New York City or NYC is the most densely populated city in the United States. It’s also one of the most popular travel destinations in the world. Lots of tourists travel to the city with hopes of being granted a full NYC experience. If you’re visiting NYC for the first time, you may find everything the city has to offer all the more exciting.
You’ll be sightseeing and doing things you’ve never done before that would draw you closer to falling in love with NYC. No matter how long or short your trip is, it’s important that you maximize your time because although there’s so much to do in the city, there’s usually a lot of walking to be done and other obstacles to prepare for. With that said, here are some tips on how to make the most of your first-time trip to NYC.
Make The Most Of Your First-Time Trip To NYC
1. Wear Comfortable Shoes
When packing for your trip, treat comfortable shoes for walking the same way you treat your toothbrush—don’t leave home without it. Nearly every NYC travel guide will tell you that comfortable shoes are essential. Sightseeing and exploration of the city are best experienced on foot because you can stop at interesting spots along the way or watch street performers. Also, with all the beauty and fun associated with NYC, you may not want to be stuck in a car during your first trip there.
Comfortable types of shoes include women’s lifestyle sneakers and durable sandals, among others. Sometimes, people get carried away by the charm of NYC and want to keep walking and walking to see more of it. Walking also costs you nothing, unlike the extra costs you’d have to pay for rented cars or taxis.
2. Have A Subway Experience
Most famous movies set in New York City tend to have a subway scene somewhere within their timeline. The subway is a prominent mode of transport in NYC. It’s referred to as the ‘train’ or ‘trains’ by locals, and it’s highly convenient for those working and living in NYC. Taking the subway is a great way for you to get from point A to point B.
To use the subway, you have to purchase a MetroCard and add credits to it at reloading stations. You would swipe this before each ride. There is also a seven-day unlimited MetroCard you can opt for if you plan on taking the subway frequently during your stay. You’ll know if you’re at a subway station entrance if you see round, green lamps (also called ‘globe lamps’) located in front of stairs leading underground.
3. Book Well In Advance
Tens of millions of tourists visit NYC every year, so if you want to have a good experience of a particular activity within the city, it’s important that you plan ahead and book it in advance.
Bookings a day or a week before are unlikely to be available, especially when it comes to visiting NYC’s most popular spots like the Statue of Liberty or various museums. Some places may require reservations for tours, and you don’t want to miss out on such things just because you failed to book early. Whether you’re looking for a place to drop off your bags or searching for a nice hotel, booking in advance will save you time and effort.
That practice also applies to one of NYC’s most popular attractions: theater. Seeing plays in the city is an absolute must given that NYC is where Broadway lies. Make sure to search what shows will be playing and what appeals to you most, and book your tickets as soon as possible so you can get the best seat you can afford.
4. Visit Museums And Central Park
Among the most exciting parts of NYC are the museums. This city has some of the top museums in the country. You can visit the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA), which is located in Manhattan. There, you’ll find influential pieces celebrating contemporary art.
You could also head over to the Metropolitan Museum of Art (the Met). This is the largest fine art museum in the United States. It has an extensive collection of ancient European art, modern American art pieces, and many others.
Manhattan. Photo by Jermaine Ee on Unsplash.comAfter a morning of exploring museums, you can then spend an afternoon in Central Park. Located in Manhattan, this is one of the most popular urban parks in the world. There are lots of activities you could do there such as renting a boat on the Lake, sunbathing and relaxing at the Great Lawn, birdwatching while taking a stroll, and even playing tennis or beach volleyball.
5. Explore Restaurants And Cafés
Food is such a big part of New York City. There are many different types of restaurants and stalls to explore. If you’re a big foodie, NYC might just be your newly discovered haven. You can try everything from food trucks offering a wide variety of delectable choices to classy restaurants for sit-down meals with loved ones.
What’s more, you can look for places with NYC specialties like New York-style pizza or cheesecake. There are also wholesome cafés to explore in NYC for all the tea and coffee lovers out there.
Visit NYC
Those are just five of the many things that could make your first trip to NYC more worthwhile and unforgettable. The city is popular for a reason, and if you use your time wisely while you’re there, you’ll find out for yourself what that is exactly.
Karen works for a big hedge fund, she’s awesome with numbers and loves what she does, but above all – she loves traveling. Whenever she’s on the road, she tries to get into the gritty tiny details of every location she explores.
Sarah Knapp is a Brooklyn based entrepreneur whose love for the outdoors and community building led her to the October 2013 creation of OutdoorFest. She has a BA in History, is a Wilderness First Responder and a NY state hiking, camp and boating guide. Her proudest achievement to date is reading the Aeneid in Latin. 
Allison was one of our first top writers and Chief Editor but is no longer working with offMetro. Allison is a native New Yorker, who has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne, Toronto and Los Angeles. She frequently contributed travel pieces to Family Travel Forum, using her own children as guinea pigs as they travel the globe. She never missed a chance to sample local delicacies, as her love for travel goes hand-in-hand with her love for food and wine. 
Josh Laskin is a freelance travel writer and photographer based in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. When he is not at work or on the road, you can find him in the mountains snowboarding, climbing, hiking, fly fishing, mountain biking, and eating bagel bites.
Annie is a travel writer, environmentalist, and surfer based in Venice, CA. She heads up our West Coast team, keeps our grammatical errors in check, and makes sure our California writers always have a plan for their next adventure. Follow Annie’s travels @annelisemcb.
Carly Pifer is a freelance writer who has been known to follow whims inspired by romantic movie scenes or colorful street style shots to India, Japan, Tunisia and Argentina. After stints living in Seoul, Boston, Paris and Los Angeles, writing and searching for something intangible, she landed somewhat steadily in Brooklyn and has begun to find inspiration in her more immediate surroundings. 
Kate E. O’Hara is a New York based freelance writer and photographer who loves all things food—especially the people who make it and market it. Her writing aims to capture the essence of the food experience; the stories that go well beyond a plate of ingredients. In addition to her love of food, Kate is also known to have a hankering for red wine and craft beer. You can also find Kate on Instagram