Things To Do In Brooklyn
Williamsburg is one of those places you eat, drink and chat your way through an entire vacation.
Visit trendy or dive bars and eateries, then walk around Domino Park and look at street art in Bushwick a little further away from the East River.
The lower parts of Brooklyn are filled with amazing places to visit, including:
Wall Street And The Financial District Best Area To Stay In New York For Business Travelers
Most of Lower Manhattan is comprised of the numerous financial institutions located within the Financial District, which happens to be the oldest part of the city.
Many business travelers who stay in New York for a few days choose the Financial District because they know it has a lot to offer aside from being home to the Nasdaq and New York Stock Exchange, both of which offer guided tours that are worth taking advantage of after all, this is the financial capital of the world.
Ever since the 9/11 Memorial was completed a few years ago, the Financial District has emerged as a tourism powerhouse, and some older skyscrapers have been given new purpose as hotels.
When booking a hotel in this section of Manhattan, you will find that weekends are far more affordable because business travelers have already left.
BEST PLACES TO STAY IN THE FINANCIAL DISTRICT
Courtyard by Marriott New York Downtown Manhattan is an imposing high-rise tower offering hundreds of luxurious rooms and suites. You have a choice of vistas in the upper levels some rooms look out into the Hudson River and the Statue of Liberty while others are oriented towards the Manhattan skyline. Every major attraction in the district is within walking distance, including the World Trade Center Memorial, the waterside Battery Park and marina, and the New York Stock Exchange.
Understanding How Big New York City Is
New York City is massive. The city is spread out over 302.6 square miles over five major boroughs:
- The Bronx: The Bronx is north of Manhattan, separated by the Harlem River, and Queens, separated by the East River.
- Manhattan: South of the Bronx and tapers off where the Hudson River and East River meet, Brooklyn across the way of the East River
- Brooklyn: Across from Manhattan, it and Queens are actually on the same land as Long Island
- Queens: Borders Brooklyn to the west and is south of The Bronx, separated by the East River
- Staten Island: On its own island to the other side of Brooklyn, separated by Upper Bay
I remember a friend telling me she hasnt made time to go see the Christmas lights in Dyker Heights because its such a hassle to get from where she lives in Upper Manhattan all the way down to one of the more southern parts of Brooklyn. I actually think me driving from Philly would be faster than her navigating the subway or even paying for a car/tour in the nighttime Christmas traffic!
Anyway, thats all to say you want to choose where you stay wisely. For example, it doesnt make too much sense to stay in Upper Manhattan if a lot of the NYC attractions you want to see are in Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn.
Important: Before you do anything, plug in all the places you want to visit in NYC into Google Maps so you have an idea of where they are relative to each other. Then pick a hotel somewhere in the middle and near a subway station!
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Where To Stay In Nyc In 2023 By Neighborhood
Sean FinelliLast Updated: September 15, 2022
New York City is an iconic destination that literally everyone should visit if possible. The city is so massive and every city block is packed with things to do. Amazing food, speak easies, cool hotels, broadway shows, and more. This guide will break down the Big Apple by its best neighborhoods so you know where to stay!
NYC Neighborhoods Well Cover:
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When To Visit New York City

Spring and fall are the best times to visit New York City for comfortable temperatures, views of the changing foliage and florals, and fun events across the city. Summer in New York City is a very busy time, especially on weekends, and the heat and humidity can be stifling. Winters can be brutal, with snow and wind making travel difficult and dangerous.
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Where To Stay For Eating & Drinking: Lower East Side
The Lower East Side is a prime shopping, eating, and drinking neighborhood. Its an incredibly diverse area there are gritty pubs and bars, late-night comedy clubs, tattoo parlors galore, and a number of art galleries too. The Tenement Museum, one of my favorite museums, is also located here.
Youll get the full NYC experience staying in the Lower East Side and its one of my favorite neighborhoods.
Best places to stay in the Lower East Side
- BUDGET: The RIDGE Hotel Small rooms, but with some great amenities like iPod docking stations and wall-mounted TVs in each room. The helpful concierge can help you book tours and show you how to get around the city.
- MID-RANGE: Hotel Indigo This hotel is dedicated to supporting local street art and artists, and youll see plenty of their work throughout the building. Locals flock to their Mr. Purple rooftop bar and pool area in the evening for fancy cocktails.
- LUXURY: The Ludlow This is a truly gorgeous hotel, with hardwood floors, handmade silk rugs, artisan Moroccan lamps, and luxurious bathrooms with soaking tubs and rain showers. Theres also a beautiful trellis-covered garden, bar and lounge, and a 24-hour fitness center.
Best Hostel In Brooklyn: Ny Moore Hostel
This is our favourite hostel in Brooklyn because it has a great location in trendy Williamsburg. This loft-style hostel offers spacious dorms and private rooms with modern amenities and excellent linens. This property also has free wifi, a stocked kitchen and a comfy coffee lounge.
Need to spend some quality time with fellow backpackers? Get your fix by staying at one of these amazing hostels in New York!
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Things To See And Do In Upper West Side New York
- Order a big salad or simply enjoy a cup of coffee at Toms Restaurant, a must-visit for Seinfeld fans.
- Dive deep into history, culture and the natural world at the incredible American Museum of Natural History.
- Take a virtual tour of the universe and beyond at the Hayden Planetarium.
- Enjoy five floors of fun at the Childrens Museum of Manhattan, where kids of all ages can experience interactive exhibitions and colourful displays.
- Indulge in sweet treats, cakes, and cookies at Levain Bakery.
- Pack a picnic and explore expansive and iconic Central Park, where youll find a pond, zoo, and plenty of walking paths.
- Dine on delicious and authentic Italian fare at Carmines Italian Restaurant.
Niagara Falls New York
Another one of the best upstate New York getaways is to Niagara Falls. Guests are able to experience the Falls in a variety of ways hiking, boating, biking, or even while dining. Maid of the Mist takes tourists as close to the falls as possible. See the Falls while you dine at Top of the Falls restaurant. Niagara Falls State Park, encompasses all of these great options and much more. Once youve explored the American side, you can also cross to the Canadian side, so bring your passport and be sure to check up on current Covid-19 guidelines.
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Midtown Manhattan And Times Square
We have to admit, we love staying in the heart of Manhattan at Times Square. You are within walking distance to so many top New York Attractions when staying in Times Square. Plus, when you are in New York for the first time, youll never tire of coming back to the hustle and bustle of the neon lights of Times Square.
Midtown Manhattan was the area that we stayed in when we visited New York City for the first time and we still stay there from time to time. It offers some of the best accommodation in New York and you have everything at your fingertips.
The main thing we loved about this area is that you are within walking distance of many of the famous New York attractions. It really allows you to explore a lot in a small amount of time. It may not be the cheapest area in New York City but if you want to be close to everything this area is perfect. Check out Things to do in Times Square A Walking Tour and Nearby Attractions.
In Midtown Manhattan you will find:
- Close to NYU so a lot of students
Get lost on side street after side street of gorgeous townhouses and tree-lined blocks. The neighborhood is simultaneously quiet and happening with a great music scene. If you are looking for where to stay in New York City that has a great history this is it!
Best Boutique Hotel In Chelsea Freehand New York
The artsy, historic decor sets this boutique hotel apart from other accommodation in Chelsea. Order room service or check out one of the restaurants in the neighborhood Chelsea is known for its great food scene!
When bad weather ruins your plans, you can have fun in the game room or ask for board games or cards to play in your own room.
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Why Stay In Upper East Side
Featuring the museum mile’ and various upscale buildings, dining, and department stores, this is the area to stay in if you want a swanky, quiet area not far from Central Park with lots to do. You could easily spend your entire trip visiting galleries and museums, being based here, and not even start on the usual sights of Manhattan. If upscale shopping is your thing, then you’ll also be thrilled here.
East Village Where To Stay In New York City For Nightlife

East Village is one of the most vivid and energetic areas in the entire New York and its my recommendation for people interested in nightlife and exploring the best pubs and bars!
The East Village is a pretty unique and special area, as it has an interesting mix of old and new, modern and old-school, which can be seen everywhere from the streets to the buildings and the overall vibe.
There are also plenty of rooftop bars and late-night clubs here, so you can rest assured that you can never get bored here, even if you try!
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Best Places To Stay In New York City
Just looking for a quick answer on the best places to stay in New York City? Here are my top picks:
- Best Budget The Jane
Prefer an apartment? Check out the exclusive listings on Plum Guide. They only list the top 3% of properties, giving you confidence youre booking one of the top places in NYC.
Any of these New York City hotel options would make for a great home base during your visit to New York. Now lets do a deep dive into the best areas, hotels, and neighborhoods in New York City:
Upper East Side Where To Stay In New York For Families
Upper East Side is a well-known upscale and posh area of Manhattan and the perfect spot for those that want to indulge, shop in designer boutiques, and explore some museums. It might sound familiar if youve watched Sex and the City or Breakfast at Tiffanys! It is said that the Upper East Side is a wealthy area but this kind of started to change lately.
Now, the Upper East Side is an interesting area for everyone out there, although one thing stands true: its quite impossible to find budget accommodation here . So I totally recommend this area to those of you that are looking for the best luxury hotels in NYC!
Other than this, this awesome area has plenty of attractions and activities to offer, making it the perfect place to stay with the family! A part of 5th Avenue passes through the area . This is the perfect place to go if youre an art and museum lover, as youll find plenty of them here: the Guggenheim Museum, the Jewish Museum, Neue Galerie, the Frick Collection, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art all of these and more are located here!
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Things To See And Do In The Upper West Side
- Escape city traffic by walking through Riverside Park.
- Spend a day exploring the exhibits at the American Museum of Natural History.
- Watch a show at the Beacon Theater.
- Walk, bike, see a live music performance, rent a rowboat, or have a picnic in Central Park.
- Treat yourself to artisanal cheese and baked goods at Zabars.
- Shop and dine at the Time Warner Center.
- Experience the performing arts scene of NYC at the Lincoln Center.
- Find antiques or a souvenir at the Sunday Grand Bazaar NYC.
- Take in the view from The Empire Hotel Rooftop.
- Get a sugar high from one of the artisanal bakeries like the famous Levain Bakery.
- Admire the architecture of the Gothic Revival Cathedral of St. John the Divine.
Best Hotel In Williamsburg Hotel Le Jolie
Colourful décor, spacious rooms, and an unbeatable location are just a few of the reasons we love Hotel Le Jolie. Located in Brooklyn, this hotel is well-connected to the rest of the city, close to landmarks, restaurants, bars and public transit. Each room has a refrigerator, a private bathroom, and entertainment amenities.
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Flatiron And Nomad: Our Personal Pick For Best Area To Stay In New York City
The reason we think Flatiron and NoMad should be at the top of your list of the best places to stay in New York City is simple. Its essentially the lower end of Midtown Manhattan, which has a decidedly different, more pleasant character than the area further north towards Times Square.
It combines the energy and centrality of Midtown and the excellent access to food and drinks of Chelsea and Greenwich Village .
First, lets talk about geography. In terms of location, what are we talking about here? Essentially, Im referring to the area between Union Square on the southern end and W32nd St on the northern end. In terms of east/west borders, its going to be something like Park Ave and 7th.
This little slice of paradise in the city has everything we like in a neighborhood: excellent green spaces , great food and drinks and Devoción , and a perfect central location between Midtown, Chelsea / Greenwich Village, and the East Village.
As you get further north into Midtown, the energy gets to be a little much, at least for us. This part of Manhattan has a taste of that energy, but its far more accessible and less overwhelming, and shares the same transit connections that makes Midtown a perfect place to stay for your first trip to New York.
Pros and Cons of Staying in Flatiron / NoMad
Pros:
Cons:
Things To Do In Flatiron And NoMad
Here are some of our favorite spots in the neighborhood, in no particular order.
Where To Stay In Flatiron And NoMad
Where To Stay In Upper East Side
For elegant stays: The Sherry-Netherland has been the epitome of absolute luxury since 1927. Its ornate lobby is modelled after the Vatican Library and room service comes from the in-house Harry Cipriani restaurant.
For independent stays: The Garden ES Suites sits minutes from Lexington and 63rd Street. All suites feature fully equipped kitchens, separate living areas, large windows and modern interior design.
For family stays: Loews Regency New York offers both rooms and one or two bedroom suites sleeping up to six guests. It sits on Park Avenue and both Central Park and the Rockefeller Centre are a short walk away.
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Need A Place Quick Heres The Best Neighbourhood In New York:
If Midtown isnt quite your vibe, the capital of the world has more where that came from. Be sure to check out where to stay in New York to get the full low down on all our favourite areas before adventuring into the list below!
There are so many things to do in New York that youre going to want to place yourself in the best location. Get your hostel, hotel or Airbnb in New Yorks best neighbourhoods for the most convenient way to see it all.
Upper West Side Where To Stay In New York City For Families

The Upper West Side is a classic New York neighbourhood. With its iconic architecture, tree-lined streets, and quintessential Brownstone townhomes, this is the New York that most people recognize from movies and TV.
The Upper West Side is our recommendation where to stay in New York City for families visiting.
Not only is the Upper West Side adjacent to the immense and expansive Central Park, but it is also home to world-famous cultural institutions like the American Museum of Natural History. Families with kids will love wandering through its exhibits, learning more about history, culture and the natural world.
In this neighbourhood, youll find family-friendly restaurants, attractions for all ages, and colourful candy stores perfect for rewarding your little ones after a long day of New York sightseeing.
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