A Solo Traveller’s Guide To New York City

July 28, 2017

Aerial View of New York City at Night

New York City is a prime destination for any solo traveller wanting to get a taste of the hustle and bustle of city life while taking in some of the most famous landmarks on earth. New York City offers the widest selection of things to do, attractions to visit, places to eat and places to stay.

Sunset over Manhattan, New York City

Each time I visit New York City I always leave feeling that I have unfinished business to take care in the city. I never feel like I have even scratched the surface in terms of exploring this great city.

Empire State Building in Manhattan, New York City at Night

It’s been called the “Big Apple” by some and the “City That Never Sleeps” by others. New York City is simply a great place to visit. From the Empire State Building to Central Park to the Statue of Liberty, this is a city that has it all and has plenty of things to do.

Radio City Music Hall, New York City, USA

New York City draws in almost seven times its total population in tourists every year. That is no small feat, especially when the city boasts an impressive population of over eight million people.

Brooklyn Bridge, New York City at night

Getting To New York City

Travel to and from New York City is very simple. You can fly from anywhere in the world into the city at John F. Kennedy International Airport, LaGuardia Airport or Newark International Airport.

New York City skyline

Getting Around New York City

Once in the city, you have quite a few easy and affordable means of getting around. You can use the very famous 24 hour metro subway system, get a taxi, travel on a bus and/or even take a ferry.

New York City Metro

I highly recommend taking the subway system as it’s quite reliable and much quicker than travelling by road. The extensive subway system can carry travellers anywhere within the five boroughs. If you will be in New York City for a few days you may want to consider getting weekly travel card, where you have unlimited journeys for the duration of your journey.

Staten Island Ferry. New York City

I would recommend that you download an app with the New York City subway map. This will help you tremendously in navigating the subway system. You should also have Google Maps working on your phone (even if it’s an offline version) to help you navigate the city at street level.

Where To Stay in New York City

Quite a few of New York City’s top attractions are in Manhattan. Manhattan is quite central for everything. However, this means that hotel rooms are more expensive in Manhattan.

New York City at night

You can find much cheaper accommodation options in the Brooklyn and Queens area. The key thing is to stay somewhere that has relatively easy access to a subway station with a line that runs through Manhattan.

Manhattan, New York City, USA

Hotels in New York City are available at various price ranges, star ratings and locations. You can use the Widest.com hotel comparison tool to compare hotels based on ratings, price, location and proximity to certain attractions.

Where To Eat

Every type of food imaginable can be found in New York City. You can sample different types of American cuisine as well as foods from cultures all around the world. Whatever your taste or budget, you will find a restaurant or food outlet serving up something just for you. Just remember to leave a tip if you dine it.

Time Square, New York City, USA

Eating in New York City is one of the best ways to experience a multi-ethnic dining experience. The locals brag about their cheesecake and pizza, which is frequently imitated throughout the country. Other local favourites include a variety of Chinese cuisine and hot pastrami sandwiches. Make time to visit Coney Island, home of Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs. This restaurant proudly serves over 425 million hot dogs every year.

New York City, NY at night

Shopping

New York City is a very popular destination for shoppers. All major brands in the world have a store or outlet in New York City. You can shop at any number of big-name and mom-and-pop stores all over the city. Be mindful that you might have to pay custom fees when you arrive at your airport in your home country.

New York City, USA

Nightlife

As you would expect, New York City comes alive in the night. There are countless clubs, bars, restaurants and even attractions that you can visit for some really memorable moments and breath-taking photos. This city never sleeps, and the good thing is that it is fairly safe to explore the New York City 24 hours of the day. Even the shops close quite late, if you fancy a bit of night shopping.

New York City skyline at night

Things To Do In New York City

There are things to do in New York City for just everyone, whether you are a solo traveller, family or a travel group.

Broadway, New York City, USA

You can visit a wide selection of world-class museums such as Metropolitan Museum of Art and the American Museum of Natural History. One attraction you should definitely try to visit is the the 9/11 Memorial.

Guggenheim Museum, New York City, USA

Brooklyn Museum, New York City

National September 11 Memorial and Museum, New York City

Flight 93 name at Ground Zero Memorial, New York City

You should definitely try and watch a Broadway show in New York City. You will have a really good selection of shows to choose from. You can search for the shows and book online, and simply pick up your tickets at the box office before the show.

Broadway, New York City

One of the major attractions in New York City is the famous Central Park: an 843-acre greenbelt in the heart of Manhattan. This is one of the most-filmed locations in the world.

Central Park, New York City, USA

Outside of Manhattan, there are loads of other world-famous attractions. The most notable one in my opinion would be the Statue of Liberty. You can take ferry rides and visit other areas of New York City, such as to Liberty Island, where the Statue of Liberty is located. The Staten Island Ferry is free, and it offers spectacular views of the Statue of Liberty.

Statue of Liberty, New York City

One of the best ways to experience New York City is to view the city from the top. The Empire State Building, The Rockefeller Center (Top of the Rock) and One World Trade Center are some of the most popular and tallest places from which to view New York City from the top.

Empire State Building, New York City

Rockefeller Center, New York City, USA

One World Trade Center, New York City

You can read our article on the top 12 attractions and things to do in New York City. If you plan to visit many attractions, you can save time and money by getting an attraction pass. Read our review of the best New York City attraction passes.

Popular Events

Popular events include the Tribeca Film Festival in April, the U.S. Open in autumn, the Macy’s Day Thanksgiving Parade on Thanksgiving, the Rockefeller Center tree lighting in the beginning of December. New Year’s Eve draws over one million people down to Times Square to celebrate the century-old tradition of watching the ball drop and counting down the last seconds of the year.

Rockefeller Center, New York City

When To Visit

New York City has a broad variety of things to do and see for tourists visiting any time of the year. The exciting attractions, interactive events, unique dining, and luxury hotels all add up to an experience to remember.

Aerial View of Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan, New York City

Take a trip to New York City to experience a fast-paced life in a city that never sleeps. You will find yourself coming back again and again to experience more of what this city has to offer. No matter what you decide to do, there are always an abundance of things to do in New York City.