New York City, the "city that never sleeps," is a place of longing for USA travelers from all over the world. Nowhere else will you find as many world-famous sights and events in one place as in the vibrant metropolis on the east coast of the United States.
| State: | New York |
| County: | Bronx County (The Bronx), New York County (Manhattan), Queens County (Queens), Kings County (Brooklyn), Richmond County (Staten Island) |
| Area: | 1,214.4 km² |
| Population: | about 8.8 million |
| Nickname: | Big Apple, The city that never sleeps |
| Time zone: | Eastern (UTC -4 / -5) |
New York City is located in the US state of New York in the Northeast of the USA, where the Hudson River flows into the Atlantic Ocean.
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With around 8.8 million inhabitants, New York City is the most populous city in the USA. Together with the surrounding towns, New York City forms the New York metropolitan region, which, with over 20.1 million inhabitants, also ranks first in the USA. New York City is also part of the Boswash megalopolis that stretches along the Atlantic coast from Boston to Washington, D.C.
The five districts of New York are also called "The Five Boroughs," and they offer the following highlights.
Manhattan, geographically the smallest and most densely populated borough of New York City, is best known for its imposing skyline with dozens of skyscrapers and world-class landmarks such as the Empire State Building, Rockefeller Center, Times Square, and Central Park. The heart of Wall Street beats here, and some of the world's best show highlights come from the theaters of Broadway.
The borough of Brooklyn is connected to Manhattan by the famous Brooklyn Bridge, and for a long time, it did not have a good reputation. However, to date, it has developed into a real trendy district. Especially Dumbo, which borders directly on the Brooklyn Bridge, has established itself as one of the most popular art districts in New York. Here, you will find a colorful variety of stores, art galleries, restaurants, and bars.
The geographically largest of New York's five boroughs, Queens, is also the most ethnically diverse borough in the United States. Queens is home to areas dominated by high-rise buildings (e.g., Ozone Park, Jackson Heights, Flushing, Astoria), and streets with many low-rise buildings. The multicultural borough is known for colorful festivals and parades, a lively music scene, and rich culinary diversity.
The Bronx is the only borough in New York City that is almost entirely on the mainland. The district north of Manhattan is also known for its multicultural diversity. About 41% of the Bronx's 1.4 million residents were born outside the United States. Here you can find the famous Bronx Zoo and the stadium of the New York Yankees baseball team.
So if you want to live in New York City and still enjoy a quiet place, Staten Island is the place to be. Although it is the third-largest borough in New York City, it has the fewest people. As a result, there is a certain suburban flair to it.
However, because of the constantly rising rents in New York City, more and more people are now moving to Staten Island, which means that the neighborhood is steadily gaining in liveliness. It is connected to Manhattan by the free Staten Island Ferry, from which you can enjoy a great view of the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and Lower Manhattan.
New York City is located in the northeastern United States, where the climate is moderate. You can experience all four seasons. In winter, average temperatures are around freezing point, while in summer, they reach an average of 25 - 30 °C.
New York City's major airport is called John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and is located at the southern end of Queens.
Lufthansa or Condor offer direct flights from Frankfurt (Main) to JFK. You can also fly directly from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, for example with Air France or Delta. For a direct connection from Central Europe, you should plan on a flight time of about 8 hours and ticket prices starting at about €400.
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Once you arrive at the New York airport, you can take one of the iconic yellow cabs to your accommodation. But beware: the trip of 60 to 90 minutes will cost you around $75! A cheaper way to get downtown is to take a shuttle bus (about $19), or a combination of the JFK AirTrain and LIRR trains ($15.50 - $18.50 depending on the time).
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Another option is Newark Liberty International Airport, better known as New York Newark Airport, located on the territory of the neighboring state of New Jersey. It is only about 17 km away from New York City and has excellent public transport connections. With Lufthansa or United Airlines, you can fly directly to Newark from Frankfurt am Main or Munich, for example.
If you are not a US citizen or Green Card holder, you will need a US visa or ESTA to enter the United States. You can obtain the latter as a citizen of one of the 41 Visa Waiver Program countries (e.g., Japan, Australia, and most EU countries). The ESTA application is cheaper and less complicated than the US visa. Once approved, you can stay in the US visa-free for up to 90 days.
With an ESTA, you can stay 90 days visa-free in the USA. Apply online now!
The metropolis New York City has a distinctive infrastructure, which offers you various ways to get from A to B:
New York City offers one of the largest subway networks in the world! It includes 27 lines, 476 stations, and about 6,000 cars. Covering a total distance of about 400 km, the New York Subway trains take you to all corners of the city around the clock. In addition, the LIRR trains run to Long Island, and the New Jersey Transit trains to New Jersey.
All areas of the city and suburbs that you can't get to by subway can still be reached by New York's well-developed bus network, which consists of 235 lines with more than 4,000 buses.
The free Staten Island Ferry takes you across the Hudson River from Manhattan to Staten Island. In addition, several other commercial ferries operate on the Hudson River and East River, with which you can also reach the boroughs of Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx.
There are more than 13,000 of the iconic "Yellow Cabs" on New York's 10,200 km road network, but it is not the cheapest way to get around. The basic fee for a New York cab is $2.50, and you pay $1.56 for each additional kilometer driven. In case you get stuck in traffic, you will be charged for the standing time $30.00 per hour.
When it comes to getting around, New York City is a rather "un-American city" with residents preferring to use public transportation rather than cars. This is mainly due to the high parking fees and tolls for bridges and tunnels. So if you want to drive in New York City, be sure to budget for these fees.
Biking is becoming increasingly popular in New York City. You should have no trouble securing a rental bike at one of New York City's 700 or so bike stations. We would recommend a guided bike tour through Central Park or along the Hudson River in western Manhattan. A day ticket costs about $12.
There's so much to see in New York City - so one of the best ways to get around Manhattan & Co is definitely by walking! Be sure to pack some comfortable walking shoes in your luggage. Also, bring an umbrella, because the weather in New York City has already surprised many tourists.
Central Manhattan, where most sights and nightlife are located, is understandably the most popular place for travelers to stay.
However, a good city location comes at a price: for a nice room in a mid-range hotel, you should budget €200 per night. Sometimes, you can get a cheaper hotel for around €100. If you are looking for more luxury, the sky's the limit.
The travel season also matters: the cheapest hotel bargains can usually be found in January, February, July, and August. At popular travel times in April, May, September, and October, room rates go up.
You can find places to stay in New York City in every price range. Some popular hotels are:
This 3-star budget hotel has a cafe, bar, free Wi-Fi, and a large rooftop terrace with city views. Empire State Building, 5th Avenue, Grand Central Terminal, and UN Headquarters are within walking distance.
Overlooking the Hudson River, this 4-star hotel is within walking distance of Times Square and Hudson Yards. It features a terrace restaurant, a rooftop bar with city views, and a fitness center.
This 4-star hotel is just a stone's throw from the Empire State Building and Central Park. The historic building has a restaurant and a fitness center.
This modern 4-star hotel is located in the middle of the lively theater district with its many Broadway shows and restaurants, where you can plunge right into New York nightlife.
Money doesn't matter? Congratulations! The luxurious Plaza welcomes you with all amenities at a room price starting at €700. You'll also get a large dose of nostalgia: the New York icon in the style of the French Renaissance has been around since 1907.
Apartments are a good alternative to hotels in New York City, especially if you are traveling with a group of friends. You can find suitable offers at:
If all you need is a shower and a mattress to crash on for a few hours, hostels offer a cheap place to stay for as little as €40 - 50.
New York City is bursting with world-famous sights. You should take enough time to discover all the highlights of this fascinating metropolis. These top five should definitely be on top of your to-do list:
Since 1886, the landmark of the USA welcomes travelers and immigrants in New York City. The 93-meter-high Statue of Liberty is THE symbol of freedom and democracy and awaits your visit to Liberty Island in New York Harbor. Not far from it lies Ellis Island, where about 12 million US immigrants set foot on American soil for the first time between 1890 and 1954.
Already visible from afar is the striking silhouette of the Empire State Building, which became world-famous through Hollywood films such as "King Kong." After its completion in 1931, the 443 m high skyscraper was the tallest building in the city for a long time. When you reach the 86th floor, a magnificent panoramic view of Manhattan opens up to you from the outdoor observation deck.
At New York City's most famous intersection, you'll be immersed in a sea of large screens and flashing lights. The square got its name from the daily newspaper New York Times, which had its editorial office here for a long time. The square is especially famous for its New Year's Eve party, where the new year is rung in with the traditional ball drop at midnight.
Your best New York photo? The Brooklyn Bridge has the perfect potential as a background! Completed in 1883, the icon of New York spans the East River and takes you from Manhattan to Brooklyn in a 20-minute walk. Once you've crossed the architectural masterpiece, Brooklyn's lively Dumbo neighborhood awaits you with a variety of small stores, cafes, restaurants, and bars.
Approach the 9/11 Memorial with great respect, as it features two large reflecting pools that mark the spot where the World Trade Center collapsed on September 11th, 2001. Since the memorial was built, the area has once again become a vibrant business district, including the new One World Trade Center skyscraper and the futuristic Oculus train station.
The Edge, Top of the Rock or Grand Central Station: your favorite sight wasn't featured yet? Then take a look at our top sights in New York and find many more New York travel tips!
Sightseeing in the Big Apple can be quite a strain on your vacation budget. With a New York Pass, you can save big on admission to New York's most popular attractions, museums, and tours!
But the choice of New York Passes is huge. We have compared all the offers: our extensive New York Pass comparison will tell you which New York Pass fits your travel plans best.
New York City is not called the "city that never sleeps" for nothing: the Big Apple is one of the most vibrant entertainment capitals in the world. You'll find cultural highlights around every corner.
On legendary Broadway alone, you can choose from 41 major theaters in search of the best show! And the variety of museums in New York City is almost endless. Culture fans are spoiled for choice, among other things from these highlights:
The "city that never sleeps" has a lot to offer during the advent season. These cultural highlights and events are waiting for you at Christmas 2023 in New York City:
Ice skating is a popular pastime in New York during Christmas time. The most famous ice rink is set up every year in front of Rockefeller Center, where you can do your laps under the festively decorated Rockefeller Christmas Tree from November 4th, 2023.
You don't want to wait that long? The Wollman Rink in Central Park and the ice rink in Bryant Park Winter Village are already open.
You can admire the most opulent Christmas decorations in the USA in the Dyker Heights neighborhood in Brooklyn. And not just during the Christmas holidays: the decoration mania of the Dyker Heights residents already starts shortly after Thanksgiving!
There's no better place to get into the spirit of winter than in snow-covered Central Park. The best way to enjoy the magical winter forest is to take a romantic carriage ride!
Of course, a variety of Christmas markets in New York City will get you in the festive spirit. The most beautiful markets in Manhattan include the Winter Village in Bryant Park, the Holiday Market at Union Square, the Columbus Circle Holiday Market, the Grand Central Holiday Fair, and The Market at Westfield World Trade.
Although New York City is a densely populated metropolis, you'll find many green oases in the Big Apple that invite you to relax or exercise.
The huge Central Park in the heart of Manhattan is the green lung of New York. Listen to open-air concerts on the Great Lawn in the summer, skate across the ice at Wollman Rink in the winter, visit the John Lennon memorial Strawberry Fields, or have a picnic at Sheep Meadow - Central Park is the perfect balance to hectic city life!
Book your rental bikes for a tour through Central Park here!
You won't find a park like the High Line anywhere else in the world! It was built on a former elevated train line and runs parallel to 10th Avenue for 2.3 km through Manhattan. More New York highlights await you at both ends of the High Line: whether it's enjoying the panoramic view from The Edge observation deck or sipping cocktails in the Meatpacking District, you're in for a treat!
Between 5th and 6th Avenue in Manhattan is Bryant Park, another retreat for stressed-out city dwellers. In the summer months, Bryant Park offers a huge program of free events, while in the winter, you can skate around the Bank of America Winter Village ice rink. Need to work during your New York trip? No problem - thanks to Bryant Park's free Wi-Fi access, you can easily relocate your office to the green!
In New York City's second-largest park in Queens, the symbols of the 1964 World's Fair will immediately catch your eye: the gigantic steel globe Unisphere, the Observatory Towers, and the New York State Pavilion still make an impression today. In addition, the area offers a boating lake, a skate park, an aquatic and field hockey center, and numerous playgrounds. Flushing Meadows Park is particularly sporty at the beginning of September when the US Open is held at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
Leave plenty of room in your suitcase, because New York City is a shopper's paradise! From luxury designer shopping to flea market bargains, you can do it all in fashionable New York City! If you visit the following places, you certainly won't come back without full shopping bags:
New York City is a melting pot of different cultures. Accordingly, you can enjoy a wide range of culinary delights here. No matter what you're in for - you don't have to look far in New York City! In the overabundance of more than 17,000 restaurants, you will find specialties from all over the world.
Treat yourself to a few typical American specialties when you're in New York City:
After you have strengthened yourself in a restaurant with your favorite food, your stroll through the nightlife of New York City can start. When the sun goes down, the "city that never sleeps" really comes alive! A great place for fun and nightlife is the Meatpacking District, where you'll find an abundance of cocktail bars, beer gardens, and dance clubs.
You can really feel the unique New York atmosphere while drinking cocktails in the city's numerous breathtaking rooftop bars. The selection is gigantic, and creativity knows no bounds. Of course, there are always new hip locations where you can let a night end with a blast:
Sports freaks will be delighted in New York City. You can watch the matches of your favorite teams from all popular US sports or visit world-famous sporting events.
Basketball is present in almost every park in New York. If you want to see the NBA pros play, you can watch either the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden or the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center.
New York is home to two Major League Baseball (MLB) teams. You can see the New York Yankees play at the famous Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. The home stadium of the New York Mets is Citi Field at Flushing Meadows in Queens.
Among the 32 teams of the professional league in American football (NFL) are two teams from New York City. However, to enjoy a match of the New York Jets, or the New York Giants, you'll have to travel to MetLife Stadium in the neighboring state of New Jersey.
The North American professional ice hockey league NHL also features two New York teams. You can watch the New York Rangers live at Madison Square Garden. To see the games of the New York Islanders, you have to leave the city limits of New York: they play their matches at the UBS Arena in Elmont on Long Island.
The US Open is one of the four major Grand Slam tournaments in the tennis world. It takes place every year from late August to early September at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows Park in Queens.
The New York City Marathon, held on the first Sunday in November, attracts more than 50,000 avid runners each year - more than any other running event! The popular marathon course runs through all five New York City boroughs.
Even though you could fill more than one Instagram account with your experiences in New York City, quality goes before quantity! For the most impressive photos, we recommend these five places:
In 1524, the Italian Giovanni da Verrazano was the first European to set foot on New York soil. Today, the bridge over the entrance to New York Harbor is named after him. It was not until 1609 that the navigator Richard Hudson arrived in Manhattan and sailed up the river that today bears his name.
The first European colony on the territory of New York City was established by the Dutch in 1625, who christened the place New Amsterdam. The warships of Great Britain took control in 1664, and so New Amsterdam was renamed New York. From then on, immigration increased steadily, and by 1700 New York already had about 5,000 inhabitants.
On July 4th, 1776, the United States declared its independence. When the first US President George Washington was sworn in at Federal Hall in 1789, there were almost 30,000 inhabitants in New York - and the trend was rising.
In the 19th century, the city attracted more and more Europeans, and with 3.5 million inhabitants in 1900, it was the second-largest city in the world after London. Strong immigration continued until the 1920s, ending for the time being with the stock market crash of 1929 and the Great Depression.
In the 1930s, some of New York's most beautiful skyscrapers were built, giving the city its distinctive skyline. After the end of World War II, the importance of the United States as a world power increased, and with it, the importance of the metropolis of New York City. In 1952, the UN moved its headquarters to New York.
A drastic event in the history of New York was the terrorist attacks on the twin towers of the World Trade Center on September 11th, 2001, in which 2,996 people lost their lives. Due to COVID-19, the city had been on lockdown from March 22nd, 2020, for several months.
Today, New York City has returned to its old bustle. New, spectacular construction projects that will further change the city's skyline in the coming years are in the works.
You probably didn't know these interesting facts about New York City:
The vibrant New York City inspires you so much that you don't want to leave ever again? Here are some tips on how to tackle the project of immigrating to New York City.
A large number of companies have their headquarters or a branch office in New York City, which is one of the most important economic areas in the world, along with London and Tokyo. In total, the city has more than one million companies - so the opportunities are endless!
Of course, New York is particularly famous for its Wall Street stock exchange and financial sector. For example, two of the four major American banks, JPMorgan Chase and Citibank, are located here. Other global corporations based in New York City include Altria Group, American International Group, Pfizer, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Jetblue Airways, Steinway & Sons, Estée Lauder, Sony Music, and DC Comics. In addition, many prestigious law firms operate in New York, and there are also numerous opportunities in the tourism and hospitality industries.
Probably the biggest drawback of New York City: despite comparatively high salaries, many New Yorkers struggle to pay the high rents and other living costs.
Therefore, residents of the most expensive major city in the US usually manage to live in small spaces. With such a huge range of cultural facilities, restaurants, bars, parks, and events – who wants to spend their time in their own four walls anyway?
Of course, you can get to the USA via a job or for study, but the only lasting way is the Green Card. Only with it can you live and work in the USA indefinitely.
It is quite easy to get the popular US immigrant visa by participating in the Green Card Lottery. In the annual lottery of the US government, 55,000 Green Cards are given every year to people from all over the world. Sign up now - just a few clicks, and you're in!