Nobody gets New York perfectly right on the first try. The city is huge, fast and full of unwritten rules, and even well-prepared visitors lose hours to long lines, wrong trains and tourist-trap lunches. Our guides have been meeting first-time visitors since 2009, and we see the same handful of mistakes again and again.
The good news is that they're all easy to avoid. Here are the most common first-timer slip-ups, and what locals do instead.
The mistake: an itinerary that zigzags from the Statue of Liberty to the Met to Brooklyn and back to Times Square in a single day.
What locals do: think in neighborhoods. Group sights that are close together, like the Statue ferry, Wall Street and the 9/11 Memorial downtown, or the Met and Central Park uptown, and give each area a proper half day. You'll see more by rushing less. Our 3-day first-timer itinerary shows how to put it together.
The mistake: spending most of the trip within a few blocks of Times Square because the hotel is there.
What locals do: treat Midtown as a starting point, not the destination. The New York that locals love lives in Greenwich Village, the Lower East Side, Harlem, DUMBO and Williamsburg. See Times Square once, ideally after dark when the lights are at their best, and then go explore.
The mistake: posing with a costumed character in Times Square, then being surprised when they ask for money.
What locals do: know that the characters and performers work for tips. If you want the photo, agree on it upfront; if you don't, a polite "no, thank you" and a steady walk are all you need. The same goes for anyone handing you a "free" CD or comedy flyer.
The mistake: buying a "Statue tour" from a salesperson in Battery Park, only to end up on a boat that just circles the harbor.
What locals do: know that only one operator, Statue City Cruises, lands on Liberty and Ellis Islands. Buy from them directly or from a trusted tour company, and book ahead, especially if you want pedestal or crown access. Our Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Tour takes care of it for you.
The mistake: halting mid-stream to check a map, take a photo or regroup, while a wave of commuters piles up behind you.
What locals do: treat the sidewalk like a road. Keep right, walk at a steady pace, and if you need to stop, step to the side, next to a building. Don't walk four abreast on a busy avenue, and on subway stairs and escalators, stand to one side so others can pass.
The mistake: taking taxis everywhere and sitting in Midtown traffic, or rushing into the first subway entrance and ending up heading the wrong way.
What locals do: ride the subway for most trips, because it's usually the fastest way across town. Tap a contactless card or phone at the turnstile with OMNY. Before you go down the stairs, check whether the entrance says Uptown or Downtown; at many stations, the two directions have separate entrances. Learn the difference between local and express trains, and use a transit app for live arrivals. Our guide to riding the subway like a local has everything you need.
The mistake: showing up at an observation deck at sunset, a hit Broadway show or a famous restaurant without a reservation.
What locals do: book the non-negotiables ahead. Sunset slots at Top of the Rock and other decks sell out, the most popular shows book up weeks in advance and many restaurants release tables on a set schedule. Leave the rest of the day loose.
The mistake: breaking in new shoes on a trip where you'll walk eight or ten miles a day.
What locals do: wear comfortable, broken-in sneakers and save the smart shoes for the evening. New Yorkers walk everywhere, and so will you.
The mistake: settling for an overpriced, forgettable meal in Times Square because it's right there.
What locals do: walk a few blocks. Head west into Hell's Kitchen, grab a slice or a bagel from a neighborhood spot, or plan a food crawl through Chinatown, Little Italy and the Lower East Side. Our block-by-block food guide is a good start.
The mistake: assuming New York means Manhattan.
What locals do: spend at least half a day in Brooklyn, Queens or the Bronx. Walk the Brooklyn Bridge into DUMBO, eat your way around Queens or visit the New York Botanical Garden. Our Brooklyn, Bronx and Queens bus tour covers a lot of ground in one outing.
The mistake: ticking off landmarks without knowing why they matter, then wondering why the Flatiron Building is just, well, a building.
What locals do: learn a little history. New York is layered with stories, from the Dutch streets of Lower Manhattan to the skyscraper race of the 1930s. A good guide makes the city click into place, which is why so many first-timers start their trip with a tour. Read how New York invented the skyscraper skyline for a taste.
The easiest way to avoid first-timer mistakes is to spend your first day with someone who knows the city inside out. Our NYC in a Day Walking Tour covers the essential sights and shows you how the city works, from subway tips to the best nearby lunch spots. Prefer a quieter pace? Our private tours, like the Private Lower Manhattan Walking Tour, are just for your group. Browse all our walking tours and attraction tickets.
New York Experience is run by ExperienceFirst, a New York tour company founded in 2009.
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