First Time in New York – 10 Things You Should Know Before Visiting

New York City is a dream destination for many people like you and me, and when you visit for the first time, you want everything to go perfectly.

It’s the type of destination that you think you already know because you’ve seen it so many times in films, TV series like Gossip Girl, magazines, etc. Basically, all your life!

My trip to New York in 2020 was a dream come true, and I absolutely loved seeing iconic places like the Brooklyn Bridge and the Empire State Building in person. The city’s vibe is special, and it feels like there is always something new to do.

However, there were a couple of things I wish I had known before travelling to this amazing city.

If you’re wondering what things you should know before visiting the Big Apple, keep reading to learn some tips for your first time in New York City.

P.S. This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and purchase something, I receive a small commission of the price at no extra cost to you. This helps me keep the content up to date and make other improvements to the blog.

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First Time In New York Guide

Labelled prices don’t include tax

You’ll be surprised if you’re a European citizen. You’re used to products having their taxes included when they reach supermarkets.

When you go to buy something in the US, you’ll see a labelled price that does not include tax. Taxes are added at checkout, so don’t be surprised when the price differs once you reach the checkout counter.

I remember going to the supermarket to grab some juice. I thought it was a reasonable price, so I went to the cashier, who then added tax at checkout! I was so disappointed.

This was only juice, but be careful with big purchases because you can spend more than you think.

BUT, there are some items that are excluded from taxes ,such as clothes and shoes.

However, if you buy a jumper that costs $110 or you buy several clothes that cost more than $110, a tax will be applied.

Other products that aren’t taxed:

• Food
• Devices
• Eyeglasses

Huge food portions

If you compare American states to European countries, you’ll notice the difference in food portions. American meals are bigger!

It’s true that some international restaurants serve standard sizes, but I was generally surprised by the sizes. I normally have a main and a dessert, but it was impossible to do that in New York. 

My partner and I looked up places to have breakfast in NY (we did some planning before going to NY, but left one unplanned day). 

I was very tired from walking so much in the last few days, and I was half asleep when I found a place. We liked the menu, the restaurant images were nice, and the reviews were all good!

So we decided to walk even though it was 20 min from where we were. We arrived, and guess what? CLOSED! 

We were starving, so we ended up walking all the way back to find another place! We went to Artiserie Sandwich Boutique, and it wasn’t like the UK standard triangle sandwich.

I ordered one, and it was a huge baguette with many fillings inside. Delicious but massive! I wished I could’ve shared it with my partner because it made me feel lazier than before.

TIP: If you don’t eat much and you’re travelling with someone else, share the food. You’ll save and avoid wasting food.

Queues and waiting times

I thought I knew what queueing was until I arrived in New York. 

I know the feeling of arriving in a city for the first time, and the only thing you want to do is to pass the passport control, take a taxi, and leave your things in your hotel room as soon as possible so you can go and explore the city.

However, if you’re flying to John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), you’ll have to wait at least 1 hour to go through customs and around 30-45 minutes to get in the taxi!

Also, when you’re so excited about taking pictures at the Top of the Rock or the Brooklyn Bridge, but the reality is that places like this are busy 98% of the time, you’ll have to wait a lot of time to take the perfect picture. 

99 cent pizza and cheap doughnuts

New York can be an expensive place to eat in a restaurant or in a nice cafe! But this doesn’t apply to pizzas and doughnuts.  

You can grab a big slice of pizza for only 99 cents! Where can you get these? There are different locations around Manhattan (Broadway, 7th Avenue, etc.)

I’m sure you’ve heard of the Dunkin’ Donuts chain before. It was founded in America! The doughnuts are delicious, very cheap, and they taste even better in America than in Europe.

I’m sure there’s a secret behind the dough recipe.

TIP: If you want to treat yourself, grab some pizza slices or a box of doughnuts and go to Central Park! It’s amazing to enjoy the combination of buildings and park views while you have a small picnic there!

Unexpected weather

You have to be prepared for any sort of weather conditions!

I visited New York for five days at the end of May. I checked the weather forecast a couple of times before travelling. However, it was completely different from what I expected. 

The first day was sunny, but the rest of the days, the weather was rainy, cloudy, and windy! There was even a tornado warning in the New York area (quite scary!)

TIP: If you’re travelling in late spring or summer, don’t assume the weather will always be sunny and warm. Pack a light cardigan with you!

There’s always something going on 

This doesn’t only refer to a Broadway show or musical, but street dancers and other shows you can get involved in, too!

When you’re planning your trip to New York, check whether there are concerts, musicals, etc., on the dates you’ll be there. It’s very important that you do this as soon as possible so you can book tickets and ensure your place!

Before travelling to New York, I was looking for any TV programs I could take part in. When I looked at the tickets, there were only a few of them available for the dates I wanted. Luckily, I found free tickets for Good Morning America (GMA)!

If you’d like to go as an audience for a TV show, check 1iota. Be aware that, if they have any sort of competition during the program, and you’re not an American citizen, you won’t be eligible to participate, for tax purposes.

The Statue of Liberty seems smaller than you think

The Statue of Liberty is one of the top attractions in New York City, and it’s one of the first images you picture when you think of the cosmopolitan city.

At first glance, the statue seems smaller than when you’ve seen it in pictures or movies. This is because it is located on Ellis Island, so you need to take a boat to get there. Once you stand in front of the statue, it is at that moment you appreciate its size.

The island is well-known for being a former immigration complex, and now you can visit the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration.

Ordering a taxi? Be aware of the traffic

Big cities always involve traffic but New York City is well-known for being one of the top congested cities in the world.

If you’re travelling from the airport to the Upper East Side or any other spot in Manhattan, taxi drivers will be able to tell you a fixed price. However, you can always try to negotiate the price. 

TIP: Walk as much as you can! Walking around New York is like being in a movie. When you walk, you can’t stop looking at the big and amazing buildings around you. 

Not only will you discover more places, but you’ll save money, too.

I visited New York for five days and walked 77km, but it was incredibly worth it because I found the famous Strand Book Store on the way and many other interesting places.

Walking around Central Park is endless

Central Park is one of the best places in New York City. You can escape from a busy city to a beautiful park.

I wasn’t expecting Central Park to be so big and that’s why I made the mistake of not scheduling more time when I was planning my trip. I wish I spent more time there!

If you love exploring parks, leave at least one day to walk around and spend it in Central Park. You can also have a picnic or go on a horse ride.

Be careful with scammers

You can easily find people pretending to be what they aren’t and asking you for money.

My partner and I fell into the trap of giving some money to a group of aspiring “rappers” near Brooklyn Bridge.

They’re experts on this, and they can be very persuasive, making you feel bad if you don’t give them money because it looks like you don’t appreciate what they do. 

Visit The High Line

I had no idea of the High Line until I was randomly looking at New York on Google Maps and clicked on it. I googled “The High Line” and found other bloggers talking about how beautiful and unique this area was.

If you’ve never heard of it, it’s a 1.45-mile-long elevated linear park created on a former New York Central Railroad. The park is full of green and beautiful views of less-known but charming streets.

I do not think everyone knows about it, and it’s sometimes forgotten, but it’s completely worth adding The High Line to your list.

Choose Top of the Rock over the Empire State Building

Top of the Rock is where you want to be to get the best views of the New York City skyline. On one side, you’ll be able to see the beautiful Central Park, whereas on the other side, you’ll contemplate the Empire State Building.

Going to both buildings can be expensive, so Top of the Rock is your best option.

TIP: The most magical times to visit Top of the Rock are sunrise and sunset, but be aware that sunset is busier than any other time.

Avoid travelling around New York during rush hour

New York is one of the busiest cities in the world, and travelling during rush hour can be a bit stressful.

You don’t want to wait in a long queue at the subway station or be stuck in a taxi for hours. I learned this during my first visit to NYC.

I underestimated rush hour and didn’t plan my trip to the airport well. I had a flight to catch, and the traffic was insane. Travelling from Midtown Manhattan to John F. Kennedy International Airport takes approximately 44 minutes by car, but it took me nearly two hours to get there.

If you gotta catch a flight, double-check the times and arrive earlier than expected.

Go on the Staten Island Ferry

I had no idea of this ferry until I recently read about it, and I wish I had known about the ferry and Staten Island.

The ferry is completely free and runs between Manhattan and Staten Island.

From the ferry, you will see beautiful views of the Manhattan skyline and the Statue of Liberty. On board, there is a café where you can enjoy a hot drink.

Apparently, Staten Island has plenty of things to do and delicious local food to taste during your visit. 

Conclusion

New York is the type of city that you’ll always learn or discover something new about. So don’t be hard on yourself trying to have the best experience ever when you visit it for the first time. 

Allow yourself to be a first-time visitor, enjoy, and learn from your mistakes 😊

Speak soon!

Cristina x

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