New York City: How To Get The Most Out Of Your Trip

Last Updated: September 29, 2025 by Michael Kahn. Published: September 29, 2025.

Getting the chance to visit NYC is often a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It has everything you would usually expect from a large city plus so many hidden treasures. With it being so jam-packed full of stuff to do, it can be hard to fit everything on your list into such little time. Below are some useful tips on what to prioritize to get the most out of your trip.

Pick A Prime Hotel Location

It’s super important when organizing your trip that you choose a good location for your hotel. If you want to visit classic sites, choose a hotel in Midtown Manhattan near top attractions to make it easier to see loads of things and reduce your time traveling between.

Your hotel acts as your base for your trip, with a lot of coming and going, so you want to choose somewhere near the majority of things you’ll be visiting. Make sure you book early to secure lower rates and save money, as well as making sure you find a hotel in your preferred location, as they can book up quickly at peak times.

Eat Like The Locals

After long days of wandering around the city and visiting all the attractions NYC has to offer, food can easily be an afterthought. Try to avoid the classic chain restaurants and the fast food you can get from anywhere and instead try out some of the local cuisine NYC has to offer.

From pizza to bagels, NYC has some truly iconic foods that it would be a shame to miss out on. Joe’s Pizza is a particularly famous pizzeria that is an absolute must-try for anyone visiting for the first time. If you want something a little different NYC has some truly hidden gems. Visit Chinatown or Koreatown if you’re looking for some diverse eats or try some street food from the food trucks in Midtown. 

Get Around Efficiently

NYC is known for its horrendous traffic, and as a tourist with little time to waste it can be a bit of a headache to navigate. Instead of relying on Ubers or cabs, why not hop on one of the world’s most iconic methods of transport – the subway? It’s by far the quickest way to get around the city and is the cheapest too. You can set up pre-paid cards or use tap-to-pay, just remember to get it set up in advance. 

If you don’t fancy the subway, then why not just use your feet to get around? Pack an extra comfy pair of trainers and explore NYC on foot – it’s one of the best ways to explore and discover new places you would have never thought of visiting. Sometimes the best parts of a trip are where you end up being a little more spontaneous.

Making sure you get the most out of your trip doesn’t have to be super stressful. Yes it’s good to plan ahead, especially with where you’re staying, but don’t over-plan every millisecond you’re there. Take time to just wander and explore what NYC has to offer beyond all the hype and classic sites to see and you’ll have the best trip possible.