New York City

New York City weather can vary from day to day, and even hour to hour, but a guide to the seasons can help you plan your wardrobe. To see current weather conditions, view details on accuweather.com.

More generally, spring in New York City brings budding flowers, light winds and rain, with the season’s temperatures ranging from cool to very warm. Summer is characterized by bright, sunny, hot days and later sunsets, sometimes accompanied by cool breezes in areas near the water. The fall season is chilly and crisp, so it’s wise to wear layers. The winter months are cold and snowy with less daylight, though the sky is often sunny and clear.

By train Those starting from a nearby suburb can reach NYC by NJ Transit, Long Island Rail Road or Metro-North Railroad. Amtrak also offers comfortable, convenient service to NYC from cities near and far.

By bus For some travelers, especially those coming from other East Coast cities, buses are an affordable and convenient travel option. New York City enjoys service from such companies as Megabus,   BoltBus and Greyhound, as well as other local carriers.

By car Driving to NYC? Use Google Maps to get directions, and plan ahead for where to park (there's some street parking, plenty of parking garages and some hotels offer package deals that include parking).

Getting Around NYC

New York is an excellent walking city, and getting around by foot is the best way to familiarize yourself with neighborhoods and their (sometimes subtle) divisions. Of course, sometimes you’ll need to move more quickly or cover great distances, for which you’ve got subways, buses and cabs at your disposal. Click through each category (for example, "MTA Subways and Buses") for much more detail.

MTA Subways and Buses A MetroCard gives you access to trains and buses that travel to nearly every corner of the City. The system is accessible to people with disabilities.

Taxis Cabs are a quick, convenient way to get around the five boroughs.

There are a number of obvious big-ticket sights to take the family to in NYC—kid-oriented museums, sky-high observatories, the country’s largest urban zoo and the Statue of Liberty probably foremost among them. But even places that might seem high-minded, like the Museum of Modern Art, frequently have programs or activities that are geared toward children. It’s generally good to target no more than one or two major sights a day, and probably to spend no more than an hour or two in a museum at a time; kids can easily get burned out on stuff adults find interesting. Make sure you’re varying the types of things you do, working in some fun shops, grassy parks and places to refuel along the way. 

Tips

• Kids usually get discounted entrance fees to attractions, and sometimes get in free, especially if they are on the younger side. Conversely, some places may not be appropriate for kids, or have certain restrictions (at Coney Island, which is a blast for little ones, you need to be a certain height to ride some of the more thrilling rides).  

• Call ahead to make sure that strollers are allowed, especially if you’re going to a museum, gallery or sporting event.

You might think most of the music, theater and movie-going fun is reserved for adults in NYC, but a number of theaters stage performances for children. There are puppet shows, dramatic pieces and comedy troupes. Some concert halls and dance parties have all-ages events. Plenty of free shows take place in parks throughout the five boroughs. There’s even a regular classical music performance on an old coffee barge done to introduce kids to the finer points of Beethoven and Bach.

If this doesn’t seem up your child’s alley, fear not; other forms of entertainment abound.

Tips

• Many shows on Broadway are, if not always geared directly toward kids, perfectly suitable for them. The littlest ones should enjoy fare like The Lion King; School of Rock and Wicked will appeal to older elementary school kids; and Kinky Boots, while more mature, might just be a YA crowd pleaser (the songs are by Cyndi Lauper, after all).

• The BAMKids Film Festival and New York International Children’s Film Festival screen kids’ movies in the winter; the Museum of Moving Image, Paley Center and Film Forum run regular movie series for the younger set.

• You’ll find seasonal amusement parks in Coney Island, Central Park and Flushing Meadows Corona Park.

New York City is filled with public parks, good for stretching, running and blowing off steam. Some of these, like Central Park and Prospect Park, have attractions that will hold your kids’ attention (zoos, skating rinks), as well as green space for them to roam about; between the two they also have nearly 30 playgrounds. Most, if not all other, parks have playgrounds too, some of the best of which can be found in Lower Manhattan, Long Island City and Brooklyn Bridge Park.

Tips

• The local baseball and soccer seasons run from late spring to fall; going to a game mixes being outdoors with fan excitement. If it’s wintertime, you’ll be choosing from indoor spectator sports like basketball and hockey and participatory sports like ice skating—best done alfresco in a place like Rockefeller Center or Bryant Park.

• There are nearly a dozen beach areas in NYC, and the City runs numerous public pools in the summer, both of which are free to access.

Language spoken - English

Currency used USD (US Dollar)

Tipping

Let’s face it: it’s not always fun to tack a few extra bucks of your hard-earned money onto a bill. But since New Yorkers in the service industries (hotels, restaurants and transportation) usually have gratuity factored into their wages, tips are expected and greatly appreciated. You don’t have to go overboard, but be sure to show the love for great New York City service. Note that there are an increasing number of restaurants these days implementing a no-tipping policy—they either add on a service or administrative charge or they have hiked their prices, and they use the money to better pay their workers (the policy will typically be indicated on the menu or bill). In lieu of that, here’s how much you should tip:

Hotel doorman: $1 for hailing a cab.

Porters and bellhops: $1–$2 per bag.

Housekeeping: $1–$2 per day of your visit, or as much as $5 per day.

Waitstaff and bartenders: 15–20 percent of total bill. Bartenders typically expect at least a $1 tip for every beverage they serve you. Later on, when the bar gets crowded, you’ll be glad that the mixologist remembers you!

Taxi drivers: 15–20 percent of total fare.

Hairdressers: 15–20 percent of total service cost.

Tips for other service personnel, such as theater ushers, tour guides and coat-check staff, are always appreciated.

Sales Tax

Buyer beware: while the price tag may say one thing, prices marked typically don’t include tax. The sales tax on most goods and services in New York City is 8.875 percent. But there are a few exceptions:

There is no sales tax on many food items purchased at grocery stores (heated or otherwise prepared foods are an exception), or on prescription drugs.

And there is no sales tax on clothing or footwear under $110.

If you’re headed out for a night on the town, you should know that the drinking age in NYC—and throughout the United States—is 21, and smoking is banned in public places throughout the City, including bars, restaurants, subways and taxis, and public parks and beaches. Cigar smoking is permitted at cigar bars. In NYC, only those who are 21 or older can purchase cigarettes and other tobacco products and electronic cigarettes

NYC is rightfully known for its nightlife. Whether that means sophisticated cocktail dens, friendly dive bars or bottle-service-only dance clubs, the City’s after-dark entertainment is just as electrifying as it ever was. Click on the link to find out where to drink, dance and listen to music—all around the five boroughs.   https://www.nycgo.com/things-to-do/nightlife/

New York City’s dining scene is world-famous for good reason—and no matter the circumstances, restaurants, bars and cafés always find a way to serve the five boroughs. While many venues are open for outdoor dining—and, as of September 30, can open for indoor dining with capacity limits—others offer full menus (including drinks) for takeout, and even temporarily closed spots may offer gift cards*. Below, browse restaurants by cuisine, location, current offerings and more. While satisfying your appetite, you’ll be supporting local business and staying connected with the city you love.orting local business and staying connected with the city you love.  

Click on the link to browse some of the recommended restaurants available to you:  https://www.nycgo.com/things-to-do/restaurants-dining/

Whatever your retail pleasure, you’ll find it in NYC. Stores across the five boroughs carry the finest in luxury apparel, plus gourmet goods, books, tech, gear and much more. There’s a reason why the City is known as a global shopping capital. With so many possibilities, there’s just one problem—where to begin?

New York City is a celebrated shopping capital. If you can’t go in person, you can always shop some of your favorite retailers, hotels and cultural institutions online. We’ve rounded up those offering e-commerce and/or gift cards so you can get some retail therapy while making a difference—large and small, these businesses employ New Yorkers and energize the economy. Look for distinctive apparel and accessories; signature hotel items like linens, robes and spa products; food and gift baskets; souvenirs, books, music, games and more.

Time zone - 4 GMT