10 Mistakes People Make When Visiting New York City

New Yorkers have a reputation for being rude, but the reality is that most are very friendly, and also very busy.

With walking being such a common way of getting around, tourists stopping in their tracks on busy sidewalks to admire the view will not only frustrate the residents but may also cause a safety issue. This is why many locals detest Times Square, as it's always crowded with starry-eyed visitors. Make sure to find the safest, non-crowded areas to stop and marvel at New York's many fantastic views. 

Midtown Manhattan contains an epic number of landmark attractions, like Times Square, the Empire State Building, the Chrysler Building, and Broadway. However, New Yorkers rarely think of this area as the "real New York." Visitors often make the mistake of booking their hotel in this neon-lit stretch, when other neighborhoods offer equally interesting sights and good value for money. 

Alongside Midtown Manhattan, plenty of fabulous hotels can be found in places such as Williamsburg in Brooklyn, the historic East Village, Astoria in Queens, and multicultural Harlem. Why not stay in a luxury 5-star high-rise overlooking leafy Central Park or a comfy little guest house in atmospheric Chinatown?

New York’s 5 charismatic boroughs boast their own unique attractions that draw visitors from around the world. Brooklyn, in particular, deserves a special mention thanks to its iconic bridge, hipster neighborhoods, eclectic flea markets, and picturesque gardens.

Head uptown to Harlem for intimate jazz clubs, soul food restaurants, and a rich and complex past steeped in African American narratives. Meanwhile, Queens, on Long Island, is the perfect place to spend a day watching a baseball game at Citi Field stadium. 

Broadway’s big-name shows often sell out months in advance, so those hoping to buy tickets on the day of the performance are setting themselves up for disappointment. Even if you do manage to find a seat, the price you’ll pay to occupy it will be somewhat staggering, so it’s best to pre-book whenever you can. 

Some of the really popular shows offer daily ticket lotteries, but the odds of winning are very low. If you pre-book your tickets, you’ll be able to pick from smash-hit musicals like The Book of Mormon, Moulin Rouge, The Lion King, and Chicago. 

Across the world, a tip is often considered an optional bonus that's given for good service. In the US, tipping is so engrained in the culture that it’s effectively mandatory. The part that often confuses visitors in New York is exactly who should be tipped, and by how much. As a general rule, you should only tip those who provide you a service, such as waiters, taxi drivers, and hairdressers. 

Offering between 15% and 20% of the value of the bill will usually be met with a smile. What's more, if a hotel porter helps you carry exceptionally heavy bags to your 30th floor hotel room, make sure you get your wallet out.

New York may be at roughly the same latitude as Portugal, but the climate is anything but Iberian. During winter, Arctic air and strong currents sail down the Canadian coast into the city, bringing average temperatures of around the 0° degrees.

Alongside this, cold weather storms can dump about 6 inches of snow on New York’s neighborhoods, making the sidewalks harder to navigate. If you don't want to visit in the warmer months and simply must see the iconic Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree or ice skate at Central Park, then pack your warmest coats and invest in good quality gloves and snow boots.