The internet is brimming with all of the most beautiful photos of what some consider their favorite place in the world – New York City. The Big Apple. Gotham. Whatever name you have assigned to it, this probably dredges up all sorts of iconic imagery. Massive screens flashing hundreds of feet up in the air while a river of people coruscate below them in Time Square. Absurdly high slate gray skyscrapers shrouded so far up in fog that they seem to be levitating in the clouds. And lets not forget about cross walks flanking an avenue with smoke billowing up behind. But sometimes, you need to get down to the nitty gritty of a location to truly be able to enjoy it, so we’ve thrown together these vital New York City travel tips.

Whether you’ve always dreamed of going or have been once before these 5 Hacks to Travel New York City Like A Boss could be the difference in it remaining The City of Dreams or turning into a menacing nightmare.

5 Hacks to Travel New York City Like a Boss

Hack #1: Choosing the Best Time to Visit NYC

• Preferred Time of Year : Fall
• Days Preferred: Weekdays & Non Holiday Weekends
• Preferred Time Of Day Arrival: Non-rush Hours (not near 5 PM)

Having been to the Big Apple twice now I really wanted to share these New York City travel tips. I can absolutely tell you there’s a BIG difference in the weather based upon the season you go during. My husband and I Honeymooned in Mid July in 2017.  We chose to go in October this year, which has given me experiences that I can now share these New York City Travel Tips from!

So both trips were worth it, but I really honestly enjoyed traveling this fall more. Weather wouldn’t be such a factor, but you’ll walk a lot even if you choose to use the Subway for longer distances. Fall in New York means the weather is consistently in between 65 and 75 degrees we were able to layer up with a light jacket but not freeze and also not die of humidity. This is a STARK contrast to the high of 93 degrees we experienced the prior summer.

As far as the pedestrian traffic level, we also noticed that monuments, Times Square and 5th Avenue were all immensely less busy during the weekdays. This became increasingly apparent when we battled Columbus Day Weekend holiday traffic with wall to wall tourists at the September 11th Memorial Fountains. This New York City travel tip will honestly save you a lot of hassle if you are able to go on non weekends.

Also, don’t fly in near rush hour, which is 5 o’clock. You’re going to tack on a lot more time in a packed public bus or Subway. And navigating the Subway system with a million other people, multiple newcomers in your party and heavy bags is a recipe for disaster. You’ll have mad stress sweat.

Now I will say that if you are willing to brave the even more dense wall of people that this shouldn’t stop you from attending an event in the city. But you need to be ready for that.

Also, I have yet to be near Christmas time or New Years. And as you all know, I’m a self-proclaimed Christmas Freak. So while there are tons of fun seasonal things I’d love to do around New York that time of year I would also imagine that the cold and ice would make it less enjoyable.

Hack #2: Getting From the Airport to Manhattan Without Paying A Billion Dollars For A Sketchy Taxi

• Preferred Transportation : Public Buses & Metro/Or AirTrain
• Preferred Time Of Day Arrival: Non-rush Hours (not near 5 PM)

Let me be very clear, there’s nothing wrong with getting an Uber. Or a Lyft. Or Taxi. But I’ve been in some sketchy taxis and smokey smelling Lyfts. New York City has a pretty nifty solution – public transportation. Which yes, is not always the most glamorous but is 1) an authentic experience 2) pretty freaking cheap.

My husband and I chose to fly Southwest, which means we have to use LaGuardia Airport. Which trust me, I’ve heard JFK is a million times better. But we prefer the service this airline offers, so it’s worth it to us.

Once you get off of your flight in LaGuardia and collect your luggage from the baggage claim, you’ll need to get a Metro pass ASAP. They will be located in a line of kiosks near most exits from your terminal. If you are having trouble locating them or purchasing a card ask a nearby airport staff member. You can put a minimum of $5 on your Metro card (which I don’t recommend) or you can just buy an unlimited pass. They have a 3 day and 7 day unlimited option. Our 7 day unlimited pass ONLY COST $33 EACH!

After you have exited your terminal there will be another kiosk with LaGuardia Link emblazoned on it underneath a Public Buses Sign. Here you will insert your Metro card and it will spit a buss pass out to wherever you want to go.

Actually getting onto the LaGuardia Link is the tricky part. The good news is they send more buses closer together when it’s busy. But you’re going to be jammed in there like a Sardine. On the ride over one of my arms was resting on an elderly man’s belly and my hip was up against another young lady. Here are some things to remember:

• It’s NYC. People are aggressive. Even if you’re first in the cluster version of a line you’ll probably have someone shove past you. They don’t mean anything by it, that’s just how it works. Just make sure you get on the same bus as the rest of your party.
• If you have a large piece of luggage, try to shove it sideways into the available carrier. If not, you’ll be standing balancing that and a pole or pulley.
• Sometimes public buses have great air conditioners, sometimes they don’t. And if traffics bad there are a lot of starts and stops. Basically make sure that you have a full stomach or snack handy and have taken some motion sickness medication.

Now your bus may take you close enough to your hotel that you 1) can walk your luggage for a few blocks 2) you may have to get on the Subway or 3) you can Uber if it’s a long walk.

This is pretty much the only time my husband and I recommend getting an Uber in New York because you can get stuck in traffic and waste loads of time. And they’re EXPENSIVE. However, if you have a lot of luggage or a long distance between your hotel and the airport/bus this may be the most sane option. Definitely recommended to take an Uber if you’re not just toting a backpack. This New York city travel tip is important. It is worth paying the additional fee for private transport.

If you have to get on the Subway with baggage you need to be able to carry it down a few flights of stairs both ways – so don’t pack a monster suitcase. However, you can use the EMERGENCY EXIT door rather than lifting it over the entryway upon scanning in the Subway.

If you came in at JFK Airport you’re going to take the AirTrain rather than a public bus/metro.

Hack #3: Getting Around NYC Without Losing Your Sanity

• Preferred Transportation : Metro
• Preferred Time Of Day Arrival: Non-rush Hours (not near 5 PM)

Just like traveling from the Airport to Manhattan you could Uber around NY. It would be really freaking expensive. There are times and places that call for Ubers and others when the Subway or walking will do just fine.

Nine times out of ten you’re not going to Uber.

When you’re making this decision, obviously you’re going to be time savvy. To start, I would plug your desired location into Google Maps. From here you can toggle between estimated arrival times for public transportation (the Metro) and walking. For instance, if you’re trying to travel Times Square you could take a Subway ride that lasts 18 minutes or you could walk it in 23 minutes.

You may be thinking heck yes, I’ma save five minutes. But here’s the deal, you have to get to the Subway station. While they dot the city nicely this still needs to be factored in. Then you have to get down into the actual Subway (which regardless of traffic is 1-2 platforms of stairs). Finally you have to actually get through the line to slide your Metro card, find your train’s arrival area and pray to Jesus there’s room for you on a car. Also it’s hot and humid in the Subway tunnels and waiting around for a missed train isn’t super fun. And the Subway can also run late.

My husband and I honestly prefer to walk unless it’s going to take a significant distance like New Jersey or Brooklyn which were thirty minute rides and would take two and a half hours to walk.

Another gem, if you’re using Google Maps to navigate you better have those babies loaded BEFORE you ever venture down into the caverns of the Subway. Because you will have no service down in it’s belly.

Don’t forget this New York City travel tip or you will be pretty well stranded.

Hack #4: What You Really Do & Don’t Need In Your Day Bag

After being to New York City twice I’ve got to recommend you have GOOD backpack to wander the streets with.

If you’re like me and love to take pictures, it better be a camera backpack.

Backpacks aren’t all the rage, but they’re a lot more functional than a purse because they carry more and can be much harder to steal. They also evenly distribute weight which is helpful if you’ve got a heavier pack.

In your day bag I recommend you carry a:

• Reusable Water Bottle
• Hand Sanitizer Bottle/Wipes
• Phone Charger
• Light Rain Jacket With Hood And/Or Ball Cap

If you carry a reusable water bottle, you’re saving money and being kinder to the environment than relying on plastic bottles. You can also have a drink whenever you damn well please and that’s really nice. New York is fun, but also a little gross. If you’re riding the Subway you’re going to want lots of hand sanitizer, which also means you can stop and eat at a deli or food stand without venturing into a disgusting public bathroom. Even though I didn’t use my charger it was nice knowing I had one just in case my phone died so I wasn’t stranded without Google maps. Finally, New York City is often foggy and misty. For me in early October a light jacket with a hood worked wonderful.

Finally, if you bring one thing to New York City, let it be good walking shoes. My husband and I each walked over twenty miles in just one day! There are so many tourists no one will be looking at your feet, I promise.

Hack #5: Best Time to Visit NYC Landmarks

• Days Preferred: Weekdays & Non Holiday Weekends
• Preferred Time Of Day Arrival: Varies

Times Square

I know you want to see Times Square in all it’s glory; at night. So see it. But if you’re actually going to shop Times Square and not just walk it the best time to go is going to be early in the morning. The weather is cooler and you can walk around more freely with less people. Most stores open between 9 am and 10 am. Be sure to check the store’s hours on Google before heading there to guarantee it will be open.

5^th Avenue

Fifth avenue tends to be much less crowded at night than Times Square is. It’s also later in the day so it’s cooler then too. We loved seeing Fifth Avenue at night, but be sure to note that most stores close between 8 pm or 9 pm so really after that all that’s left is the exterior of the beautiful buildings.

Central Park

Have you ever had breakfast in Central Park? It’s one of the most peaceful things known to man. Plus there is less pedestrian traffic and again it’s cooler in the morning. I would recommend the earlier in the day you go the better.

St. Patrick’s Cathedral

Craving some peace and solace in the fast pace of the city? Visiting St. Patrick’s Cathedral is a great way to cure that. If you want to see a mass at night, you can find their schedule here. I watched one briefly and it was beautiful! They also have self guided audio tours that you can do. They are available the following hours for a small donation. The church was never really overwhelmed at any point that I visited however you cannot visit during Sunday morning mass as the doors will be pulled to.

Top Of the Rock

Now keep in mind, I only visited the Top of the Rock one night. And it was LATE. And there were still tons of people up top and we spent a fair amount of time waiting in line and going through security. The time printed on your ticket to go up is very particular and you must be present at a particular spot to redeem it. You can’t be late. So factor in a little bit of time to find the ticket sales location so you don’t miss your spot!

Visiting during the morning or evening will guarantee you cooler weather. You can actually purchase a pass to go up once in the morning and once at night to get the full effect, this is on my bucket list! View the forecast before booking so as to avoid fog or rain and thus disappointment.

September 11^th Memorial Fountains & Freedom Tower

This part of the trip is best done during the week. This memorial is so large and significant that tourists (both domestic and international) come to appreciate it’s story. It also sits caty corner to a dove shaped shopping mall, so this adds more pedestrian traffic.

Taking photos is much easier Monday through Friday and if those are a priority and you have a DSLR I would recommend visiting then. Photographing with a camera phone while battling the crowd would do just fine on a weekend.

If you go during time of lower pedestrian traffic the likelihood that you’ll see someone using a selfie stick in front of a Memorial Fountain is much less.

We loved writing up these New York City travel tips to share! Anything we missed?

Be sure to drop a comment below!

Thanks for reading!

Lauren

If you liked this post you’d probably enjoy reading more about our adventures in the articles linked below:

• Swimming With Stingrays In the Grand Cayman Islands
• We Will Never Forget – 9/11 Memorial and Museum
• 5 Things Not to Do at a Hot Air Balloon Festival
• What It’s Really Like to Swim With Dolphins In the Grand Cayman Islands