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New York
Skyline, parks and museums
- Best time to visit
- Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Oct
- Currency
- USD
- Time zone
- UTC-4
- Country
- United States
Skyscrapers, world-class museums, Central Park and neighbourhoods that each feel like a different city.
- New York
- Los Angeles
- Chicago
- Houston
- San Francisco
- Miami
Quick facts
- Country
- United States
- Capital
- Washington, D.C.
- City population
- 8.3M
- Population of United States
- 340M
- Country area
- 9,833,520 km²
- Official language
- English
- Currency
- US Dollar (USD) · 1 USD ≈ 1 USD
- Time zone
- UTC-4
- Calling code
- +1
- Drives on the
- Right
- Elevation
- 10 m
- Plugs
- A / B · 120V
- Emergency numbers
- 911
- Best time to visit
- Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Oct
Temperatures through the year
Average daily high and low for each month in °C. Months marked with a drop are often rainy.
Temperatures through the year
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High | 4° | 6° | 10° | 17° | 22° | 27° | 29° | 29° | 25° | 18° | 12° | 6° |
| Low | -3° | -2° | 2° | 7° | 12° | 18° | 21° | 20° | 16° | 10° | 5° | 0° |
Best time to visitOther months
Approximate daily cost
Per adult per day: food, local transport and half a double room, without activities or flights.
- ConservativeSimple stays, free and low-cost sights first.$122
- HighComfortable hotels, a balanced mix of sights and trips.$260
- LuxuryLuxury hotels, more paid experiences and day trips.$615
Top things to do
- Free
Central Park
Bethesda Terrace, the Bow Bridge and the Reservoir; rent a bike or walk from the south end to the Met.
- Half day
- Central Park and Upper East Side
- Good for kids
- ≈ $30
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Five thousand years of art in one building; visitors from outside New York State pay a fixed admission. Closed on Wednesdays.
- Half day
- Central Park and Upper East Side
- Indoors
- Closed: Wednesday
- ≈ $25
Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island
Buy only from the official ferry operator, Statue City Cruises; pedestal and crown access sell out ahead.
- Half day
- New York Harbor
- Good for kids
- ≈ $36
9/11 Memorial and Museum, Wall Street
The memorial pools are free; the museum is ticketed. Then walk to Wall Street and the Oculus.
- Half day
- Lower Manhattan
- Indoors
- Free
High Line, Chelsea Market and Hudson Yards
A park on an old elevated railway, from the Meatpacking District to Hudson Yards, with Chelsea Market on the way.
- Half day
- Chelsea and the West Side
- Good for kids
- ≈ $45
Observation deck and Times Square
Top of the Rock, the Empire State Building or Summit at sunset, then the lights of Times Square.
- Half day
- Midtown
- Good for kids
- Indoors
- Good in the evening
- Free
Brooklyn Bridge and DUMBO
Walk across the bridge from Manhattan, then the waterfront park and skyline views in DUMBO.
- Half day
- Brooklyn
- Good for kids
- Good in the evening
- ≈ $30
Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)
Van Gogh, Picasso, Warhol and design, in the heart of Midtown.
- Half day
- Midtown
- Indoors
Before you go
Entry and visas
Citizens of Visa Waiver Program countries, including the UK, most of the EU and Qatar, need an approved ESTA, which costs $40 since 30 September 2025; apply at least 72 hours before travel on the official CBP site. Others, including Indian, Saudi and Emirati citizens, need a visitor visa, and appointment waits can be long.
Official websiteFrom the airport
From JFK, the AirTrain links to the subway and the Long Island Rail Road; from Newark, AirTrain and NJ Transit reach Penn Station. Yellow cabs from JFK to Manhattan charge a flat fare.
Getting around
Tap a contactless card or phone (OMNY) on the subway and buses; the subway runs 24 hours a day.
Local tips
- Prices exclude sales tax, which is added at the till.
- In restaurants, a tip of about 18–20% is customary; it is not included unless stated.
- Buy attraction tickets only from official websites; street sellers often overcharge.
- Medical care is very expensive: travel insurance with high medical cover is essential.
Areas worth knowing
- Central Park and Upper East Side
- New York Harbor
- Midtown
- Brooklyn
- Lower Manhattan
- Chelsea and the West Side
The UK Foreign Office last updated its advice for this country on August 18, 2026.
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United States
Sources: U.S. Customs and Border Protection: ESTA · U.S. Department of State: visitor visas · NYC Tourism + Conventions (official) · MTA: subway, buses and OMNY