Plan your New York City trip with the best places to visit, things to do, top attractions, airports, cheap flights, local food, hotels and travel tips.
Compare hundreds of airlines and fares in one click
New York City (the U.S. city everyone wants to visit) has an iconic skyline, a wide variety of boroughs, and a vibrant cultural life. It's in New York State and has five boroughs: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island.
Every place has its own character really, with the historic sites, the museums, the local restaurants and the lovely waterfront views. New York City is also known as the Big Apple. It attracts visitors with a mix of history, shopping, entertainment and daily city life. You can see the Statue of Liberty, walk through Central Park, explore Times Square or enjoy views of the city from the Empire State Building. Broadway shows, famous museums and a wide range of restaurants add to the experience.
New York City is also a major travel hub, served by John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), LaGuardia Airport (LGA) and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), just across the Hudson River in New Jersey. If you're down in the city for sightseeing, work or just a short break, it's useful to know the key sights and how to get around.
Direct connections to worldwide hubs
December is among the busiest
Comfortable walking temperatures
Fast 24/7 transit & walkability
Start with your airline, then check how you'll reach your hotel. If fares are close, LaGuardia is nearest to Midtown Manhattan.
| Airport | Distance to Midtown | Good to Know |
|---|---|---|
| JFKJohn F. Kennedy Intl. | About 15 miles | Hub for American, Delta, and JetBlue; often the primary pick for international arrivals. |
| LGALaGuardia Airport | About 8 miles (Closest) | No direct subway connection; passengers take buses, taxis, or rideshare. |
| EWRNewark Liberty Intl. | About 16 miles (in New Jersey) | United's primary East Coast hub; fast rail link to Penn Station via NJ Transit. |
Distance can mislead: LaGuardia is closest to Manhattan in terms of mileage, but without a dedicated rail link, rush hour vehicle traffic can make the trip into the city take longer than the distance suggests.
No single month is cheapest for everyone, because fares depend on where you fly from. January is the cheapest month to travel, costing about 20% less than the yearly average, as per Kayak's U.S. data. February is also considered an off-peak month. Kayak also finds that midweek departures often price better than weekends.
Enter "NYC" as your destination code to compare JFK, LGA, and EWR simultaneously in a single search.
Check fares for dates near your actual travel date and inspect one-way vs. round-trip fares separately.
Set a price alert on your route so you catch seasonal dips and flash sales without having to recheck every day.
Leaving NYC with no fixed destination? Leaving the destination blank lets you browse bargain departures worldwide.
December is busy, and Kayak reports higher prices and fuller flights. Book as soon as your dates are firm. Expect holiday crowds, Christmas decorations, and average daily highs near 45°F.
Red-eye flights from the West Coast leave late at night and arrive in NY the following morning. An 11 p.m. departure from Los Angeles typically touches down around 7 a.m. Los Angeles to JFK was the busiest U.S. red-eye route in 2025 with 2,337 flights. Coordinate with your hotel for early bag storage.
Most travelers take the AirTrain to Jamaica Station, then transfer to the New York City Subway or the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR). You can tap a contactless credit or debit card, smartphone, or OMNY card at the AirTrain turnstiles to pay. (Note: Unlimited MetroCards do not work on the AirTrain).
$8.75 AirTrain + $3.00 Subway fare. Transfers to the E, J, or Z lines at Jamaica Station. Takes roughly 60–75 minutes.
$14 off-peak / $16 peak (includes CityTicket & AirTrain). Connects directly to Penn Station or Grand Central Madison in ~35 minutes.
$70 flat fare to Manhattan plus 50¢ MTA surcharge, $1 improvement surcharge, bridge/tunnel tolls, and tip ($5 weekday peak surcharge 4–8 p.m.).
Spring and fall are best, when mild weather makes walking easy. July is the hottest month (average daily highs of 84°F) and December is cold with snow, holiday crowds, ice skating, and dazzling festive decorations.
| Season | Average Monthly Highs | Season Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Winter | Dec 45°F · Jan 40°F · Feb 43°F | January lows average 29°F. February is the driest month. Holiday ice rinks & lowest hotel rates. |
| Spring | Mar 51°F · Apr 62°F · May 72°F | April is the rainiest month. Central Park blooms, comfortable walking weather. |
| Summer | Jun 80°F · Jul 84°F · Aug 82°F | July is the hottest month. Outdoor concerts, rooftop dining, vibrant street festivals. |
| Fall | Sep 75°F · Oct 64°F · Nov 54°F | Crisp autumn foliage in Central Park, ideal sightseeing conditions, premier running season. |
Throughout every season, New York hosts world-renowned parades, sports tournaments, and holiday spectacles.
Fifth Avenue march celebrating Irish heritage.
Fifth Ave bonnet parade & blooms at Brooklyn Botanic Garden.
Historic celebration usually on the last Sunday of June.
Spectacular Macy's fireworks over the East River.
Grand Slam excitement at Flushing Meadows, Queens.
Creative Greenwich Village parade & peak fall foliage.
World's biggest marathon & Macy's giant balloon parade.
Iconic tree lighting & Times Square ball drop on Dec 31.
New York has five boroughs: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island. Immigrant communities shaped the city's food. Eastern European Jews introduced the deli to the Lower East Side. Egyptians launched The Halal Guys cart at 53rd Street and 6th Avenue. If you're exploring NYC and skipping the local food, you really miss out on something special!
| Must-Try Food | Where to Try It | Neighborhood or Location |
|---|---|---|
| Pastrami on Rye | Katz's Delicatessen | Lower East Side |
| Bagel with Lox | Russ & Daughters | Lower East Side |
| New York Pizza Slice | Joe's Pizza | Greenwich Village |
| Halal Platter | The Halal Guys | 53rd St & 6th Ave |
| New York Cheesecake | Junior's Restaurant | Brooklyn (Original) |
Travel tip:These local favorites are great stops for experiencing New York's food culture. If you're planning to visit a number of them, check each one's current hours and location prior to going.
A cozy, historic coffeehouse that has been open since 1927, claiming the first espresso machine in America.
A Viennese-style coffeehouse inside Neue Galerie on Fifth Avenue, perfect for a slow, refined coffee break.
A beloved local chain with several Manhattan locations, ensuring you're never far from an artisanal brew.
A world-renowned bakery on Amsterdam Avenue famous for giant, warm, gooey chocolate chip walnut cookies.
The subway gets you to most places, the buses to the bits that the subway doesn't cover. The ferries are a nice, very scenic way to get around, and some areas are simply best walked. Plan by neighborhood to save time:
Choose the timeframe that matches your schedule:
• One day: Walk Central Park in the morning, go up the Empire State Building near sunset, and end in Times Square.
• Two days: Follow Days 1 and 2 below.
• Three days: Take all three days below for the complete classic NYC experience.
Take a morning ferry to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Statue City Cruises have set entry times and security checks, so plan to spend most of the morning there. In the afternoon, visit the 9/11 Memorial and Museum. Conclude the day with a relaxing sunset ride aboard the free Staten Island Ferry for spectacular skyline vistas.
Quick answers to common traveler questions
If you plan it in advance, it's a lot easier to enjoy New York. Spring and fall have the mildest weather. Pick the airport that suits your airline and hotel. Once you're in the city you can get around easily by subway and ferry.
On a short trip, stick to the big names: the Statue of Liberty, Central Park, the Empire State Building, the Brooklyn Bridge and a Broadway show. Book Statue of Liberty and Broadway tickets ahead of time, and check opening hours before you head out. You won't see everything, and that's completely fine—group your stops by neighborhood and leave some room to wander!
Find the best deals on flights, cities, and routes