outdoor
Long Island City - Gantry Plaza
Ferry terminal · 1.6 mi from the centre
Outdoor
Hunters Point South/Long Island City
Ferry terminal · 1.7 mi from the centre
Outdoor
Hoboken 14th Street
Ferry terminal · 1.8 mi from the centre · NY Waterway
Outdoor
Stuyvesant Cove
Ferry terminal · 1.8 mi from the centre
Outdoor
East 34th Street – East 90th Street
Ferry route · Hornblower Cruises
Outdoor
East 34th Street – Long Island City
Ferry route · Hornblower Cruises
Outdoor
Stuyvesant Cove – East 34th Street
Ferry route · Hornblower Cruises
Outdoor
East 34th Street – Hunters Point South
Ferry route · Hornblower Cruises
Outdoor
Lincoln Harbor – Midtown / W. 39th Street
Ferry route · NY Waterway
Outdoor
Port Imperial – Midtown / W. 39th Street
Ferry route · NY Waterway
Outdoor
Port Imperial - Midtown / W. 39th Street
Ferry route · NY Waterway
Outdoor
Hoboken 14th Street – Midtown / W. 39th Street
Ferry route · NY Waterway
Outdoor

Where things are

Full geo-intelligence in Better Mapping →
Local search powered by Geoverts and geo-intelligence by Better Mapping base map © OSM

Photographs

When to go

Tourist season
May – September

The warmer, longer-day half of the year is the safest bet for a first visit.

Shoulder season
April, October

Cooler and quieter, with fewer visitors and better value.

Worth avoiding
Deep winter

Short days and the coldest weather — check local conditions before travelling.

Getting there & around

Getting there. The nearest airport on record is John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). Check rail and road links from the tourism sources below. By air: JFK has direct flights to 162 destinations on 74 airlines (incl. London, New Orleans, Paris, Milano, Barcelona…). By water: 6 ferry terminals within 12 mi (nearest: Midtown/West 39th Street, 0.9 mi); routes include East 34th Street – East 90th Street, East 34th Street – Long Island City, Stuyvesant Cove – East 34th Street.

Getting around. Use the map above to orient yourself; nearby hotels, attractions and places to eat are listed from the live Ultimate data for New York (Manhattan), NY. Local transit details will be added as the guide is expanded.

Local transit

Subway, bus · The 24-hour subway and city buses across the five boroughs. · Fares: OMNY contactless tap · Airport: AirTrain JFK plus subway; LaGuardia Link Q70 bus
Bus, Rail · New Jersey · Schedules & GTFS data (official feed)
Bus · New York · Schedules & GTFS data (official feed)
Bus · New York · Schedules & GTFS data (official feed)
Ferry · East River and harbour ferry routes. · Fares: App or ticket

Trains & rail

Rail operator
Rail operator
Rail operator
National rail

Coaches & shuttles

Frequent low-fare coaches, about four and a half hours. · Boston, Massachusetts guide →
Port Authority to South Station, hourly at peak. · Boston, Massachusetts guide →
Two hours between Port Authority and Philadelphia. · Philadelphia, Pennsylvania guide →
About four and a half hours to Union Station. · Washington, D.C. guide →
Overnight and daytime coaches Toronto–New York, around 11 hours. · Toronto, Ontario guide →
South Station to Port Authority, about four and a half hours. · Boston, Massachusetts guide →
Intercity coach
Intercity coach

Private aviation

On-demand charter, jet cards and the semi-private scheduled carriers that serve this city.

Helicopter, by-the-seat · Helicopters, seaplanes, jets via partners · By-the-seat helicopters Manhattan–JFK/Newark and the Hamptons; jet charter through partners.
Membership charter · King Air 350i, Citation, Hawker, Global · US membership and on-demand charter; Delta Air Lines is a major shareholder.
Semi-private scheduled · Embraer 135 (16 seats) · First-class-only scheduled flights from Van Nuys to Aspen, Sun Valley, Cabo and Europe in summer.
Charter, management, FBO · Managed fleet, light to ultra-long-range · Charter, management and FBOs at Van Nuys and Orange County; the original Hollywood jet operator.
Semi-private scheduled · Pilatus PC-12, King Air · Subscription and per-seat regional flights in California, Texas and Hawaii.

Tours & experiences

Bus Tour · 6 hours · from $65/pp