Ah… New York, New York. The city of dreams. A concrete jungle filled with opportunities, infectious energy and romance. But why is it so great for travellers? Was Jay-Z and Alicia Keys right to sing the city’s praises? And is it actually worth visiting the city that never sleeps?
Here are ten frequently asked questions answered that should help you decide whether you should travel to NYC.
Why is New York City so famous?
There are plenty of reasons why New York City is so famous. Iconic for its grand skyscrapers, fast pace and art, you’ll find almost everything when visiting.
The city that never sleeps gets that name for a reason. Known for great food, arts, culture and buzzing atmosphere, travellers flood to the city all year round to experience it for themselves.
As well as its character, New York City is also known for its diversity. No matter who you are, you should feel comfortable being yourself when visiting the city. It’s been frequently considered the place to go if you want to start a new life or become a new person.
While other international cities are following in the same footsteps, with brightly coloured billboards and sparkling skyscrapers, New York will continue to stand as the most iconic city in the world.
Why are so many tv shows and films set in New York City?
New York City is one of the popular filming locations for many tv shows and films in the USA. This is partially due to its infrastructure making it fairly easy to work in, and viewers worldwide will immediately recognise the city on their screens.
However, not only is filming in New York convenient for filmmakers, the symbol of NYC and what the city represents are important. In many instances, New York City isn’t just a location, but a character. Sex in the city and Gossip Girl are great examples of this.
NYC is also a symbol of romance, power, dreams, and success. The city embodies plenty of the themes that people search for when escaping everyday life and watching movies and TV. As such, this allows the bustling city to act as the perfect background for many shows.
Is New York and NYC the same thing?
New York City (NYC) is a city situated in New York State (NY). So, technically they’re kind of the same thing but are still different. Most travellers will refer to New York City if they say they are visiting New York. However, there are so many other cities in the state of New York that are great to travel to.
One thing that many tourists may not know is that each state in the USA has it’s own capital city. The capital of the USA is Washington D.C, and despite being so famous, New York City isn’t even the capital of New York State! The capital of New York is Albany, which is around a 2-3 hours drive from New York City.
What type of food can you get in NYC?
Everything! New York City is so huge and diverse that you can find pretty much anything that you’re looking for in the heart of the city. A great place to visit if you’re not quite sure what you want to eat is the Time Out Market situated in Dumbo, Brooklyn. Here, you’ll find a food hall with several options of incredibly tasty and diverse restaurants for all palettes.
Why is it called the city that never sleeps?
It’s easy to understand why New York gets the name of the city that never sleeps when you visit. Just take a walk through Times Square at any time day or night and you’ll find it full of life. There is always music playing from somewhere, cars driving and people walking around no matter where you visit in the heart of the city.
Not only is it full of people, but the subway is open 24 hours a day, so it’s easy to get from place to place at any time.
Is NYC expensive to travel to?
New York City is an expensive place to be for both travellers and locals. The living costs are more than in London, UK and it’s known as one of the most expensive cities in the USA.
However, this doesn’t mean that it’s impossible to budget for. There are more cost-effective dining options, and most of the iconic landmarks can be found when walking around. You may need to pay a bit extra for excursions than you would in other cities, but it is worth it.
Is NYC safe?
Despite crime reports, New York City is a fairly safe place to visit as a tourist. No matter your race, gender or sexuality, New York City is overall a very welcoming and accepting destination.
As it is extremely busy, be sure to keep an eye on your belongings due to potential pickpockets. However, that’s also expected in a lot of other popular tourist destinations.
In the central parts of the city, there will be many tourists and locals who are friendly and will be sure that you’re safe. However, it is advisable to avoid walking around alone at night, particularly in Central Park.
What’s the best way to get around?
There are many ways to get around New York City so that you can be sure to see everything that you want.
Taxi
You can hail a yellow taxi cab, however this can eventually become quite pricey if you use this as your main method of transport. Not only will you be paying more, but the traffic in New York City can be hectic, so if you’re trying to get somewhere fast, it’s not recommended to travel by taxi everywhere you go.
Subway
The met (or subway) is a great way to travel. You can get to pretty much anywhere by subway, and it’s very easy to find a station wherever you are in the city. You can get a single journey ticket for around £2.20 – £2.50 (GBP) and you’ll find that they are very punctual and a quick place to get to where you’re going.
By foot
You’ll also find that no matter how you travel around, your daily steps will soon shoot right up. New York City is a great place to walk around and take in the sights. Every angle is picture perfect, so it’s definitely worth trying to walk to places when you can.
When’s the best time to visit New York?
Summer and Christmas time are usually the busiest times in NYC. Winter time will show the Christmas and Thanksgiving festivities which attract travellers from all over the world, and summer offers great weather.
Therefore, the best time to visit New York is usually outside of the peak months. April to June is much quieter, as is September to November when the weather isn’t too hot or cold.
January and February are also great times to visit New York City. Although the weather is much colder, there will be significantly fewer visitors which means less time queuing and waiting around for attractions. If you wrap up warm, January can be the most cost-effective and quietest time to visit.
Do I need a visa to visit New York City?
If you are a Canadian citizen, or part of the Visa Waiver Program, you won’t need to pay for a visa if you’re visiting the United States for less than 90 days. However, the VWP can’t be used if you are visiting to study, work or take up permanent residence.
Citizens of the UK and other countries are part of the Visa Waiver Program. More information on this can be found here.
There are other entry requirements depending on where you’re travelling from. However, if you are a UK citizen, you will need to apply for an Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) visa waiver. This is an electronic travel visa for a fee that will be automatically applied to your passport details when you visit.
It is important to look at the government information and entry requirements for your country if you are visiting the USA or any other destination.
Is NYC overrated?
There’s a reason why New York City is so famous. It’s a mesmerising destination with breathtaking skyscrapers and a busy culture. However, this isn’t for everyone.
If you’re not a city person, and would prefer to relax on a beach, then New York City won’t be the most tranquil destination to visit. It’s great for people who love to see the sights, each great food and appreciates the rush of the city that never sleeps.
It’s definitely worth the visit, but it just might not be for everyone.
