Photo: Gabby Jones

The First Timer's Guide to NYC

Visiting NYC? Start here.

FIND YOUR NYC FIRSTS

It wont take long to learn why NYC is one of the greatest cities in the world, but give yourself a helpful head start by reading the below.

Three people, one in a wheelchair and two standing, look out over a cityscape through large glass windows in a tall building on a clear day.
Sponsored
Article

NYC's Sky-High Observation Decks

See the skyline from a bird’s-eye view at these towering attractions.

People walking up stairs at Central Park
Page

New York City on a Budget

Enjoy attractions, events and activities in the City for little to no expense.

People shopping at Madison Avenue, Emilio Pucci shop on the background
Article

The Comprehensive Guide to Shopping in New York City

From malls to boutiques, here’s the only NYC shopping guide you’ll need.

Katz's Delicatessen. Photo: Matthew Penrod
Article

11 Foods Only NYC Does Right

It's the law: you have to eat all of these foods when you come to New York City.

People dining at Balthazar in Soho, Manhattan
Article

NYC Dining 101

Here’s your New York City restaurant cheat sheet—more than 100 of the City’s essential eateries.

Music Show at The Bell House
Article

Nightlife 101

Find everything you need to know for a great night out in the City.

A cocktail in a coup glass sits on a table with a dim, warm light in the background. The drink is amber-colored and garnished with a dark cherry on a skewer. The setting appears cozy and intimate.
Article

Cocktails Only NYC Does Right

Get to know the City’s most memorable drinks.

A diverse group of people stand near an informational sign about Seneca Village Landscape in a park surrounded by green trees and grass. Some listen attentively while others look around or chat.
Article

Top NYC Walking Tours

Explore neighborhood history, famous cuisine and NYC landmarks up close in these walking tours across the City.

LEARN THE BASICS

Life in NYC moves fast; read ahead to navigate the City with confidence.

entrance to Times Square Subway, Midtown, Manhattan
Page

Getting Around NYC

Here's all you'll need to navigate the City subway, bus, ferry, bike or taxi.

Page

Accessible NYC

The five boroughs feature a wealth of exciting and accessible destinations. Find venues and accommodations that meet your needs.

Unisphere, Flushing Meadows Corona Park. Photo: Shelli Weiler
Page

About the Five Boroughs

The City derives its character from hundreds of communities that feel like cities of their own. Find your next destination here.

A person with long hair and an orange top takes a smartphone photo in Times Square, which is filled with bright billboards and advertisements.
Article

Tips for Women Visiting NYC Solo

NYC women share tips for visiting the City alone.

Exterior of MoMA PS1
Article

Free NYC Museums

These NYC museums, monuments and art-filled attractions are either free today, on specific days or at certain times during the week. Find one near you.

Exterior or NBC Studios
Article

TV Show Tapings

Want to join the live audience of TV shows taped in New York City? Use our guide to find free tickets.

A large crowd celebrates in Times Square at night as colorful confetti fills the air, surrounded by bright electronic billboards and city lights.
Article

New Year's Eve in Times Square

Keep warm, arrive early and stay safe as you welcome the New Year in NYC.

Statue of Liberty head
Article

Guide to the Statue of Liberty

From buying tickets to your last snapshot, here's how to make the most of a visit to the American icon.

MEET THE NEW YORKERS

These locals want to introduce you to their slice of the City.

A man wearing glasses and a cap reads a book at a wooden table in Neir’s Tavern, with a large mural of a horse race and subway train covering the wall behind him. An empty microphone stands nearby.
Article

The Man Who Draws All the Restaurants Draws Neir's Tavern

Brooklyn-based illustrator John Donohue preserves the culinary history of New York City one restaurant sketch at a time.

A person with long, braided hair sits on a red stool, wearing a black outfit. They are in front of a dark blue backdrop in a bright room. Nearby is a dresser with a torso mannequin and a framed text that reads, "A BLACK WOMAN CREATED THIS.
Article

Lit Brooklyn Interview

Williams-Clarke puts wellness and community at the forefront of her buzzy candle and fragrance brand, Lit Brooklyn.

Talisa Almonte kneels on a vibrantly painted mural with swirling yellow, orange, pink, and blue patterns. She wears a floral outfit and a dark jacket, smiling up at the camera.
Article

Almonte Studio Interview

Artist Talisa Almonte celebrates her Latin heritage and love of Queens in her prints and products.

A person wearing a blue cap, striped shirt, white t-shirt, and shorts sits relaxed on stone steps outside a white columned building surrounded by greenery.
Article

Bobbi Salvör Menuez Interview

The actor, editor and trans activist discusses community organization, growing up in NYC and local institutions dear to their heart.

Portrait of Derick Lopez, Chef and owner of The Freakin Rican
Article

Meet the Freakin Rican

Bronx-native Derick Lopez cooks up the Puerto Rican classics that he grew up on.

Article

Artists Revisit the World’s Fair at the Queens Museum

Solo exhibitions by artists in residence Umber Majeed and Abang-guard reflect on the 1964–65 World’s Fair at Flushing Meadows Corona Park.

Neon Christina photo
Article

Neon Christina Q&A

Christopher Udemezue, better known as Neon Christina, brings together culture and queer identity through a variety of arts platforms.

Page

NYC Pride Diaries

This yearslong photography project documents expressions of Pride in New York City.

Portait of Chef Cosme Aguilar
Article

Chef Cosme Aguilar Q&A

The chef of Queens’ highly touted Casa Enrique keeps his focus on family and flavor.

djali-brown-cepeda-07-14-2021-nycxgo_latin_smc_64
Article

Djali Brown-Cepeda Is a Rising Star

Djali Brown-Cepeda is a Rising Star of the Latino Community in NYC

Cory Ng wearing a cap and casual clothes stands smiling in front of a restaurant counter with a "Potluck Club" sign in English and Chinese. The restaurant interior is modern, with chefs working in the background.
Article

Chinatown's Multigenerational Family Businesses

These Manhattan restaurants and shops find ways to honor their heritage while adapting to the present and future.

Food from Cadence
Article

Black Chefs You Should Know

Meet the culinary geniuses revolutionizing the City’s dining experience.

Portrait of chef Kwame Onwuachi
Article

Kwame Onwuachi Profile

The award-winning chef talks Tatiana, The Family Reunion and how NYC keeps inspiring him.

Miguel Angel Amadeo at his shop, Casa Amadeo in The Bronx
Article

Casa Amadeo’s Bronx Legacy

Musician Mike Amadeo preserves Latin music history at NYC’s oldest music shop up in the Bronx.

VISIT DURING THE FIFA WORLD CUP 2026

Two enthusiastic soccer fans smile and pose for the camera at a crowded stadium, one wearing a black Miami shirt and the other in a black NYCFC shirt, with cheering spectators in the background.
Page

FIFA World Cup Comes to NYC

Mark your calendars and get ready to join the global celebration.

Two people smiling at the camera, one wearing a headscarf and holding a colorful "We Love Messi" sign at an outdoor event, surrounded by individuals in Argentina soccer jerseys. The sign is decorated with hearts, flags, and handwritten messages.
Photo Gallery

Watch New York City Soccer Fans in Action

Fans of New York City Football Club and Inter Miami CF came to cheer for their teams at Citi Field, Queens.

Black-and-white photo of a large group of people watching a soccer game in Central Park, New York City, with tall buildings and bare trees in the background. Spectators are gathered around the field.
Article

NYC Soccer History

From soccer’s stateside introduction to the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026™ final, New York City and the region have served as the American cradle of the sport.

A group of people in a bar cheer and celebrate, with one man raising his arms in excitement. Drinks are on the table, and a chalkboard with "NYCFC" is visible in the background.
Article

Soccer Bars in NYC

Support your side, whether it’s a national or club team, at these sports-loving venues in the five boroughs.

A person wears a Chilean hat while celebrating before the game starts.
Article

Watching Copa America at La Roja de Todos

Soccer fans in NYC’s Chilean community came to this College Point restaurant to wear their colors and show their support for the national team.

A portrait of a person while raising a Colombian flag at Bar 43 in Queens
Article

Soccer Culture Thrives at Bar 43

Bar 43, known as the "home of soccer in Queens,” attracts numerous fan communities from its diverse Sunnyside neighborhood.

Xochimilco Brings the Community Together for Food and Soccer
Article

Watching Soccer at Xochimilco

A South Bronx restaurant that serves up authentic Mexican food also serves as a gathering place for fans of the global sport.