Liberty IslandStatue of Liberty
RecommendedLandmark
Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi's copper monument on Liberty Island combines French-American political symbolism, ambitious nineteenth-century engineering and commanding harbor views.
Visitor Information
Entry requirements, seasons, climate, money, essential city facts and public-holiday effects in New York, documented through current government and public-service information.
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Visitor InformationVisa and entry requirements
Most foreign nationals travelling to New York for tourism need a B-2 or combined B1/B2 visitor visa unless they qualify for another route. The U.S. Department of State says eligible nationals of Visa Waiver Program countries may travel for tourism or business for up to 90 days without a visa, but they must obtain valid ESTA approval before boarding.
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Visitor InformationBest time to visit New York
New York is a year-round city, but the most comfortable periods for long walking days are usually spring and autumn. Temperatures can still move quickly, so pack layers and check the National Weather Service forecast close to travel. Ramadan, school holidays, major sporting events and large conventions can change hotel demand and the practical rhythm of a visit.
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Visitor InformationNew York climate guide
New York has a humid continental climate and four distinct seasons. Summer can be hot and humid, with thunderstorms and periods of dangerous heat. Winter is cold, and snow, freezing rain or strong coastal systems can affect streets, airports and rail. Spring and autumn are transitional, so a mild afternoon may sit beside a cold morning or wet evening.
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Visitor InformationMoney and currency
The local currency is the United States dollar. The Federal Reserve issues notes in seven circulating denominations: $1, $2, $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100. Cards and contactless payments are common across hotels, shops, restaurants and transport, but a modest amount of cash can still help with small purchases, gratuities or a temporary card problem.
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Visitor InformationNew York fast facts
New York City is made up of Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island. It uses Eastern Time and the U.S. dollar, and English is the main public-service language alongside extensive multilingual support. The emergency number is 911; 311 handles non-emergency city information and services. The standard electrical supply is 120 volts with Type A and B plugs.
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Visitor InformationPublic holidays and closures
The federal calendar includes New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Washington's Birthday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas. When a fixed-date federal holiday falls on a weekend, the observed weekday for federal employees may shift according to federal rules.
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Keep exploring New York
More places in New York
Keep exploring New York and add more stops to your plan.
Liberty Island
New York HarborEllis Island National Museum of Immigration
RecommendedMuseum
The National Museum of Immigration occupies Ellis Island's restored Main Building, interpreting federal processing, migration journeys and the people who passed through the station.
ManhattanCentral Park
RecommendedPark
Central Park is Manhattan's 843-acre landscaped civic ground, where Olmsted and Vaux joined meadows, woodland, lakes, formal architecture and separated circulation routes.
Midtown WestEmpire State Building
RecommendedObservatory
The Empire State Building combines a landmarked Art Deco tower and restored interior with museum galleries and observatories on the 86th and 102nd floors.
Midtown WestTimes Square
RecommendedLandmark
Times Square is the intensely illuminated Midtown junction where Broadway crosses Seventh Avenue, combining pedestrian plazas, theaters, media façades and constant street activity.
Upper East SideThe Metropolitan Museum of Art
RecommendedArt Museum
The Met Fifth Avenue is an encyclopedic art museum whose galleries range from ancient Egypt and the Islamic world to European painting, arms and armor, and American art.
Lower ManhattanBrooklyn Bridge
RecommendedLandmark
The Brooklyn Bridge joins Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn Heights through granite Gothic towers, steel cables and an elevated pedestrian promenade above the East River.
BrooklynProspect Park
RecommendedPark
Prospect Park is Olmsted and Vaux's major Brooklyn landscape, joining Long Meadow, wooded ravines, a lake, formal entrances and cultural institutions within 585 acres.
BrooklynBrooklyn Museum
RecommendedArt Museum
The Brooklyn Museum is a major encyclopedic institution beside Prospect Park, known for Egyptian holdings, African and American art, decorative arts and socially engaged exhibitions.
BrooklynDUMBO Waterfront
RecommendedHistoric District
DUMBO's waterfront combines converted industrial streets, framed Manhattan Bridge views and Brooklyn Bridge Park's piers along the East River beneath two landmark crossings.
More restaurants in New York
Keep exploring New York and add more stops to your plan.
Mr. Chang Halal Chinese
RecommendedHalal Chinese
Mr. Chang Halal Chinese in Astoria applies a halal menu to Beijing duck, stir-fries, noodles and familiar Chinese-American dishes, with roast duck as its defining specialty.
Chote Nawab
Indian
Chote Nawab in Curry Hill draws on Lucknow’s Mughlai cooking through dum biryani, kebabs, tandoor dishes, regional curries, Indian breads and sweets.
Mum Feteer
Egyptian
Mum Feteer is a Steinway Street specialist in Egyptian layered pastry, offering savory feteer with meat, cheese or seafood and sweet versions with cream, custard and sugar.
Dave’s Hot Chicken, Bay Ridge
Hot Chicken
Dave’s Hot Chicken at 418 86th Street serves halal chicken tenders, sliders and bites across seven spice levels, with fries, kale slaw, pickles and shakes.
Yemen Café, Bay Ridge
Yemeni
Yemen Café’s Bay Ridge dining room serves halal lamb and chicken haneeth, kabsa, salta, fahsa, soup, fresh bread, dips and Adeni tea.
East VillageBungalow
RecommendedFine Indian
Chef Vikas Khanna's Bungalow draws on the regional cooking of India's twenty-eight states, presenting family-rooted recipes, hand-ground spices and a richly decorated East Village dining room.
Ayat Bay Ridge
RecommendedPalestinian
Ayat's original Bay Ridge restaurant serves Palestinian soul food in generous shared formats, from mansaf and maqluba to musakhan, mezze, taboon bread and charcoal-grilled meats.
Ayat Astoria
RecommendedPalestinian
Ayat Astoria brings the group's Palestinian menu to Crescent Street, combining fresh breads and mezze with layered rice dishes, yogurt stews, grills and family-sized platters.
Hyderabadi Zaiqa
RecommendedHyderabadi
Hyderabadi Zaiqa is a compact Hell's Kitchen restaurant centered on dum biryani, where long-grain rice, goat or chicken and aromatic masala are sealed and cooked together.
Ravagh Persian Grill
RecommendedPersian
Ravagh Persian Grill pairs charcoal-cooked kebabs with saffron rice, grilled tomato, yogurt dishes and classic Iranian stews at its Manhattan restaurants.
More hotels in New York
Keep exploring New York and add more stops to your plan.
Upper East SideThe Pierre, a Taj Hotel, New York
RecommendedLuxury Hotels
The Pierre is a 1930 Fifth Avenue landmark with polished rooms, park-view suites, Taj service, three dining spaces and a Central Park doorstep.
Midtown WestThe Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park
RecommendedLuxury Hotels
The Ritz-Carlton at 50 Central Park South is a 253-room luxury hotel with park-facing suites, a club lounge, La Prairie Spa and 24-hour room service.
Midtown EastLotte New York Palace
RecommendedLuxury Hotels
Lotte New York Palace combines the historic Villard Houses with a modern tower, offering Palace rooms, Towers accommodation, large suites, spa and Midtown dining.
Midtown WestThe Plaza, a Fairmont Managed Hotel
RecommendedLuxury Hotels
The Plaza is a landmark Fifth Avenue hotel overlooking Central Park, with ornate rooms and suites, the Palm Court, Guerlain Spa and a public food hall.
Midtown EastInterContinental New York Barclay
RecommendedLuxury Hotels
InterContinental New York Barclay is a restored 1926 Midtown East hotel with residential-style rooms, club accommodation, a gym and dining near Park Avenue.
Midtown EastHyatt Grand Central New York
RecommendedLuxury Hotels
Hyatt Grand Central New York is a large Midtown hotel connected to Grand Central Terminal, with modern rooms, suites, a market and direct access to rail and subway lines.
Midtown WestBaccarat Hotel New York
RecommendedLuxury Hotels
Baccarat Hotel New York is a crystal-themed Midtown property with Parisian rooms, the Grand Salon, Spa de La Mer and a striking indoor pool.
Midtown WestThe St. Regis New York
RecommendedLuxury Hotels
The St. Regis New York is a 1904 Fifth Avenue landmark with restored rooms, designer and two-bedroom suites, butler service and three dining venues.
Midtown WestThe Peninsula New York
RecommendedLuxury Hotels
The Peninsula New York is a 1905 Fifth Avenue hotel with renovated rooms, rooftop dining, an indoor pool, spa and a central address near MoMA.
Midtown WestMandarin Oriental, New York
Luxury Hotels
Mandarin Oriental occupies upper floors at Columbus Circle, pairing Central Park and skyline views with an indoor pool, spa, lounge and direct mall access.