New York will always be one of my favorite cities in the world.  After a long-overdue trip (my first since before the pandemic), I was reminded of this once again.  My family is originally from New York, which means I’ve been visiting my entire life (literally), so I don’t approach it like I do other destinations.  Rather it feels easy and familiar to me, but when people ask for recommendations it’s hard to point them to a single, concise list as even my own preferences are constantly evolving (looking back at some of my older content on this site makes me cringe a bit as some articles have become a bit stale).  In a city that offers so much muchness and is constantly changing, it’s impossible to cover it all.

There are too many incredible restaurants for a non-local to keep up with and just as many places to stay (although I’m partial to the Hotel Belleclaire on the Upper West Side).  I find so much joy in just walking around the city, taking in the sights and sounds and its undeniable energy.  Obviously this is NOT all inclusive list, as a single list could not even begin to cover all that makes New York the great city that it is, here are 10 handy tips to start planning and organizing your visit.  If there’s something I haven’t covered (which is likely the case), feel free to ask question below or leave a comment with some of your favorite tips recommendations for other readers.  So whether it’s your first or 100^th visit, you’ll never run out of new things to see, do, eat and experience in New York City.

1. Eat all of the carbs
This goes without saying, from bagels and pretzels to hot dogs and of course pizza by the slice, there’s no shortage of delicious food on quite literally every corner.  Combine the ever-growing variety of street food with the city’s incredible restaurant scene, which spans high-end splurges to smaller hole-in-the-wall spots that cover pretty much every budget and type of cuisine, and you definitely won’t go hungry.

2. Visit a museum or two
New York is also home to a mecca of museums, and many first-time visitors tend to gravitate towards favorites like the Metropolitan Museum of Art (my personal favorite), MoMA, the American Museum of Natural History, the Guggenheim.  Given their size and scope, plus ever-changing rotation of special exhibits, these heavy hitters are definitely worth a visit.  Plus there are countless smaller or more niche museums across the city that also deserve attention such as the National September 11^th Memorial & Museum, the Tenement Museum, the Met Cloisters, the Museum of the City of New York, the Brooklyn Museum, the Museum of Ice Cream, the New York Transit Museum, the Museum at FIT and so many more.

3. Shop until you drop
As one of the fashion capitals of the world, New York is obviously a great destination for shopping, and similar to museums, you’ll have your pick from high-end designer brands along 5^th Avenue to flagship department stores like Macy’s Herald Square, Saks Fifth Avenue and Bloomindales and tons of smaller brands, boutiques and artisan markets throughout different neighborhoods in the city.  Even window shopping in New York can be a gratifying experience, especially during the holidays when many stores decorate their windows with beautiful displays (a personal favorite is Bergdorf Goodman at the corner of 5^th Avenue and 58^th Street).

4. Check out the view from the top
New York is home to some pretty impressive architecture and many of the city’s tallest buildings offer visitors an opportunity to take in incredible views that go on for miles, literally, from their top floors and observation decks.  If this is on your list, then you have many choices (and are probably good with picking just one) including the iconic Empire State Building and the Top of the Rock above Rockefeller Center, as well as newer skyscrapers like One World Trade Center, the tallest building in the city at 1,776 feet, the SUMMIT One Vanderbilt in Midtown and the height-defying Edge sky deck at Hudson Yards.

5. Catch a Broadway show
It goes without saying that New York is home to world class theatre and there are many ways to catch a show on the “Great White Way” as it was once known.  If you have your heart set on a specific show then head over to Broadway.com for to purchase tickets in advance.  If you’re feeling a bit more spontaneous or are looking for tickets on the cheap then you have a couple of options like the red and white TKTS booth in Times Square where those who brave the usually long lines can score same-day matinee and evening tickets or next-day matinee tickets at a discount.  Another option is BroadwayForBrokePeople.com, which lists specific shows that offer cheap box office rush tickets (note, you have to ask for this specifically at the box office or you will be charged full price) and digital lotteries, among other discounts.

6. Take a deep dive into history
Once a Dutch colony dating back to the 1600s, New York City is rich with history, so much so that you can experience it just by walking through its streets and looking at its buildings.  Fans of Hamilton will want to check out places like Trinity Church and Federal Hall, and visits to other historical sites like the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island help paint the picture of the early days of immigration to the United States.  For more inspiration and little-known secrets about the city’s history, check out Untapped Cities and consider booking one of their walking tour.

7. Look for special events and seasonal activities
From sports and concerts to art installations, exhibits, markets and other special events, there is always something going on in New York.  This is one of the things that I really love about the city.  Keep your eyes open for fun things that may overlap with your visit and do your homework in advance by researching happenings on social media, blogs or other outline sources like TimeOut. This is especially apparent during the summer when you’ll find a plethora of activities for residents and visitors alike such as baseball, outdoor music, movies and more.  The holiday season is also a magical time to visit with all of the decorations and window displays (don’t miss the iconic tree at Rockefeller Center and the light show at the adjacent Saks Fifth Avenue), as well as ice skating rinks, pop up bars and holiday shows and markets around the city (Bryant Park, Union Square and Columbus Circle are some of my personal favorites).

8. Relax in the park
Manhattan may be small in size but punches above its weight when it comes to green spaces.  The largest and most iconic is obviously Central Park, which spans an impressive 843 acres and offers so much to see and do from an incredible setting to run, walk and wander to playgrounds, pickleball courts, row boats, ice skating, carriage rides, restaurants and tons of magical nooks and crannies waiting to be discovered.  Other notable parks around the city range from Bryant Park behind the New York Public Library to the Highline, a former elevated rail line turned into a 1.5 mile-long linear park on the city’s west side, and one of the newest recreational spaces Little Island, an artificial island park built in the Hudson River Park at Pier 55 near the Chelsea neighborhood.

9. Take a tour
For some people the best way to get acquainted with a new city is to take a tour.  Once again you’ll have lots of options to choose from big bus hop-on-off sightseeing tours to more intimate walking tours, bike tours, boat tours and TONS of themed tours covering a variety of different topics.  For example, a friend of mine recently booked a food and culture walking tour in Greenwich Village and raved about the experience, and I once took a behind the scenes tour of Grand Central Terminal, which provided an interesting perspective on one of the city’s most iconic buildings.  Even if you’ve been to New York before, a tour can be a great way to gain a deeper understanding of a certain neighborhood through its food, culture and history.

10. Embrace public transit
Public transit is a way of life in New York City and its surrounding boroughs with its vast network of subways, buses and trains, and for visitors it also makes getting around efficient and easy.  Check out the MTA’s website to read up on different routes, fares and for other trip planning resources.  You can still use paper MetroCards, but the newer OMNY contactless payment system makes using public transit a breeze.  Just tap any contactless credit or debit card, smartphone, or wearable device and go through the turnstile.  You’ll pay the same base fare every time (includes free transfers), and after 12 fares within 7 days using the same card or device your rides will be free.  Taxis and rideshares are also plentiful in New York, and while there are some public transit options to get to and from the airports, I generally prefer a taxi in those situations for ease and simplicity (plus those rates are generally fixed).