Central Park, the High Line, and the Brooklyn Bridge on foot
2
Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island — book the crown tickets early
3
Museums: The Met, MoMA, Guggenheim, and the Natural History Museum
4
Broadway show — the world's best live theatre experience
5
Food tour through Chinatown, Little Italy, and the East Village
6
Top of the Rock or Edge observation deck for the best skyline views
Local tip
Before you go to New York
Get an unlimited MetroCard for the subway — it's the fastest way around. Walk as much as possible — NYC is a walking city. Book Broadway tickets via TodayTix for deals.
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New York City is more than buildings and crowds. It's a place where you can lose yourself and feel found at the same time. Whether you come for the theatre shows, the world-class restaurants, or simply to dive into the city's energy, NYC has something special you won't forget quickly.
Why go to New York?
New York City has a unique energy you feel the moment you arrive. The city draws millions of visitors every year, not just because it's big, but because it keeps evolving and reinventing itself. For many travellers, NYC is a must-do destination, but what really makes it special? The answer lies in its diversity - not just in culture and ethnic backgrounds, but in what you can actually do here. From high-end dining to street food, from Broadway shows to underground music scenes, from museum visits to simply wandering through different neighbourhoods.
The city also has something that naturally appeals to people from urban areas. If you're used to the fast pace of city life, NYC can feel like coming home, just on a bigger, more intense scale. At the same time, the city offers enough variety to keep everyone happy. One minute you can feel like you're on a quiet little village square, and minutes later you find yourself in a buzzing market or a busy theatre district.
Plan your visit around specific cultural events or seasons to get the most out of your trip
Prepare for the scale of the city - many things here are bigger and more intense than elsewhere
Stay open to unexpected discoveries in neighbourhoods off the typical tourist routes
When should you go?
New York City is a year-round destination, but the experience changes a lot depending on the season. Spring (April to May) and autumn (September to October) are traditionally seen as the best times to visit. Temperatures are mild, the sky is clear, and the city feels pleasant without extreme heat or cold. Many visitors plan around these seasons, so expect bigger crowds and higher prices then.
Winter in NYC can be magical, especially around the holidays, when the city dresses itself up in decorations and takes on a festive atmosphere. December brings Christmas markets, special shop window displays and theatre productions. January and February, though, can be bitterly cold, with temperatures hovering around freezing. Summer (June to August) also draws plenty of tourists, but the heat and humidity can be overwhelming, even though the city offers plenty of outdoor activities. If you want to avoid the biggest crowds, plan around the busiest periods: Thanksgiving, Christmas and the summer holidays.
Book accommodation and tickets in advance if you're travelling in peak season (April-May, September-October, December)
Visiting in winter can be cheaper, but pack warm clothes - temperatures can drop sharply
Summer months bring plenty of outdoor events, festivals and open-air concerts
How do you get there, and how do you get around?
For international travellers from the Netherlands, three major airports serve NYC: JFK (John F. Kennedy International), LaGuardia and Newark Liberty. JFK is usually the busiest for international flights and sits around 24 kilometres from Manhattan. Direct flights from Dutch cities to NYC vary in length but are generally available, though you'll sometimes need to change at a European hub. Once you land, there are several ways to get into the city centre: taxis are available but expensive, while trains and bus services offer cheaper alternatives.
Within the city, the public transport system, the famous NYC subway, is the backbone of getting around. With tens of thousands of kilometres of track and stops in almost every part of the city, the subway is the most efficient way to travel. A weekly MetroCard gives you unlimited rides on the subway and buses. Taxis and ride-share services (Uber, Lyft) are available everywhere but can be pricey, especially during rush hour. In many neighbourhoods, your feet are your best friend. Manhattan is fairly small, and plenty of attractions sit close together. Many travellers also rent bikes or use bike-sharing services to explore the city.
Buy a MetroCard when you arrive for unlimited public transport - it's far more cost-effective than buying tickets every day
The subway runs 24/7, so you can travel any time of day, though it's worth being extra careful at night
Learn the subway map - some lines can look confusing but they follow logical routes
Top experiences and highlights
New York is known for the must-see attractions that fill so many bucket lists: the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, Times Square and Central Park top the list. But going further usually means diving into more authentic NYC experiences. Broadway shows are genuinely expensive, especially for plays where tickets cost more than a hundred dollars, but for many people, watching a show becomes a core memory. NYC's museums are world-famous. The Metropolitan Museum of Art and MoMA draw millions of visitors and hold incredible art collections.
Beyond the standard attractions, you'll find neighbourhoods like Greenwich Village with its bohemian character, Brooklyn with its trendy restaurant scene and street art, and Chinatown and Little Italy with their authentic atmosphere and places to eat. Many travellers find that the best NYC experiences happen unplanned: wandering into a random café, trying a local restaurant, or just walking through neighbourhoods and taking in the architecture and the people. Food tours and other culinary experiences are popular, and the city offers everything from street food to Michelin-starred restaurants. The Staten Island Ferry gives you free transport with great views of the skyline, making it a cheap way to see the whole panorama.
Buy Broadway tickets during the advance presale, or look for discounts on day-of-show websites
Many museums offer 'pay-what-you-wish' admission on certain evenings, which is ideal for budget-conscious travellers
Explore lesser-known neighbourhoods on foot and find local restaurants where locals actually eat
Practical tips for your visit
Budget is a big part of planning a trip to NYC. Unlike many destinations, fixed costs in NYC are relatively high. Flights from abroad cost at least a few hundred dollars, and so does accommodation. A sensible approach is to set your total travel budget and then add at least 20-30% on top for unexpected expenses, spontaneous meals or souvenirs you hadn't planned on buying. You can put that extra money towards a future trip or an extra weekend away if you don't end up needing it.
In practical terms, many accommodation and restaurant recommendations come with several price options. You have far more control over what you spend on food and lodging than over transport or tickets to major attractions. Deciding in advance which fixed costs you definitely want, such as specific Broadway shows, museum visits or certain restaurants, helps you manage your budget better. On the money side, credit cards are accepted everywhere, but check your bank's fees first, since international transactions can get expensive. Many travellers use services like Revolut to keep exchange costs down. The currency is the US dollar, and you'll need cash for some street food vendors and small cafés.
Make a list of your absolute must-do activities and estimate their costs before you plan the rest of your trip
Use a budget tracker or money app to keep an eye on your daily spending and stay on track
Don't try to haggle over prices in shops or restaurants - prices are fixed, as in most American cities
Generated from 8 travel guides and experiences · Sources
