New York City: know before you go

New York City has three major airports. John F. Kennedy (JFK) and LaGuardia (LGA) sit in Queens; Newark Liberty (EWR) is across the river in New Jersey. JFK and Newark have direct rail links to Manhattan. LaGuardia requires a bus-to-subway transfer, but the airport bus is free. Taxis and rideshares are flat-rate or metered, and traffic can turn a 30-minute drive into 90 minutes during rush hour.

The subway runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and is the fastest way to get around. Buses fill the gaps where subway lines do not reach. You do not need a car; you will not want one. Tap any contactless credit or debit card, phone, or smartwatch on the OMNY reader at the turnstile. The same tap works on buses. The system automatically caps your weekly spend: after 12 paid rides in a seven-day period, the rest are free.

New York City adds layers of tax to every hotel stay, and the total is higher than most visitors expect. Sales tax here combines state, city, and a metropolitan surcharge. On top of that, a city-only hotel occupancy tax and per-room daily fees apply. The final bill is often 15–18% above the sticker price. There is no city tourist tax on meals or attractions, but sales tax on restaurant meals and most goods is the standard 8.875%. Several major museums have pay-what-you-wish hours for New York State residents; out-of-state visitors generally pay full admission.

New York is one of the safest large cities in the United States, and the places a visitor walks (Midtown, the Village, Brooklyn Heights, the Upper West Side) are busy well past midnight. Violent crime against tourists is rare. The more practical concerns are street awareness, pickpockets in dense crowds, and knowing which number to call.

New York City tap water is excellent: clean, soft, and constantly tested. You can drink it anywhere and refill a bottle from any public water fountain or restaurant tap. The city's drinking water comes from protected upstate reservoirs and is the largest unfiltered water supply in the United States. Walking is the primary mode of visiting, so wear comfortable shoes and drink more water than you think you need in summer.

Cell coverage is strong across all five boroughs. Free public Wi-Fi is available at LinkNYC kiosks on sidewalks throughout Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens. The kiosks also let you make free domestic calls and charge a device. Most subway stations have Wi-Fi and cellular service on platforms, though connections drop in tunnels between stations. Most cafés and restaurants offer free Wi-Fi; ask for the password when you order.

New Yorkers move fast and value efficiency. On escalators and stairways, stand to the right and walk on the left. Do not block the sidewalk to take a photo, check your phone, or consult a map; step to the side against a building. On the subway, let passengers exit before you board, and take your backpack off and place it between your feet. Tipping follows the United States norm: 18–20% at sit-down restaurants, $1–2 per drink at a bar, and a dollar or two per bag for bellhops.

The subway is not fully accessible. Roughly 30% of stations have elevators, and they are concentrated in Manhattan and newer stations in Brooklyn and Queens. The MTA publishes a real-time elevator and escalator status page, and station agents can help plan an accessible route. All MTA buses are wheelchair-accessible and kneel to the curb. Access-A-Ride provides door-to-door paratransit for eligible riders, but it requires advance registration and is not available to short-term visitors. The city's sidewalks are curb-cut throughout Manhattan and most of the outer borough commercial districts. Major attractions, museums, and Broadway theaters are wheelchair-accessible.

A handful of New York experiences sell out weeks or months ahead, and you cannot simply walk up. Book these before you leave home. Crown tickets for the Statue of Liberty sell out two to three months in advance. The Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museum of Modern Art now require timed-entry reservations, even for paid tickets. Broadway shows release tickets months ahead; popular productions sell out, though discount day-of seats are available through TKTS booths in Times Square and Lincoln Center. If you want a specific restaurant, the kind with a reservation book, book it a month out.