Last Updated on July 5, 2025 by George Pavlopoulos
I spent two weeks in New York City as a first-time visitor. And I was amazed. Of all the cities I’ve traveled to in my life, New York was the city that impressed me the most. I kept referring to NYC as the city of all cities: the vibe, the architecture, the scale, the openness. Putting together a New York City guide for first-time visitors is a truly daunting task: no matter how much time you have in town, you won’t see everything.
However, I genuinely believe that the things I’ll share in this long article will help you appreciate the city’s beauty and help you be part of the local atmosphere. I still believe that it’s impossible not to like New York. It’s all about the degree of fascination this miraculous city will give you. Personally, I had always thought that I would like New York; however, I never thought that NYC would blow my mind and leave me feeling so depressed the day I embarked on the plane back to Europe.
So, after this short rant, it’s time to start with the NYC travel guide for first-timers. Apart from the best things to do as a first-time traveler to New York, I will also share some travel tips to better plan your journey.
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New York City guide: things to do in NYC for first-timers
It doesn’t matter how long you plan to stay in New York on your first visit. One thing is for sure: you won’t see everything -and that’s absolutely okay. The distances are overwhelming, commuting from point A to point B will take time, and as you’ll soon understand, this is a city you can adequately explore if you stay there for several months.
However, the activities and experiences shared below will help you grasp the essence of New York City. In my opinion, the best things to do in New York City are those that allow you to discover small aspects of daily life and offer an immersive experience in its rhythms.
Pin this post on your NYC Pinterest Board and start reading about the best things to do in New York City as a first-time visitor.
So, here’s what you can do in NYC in your first journey in no particular order.
Start with Manhattan (and preferably from Times Square)
That’s what you’re probably here for. You’ve seen it countless times in movies and the news, you know it from postcards and social media, you’ve read books set there, and listened to songs about it. If you were lucky, you even got a glimpse of it from your airplane seat. And yet, when you step into Manhattan for the first time, it will be a mesmerizing experience.
When I saw Manhattan for the first time, I couldn’t believe the scale of it. I exited at Times Square and saw the pandemonium on the streets. Thousands of people walking in every possible direction, traffic and car horns, the ambulances, and, beyond everything, those stunning tall buildings. As a first-timer in New York, I thought that this was not a city, but an achievement. An achievement of engineering, optimism, hard work, and the collective dream of the hoi polloi.
In Manhattan, you will see everything that NYC is about, from cliches to things you never imagined. That being said, for your first walk downtown, try not to use a map. Navigate through the city by following the flow of people, turning right or left, and walking intuitively. Admire the scale, the skyscrapers, and explore 5th Avenue or any other avenue along the way.
Depending on the available days you have in town, you can further explore smaller neighborhoods or see places of interest. However, keep your first walk in Manhattan as pure as possible and admire the city. Grab a coffee, try some street food, chat with strangers, and keep walking.
If you can only do one thing in New York, then this should be it.
Visit Ellis Island (okay, and the Statue of Liberty, too)
Discussing the collective dream of the people earlier, visiting Ellis Island while in New York is a must-do activity. Ellis Island is the place where millions of immigrants began their new life chapter, chasing the American dream.
On the soil of this small island, you will get a great impression of the conditions the immigrants faced when they arrived in the United States. You can still see the arrival hall and also find out its background story. The museum, located on its premises, presents a wealth of information, and the movie shown in the small theater is a must-see to gain a better understanding of the conditions. I have written a comprehensive guide to Ellis Island, which you can find here for more information.
A ticket to Ellis Island also gives you access to Liberty Island, where the iconic statue is located. For sure, there’s more excitement about the Statue of Liberty among the people taking the tour to both locations. You can see the statue from the boat, and you are also entitled to visit it.
Since I always want to be honest with my readers, I was way more fascinated with Ellis Island than with the Statue of Liberty. It was nice seeing it up close, and I truly appreciated its symbolism and meaning. However, Ellis Island offers a much deeper and less Instagram-friendly experience that digs deep into the history of the United States and New York itself. Ellis Island is a multi-layered experience, while the Statue of Liberty highlights the optimism of newcomers.
All that being said, be sure to spend time at Ellis Island for a deeper insight into the United States, and afterward take a stroll on Liberty Island to see the Statue of Liberty up close.
Watch an NBA Game at Madison Square Garden
Many events in the United States are primarily about the show that accompanies them. At its purest form, entertainment offers joy to the crowd through a spectacle presented to people sharing the same passion. As a kid (and later as a teenager), I loved watching the NBA highlights on TV. Basketball in the States seemed like a different sport compared to Europe.
As you can easily imagine, one of the first things to do in New York City was to get tickets for an NBA game. Yes, NBA tickets are very expensive, but I knew I had to watch a game at the famous Madison Square Garden. Luckily enough, the 2025 NBA Playoffs have just begun, and there was a game between the New York Knicks and the Detroit Pistons.
And what an experience that was! The game was fascinating, and the events accompanying it kept the spirits high throughout, even though the Knicks lost on their home court. Although the crowd might not be chanting like in Europe, it was a highly enjoyable experience. Therefore, if this is your first time in New York and you can afford the ticket cost, be sure to watch an NBA game.
For sports fans, I have written a dedicated post about the NBA Game I watched here.
Taste the most famous pastrami sandwich in New York City at Katz’s
The food scene in NYC is vibrant and innovative. Most places will offer high-quality food, but here I want to talk about one of the most famous pastrami sandwiches you can eat. Subbed as a “New York Institution since 1888,” Katz’s is among the city’s most well-known delis. Although they have an extensive menu, most first-timers in New York come here to try their most iconic dish: the pastrami sandwich.
Despite its steep price -currently around 30 $- the pastrami sandwich is a must-try in town. It consists of several layers of pastrami and is accompanied by pickles. The restaurant itself is a pure example of vibrancy, and after ordering, you can share a table with others and enjoy it with a drink.
If you are a movie lover, Katz’s will probably ring a bell. Located on East Houston Street, Katz’s is the restaurant where the orgasm scene of “When Harry Met Sally” was filmed. And here’s a small trivia: “the table where the scene was filmed has a commemorative plaque which reads, “Where Harry met Sally…Hope you have what she had!”
Walk the High Line
A very local thing to do in New York is to take a walk along the High Line. Once a somewhat gritty artery of Manhattan’s industrial zone, the High Line’s story started in 1934 as an elevated freight rail running above Tenth Avenue. Boxcars traveled past the warehouses and slaughterhouses of the Meatpacking District, delivering butter and meat. However, in the late 1980s, trucks were doing the job faster and more efficiently, and the High Line slowly began to deteriorate.
And then it was time for local creativity to take over. Residents Joshua David and Robert Hammond formed Friends of the High Line in 1999 and persuaded City Hall that a mile and a half of the former rail line could be transformed into an elevated garden. The High Line, which opened in 2009, has become a new park that’s the talk of the town, floating above traffic and adjacent to the rail.
Strolling the High Line today feels like walking through a living gallery: you can see wildflowers, site-specific sculptures that change every few months, and glass-walled condos frame slices of the Hudson. More than just a shortcut, the High Line offers first-timers a course in New York’s talent for reinvention.
It takes approximately 30 to 40 minutes to walk the entire High Line, making it a fantastic way to admire the city’s hidden views.
Watch a jazz concert in NYC
What techno is to Berlin is jazz to New York. As a first-timer in New York, I believe it was a must to attend a jazz concert. Jazz is everywhere: you can find street musicians in impromptu jazz jams, and you can find known or lesser-known bars where live jazz music is on show. It doesn’t matter if it’s on or off Broadway: during your stay, it will be easy to find a bar and enjoy some live jazz music.
On my first visit to New York City, I was fortunate enough to watch the Roy Hargrove Big Band perform live at the Jazz Gallery on Broadway. The band honors Roy’s legacy and delivers fantastic concerts. Roy’s music stays alive through the Big Band, and the jazz concert was mesmerizing.
Even if you can’t find a concert by the Roy Hargrove Big Band, make sure to check online for jazz concerts in New York. It’s an authentic experience, permanently intertwined with the city’s sound and atmosphere.
Stroll along Central Park (or cycle through it)
Of course, no New York City guide for first-time visitors can be complete without a stroll along the famous Central Park. This immense green space, situated between the Upper East and Upper West Side, spans more than 843 acres and offers a unique opportunity to unwind while gazing at the tall buildings of NYC.
You’ve probably seen big parks elsewhere in the world, but the truth is that Central Park has a unique vibe and unbeatable liveliness. Apart from the biodiverse ecosystem it hosts, the park also features a variety of attractions, including the Ramble and Lake, Hallett Nature Sanctuary, the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir, and, of course, the zoo.
I won’t lie: at first, I didn’t consider spending too much time at Central Park. I was so mesmerized by the architecture and human geography that I thought I shouldn’t waste time at a park. However, as I soon figured out, NYC can be overwhelming for visitors. The distances, the subway, and the long walks can all contribute to increased travel fatigue. Therefore, I found myself several times in need of unwinding and just staring at the blue sky. Central Park offered moments of relaxation graciously, and lying on the grass and doing nothing was, at times, greatly appreciated.
If you want to see bigger parts of Central Park (it’s huge), then you also have the option to rent a bike. Citi Bike is the name of the bike share app, where you can hire bikes on a per-minute basis. Usually, the first thirty minutes have a dedicated price, and then you pay for every minute you use it.
There are different programs to choose from, so make sure to download the Citi Bike app here and create an account.
Visit a museum or two in New York City
As I mentioned earlier, New York City can be overwhelming, especially for first-time visitors. On the other hand, New York is home to some of the world’s finest museums. If it’s not your first time on my travel blog, you probably remember how much I love art (there’s even a dedicated art section here). However, don’t take my advice the wrong way: don’t overdo it with museums, unless that’s the reason you visit New York.
I firmly believe that art and museum-going are integral parts of any journey. But I also think that museums can multiply your fatigue. New York museums are immense, and if you are just in town for a few days, the chances are that you might have to sacrifice other things to fit them into your schedule. As a general rule, I’d suggest visiting a museum every second or even third day. In this way, you can digest what you’ve seen in the previous museum and also have enough time to visit other places of interest.
The MoMA definitely attracts most people due to its high-quality exhibitions, and the same can be said for the MET. Add to these the Guggenheim Museum, and you already have three museums that will keep you occupied for several hours (in fact, the MoMA and the MET will probably require a second day to see everything). In my opinion, these three museums are ideal for your first-time visit to New York.
Visit the 9/11 Memorial
Apparently, that’s one of the most heartbreaking locations you will come across in New York. Forever sealed by the devastating 9/11 attack, the city has tributed the people and their stories at the exact spot where the Twin Towers once stood.
Beneath the silhouettes of One World Trade and its glass-and-steel neighbors, the 9/11 Memorial features two reflecting pools sunk into the exact footprints of the fallen Twin Towers. Thirty-foot waterfalls muffle city noise while 2,983 bronze-etched names invite reflection on the lives lost in the 2001 attacks.
The adjacent 9/11 Museum (prebook your ticket here) offers even more layers to the experience. Multimedia timelines retrace the day, minute by minute, while personal voicemail messages, missing-person flyers, and first-responder radio calls give the tragedy its human scale. For first-time visitors to New York City, the museum provides context and transforms an event into a tangible, deeply personal chapter of New York’s history.
Walk the Brooklyn Bridge
Opened in 1883 and dubbed as the “Eighth Wonder of the World,” the Brooklyn Bridge remains a 1.1-mile (1,5 km) example of engineering and aesthetics. Its neo-Gothic granite towers rise above the East River, connecting Manhattan and Brooklyn with a spider web of steel cables. A leisurely walk across the wood-plank promenade will fill your camera roll with postcard views of the Lower Manhattan skyline, the Statue of Liberty off to the south, and the Empire State Building.
Therefore, in a single stroll, you can check off skyline sightseeing, river cruise views, and an iconic landmark visit, all for free.
First-timer’s New York City Guide: Travel tips for your NYC Trip
As you’ve read, these 10+1 things to do in New York City for first timers are intended to give you a good overview of the city. It’s true that I intentionally left some things out of the guide, mainly because I didn’t want to overwhelm you. Similarly, in the NYC travel tips I will share below, I won’t include everything. This is because some things may add extra weight to your shoulders. Therefore, I want to help you have a hassle-free experience in the Big Apple.
The travel tips in this section helped me have a smoother experience in town.
Get an eSIM card
In the first of the things to do in New York, I claimed that it’s best to have an initial stroll without a map. While that’s true, I also believe that you will need your smartphone’s maps constantly while walking around NYC. If you’re visiting from Europe, you have to be aware that roaming costs are immense (forget the EU roaming).
In addition, you will often need to check opening hours for museums or restaurants and see how to use the New York subway. Therefore, if your smartphone is capable of registering eSIMs, it’s better to buy a program before traveling to New York. An eSIM comes preloaded with a set amount of internet data, and it often offers some free minutes of calls. Depending on how important the internet and calling are to you while abroad, you can choose a plan that suits you best.
You can purchase an eSIM here.
Get a NYC Pass to save money
New York is pricey. In fact, it is one of the most expensive destinations in the world. The New York City Pass might look costly at first glance, but if you intend to do extensive sightseeing, it will save you money and most likely time in the queues.
The pass includes entrance to various attractions, allowing you to select your options based on your interests.
See the pass here and consider it for saving money while traveling to New York.
Power Bank and Travel Adapter
This one is straightforward. In NYC, you can expect long hours spent out and about, with minimal time at the hotel. Therefore, a power bank comes in handy when you’re roaming the streets and don’t want to lose an hour somewhere to charge your phone. Charging the phone on the go means that you can keep your daily plan uninterrupted and continue using the camera or the maps app while charging.
As a general rule, I recommend a power bank with a capacity of at least 10,000 mAh, which allows you to fully charge most smartphones twice. I use an INIU power bank.
Similarly, it’s better to purchase a universal travel adapter before your first trip to New York City. It’s one of the most underrated travel items, but it can save you time while traveling. I use this travel adapter by Anker.
Where to stay in New York as a first-time visitor
Unless you have friends or family to host you (this was my case), I believe that the best place to stay in New York City as a first-time visitor is in Lower Manhattan. The reason is that you need to be close to the main attractions, where the city’s vibrancy is at its peak. Additionally, staying closer to the downtown area means less time spent on the subway or bus. As you will soon discover, the distances are enormous, and NYC is a vast city.
Apparently, the decisive factor when choosing an accommodation in New York is your available budget. This will likely be your most significant expense for the journey, so you need to choose a place wisely. I would skip the beautiful Harlem and the fascinating Bronx due to the distances from the principal attractions, and the same applies to Queens, as well as the most distant parts of Brooklyn.
If, due to budget limitations, staying in Manhattan is impossible, another great area to stay is Hoboken and Jersey City. These are the closest areas of New Jersey to New York. While accommodations are cheaper there, please note that you will need to take the bus to Times Square, which takes approximately 30-40 minutes, depending on the traffic.
You can see all the available accommodation options from various platforms in the interactive map below.
New York City Guide for First-Time Visitors: Final Thoughts
I will finish this New York City Guide for first-timers with the exact words I started it. New York is, to me, the city of all cities, and it fascinates me. I dare to say that it’s the most impressive city I’ve ever seen, and I am already looking forward to returning there. Yes, NYC is pricey, and it can quickly exhaust your budget if you don’t keep a close eye on it. However, the variety of things to do in NYC and the energetic mood of the city that (indeed) never sleeps is incredible.
I believe that the 10+1 things to do in New York City will provide a comprehensive overview of various neighborhoods and offer a glimpse of this fantastic city. No, they are probably not enough, but then again, you can’t see everything in just a few days. That said, make sure to stroll around as much as possible, engage in random street conversations that locals genuinely enjoy, taste a burger or a pastrami sandwich, and try to make the most of your days in NYC.
Being in New York, even for just a few days, is both a privilege and a gift. I truly hope that you make the most of it.
More about New York: A visit to Ellis Island
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