A City trip to New York is something everyone should undertake at least once in their lifetime. And as Frank Sinatra sang in his world-famous song ‘New York New York’, New York is fantastic.
There is no other city worldwide that can compare to New York. New York is the city that never sleeps and where there’s always something happening.
It’s a vibrant destination, a true melting pot of various things. From different nationalities and backgrounds to the unique neighborhoods where you can endlessly cycle or walk.
New York is truly a great city trip destination for everyone. Young or old and regardless of your budget. New York always sounds like a distant and expensive destination, but it’s not that bad. You just need to plan it well. We will explain why in this blog.
What does a few days in New York cost?
Did you know you can fly back and forth to New York with KLM for as little as €350?
If you travel outside the summer months and book at least 3 months in advance, you might come across this price.
Accommodation doesn’t have to be very expensive either. If you’re willing to stay in a hostel like the YMCA, you’ll spend between €40 and €60 per night. You might share your room with 3 others, but it’s also a great way to make new friends. If you’re going in a group, it’s even more economical.
What can we tell about New York?
New York is the largest city in the United States of America. It’s a place where many different cultures come together.
Currently, New York has about 8.5 million inhabitants. These 8.5 million inhabitants represent 193 different countries.
In New York, you might hear a language on the street that you don’t know. More than 170 different languages are spoken by the multicultural residents of the city.
The city consists of about 40% Americans and 60% immigrants. Of this 40%, it’s estimated that only 10% are ‘true New Yorkers’. This means those are the people who were actually born in New York. Most come from other American cities and states to make their dreams come true here.
As Frank Sinatra sang: ‘If I can make it here, I can make it anywhere.’ And that’s true.
New York and Wall Street
New York has a very competitive image. Just think of all those bankers and financiers working on Wall Street. Working on Wall Street is intense. Visiting Wall Street as a tourist is not intense but rather very cool.
Walking through this district with towering skyscrapers, you’ll feel like you’re on a movie set. You’ll probably have this feeling throughout New York. Because New York is actually used as a ‘set’ for many series and films, many locations will seem familiar to you.
Discover New York by bike
If you’re going on a city trip to New York, you should, of course, bring a piece of the Netherlands with you. And what’s more Dutch than going for a nice bike ride? Cycling in New York is a very special adventure, one that you should put on your to-do list. It’s a cool and budget-friendly tip for your city trip.
There are many areas in New York where you can enjoy a wonderful bike ride. We should mention that there are certain parts of the city you might want to skip.
If you have no experience cycling in New York, it’s not advisable to take certain routes without guidance.
In the city center, there are no bike lanes on the main roads. You cycle among the cars here. The traffic can be quite busy and chaotic. If you’re not used to this, it can be quite shocking.
If you can cycle through the center of Amsterdam without any problems, you can handle this too. If you want to cycle through the center, book a guided bike tour. You’ll be sure to experience it in the safest way possible.
Where to cycle in New York?
But don’t worry, there are plenty of neighborhoods where you can enjoy cycling during your city trip to New York.
Central Park
Central Park has long and wide bike paths. Here you cycle through all the greenery and can enjoy the tranquility the park offers. Escape the hustle and bustle of the city and recover from all the chaos in Manhattan.
Brooklyn Bridge
The Brooklyn Bridge has a pedestrian section and a section for cyclists. This is indicated on the bridge. We should mention that not everyone adheres to this. So cycle slowly and carefully to avoid hitting pedestrians. But cycling at a slow pace here is absolutely no punishment. The view over the Hudson and the New York skyline is breathtakingly beautiful.
Brooklyn and Harlem
Sights in New York
The great thing about a bike ride through New York is that you can visit many New York sights.
And during every city trip, you should be able to cross off a number of sights from your list. A list of sights you really must cycle by:
1. The Rockefeller Center including the Rock Observation Deck
2. Times Square
3. Central Park
4. Empire State Building including the Observation Deck
5. Grand Central Station
6. Bryant Park
7. St. Patrick’s Cathedral
8. Dumbo – a very cool neighborhood in Brooklyn
9. Chrysler Building
10. Ground Zero monument
Tips and tricks for your New York city trip
Do you want to pack your bags and hop on the next flight to New York?
We understand that. Just take these tips and tricks with you to ensure you have the best possible city trip.
From the airport to the city center
Upon arrival at the airport, you can take a taxi or public transport to your destination. Check in advance where your accommodation is located. It’s often near a metro station, making it very easy and cheap to get there. The connection from the airport to the city center is very well organized. If you’re traveling alone and have little luggage, this is often the best way.
If you’re traveling in pairs and can share the taxi costs, a taxi is often worth it.
AirTrain
The golden tip: upon arrival, take the AirTrain to another terminal. If you’re flying from the Netherlands, you’ll arrive at the international terminal. Here you’ll find incredibly long lines for taxis.
Take the AirTrain to terminal 2. Only domestic flights arrive here. It’s less crowded, and you’ll be able to get into a taxi within 10 minutes. This is in contrast to waiting times of an hour or longer at terminal 1.
Buy a MetroCard
The MetroCard is comparable to our OV-Chipkaart. You can buy it at any metro station at the counter. You can also get it from the machine or pop into a 7-11 and purchase it there. It’s really a must. You can use the MetroCard on both the metro and the bus.
The ‘underground’, as real New Yorkers call the metro, is the fastest way to get around the city. Taxis will often be stuck in traffic, especially in the center. With the metro, you can travel all over New York without any problems.
Having lunch in Midtown, shopping in Brooklyn, and dining on the Upper East Side? No problem. With the Metro, you can get anywhere easily.
Attend a sports game and/or a musical
Want to see a real American baseball game or enjoy a musical on Broadway? Or perhaps both?
These are truly unique experiences. It doesn’t have to be expensive at all. You can find many good deals online. Tickets at very reduced rates.
TodayTix
A reliable site where you can score your Broadway tickets is TodayTix. The concept is simple. Your ticket is valid on the day of purchase. You can’t plan your activity far in advance, so keep that in mind. However, you can attend a Broadway show very cheaply this way. Tickets that are still available are offered here daily. Be quick. The tickets are very popular because they are so sharply priced.