Experiencing New York City - How To Take An Easy Bite Out Of The Big Apple

You may be surprised to learn that New York City is not a capital of any kind. Not of its country or even its own state & yet in the minds of many, it’s considered the center of the world. It is certainly the preeminent location for many industries & realms, making it both a magnet for millions yearning to be free & a destination that can cater to every desire, decadence & dalliance.

New York City has something for everyone & regardless of how much time you have, you are guaranteed not to be bored. While each Borough has many sites & places worth seeing, we will be focusing mainly on Manhattan, which is where the vast majority of the iconic & renowned places are located. The Borough of Manhattan primarily encompasses an island of only 59km2 that is home to nearly 1.7 million people, making it one of the most densely populated areas in the world.

Manhattan is divided into sections which any tourist should familiarize themselves with. Central Park is the famous 843-acre park located in the middle of the island, flanked by the Upper West Side & Upper East Side. Directly south of Central Park is considered Midtown Manhattan & the southernmost part of the island is Downtown or Lower Manhattan. North of Central Park lies Harlem & Uptown. Manhattan is surrounded by rivers – the Harlem River separates Manhattan from the mainland & flows into the East River. To the west of Manhattan lies the Hudson River.

The streets are laid out in a generally consistent grid with numbered streets going east to west & numbered avenues running north to south, with Broadway adding a touch of creativity with its route! In most cases, the distance between streets is about a third of the distance between avenues. Neighbourhoods will have informal boundaries that follow the grid.

Flights

There are 3 major airports that serve the New York City area;

LaGuardia Airport (LGA) in the East Elmhurst neighbourhood in the Borough of Queens (13 km to Grand Central Station in Manhattan)
John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in the Jamaica neighbourhood in the Borough of Queens (25 km to Grand Central Station in Manhattan)
Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) is in Newark / Elizabeth, New Jersey (27 km to Grand Central Station in Manhattan)

Tip: When searching for flights, use NYC as a code for all airports in the region or JFK, LGA & EWR to select specific one.

Airport Transfers

Although the New York City Subway is a very robust system, it doesn’t directly serve any of the city’s airports. To get to Manhattan, you can use the following services;

Ground Transportation

Driving distances & approximate metered Taxi fares (inclusive of tolls, taxes & tip) to Grand Central Station in Midtown Manhattan from each airport;

LaGuardia Airport (LGA) 13 km $50-70 US
John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) 25 km $60-80 US
Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) 27 km $70-90 US

Ride share services such as Uber & Lyft may be more or less, depending on timing & demand. Private car services & shared rides are also available in the Ground Transportation areas. Car Rentals are available, however driving around Manhattan is not recommended due to the expense & inconvenience of traffic & parking.

Tip: Ask for a flat rate when boarding a taxi from JFK

Public Transportation

From LGA:

Although LaGuardia is the closest airport to Manhattan, the only public transport option into LGA itself is a local bus, which doesn’t have any special modifications or facilities to cater to airport passengers so just a few passengers with luggage can create an uncomfortable ride. The most popular option is the MTA’s free Q70 SBS ‘LaGuardia Link’ which plies the route between LGA & Jackson Heights station where connections to the 7, E, F, M & R trains can be found. The M60 SBS will take you to the Astoria Boulevard station to connect to the N & W lines or you can stay on the bus & take the longer ride into Manhattan itself where it connects to several lines via 125th Street. The Q47, Q48 & Q72 also serve LGA.

From JFK:

Take the AirTrain JFK to the Jamaica station to connect with the E, J/Z Subway lines & the LIRR, which is the Long Island Rail Road commuter rail. The J/Z lines terminate at Broad Street Station downtown & the E Train terminates at the World Trade Center station after running through other hubs including the Port Authority Bus Terminal & Penn Station. The LIRR is a more expensive but faster option to Manhattan where it serves Penn Station along with Grand Central.

From EWR:

Usually, the fastest option is taking AirTrain Newark which connects EWR to the NJ Transit Newark Airport station where after a transfer, the train will take you to New York’s Penn station. The Newark Airport Express is a bus operated by Coach USA that doesn’t require a transfer from EWR & stops at Grand Central Station, Bryant Park & Port Authority Bus Terminal. The PATH is the Port Authority Trans-Hudson train line that runs 24 hours a day from Newark’s Penn Station to the World Trade Center Transportation Hub in Manhattan, located inside the beautiful Oculus building. The PATH is also the least expensive option, but the disadvantage is that you will have to take the local NJ Transit 62 or 67 bus from EWR

Tip: Newark & New York City (Manhattan) both have a Penn Station so be careful when purchasing tickets

Payment on Public Transport

MetroCard

Introduced in 1993 & expected to be phased out in 2024. This card can be purchased at various locations throughout New York City including at kiosks inside LGA & JFK airports. Note that since EWR is in New Jersey, you wouldn’t be able to purchase the MetroCard there. The card costs $1 & outside of single-ride fares, it is reloadable. The best option for a short trip would be to purchase the 7-day Unlimited Rides option

OMNY

Launched in 2019, One Metro New York or OMNY is the new contactless fare payment system for the MTA that will ultimately replace the MetroCard. It allows users to pay through either a contactless credit / debit card, smart device or an OMNY card by tapping readers at subway turnstiles, gates & on buses. OMNY streamlines the transfer system & provides the user with free trips after 12 rides in a 7-day period

Tip: Use OMNY over MetroCard as it is more secure & can be cheaper as long as you have a contactless card or device

New York City Subway

Criss-crossing all around the boroughs of the city, the New York City Subway is one of the oldest & most famous systems in the world. First opened in 1904, it is today the busiest rapid transit system in the Western Hemisphere. The subway runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week & features both local & express services on most lines

36 Lines & 28 Services (25 of which run through Manhattan)
424 Unique Stations / 472 Total Stations (Most of any system in the world)
399 km of routes with 1,070 km of revenue track (about 40% are above ground)
Nearly 1.8 billion riders in 2022 with about 5 million riders daily
Times Sq-42 St/42 St is the busiest station / complex in the system with over 65 million riders (2019)

Food

New York City is a foodie’s paradise & home to many iconic dishes. The city has food for every taste, season & budget. Different neighbourhoods are known for featuring food from various ethnicities like Chinatown, Koreatown or Little Italy.

Tip: Plan your meals by cuisine & location to experience as much of the New York City food scene as you can!

Manhattan Clam Chowder
Located inside the dining concourse at Grand Central station is the Oyster Bar, where the vintage décor will take you back to the middle of the 20th century. The restaurant is still only open on weekdays, reflecting the longstanding service it has provided to business commuters

Hot Dogs
The traditional New York Hot Dog has sweet relish, onions, sauerkraut & mustard. Gray’s Papaya on the Upper West Side has been featured in many movies & serves them fast with their signature papaya drink

Pizza
New York style is a hand-tossed, thin crust pizza & you can get slices to go at many locations throughout the city. John’s of Bleecker Street in Greenwich Village is one of the oldest pizza joints in the city, founded in 1929

Bagels
The battle of the best bagel rages constantly in the city but you can’t go wrong with almost any option. The perfect meal to start the day is a hearty bagel with lox & cream cheese. Ess-a-bagel along with Russ & Daughters are two of the more famous bagel shops, each with a few different locations to choose from

Kosher Deli Sandwiches
Thin slices of hot pastrami or corned beef on rye is as New York as they come. Like with bagels, there are many spots which do it well. The question is how hungry are you & how long do you want to stand in line? Katz’s Delicatessen in the Lower East Side is perhaps the most famous one & Sarge’s in Midtown certainly holds its own & is usually less busy

Halal Carts
The Halal Cart serves various types of Mediterranean cuisine from Gyros to Shawarma & rice dishes. The carts have become ubiquitous in New York City & arguably have replaced the hot dog cart as a fast lunch option. Kwik Meal at 45th & 6th has a unique taste profile & an interesting selection

Chopped Cheese
You can’t go wrong with this sandwich of grilled seasoned ground beef with cheese & veggies. We recommend going to the originators of the sandwich at Blue Sky Deli aka Hajji’s in Harlem

Hand Pulled Noodles
Xi’an Famous Foods has certainly made this item famous. While they offer a wide variety of quality dishes, we suggest you try their Spicy Cumin Lamb Noodles for a great balance of flavours

Manhattan Cocktail
Originating in the 19th century is this drink of rye whiskey, bitters & sweet vermouth. The Manhattan is a drink that has many incarnations which you can try at bars across the city

Cosmopolitan Cocktail
The “Cosmo” today is very much associated with New York City thanks to HBO’s hit series Sex and the City. While the Vodka Citron based drink is thought to be a more recent creation, some records show a similar drink with the name “Cosmopolitan Daisy” being made as far back as the 1930s

Main Attractions

Home to many world-famous landmarks, it is a daunting task to experience it all. Here are some of the most popular;

Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island
Perhaps the most famous landmark in the entire United States, the statue is located on Liberty Island. You can get there by ferry from Battery Park. The same ferry will also take you to Ellis Island which was once the gateway to America for millions of immigrants & fittingly is home to the Immigration Museum

Tip: The Liberty Island Ferry & access to the pedestal are free so do not buy tickets for this as there are touts who sell

Times Square
Yes, it’s a tourist trap but it’s worth a visit, even if only once for a photo. Ideally an event is the reason to go, like New Year’s Eve. It’s definitely easy to get to, being connected by several subway lines

Central Park
Volumes have been written about Central Park & it’s easy to see why. The park is a green oasis in the heart of the “concrete jungle where dreams are made of”. The park features many attractions including the Central Park Zoo, Belvedere Castle, the Bethesda Fountain & Strawberry Fields

Empire State Building
For nearly 4 decades in the 20th century, the Empire State Building was the World’s tallest building, a title it has held longer than any other skyscraper in history. It has been strongly associated with New York success since it’s construction & is still a marvel today. Ticket Reservations are required & it can get quite busy so plan ahead

The Bridges of New York City
The Brooklyn Bridge is the most famous of these & Jane’s Carousel on the Brooklyn side is a great photo opportunity, both for the merry-go-round & the Manhattan skyline. The Manhattan Bridge may be utilitarian but don’t miss the chance to visit ‘DUMBO’ which stands for “Down Under Manhattan Bridge Overpass”. There are lots of great bars & street art to pass the time

United Nations Headquarters
There is still a sense of hope that is in the air on a visit the United Nations Headquarters in Turtle Bay. Paid guided tours are provided in many languages or you can play guess the flag in the plaza outside as they are all on display

Rockefeller Center
There are 14 buildings in the Art Deco style at the Rockefeller Center. The storied complex is home to many must see destinations including NBC Studios (30 Rock), Radio City Music Hall, Top of the Rock observation deck, the ice skating rink, underground concourse & after Thanksgiving, the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree

One World Observatory & The Oculus
The observatory opened in 2015 & is located inside One World Trade Center on the 100th floor. This is the highest vantage point in New York City. To get there, you will likely go through the Oculus Building which is an architectural marvel of its own & home to the World Trade Center Transportation Hub

Hudson Yards
Most people associate Hudson Yards with the centerpiece installation Vessel & while impressive, it’s far from the only reason to head down to this neighbourhood that features boutique shops, one of a kind eateries & some nice views of the Hudson River

Tip: Access to the Vessel is temporarily closed but access to the ground-level base is free & open to the public

The High Line
Another recent attraction in New York City is the High Line linear park which opened in 2009 on a former elevated railroad track viaduct. Today the 2.33 km is a beautiful greenway full of various plants, art installations & calm spaces

Tip: The High Line can only be entered & exited at specific points so plan ahead

Things to do

There is no “correct” way to experience New York & based on your likes & resources, you can easily customize your New York City experience. We list here some popular options for experiences;

Museums
Some of the best museums in the world are in New York City & there is a wide selection of interests covered. While large museums like the American Museum of Natural History, the MoMA & The Met are the most famous, there are also several smaller museums that are worth your while like the New York Transit Museum located in the decommissioned Court Street subway station in Brooklyn

River Cruises
There are several guided tours of New York City that depart from both the Hudson & East Rivers. Prices usually start at $100 per person. While not a cruise, the free Staten Island Ferry is a nice way to see the river & Liberty Island

Helicopter Tours
This is a great way to take in the enormity of the skyscrapers that make up Manhattan. Definitely a splurge item starting at around $300 per person but they will surely provide you with a memorable experience!

Theater
Home to Broadway of course but there are theaters all across the boroughs putting on shows. If you do wish to check a Broadway show off the bucket list, try & book well before you arrive as tickets sell out quickly

Concerts
There is a long history of music performances in New York City. From legendary venues like Carnegie Hall to the Lincoln Center to Madison Square Garden. There are concerts, big & small, taking place daily all across the city

Sports
No city in North America has more professional sports teams than the New York City area. A sporting tour of New York would mean that you get to see more than Manhattan. Visit Citi Field in Queens, the Barclays Center in Brooklyn or Yankee Stadium in The Bronx & get a feeling not just for the teams but also the neighbourhoods of their fans

Tip: Many sporting venues also offer facility tours!

Final Thoughts

New York City has been a bucket list destination for many people over the years because it has that universal vibe that welcomes you, that you will find what you need there. You may have to look harder for it, you may have to even pay more for it, but you can find what you’re looking for with enough effort & determination. Sometimes though, it comes to you easily. The city is supported by a backbone of infrastructure that makes traveling here quite easy in comparison to other cities. Yes, it can be noisy & crowded on the concrete, but mere steps away lies the green & the calm cobblestones. Our main tip is to plan ahead, be prepared & then go out & enjoy all that this “center of the world” has to offer. The legend of New York City continues to grow because it is so dynamic, constantly reinventing itself including most recently post-pandemic. Be sure to check it out!