New York City
Travelers come for the skyline, Broadway, Central Park and five boroughs, each of which lines up with one county of New York State.
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New York City, known as NYC, has more residents than any other city in the United States. It sits at the southern end of New York State, on New York Harbor, and is split into five boroughs: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island. Each borough lines up with one county of the state. Manhattan holds Central Park, Times Square and most of the skyscrapers, and Wall Street is in the Financial District. The city is also a global center for finance, media, fashion, the arts and diplomacy, and it hosts United Nations headquarters.
Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island make up the rest. The Statue of Liberty and the Ellis Island Immigration Museum sit in the harbor, and Broadway, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Central Park are all in Manhattan. The subway runs 24 hours a day. Spring and autumn are usually mild with lower humidity, though the weather can shift from one day to the next. Summers are hot and humid, and winters are chilly and damp.
New York City in five
- Pay the subway with a contactless card or phoneThe subway runs 24 hours a day, and the turnstiles accept contactless cards and phones through the OMNY system. Tap the card or phone you already carry.Getting around
- Book Manhattan rooms before you pick datesHotel and rental costs are high, especially in Manhattan, so compare the bases before you commit to a price.Where to stay
- Pick the airport that matches your flightJFK and LaGuardia are both in Queens, and Newark is in New Jersey. Check the route into Manhattan from each one before you book.JFK, LaGuardia or Newark
- Carry water and plan walks for the morning in summerDaytime temperatures top 90 °F (32 °C) on average on 17 days each summer. Schedule the long walks early and carry water.
- Ride the free Staten Island Ferry for a harbor viewThe free ferry links Manhattan and Staten Island, and it passes the Statue of Liberty on the way.
Things to do in New York City
See all attractions in New York City
Need to know
- Currency
- US dollar (USD)
- Entry
- ESTA for many passports, visa for others; check before you book Read more
- Emergency
- 911 police, fire and ambulance
- Tipping
- Expected at restaurants, taxis and rideshares
- Time
- UTC-5, UTC-4 in summer (daylight saving)
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Snowy days
- Festival
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryPartly cloudy10 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh4°Low-2°Cold, dampJanuaryPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 4°
- Low
- -2°
- Precipitation
- 99 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 2
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, damp
- FebruaryPartly cloudy10 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh6°Low-1°Cold, dampFebruaryPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 6°
- Low
- -1°
- Precipitation
- 96 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 2
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, damp
- MarchPartly cloudy10 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh10°Low2°Cool, unsettledMarchPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 2°
- Precipitation
- 126 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, unsettled
- AprilRain12 rainy daysHigh15°Low7°Mild, low humidityAprilRain
Best
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 119 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, low humidity
- MayRain13 rainy daysHigh21°Low12°Mild, low humidityMayRain
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 121 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, low humidity
- JunePartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh26°Low18°Warm, humidJunePartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 18°
- Precipitation
- 110 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, humid
- JulyRain14 rainy daysHigh30°Low22°Hot, humidJulyRain
Poor
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 172 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, humid
- AugustRain13 rainy daysHigh29°Low21°Hot, humidAugustRain
Poor
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 132 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, humid
- SeptemberRain10 rainy daysHigh25°Low17°Mild, comfortableSeptemberRain
Best
- High
- 25°
- Low
- 17°
- Precipitation
- 154 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, comfortable
- OctoberRain9 rainy daysHigh19°Low12°Mild, comfortableOctoberRain
Best
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 155 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, comfortable
- NovemberPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh12°Low5°Cooling downNovemberPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 12°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 99 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cooling down
- DecemberPartly cloudy10 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh6°Low0°Chilly, dampDecemberPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 6°
- Low
- 0°
- Precipitation
- 147 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 2
- Days with storms
- 0
Chilly, damp
Average daily high and low in New York City, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Festivals: Sep Feast of San Gennaro
Right now in New York City
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
17
- Feels like
- 12°
- Humidity
- 35%
- Wind
- 15 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 1%
Hoboken
03:38 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today19°7°1%Monday: Cloudy. High 19°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 1%.
- Tue20°9°4%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 20°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 4%.
- Wed21°12°0%Wednesday: Fog. High 21°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu20°16°55%Thursday: Rain. High 20°, Low 16°. Chance of rain 55%.
- Fri22°17°56%Friday: Drizzle. High 22°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 56%.
- Sat18°10°47%Saturday: Cloudy. High 18°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 47%.
- Sun14°9°12%Sunday: Cloudy. High 14°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 12%.
Updated 12:31 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 EUR = 1.116 USD
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Every year
- SepFeast of San GennaroNew York City
Day trips by train
- Staten Islandabout 25 minutes by free ferry from ManhattanThe Staten Island Greenbelt has about 28 miles of walking trails across roughly 2,500 acres.
- Coney Islandabout 1 hour by subway from MidtownAmusement grounds dating from the 1870s, among the earliest in the United States, on the Brooklyn shore.
- Bronx Zooabout 1 hour by subway from MidtownThe zoo spans 265 acres and has more than 6,000 animals, in a borough that is the birthplace of hip-hop.
Before you go to New York City
Rules for New York City, checked
- Entry depends on passport: some travelers need an ESTA, others a visa. Check current entry rules on travel.state.gov before you book.Source
- Customs officers ask about fresh food, plants and animal products. Declare them on the arrival form.Source
- The legal drinking age is 21, and bars and shops often ask for photo ID. Check the New York State Liquor Authority for the rules.
New York City FAQ
Is New York City worth visiting for a first trip?
Yes. Central Park, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Statue of Liberty and Broadway can all fit into a first visit, and the subway runs 24 hours a day. Picking one area per day keeps the pace manageable.
How many days do you need in New York City?
The answer depends on your plans. The guide New York in 3 days covers the harbor, Midtown and the Village, one area a day.
Is New York City walkable?
Yes. Walking and cycling make up 21% of all trips in the city, compared with about 8% nationally for metro regions. Walking is a practical way to see Manhattan, and the subway handles longer trips.
Should I stay in Manhattan or Brooklyn?
Manhattan puts you near the main sights, and it costs more, especially in Midtown. Brooklyn suits a slower trip with Prospect Park, independent music and art, and Coney Island in the same borough.
When is the best time to visit New York City?
April, May, September and October are the most comfortable months, with mild weather and low humidity. July and August are hot and humid, and January is the coldest month.
Is New York City expensive?
Yes. Hotel and rental costs are high, especially in Manhattan, and the city is one of the most expensive in the world for expatriates as of 2025. The costs table lists what each budget tier covers for one day.
Is the Statue of Liberty worth it?
Yes, if you want to see it up close. It was dedicated in 1886 as a gift from France, and the Ellis Island Immigration Museum is nearby in the harbor.