Expert New York City travel guides and holiday advice
There are a thousand things to see and do in the Big Apple, and you could go a whole lifetime without experiencing it all. Iconic attractions await round every corner, from the Statue of Liberty and Empire State Building to Times Square and the Brooklyn Bridge. Shop on the famous Fifth Avenue, catch a Broadway show, see a baseball game at Yankee Stadium or some live music in Greenwich Village, or simply stroll through Central Park. It's also a culture lover’s paradise, with world-class museums and galleries including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Guggenheim and MoMA, while foodies can get stuck into everything from great-value pizza and deli dishes to Michelin-starred fare at the latest “it” restaurants.
Get inspired for your next New York city break with our guides to the best NYC hotels, activities and areas to explore, from downtown Manhattan to Williamsburg and beyond.
New York City hotels
Read our reviews and round-ups of the best places to bed down in the city that never sleeps. From luxurious five-star hotels in the heart of Manhattan and budget-friendly crash-pads on the Lower East Side to boutique options in Brooklyn, there’s an overnight stay to suit every kind of traveller. Find and book your ideal accommodation, whether you’re planning a romantic getaway or a once-in-a-lifetime family holiday.
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Top three iconic hotels in New York
The Plaza
This New York heavyweight first opened its doors on Fifth Avenue in 1907 and has hosted countless dignitaries and VIPs over the last century. Synonymous with luxury, the five-star is known for its opulent weddings and very proper afternoon tea at its Palm Court restaurant.
The Algonquin
Open since 1902, this five-star historically attracted the literary, artistic and theatrical elite, including the original “Vicious Circle” of the Roaring 1920s – which counted Harpo Marx, Dorothy Parker and Alexander Woollcott among its members – at the legendary Round Table restaurant.
St Regis
Originally commissioned by business tycoon John Jacob Astor IV, who died onboard the Titanic, the St Regis was built in 1904 and boasts a Beaux Arts façade, chandeliers and plenty of gold flourishes. Plus its King Cole Bar is said to be the birthplace of the Bloody Mary.
FAQs New York Travel Questions
New York City travel guides
Where to begin in a city the size of New York? Our expert-written guides pinpoint the biggest-hitting and more off-beat attractions, the best things to see and do, the latest must-visit restaurants and bars and the architectural highlights to look out for amid NYC’s unmatched skyline. We’ve got all the practical information you need on tipping and navigating the city by public transport too, and specific guides on how to do a city break on a budget. Plus we take a deep-dive into the coolest neighbourhoods tourists might otherwise bypass, with Microguides on everywhere from the Lower East Side and Harlem in Manhattan to Williamsburg in Brooklyn.
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NYC is the city you want to get right – whether that’s a hotel in the neighbourhood you most want to explore, the totally-worth-it dinner bill or the sightseeing shortlist, says Lucy Thackray
Top three attractions in New York
Empire State Building
It would be hard to think of a more iconic piece of architecture than this 102-storey Art Deco skyscraper in Midtown Manhattan. The world’s tallest building until 1967, it has played a starring role in films including An Affair to Remember and Sleepless in Seattle.
Central Park
The green heart of Manhattan, Central Park provides 843 acres of urban parkland to explore. Sitting between the Upper East and Upper West Side, it hosts horse and carriage rides, bicycle tours and concerts and events such as Shakespeare in the Park.
Statue of Liberty
Nothing says “New York” like the neoclassical sculpture on Liberty Island in New York Harbor. Originally a gift from France, it depicts the Roman Goddess of Liberty, holding a torch above her head with her right hand, and a tablet in her left inscribed with the date of the US Declaration of Independence: 4 July 1776.
Brooklyn guides
Just a quick hop over the bridge from Manhattan, Brooklyn has gone from grungy to ultra-hip in the last decade. From hitting Williamsburg's achingly cool coffee shops and dive bars to wandering the Brooklyn Botanic Garden in Prospect Park and indulging in a day of kitschy fun at Coney Island beach, our travel guides give you the lowdown on making the most of a visit to New York’s trendiest borough.
Top three dishes to try in New York
New York pizza
New York-style pizza evolved in the early 1900s, inspired by the Neapolitan-style pizza beloved by Italian immigrants. It’s made with a large, hand-tossed crust, thin and supple enough to fold in half to eat, and is often sold by the (extra-large) slice.
Soft pretzels
T he perfect snack or light-lunch on the go, New York’s soft pretzels have a hard, shiny exterior sprinkled with salt and a soft, chewy interior. Dip in deli mustard for the full experience.
New York cheesecake
New York cheesecake is heavy on the cream cheese, making its filling extra dense and rich. Combined with a buttery graham cracker crust, it makes for the most indulgent of desserts.
