New York City

SUMMIT One Vanderbilt observation deck starts from around £36. The MJ the Musical on Broadway is from around £53. The New York CityPASS covering five top attractions is from around £122. The Statue of Liberty sunset cruise is from around £18. Most visitors book observation decks and Broadway shows well in advance — walk-up availability is limited in peak season. Use code ALLCHECKEDIN5 at GetYourGuide for 5% off.

NYC is expensive but manageable with planning. The Statue of Liberty sunset cruise is from around £18, and Central Park and the Staten Island Ferry are free. A 7-day unlimited MetroCard costs around $34 and covers all subway and local bus travel. Eat outside Midtown and use a Wise card to avoid conversion fees. Code ALLCHECKEDIN5 saves 5% on GetYourGuide bookings.

The MTA subway covers the whole city and runs 24 hours. Tap to pay with a contactless card via OMNY or get an unlimited MetroCard — the 7-day pass costs around $34. Most major sights in Manhattan are within subway reach. Yellow cabs and Uber/Lyft are available but slow in Midtown traffic.

New York is one of the most visited cities in the world and is generally safe for solo travellers. Watch for pickpockets in Times Square and on crowded subway platforms. Avoid wandering alone in unfamiliar areas very late at night, particularly around Port Authority. Keep bags zipped and your phone away in crowds.

Midtown Manhattan puts you closest to Times Square, the Empire State Building and Central Park. The Lower East Side and Brooklyn (Williamsburg, Park Slope) offer a livelier, more local feel at lower prices. For first-time visitors, Midtown or Chelsea is the most convenient base for sightseeing.

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Use code ALLCHECKEDIN5 when booking on GetYourGuide for 5% off eligible tours in New York City. A Wise card avoids foreign transaction fees on spending, Airalo eSIMs give you cheap data the moment you land, and SafetyWing covers travel insurance built for longer trips.