Family Guide New York City
By DK Travel
4/5
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About this ebook
The best things to do in New York City are all approached from a family-friendly angle. The book is organized around "hubs"-major sights around which to plan your day-and provides kid-friendly restaurants, age-range suitability information, ideas for letting off steam, and detailed maps showing the nearest parks, playgrounds, and public bathrooms. Plus there are activities for rainy days, and Kids' Corners in every chapter featuring cartoons, quizzes, and games to keep young travelers happy all day long.
Written by travel experts and parents who understand the need to keep children entertained while enjoying family time together, DK Eyewitness Family Guides offer child-friendly sleeping and eating options, detailed maps of main sightseeing areas, travel information, budget guidance, age-range suitability, and activities for every age.
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Reviews for Family Guide New York City
70 ratings3 reviews
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This beautiful travel guide explores New York City by dividing Manhattan island into 14 geographical regions, adding a section on Brooklyn, and adding a combined section on Queens, The Bronx and Staten Island. Within each region is an orientation to the history and ambience of the neighborhood, a detailed map, then information about two or three truly must-see locations/activities and 5-15 other points of interest. Almost every section includes “A Short Walk” -- usually about a mile, focused on a theme of the area.
The book’s design and style is trademark DK Eyewitness -- with literally a thousand color images, maps and building cross-sections -- except the pages are now of matte paper instead of glossy. It has an excellent tear-out map, laminated and folded and very legibly labeled with neighborhoods, streets, sites and subways. Note that word earlier, “explore” -- this is a guide that will get you out and about. Note also that, with few exceptions, it does NOT include lodging, dining or entertainment (when it does, it’s for sites that are destinations in themselves). It’s a lively, must-read guide for anyone planning leisure time in NYC.
(Review based on a copy of the 2019 edition provided by the publisher.) - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Excellent guidebook with terrific illustrations. Took us to parts of Manhattan I'd hardly heard of...
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This is a great guide to New York and makes a wonderful souvenir.
Book preview
Family Guide New York City - DK Travel
Table of Contents
How to Use this Family Guide
Introducing New York
The Best of New York
New York Through the Year
Getting to New York
Getting Around New York
Practical Information
Where to Stay
Where to Eat
Shopping
Entertainment
Theater and Performing Arts
Sporting Events and Activities
Summer in the City
The History of New York
Exploring New York
Downtown
Statue of Liberty and around
Statue of Liberty
Ellis Island Immigration Museum
National Museum of the American Indian
Skyscraper Museum
Irish Hunger Memorial
Fraunces Tavern® Museum
South Street Seaport and around
South Street Seaport
Federal Reserve Bank of New York
Federal Hall
9/11 Tribute Center
National September 11 Memorial & Museum
One World Trade Centre
Tenement Museum and around
Tenement Museum
Lower East Side
New Museum
Little Italy
International Center of Photography Museum
Children’s Museum of the Arts
Chinatown
New York City Fire Museum
Greenwich Village and around
Greenwich Village
East Village
Flatiron District & Union Square Greenmarket
Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace
The High Line and the Meatpacking District
The High Line
Midtown
Empire State Building and around
Empire State Building
Scandinavia House
The Morgan Library and Museum
Herald Square
Grand Central Terminal and around
Grand Central Terminal
Library Way
New York Public Library
Bryant Park
The Museum of Modern Art and around
The Museum of Modern Art
Carnegie Hall
Rockefeller Center and around
Rockefeller Center
Nintendo World
St. Patrick’s Cathedral
Paley Center for Media
Times Square and around
Times Square
Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum
Circle Line Cruise
The Town Hall
Central Park
Central Park Zoo and around
Central Park Zoo
Wollman Rink
Friedsam Memorial Carousel
Balto Statue and Literary Walk
Bethesda Terrace and around
Bethesda Terrace
The Ramble
Conservatory Water
Alice in Wonderland and Hans Christian Andersen statues
Belvedere Castle and around
Belvedere Castle
Swedish Cottage
Shakespeare Garden
Great Lawn and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir
Upper East Side
The Metropolitan Museum of Art and around
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Met Breuer
The Frick Collection
Asia Society
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and around
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
Jewish Museum
Museum of the City of New York
El Museo del Barrio
Upper West Side and Harlem
Museum of Arts and Design and around
Museum of Arts and Design
Time Warner Center
American Folk Art Museum
Lincoln Center
American Museum of Natural History and around
American Museum of Natural History
New York Historical Society
Children’s Museum of Manhattan
Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine
Columbia University
125th Street, Harlem and around
125th Street, Harlem
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture
Abyssinian Baptist Church
St. Nicholas Historic District
Hamilton Heights Historic District and Sugar Hill
The Met Cloisters and around
The Met Cloisters
Inwood Hill Park
Dyckman Farmhouse Museum
Little Red Lighthouse
Beyond Manhattan
Brooklyn Bridge and around
Brooklyn Bridge
Dumbo
Jacques Torres Chocolate Shop
Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory
New York Transit Museum
Governors Island
Brooklyn Museum and around
Brooklyn Museum
Prospect Park Zoo
Grand Army Plaza
Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Brooklyn Children’s Museum
Prospect Park
Lefferts Historic House
Audubon Center
New York Aquarium, Coney Island, and around
New York Aquarium
Coney Island
Brighton Beach
Staten Island
Museum of the Moving Image and around
Museum of the Moving Image
The Noguchi Museum
Long Island City
New York Hall of Science and around
New York Hall of Science
Queens Zoo
Queens Museum
Queens Botanical Garden
New York Botanical Garden and around
New York Botanical Garden
Edgar Allan Poe Cottage
Wave Hill
City Island
Bronx Zoo and around
Bronx Zoo
Grand Concourse
The Bronx Museum of the Arts
Yankee Stadium
Where to Stay in New York
New York Maps
Acknowledgments
Copyright
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Eat & Drink Price Guide
Picnic under $20; Snacks $20–35; Real meal $35–70; Family treat over $70 (based on a family of four)
Accommodation Price Guide
The following price ranges are based on one night’s accommodation in high season for a family of four, inclusive of service charges and any additional taxes.
$ Under $250; $$ $250–400; $$$ over $400
DKThe Best of New York >
New York Through the Year >
Getting to New York >
Getting Around New York >
Practical Information >
Where to Stay >
Where to Eat >
Shopping >
Entertainment >
Theater and Performing Arts >
Sporting Events and Activities >
Summer in the City >
The History of New York >
< Back to Introducing New York City
The Best of New York
DKFrom left to right A view of Brooklyn Bridge across the East River, with Manhattan’s skyscrapers as a backdrop; Children viewing a majestic black leopard in the Jungle World exhibit at the Bronx Zoo; The impressive entrance of Grand Central Terminal, crowned by statues of Mercury, Hercules, and Minerva
DKAngel of the Waters sculpture on the Bethesda Terrace in Central Park
The abundance of its cultural treasures, the beauty of its skyline, its many green spaces, and its sheer energy lend New York an iconic identity. The city is full of variety – adventurous and sublime, civilized yet raucous – and there are many ways to experience it. New York is also surprisingly child-friendly, full of museums that focus on kids, plus great parks and playgrounds. Here are just a few ideas to help build the perfect itinerary.
Architectural adventures
New York wouldn’t be the same without its dramatic skyline, which changes often and yet somehow remains timeless. The city’s love affair with skyscrapers began in about 1890 and shows no signs of abating. Remarkably, three of its most beloved and iconic edifices went up in the space of just three years, between 1930 and 1933 – the Chrysler Building, which became the world’s tallest building when it was completed in 1930, the looming Empire State Building, which surpassed the Chrysler to take the same title in 1931, and the 19-building Rockefeller Center in 1933, which remains a vibrant cultural hub to this day. They stand just a few blocks away from each other in Midtown.
One of the best ways to appreciate the cityscape is to ascend to Rockefeller Center’s Top of the Rock, which offers breathtaking, unobstructed views or to the uppermost viewing deck of the Empire State Building. Another unmissable perspective is looking back from the magnificent Brooklyn Bridge, after crossing it on foot.
DKGilded statue of Prometheus, Rockefeller Center
Cultural epicenter
One of the most vibrant cultural hubs in the US, New York has an incredible collection of museums. Its art history biggies, such as The Museum of Modern Art and The Metropolitan Museum of Art, will captivate parents and kids alike, as will its cutting-edge centers of contemporary art, which include MoMA PS1 and the New Museum. Families can also visit a wealth of smaller museums, such as the gallery-cum-studio space at the Children’s Museum of the Arts, where kids get to explore their creative side, and the Museum of the Moving Image, which spotlights film and video arts.
Animal attractions
There is plenty to keep kids entertained in the city, from the prehistoric dinosaurs at the American Museum of Natural History to New York’s zoos, one in each borough. The intimate Central Park Zoo has excellent penguin and rainforest exhibits, while the highlights at the sprawling Bronx Zoo include an amazing gorilla habitat and a monorail that runs over the Bronx River, passing Asian elephants, red pandas, and Indian rhinos. Coney Island is home to the New York Aquarium, whose inhabitants include moray eels, penguins, and sea otters, as well as walruses and intelligent California sea lions.
A walk through Central Park’s wooded The Ramble reveals the sight and sounds of birds and small mammals. And on a tour of Prospect Park Lake, there is a good chance of spying green and black-crowned night herons.
DKGiant Ferris wheel and restaurants along the sandy beach, Coney Island
Hunting the past
New York also has a rich array of places that remember, reveal, and bring history to life. Both the Ellis Island Immigration Museum and the Tenement Museum shed light on the immigrant experience.
The former occupies the building through which millions passed as they were granted entry to the US, while the latter transports visitors back in time for a glimpse of the lives these immigrants led while settling down.
Visiting the Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace, a reconstructed brownstone in Gramercy Park, and Wave Hill in the Bronx is a great way to learn about one of the most fascinating figures in American history. Several preserved houses afford visitors a first-hand peek at their long-ago inhabitants, including the Edgar Allan Poe Cottage and Lefferts Historic House in Prospect Park. Kids who want to know more about the city itself will enjoy a visit to the Museum of the City of New York.
New York on a budget
The city has an abundance of things to do that are free or cost very little. The enormous green spaces of Central Park and Prospect Park are filled with cultural sights and play zones alike. Both host various free walking tours year-round. A visit to Chelsea’s High Line is free of charge, as is the entire gamut of New York’s extensive parks system. Several museums, zoos, and gardens allow free entry on designated days or mornings. Seeing the Statue of Liberty from the Staten Island Ferry, exploring architectural gems such as Grand Central Terminal, with its magnificent ceiling, and visiting the various landmarks at Rockefeller Center don’t cost a dime, either. Come summer, free family- friendly cultural offerings abound, thanks to such events as the SummerStage and the River To River Festival, whose music, theater, and dance performances are famous, and outdoor kids’ film series such as River Flicks.
DKPeople relaxing along a section of the High Line, an elevated public park created on an old train line
Green New York
The city’s most popular attractions include numerous green oases, foremost among them Central Park. From the Literary Walk to the grand plaza of Bethesda Terrace, and kid-magnets such as the carousel and the zoo, the park is a natural retreat in more ways than one. Central Park also offers rowing, ice-skating, cycling, and walking tours. In Brooklyn, Prospect Park’s Audubon Center focuses on the beauty of the park’s diverse terrain and the wildlife that inhabits it. Brooklyn Botanic Garden and the Bronx’s New York Botanical Garden offer plenty of child-oriented fun with their vast lawns, flower gardens, deep woods, and even (in the case of the former) a Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden. The Hudson River Park has basketball, tennis, and beach volleyball courts – all free to use – plus superb playgrounds.
DKCherry trees in blossom in the Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden, Brooklyn Botanic Garden
New York by season
Each of New York’s four seasons, from its all-too-short summer to its long winter, has its charms. Although the beginning of spring can seem indistinguishable from winter, visits to the Union Square Greenmarket, where farmers sell treats such as maple syrup, honey, baby arugula, and goat cheese, and to the High Line, which bursts with green plantings from April, show off the season of rebirth to great effect.
Summer is the perfect time to circumnavigate the island of Manhattan by boat, take a kayak out on the Hudson, and experience a baseball game at the Yankee Stadium. Nature lovers can catch an Audubon Center bird-watching boat tour in Prospect Park.
The easygoing days of summer start to give way to crisp air and high cultural energy come the fall. Head to the National Museum of the American Indian for a primer on the country’s original inhabitants. It has great exhibitions, an excellent gift shop and, occasionally, music and dance shows. Fall is also the perfect season to explore Chinatown, make a visit to the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, and take a walk through the wilds of The Ramble in Central Park. After the hike, climb up the steps of Belvedere Castle to take in the amazing panorama from one of its three majestic lookouts.
Winter naturally involves spending more time indoors. Besides the city’s wealth of museums, Queens’ New York Hall of Science is not to be missed. However, a trip to Wollman Rink for proper outdoor ice-skating has the potential to delight kids for hours. In December, the tree at Rockefeller Center and the lavishly decorated holiday windows of the city’s department stores will lend any visit some special seasonal magic.
< Back to Introducing New York City
New York Through the Year
DKFrom left to right Visitor at the Holiday Train Show at the New York Botanical Garden; New York City Marathon, one of the world’s most prestigious annual long-distance running events, Fourth Avenue Brooklyn
DKAsian women in colourful red robes and bonnets at the annual Fifth Avenue Easter Parade
New York is packed with events all year round. Every season has its own tempo and temptations: ice-skating and expos in winter, blossoms and parades in spring. Summer sports, concerts, and boat rides make the most of the outdoors, while fall ushers in a new Broadway season. Beginning in late November, New York puts on the most glorious Thanksgiving parade and holiday displays in the nation.
Spring
Even before spring has officially begun, the city is filled with activities. As the weather turns warmer, New York’s spirit blooms along with its gardens, and parades add to the festive mood.
MARCH
Prize orchids from around the world are on display at the annual Orchid Show in the New York Botanical Garden
The Armory Show exhibits contemporary art. Basketball fans focus on the excitement at the Big East Championship Tournament.
The St Patrick’s Day Parade, on 17 March, gives winter a rousing send-off with a day-long procession of musicians, marchers, and wearin’ of the green in New York’s oldest and biggest parade. The annual Greek Independence Day Parade (Mar/Apr) features colorful costumes, while Macy’s Flower Show turns the store into a floral wonderland. Chocoholics wait eagerly for the Chocolate Expo in Garden City, where chocolates, baked foods, wine, cheese, and much more, can be tasted and purchased.
DKFourth of July or Independence Day celebration fireworks seen above the Manhattan skyline
APRIL
The annual Sakura Matsuri Cherry Blossom Festival is a spectacle of color, with more than 200 blooming cherry trees, plus demonstrations of traditional Japanese arts. The annual Earth Day New York in Union Square is a celebration that includes kids’ activities and live performances, while the return of baseball with the Yankees at Yankee Stadium and the Mets at Citi Field brings cheering crowds. New York’s gala Easter Parade and Easter Bonnet Festival, on Easter Sunday, is a chance to see paraders in their fantastic bonnets. Robert De Niro’s prestigious Tribeca Film Festival screens more than 1,000 promising new films.
MAY
One of America’s finest dance companies, the New York City Ballet thrills audiences with its spring shows each year. The Ninth Avenue International Food Festival is the city’s biggest gathering of food producers from around the world.
Everyone can join in the fun at the New York Dance Parade, when dancers performing the samba, waltz, and Irish step dances frolic their way Downtown; this is followed by dancing in Tompkins Square Park. Fleet Week, during Memorial Day week, is when thousands of uniformed naval crew arrive in the city and welcome visitors to their ships for free tours.
DKBelly dancers at the annual New York Dance Parade, which features a wide range of dancing styles
Summer
Summer brings free outdoor theater and concerts, craft fairs, boat rides, and dazzling Independence Day fireworks. Baseball is in full swing, nearby beaches beckon, and dragon-boat races bring a festive touch of Asia to the city.
JUNE
Culture buffs can look forward to the annual Museum Mile Festival, when nine museums offer free admission and a car-free Fifth Avenue is filled with music and performances. June also sees the colorful Mermaid Parade, which marks the unofficial start of the beach season, with floats featuring sea-themed creatures. The Puerto Rican Day Parade is the city’s biggest Latin celebration, a day-long party that draws millions of spectators.
The American Crafts Festival, held over two weekends, brings dozens of artisans to the city to display their creations. The PRIDE Festival™ celebrates Gay Pride Week with a rally and street fair in Greenwich Village.
JULY
The high point of the Independence Day celebrations is Macy’s Fireworks Display on July 4, which lights up the night sky with fantastic pyrotechnics. Midsummer Night Swing transfoms the outdoor plaza into a dance floor, with live orchestras. Free Shakespeare in the Park at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park is a summer-long treat, with two productions to entertain audiences. Spectators savor great music and picnic under the stars, when Central Park hosts free Philharmonic in the Park Concerts featuring fireworks as an encore. The Metropolitan Opera also goes alfresco for a series of concerts. Their Live in HD screenings in the Lincoln Center Plaza and concerts in many city parks are treasured summer events.
AUGUST
Starting in late July, Lincoln Center Out of Doors puts on three weeks of open-air performances. One of the most unusual events is the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival, at Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, which sees dragon boats race on Meadow Lake. Harlem Week has entertainment and cultural events over several days. The US Open Tennis Championships, which starts at the end of the month, is the year’s final Grand Slam event, showcasing the world’s best players.
DKParticipants in the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival, Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, Queens
Fall
Labor Day marks the end of the summer, but not the end of outdoor fun, as bright fall days are ideal for festivals and more parades. The Broadway season goes into high gear in fall and museums mount exciting new exhibitions.
SEPTEMBER
Over the Labor Day weekend, the Caribbean Carnival passes through Brooklyn with one of the city’s largest parades, featuring steel bands, floats, and costumes. It attracts over a million spectators. Families flock to the Richmond County Fair, also held on Labor Day weekend, where New York’s only living-history village offers old-fashioned funfair rides and music. In the middle of September, the Feast of San Gennaro, the annual salute to the patron saint of Naples, brings with it 11 days of parades and non-stop Italian food. The annual Great North River Tugboat Race and Competition is fun for families; kids will enjoy the tugboat races, amateur line-toss competition, and the spinach-eating contest. The New York Film Festival, which runs into October, gives movie enthusiasts the chance to preview award-winning films and meet their creators.
OCTOBER
This month features the delightful The Feast of St. Francis, celebrated on the first Sunday of the month at the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine, when camels, peacocks, and goats line up, along with more familiar pets, for the annual Blessing of the Animals. The Columbus Day Parade, on the second Monday of October, salutes Italian-Americans with 35,000 participants and more than 100 bands.
Free tours of interesting buildings and sites, many of which are usually closed to the public, are the highlight of the Open House New York Weekend, which celebrates the city’s architecture and design. Comic book fans will want to take in the New York Comic Con, at the Javits Center, where comics, graphic novels, anime, video games, toys, and movies are on display and for sale.
The city celebrates Halloween in style with the famous Village Halloween Parade in Greenwich Village, where outrageous costumes are the norm.
NOVEMBER
As the ice-skating season begins, rented skates are available for hire at the Winter Village at Bryant Park or The Rink at Rockefeller Center. A week or so later Wollman Rink in Central Park opens for the season. While skaters twirl outdoors, the basketball season kicks off indoors as the New York Knicks go into action at Madison Square Garden. The weather turns colder in November, but that does not deter the thousands of runners who do the 26.2 mile (42.1 km) five-borough run from Staten Island to Central Park in the New York City Marathon.
Just for laughs, the five-day New York Comedy Festival brings big names in comedy to the stage.
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, on the fourth Thursday of the month, has officially begun the Yule season for over 90 years. Another much-loved tradition is the Rockefeller Center Tree Lighting (on the first Wed after Thanksgiving), which sets more than 30,000 lights aglitter on a giant tree topped with a 550-lb (250-kg) Swarovski crystal star. And the season would not be complete without the aptly named Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall, which thrills with special effects and the high-kicking Rockettes.
From late November to December 24, holiday bazaars at Union Square, Grand Central Terminal, Bryant Park, and Columbus Circle lure shoppers with big displays of fine crafts that provide inspiration for holiday giving.
The annual Holiday Train Show at the New York Botanical Garden runs through January, and sends model trains whizzing through New York landmarks made of bark and plant materials.
DKHuge SpongeBob SquarePants balloon floating above Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
Winter
New York is a magical place at Christmas – even the stone lions at the New York Public Library don wreaths for the occasion, and shop windows become works of art. Celebrations abound in the city, and colorful ice-skaters glide in city parks with skyscrapers as a backdrop.
DECEMBER
Christmas is not the only holiday celebrated in December. The Jewish Hanukkah is marked with the lighting of one of the world’s largest menorah above Fifth Avenue. The annual Kwanzaa Festival in late December is a time for African-American music, dance, and crafts at the American Museum of Natural History, Brooklyn Children’s Museum, and other venues across the city.
Thousands gather to watch the New Year’s Eve Ball Drop (see Museum of the Moving Image and around) in Times Square, heralding the start of the new year.
JANUARY
Colder days do not stop the excitement in New York. Organized by El Museo del Barrio, the Three Kings Day Parade, on January 6, is a much-loved procession of children, with camels, sheep, and puppets, as well as adults dressed as the Three Kings. Later in the month, the New York Boat Show, a century-old city tradition, offers an eye-boggling display of seafaring craft, from kayaks to yachts.
FEBRUARY
The Chinese New Year Parade is usually held in early February, when dazzling dragons dance their way through the streets of Chinatown. Canine-lovers converge to see who will be the top dog at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at Madison Square Garden. The three-week New York International Children’s Film Festival screens independent films to delight kids of all ages.
DKChinese New Year in the neighborhood of Sunset Park, Brooklyn Chinatown
The Lowdown
Spring
Armory Show www.thearmoryshow.com
Big East Championship Tournament www.bigeast.org
Chocolate Expo in Garden City www.thechocolateexpo.com
Fleet Week fleetweeknewyork.com
Greek Independence Day Parade www.hellenicsocieties.org/PARADES.html
New York City Ballet www.nycballet.com
New York Dance Parade www.danceparade.org
Ninth Avenue International Food Festival www.ninthavenuefoodfestival.com
Tribeca Film Festival www.tribecafilm.com
Summer
American Crafts Festival www.10times.com/crafts-festival
Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival www.hkdbf-ny.org
Metropolitan Opera www.metoperafamily.org
Midsummer Night Swing www.midsummernightswing.org
Museum Mile Festival www.nycgo.com/events/museum-mile-festival
Philharmonic in the Park Concerts www.nyphil.org/parks
Puerto Rican Day Parade www.nprdpinc.org
Fall
Caribbean Carnival www.wiadca.com
Christmas Spectacular www.radiocity.com
The Feast of St. Francis www.stjohndivine.org
Great North River Tugboat Race and Competition http://workingharbor.com/tugrace_home.html
New York City Marathon www.tcsnycmarathon.org
New York Comedy Festival www.nycomedyfestival.com
New York Comic Con www.newyorkcomiccon.com
NY Film Festival www.filmlinc.com
Open House New York Weekend www.ohny.org
Winter
Chinese New Year Parade www.chinatown-online.com
Kwanzaa Festival www.nycgo.com/events/kwanzaa-celebrations
New York Boat Show www.nyboatshow.com
New York International Children’s Film Festival www.nyicff.org
Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show www.westminsterkennelclub.org
National and New York State holidays
New Year’s Day Jan 1
Martin Luther King Day 3rd Mon in Jan
Lincoln’s Birthday Feb 12
Presidents’ Day (Washington’s Birthday) 3rd Mon in Feb
Memorial Day last Mon in May
Independence Day Jul 4
Labor Day 1st Mon in Sep
Columbus Day 2nd Mon in Oct
Election Day 1st Tue in Nov
Veterans’ Day Nov 11
Thanksgiving Day 4th Thu in Nov
Christmas Day Dec 25
< Back to Introducing New York City
Getting to New York
DKPassengers arriving at John F. Kennedy International Airport
A major gateway to the US for much of the world, New York receives more than 50 million visitors a year. The city terminals can be crowded, but you will receive an efficient and friendly welcome whether arriving by air, sea, or overland. Knowing what to expect on arrival will make entry smoother, so read up on essential requirements and be ready with the necessary credentials when needed, including those for children.
US entry requirements
Citizens of 38 nations, including most European countries, do not need a visa to enter the US, but must submit the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) form in advance. The Transportation Security Administration is the best source of information on security regulations. Before landing, overseas visitors need to fill in a Customs and Border Protection Agency form, with their passport details and the value of any gifts being brought in. Photos and fingerprints of non-residents between 14 years and 79 years are taken. Visitors are advised to check for updates on travel requirements to the US before booking tickets.
Arriving by air
John F. Kennedy (JFK) and Newark Liberty International (EWR), in New Jersey, are New York’s two main international airports. Both handle some domestic flights as well. The third major airport, LaGuardia (LGA), serves mainly domestic flights. Most major airlines, including British Airways, Delta, Virgin Atlantic, and United Airlines, offer regular service to New York City. Rates are usually lower mid-week and lowest in the off-season (Nov–Mar), except for holiday periods.
Compare airline rates on websites such as www.kayak.com, www.expedia.com, or www.orbitz.com. Travelers from smaller European cities may be able to save by flying first to London, where several airlines compete for passengers to the US. The non-stop flight from London to New York takes about 7–8 hours. Visitors from Australia and New Zealand have no non-stop options, but must land in Los Angeles for refueling. The flight to Los Angeles is 14 hours; with layover, the total trip is more than 21 hours.
Airport transfers
The NYC Airporter operates private cars and shuttle vans between Manhattan and JFK ($18, $27 round trip per person) or LGA ($15, $24 round trip per person). Olympia Trails Airport Express runs express buses between Newark Airport and the Port Authority Bus Terminal, Bryant Park, and Grand Central Terminal ($16, $28 round trip per person). Taxis are available near each drop-off point. Door-to-door shared minibus service between all airports and Manhattan is provided by Super Shuttle or GO Airlink NYC for about $20 per person, but these take longer. Taxis to Midtown are available from the airports, as are private limo services, such as Carmel Car & Limousine Service. Ask for a van if you are carrying strollers or heavy baggage.
The AirTrain is inexpensive but difficult to manage with luggage. From JFK, it means a train ride from the airport to Howard Beach or Jamaica Station, from where subways A, E, J, and Z go into Manhattan.
DKChecking train schedules around the four-faced opal clock at Grand Central Terminal
Arriving by sea
Cunard has many sailings from England to the US, while Regent, Princess, Carnival, MSC, NCL, Crystal, and Oceania are among those cruising to and from Canada or Mexico. For cruise deals, check www.cruisecritic.com or www.cruises.com. Most cruise ships land at the main Manhattan Cruise Terminal or the growing secondary Brooklyn Cruise Terminal in Red Hook.
DKCruise ship on Upper Bay, with the Statue of Liberty in the distant background
Arriving by rail
Amtrak is the national rail system. Trains arrive at Penn Station, which can be crowded. Commuter trains from upstate and Connecticut arrive at Grand Central Terminal, a much more manageable station. Book in advance online with Amtrak and check for weekly specials.
DKCommuter train at a platform, en route to Penn Station
Arriving by coach
Greyhound is the largest intercity US bus line, with economical services, across the country. Its newer buses are comfortable. Purchase tickets in advance online and receive them via email. In New York, all long-distance buses are headquartered at the Port Authority Bus Terminal, where taxis are usually available. The bargain bus lines such as Bolt or Megabus from Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore, or Washington, DC, usually arrive near Penn Station.
The Lowdown
US entry requirements
Customs and Border Protection Agency www.cbp.gov
Transport Security Administration www.tsa.gov
Arriving by air
Airports
JFK 718 244 4444; www.panynj.gov/airports/jfk.html
LaGuardia 718 533 3400; www.panynj.gov/airports/laguardia.html
Newark Liberty International 973 961 6000; www.panynj.gov/airports/newark-liberty.html
Airlines
British Airways www.britishairways.com
Delta www.delta.com
United Airlines www.united.com
Virgin Atlantic www.virgin-atlantic.com
Airport transfers
AirTrain www.panynj.gov/airports/jfk-airtrain.html; www.panynj.gov/airports/ewr-airtrain.html
Carmel Car & Limousine Service 212 666 6666; www.carmellimo.com
GO Airlink NYC 212 812 9000; www.goairlinkshuttle.com
NYC Airporter www.nycairporter.com
Olympia Trails Airport Express 877 863 9275; www.coachusa.com/olympia
Super Shuttle 800 258 3826; www.supershuttle.com
Arriving by sea
Brooklyn Cruise Terminal Red Hook Terminal Pier #12; 718 855 5590
Manhattan Cruise Terminal 711 Twelfth Ave at West 55th St; 212 246 5450
Arriving by rail
Amtrak 800 872 7245; www.amtrak.com
Penn Station 234 West 31st St at Eighth Ave; 212 630 6401
Arriving by coach
Bolt Bus 877 265 8287; www.boltbus.com
Greyhound 800 231 2222; www.greyhound.com
Megabus 877 462 6342; www.megabus.com
Port Authority Bus Terminal 625 Eighth Ave; 212 564 8484; www.panynj.gov
< Back to Introducing New York City
Getting Around New York
DKLeft An NYC Transit bus in Columbus Circle, Midtown Manhattan Right Street signs at an intersection of routes through the city
DKCommuters at the 42 St-Port Authority Bus Terminal subway station
Thanks to the city’s extensive and efficient public-transportation system, getting around New York is easy. When traveling by bus or subway, the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) website’s Trip Planner can provide maps and directions. Getting around Manhattan is particularly straightforward, as most of the area is laid out in a regular grid pattern. But getting a little bit lost in New York can be a bonus – every block holds interesting discoveries.
Finding your way
Manhattan streets running east-west are numbered – toward Uptown (north), numbers get higher and toward Downtown (south), they get lower. The whole width of the island is only about 12 blocks, divided by avenues running south–north. These avenues may have names instead of numbers, but they too are mostly on a grid. Fifth Avenue divides the horizontal
streets into East
or West
(as in East 40th St
). It is more challenging to get around in the city’s older sections, such as Greenwich Village, Chinatown, or the Financial District.
Keep in mind that all visitors traveling with a smartphone will be able to download relevant sections of Google maps to access offline, making it possible to search for specific addresses even without Wi-Fi access.
The MetroCard
You need a MetroCard to use the subway, and it is convenient on buses too (eliminating the need for exact change). Cards are sold for $1 in all subway stations by booth attendants or vending machines; booths are cash only. A single ride is $2.75. Multi-ride cards may be purchased from $5.50 up. Up to three children can ride free with an adult, provided they usually do not exceed 44 inches (112 cm) in height. Put $5.50 or more on your card and receive a 5 percent bonus amount on the card. Buying a seven-day Unlimited Pass for $31 can amount to substantial savings, even on shorter stays.
DKSwiping a MetroCard on a turnstile at the entance to a New York subway station
Using the subway
The subway is the quickest way to get around the city, but during rush hours it is crowded, before 9:30am and 3:30–8pm, when trains are packed. Train routes are identified by a letter or number and each route