What to do in New York in the fall? For those planning a trip to New York for the first time, I’ve put together a short list of my favorite and most accessible attractions that will definitely show the city from all sides.
Sunrise on the Brooklyn Bridge
Come to the Brooklyn Bridge at dawn, walk along the walkway, take a bunch of photos. If you want, get up early in the morning for a jog and run from Manhattan to Brooklyn over the bridge and back. In general, do not miss this iconic place with a view of Manhattan and the East River.
Picnic in Brooklyn Bridge Park
The best view of Manhattan is from Brooklyn, namely from Brooklyn Bridge Park. You can get here on foot across the Brooklyn Bridge. There are a huge number of lawns, sports fields, piers with views of skyscrapers. You can walk along the pedestrian promenade along Brooklyn Heights – one of the most pleasant places for walks in New York with views of Lower Manhattan.
Highline Park
Take a walk through Highline Park – a former railroad track located on a 10-meter overpass that stretches 2.5 km along the Hudson River from 14th to 34th streets. At one time, instead of demolishing the unnecessary track, they decided to make a pedestrian zone and park here. An unusual and cool solution for tourists and locals.
Orange ferry to Staten Island
Head down to Downtown and take the free orange Staten Island Ferry, which runs between the tip of Lower Manhattan and Staten Island. The ferry runs 24 hours a day. On the way to Staten Island from the starboard side, and on the way back from the left, you get a great (and most importantly, free) view of the Statue of Liberty – take your seats in advance.
Central Park in autumn colors
You will need at least a whole day to walk around all the paths of Central Park. It is like an oasis in the stone jungle, attracting tourists and locals. Many romantic stories have been filmed on its lawns and shady paths. Walk across the Bow Bridge, go skating on the Wollman Rink. Here, in real life, couples arrange dates, go to the ice rink, and swear eternal love.
Times Square Kaleidoscope
Times Square is another symbol of New York, shining with advertising lights 24 hours a day. Times Square is always noisy and crowded. On New Year’s Eve, it is here that the crystal ball, descending down the spire, counts down the last seconds of the year.
Central Station Main Terminal
Be sure to check out the Grand Central Terminal. It’s beautiful in itself, and a bunch of movies have been filmed there. There’s also a great oyster restaurant and bar on the lower level of the station.
Public Library
The New York Public Library – тут можна прогулятися залами з приголомшливими інтер’єрами і зробити в них класні фото. Я взагалі фанат бібліотек і якщо є безкоштовний (або платний) доступ у такі простори – завжди заходжу подивитися на книги, як влаштована бібліотека, інтер’єри. Нью-Йоркська бібліотека була в моєму списку обов’язкових місць – рекомендую.
Celebrate Halloween in New York
On October 31st, especially in the evening, the city turns into one bright, colorful costume show. People in the subway, on the streets, in restaurants are dressed in costumes of witches, pumpkins, skeletons, goblins, and you won’t find any characters! Halloween is very popular in New York, and Greenwich Village even holds a costume parade. Plan a walk through this area – here every porch is decorated as if they are preparing for the filming of the TV series “Sex and the City.”
Eat in Chinatown
Want to eat cheaply and tasty? Take a look at Chinatown – the Chinese quarter in New York. Turning the corner from Broadway, you find yourself in a completely different world. All the inscriptions are in hieroglyphs, strange dried pods, mushrooms and herbs in the shop windows, a street of Chinese barbershops, a huge selection of Chinese cafes and restaurants. It’s not at all like anything I’ve seen in New York before. I like oriental cuisine and really wanted to try it in Chinatown. It’s tasty and much cheaper than in restaurants in other areas.
When is the best time to go to New York?
New York never ceases to amaze tourists with its rhythm of life all year round. For Christmas and New Year, it is perhaps the most beautifully decorated city in the world. In spring, cherry blossoms bloom here, and green leaves bloom in Central Park. In summer, it is hot and noisy, but you can swim on the beaches of Long Island. And in autumn, the best time for walks around the city comes. In late October and early November, it is still warm, the temperature reaches 20 degrees.
How to get to New York
Very convenient flights from Ukraine to the USA via Istanbul on Turkish Airlines (tickets from $ 450 to New York and back). And also from Poland on the wings of LOT – from 550 euros in both directions.
There are several airports in New York. The largest and most popular is John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK). The cheapest way to get from JFK to Manhattan is by subway. The free AirTrain JFK airport shuttle operates 24 hours a day. The AirTrain connects all airport terminals with the hotel transfer area, car rental centers, and New York City’s public transportation network. The Jamaica and Howard Beach stations offer subway, Long Island City trains, and public buses.
The fare between the terminals is free, but you have to pay $5 when you exit. To the Jamaica or Howard Beach metro – $7.75, paid only with a Metrocard ($1). Metrocard machines are at the Jamaica and Howard Beach stations. Then take the subway to any point in New York where there are subway stations + $2.75 for a single subway ride. Or take the NYC Airporter Shuttle minibuses to Manhattan in an hour and a half. Buses run every half hour from 5:00 to 23:30 – the main thing is not to get stuck in traffic! The subway is cheaper and faster!
Newark Airport in Newark, New Jersey is located relatively close to New York City. Getting there is not difficult. AirTrain Newark connects NJ TRANSIT and AmTrak to Newark Liberty International Airport. More information is available in the section AirTrain Newark. Next comes the express bus Newark Airport Express to the Authority Bus Terminal Station on 41st Street between 8th and 9th Avenues.
What you must do before traveling to the USA
- Find cheap, ticket – you can fly to New York and back for $300, if you look for tickets 3-4 months ,in advance you can buy a ticket much cheaper than at the last minute.
- Do not save on your life insurance – medical care in the USA is very expensive. It is better to buy insurance than to pay thousands of dollars for a visit to the doctor later. The easiest way to buy insurance online – on the HotlineFinance. portal.
- Traveling around the USA is impossible without a rental car. Prices for renting there are moderate, and fuel is cheaper than in Europe. You can find a rental car on Rentalcars.com, comparing offers and reviews of different companies and choosing the best option.
- Look for the best hotels on Booking.com, it is better to book a few months before the trip, although there are good discounts at the last minute (provided that you are not going to the city for the holidays).
Useful articles and links:
- Yosemite Park in California – how to prepare for a visit to the valley
- San Francisco from a bird’s eye view
