New York City
29 hostels · dorms from $36
The biggest and busiest city in the country, and the one with the most hostels.
Points of interest
- Statue of Liberty
- Central Park
- The Met
- Brooklyn Bridge
- The High Line
State guide
Things to do in New York
The city that needs no introduction, and a state far bigger than it: the Hudson Valley, the Catskills and Adirondacks, the Finger Lakes wine country and Niagara Falls on the Canadian border.
30
Hostels across its 4 main cities
8.8
Average, from 76,265 reviews
5+
Days for the city alone
Much more than the city
Most travellers come to New York for New York City, and it deserves the time: five boroughs, world-class museums, neighbourhoods that each feel like a different city, and a pace that never really stops. Manhattan has the skyline and the sights, Brooklyn and Queens have much of the food, nightlife and street life, and the subway runs all night between them.
The rest of the state is a surprise to many visitors. The Hudson Valley, an hour or two north of the city by train, has riverside towns, art museums and hiking. The Catskills and the Adirondacks are mountain wilderness, with lakes, forests and the old Olympic village of Lake Placid. Further west, the Finger Lakes are a long, glacier-carved lake district with gorges, waterfalls and wineries, and Niagara Falls thunders on the border with Canada.
Give New York City at least four or five days, and add a few more for the state. Summer and autumn are the best seasons upstate, when the hiking is good and the leaves turn red and gold in October. Long Island's beaches and the Hamptons are the summer escape from the city.
Where to base yourself
New York City for most of the trip, then a few nights upstate.
Niagara Falls
1 hostel · dorms from $32
A small town built around the falls, on the Canadian border.
Points of interest
- Maid of the Mist boat
- Cave of the Winds
- Goat Island
- Old Fort Niagara
Lake Placid
A two-time Winter Olympics town in the Adirondacks, with lakes and peaks all around.
Points of interest
- Olympic sites
- Mirror Lake
- Whiteface Mountain
- High Peaks hikes
Ithaca
A lively college town in the Finger Lakes, surrounded by gorges and waterfalls.
Points of interest
- Ithaca Falls
- Taughannock Falls
- Cornell University
- Wineries on Cayuga Lake
Regions of New York
New York City is the reason most people come, but the state stretches 500 km north and west, from Atlantic beaches to the Great Lakes.
New York City
First-timers, culture, nightlifeFive boroughs: Manhattan's sights and skyline, and Brooklyn and Queens for food, bars and neighbourhood life.
Long Island and the Hamptons
Beaches, summerAtlantic beaches, wineries on the North Fork and the summer towns of the Hamptons, reached by train from the city.
Hudson Valley
Art, hiking, day tripsRiverside towns, art museums and hikes, one to two hours north of the city by train.
The Catskills
Waterfalls, small townsForested mountains with waterfalls, hiking and the town of Woodstock.
The Adirondacks
Wilderness, lakes, winter sportsA huge park of mountains and lakes around Lake Placid, with the High Peaks.
Finger Lakes
Gorges, wineries, IthacaLong glacial lakes with waterfalls, gorges and wineries, centred on Ithaca.
Western New York
Niagara Falls, BuffaloNiagara Falls on the Canadian border, and Buffalo, a city of architecture and wings.
Things to do
Things to do in New York State
In New York City, walk the High Line and across the Brooklyn Bridge, see the city from the top of a skyscraper, spend a day in the Metropolitan Museum of Art or MoMA, and visit the 9/11 Memorial. Take the free Staten Island Ferry past the Statue of Liberty, explore Central Park, and see a Broadway show, cheaper through the TKTS booth or digital lotteries. Spend as much time in the neighbourhoods as at the sights.
Upstate, take the train along the Hudson to Beacon for the Dia Beacon art museum, or hike Breakneck Ridge above the river. The Catskills have waterfalls such as Kaaterskill Falls and the town of Woodstock. In the Adirondacks, Lake Placid, which hosted the Winter Olympics in 1932 and 1980, is a base for hiking the High Peaks, paddling and winter sports.
In the Finger Lakes, walk the gorges of Watkins Glen State Park, with 19 waterfalls, and visit the wineries along Seneca and Cayuga Lakes. Niagara Falls is best seen from the boat that sails into the spray at the foot of the falls, and the Cave of the Winds walkways.
Free things
And what it costs nothing to do
Many of New York City's best experiences are free: the Staten Island Ferry, Central Park, the High Line, the Brooklyn Bridge, the 9/11 Memorial plaza and street life in every neighbourhood. Several museums have free or pay-what-you-wish times, and in summer there are free concerts, outdoor cinema and Shakespeare in the Park.
Upstate, hiking trails and many state parks are free to walk into, though some charge a parking fee. Niagara Falls State Park itself is free to walk around.
The Hudson River and the waterfronts in Brooklyn and Queens have some of the best free views of the skyline.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking
New York City has food from everywhere. Eat a dollar-or-two slice of pizza, a bagel with cream cheese, a pastrami sandwich at a Jewish deli and dumplings in Chinatown or Flushing, Queens. Food halls and street carts keep costs down, and Jackson Heights and Flushing in Queens have some of the best cheap food in the city.
Upstate, Buffalo is the home of chicken wings, and the Finger Lakes produce well-regarded Riesling. Farm stands and orchards in the Hudson Valley sell apples and cider in autumn, and cider doughnuts are a seasonal ritual.
Remember tipping: 18 to 22 per cent in restaurants and a dollar or two per drink at a bar, plus sales tax on the bill.
Nightlife
Going out
New York City's nightlife runs all night, and bars can serve until 4am. The Lower East Side and East Village have dive bars and cocktail bars, Brooklyn's Williamsburg and Bushwick have clubs, warehouse parties and live music, and jazz clubs in Greenwich Village and Harlem have shows every night.
Comedy clubs, Broadway and off-Broadway theatre fill the evenings, and rooftop bars are a summer institution.
Drinks are expensive, and tipping applies to every round. Upstate nightlife is quieter, with college-town bars in Ithaca and breweries everywhere.
More on nightlife in New York
Getting around
Getting around
In New York City, the subway runs 24 hours and is the fastest way around. A ride costs $3, paid by tapping a contactless card or phone at the gate with OMNY, and fares cap after 12 paid rides in seven days. Do not drive into Manhattan: traffic is heavy, parking is expensive and there is a congestion charge below 60th Street.
JFK, LaGuardia and Newark airports serve the city. The AirTrain and subway link JFK to the city for around $11 in total. Amtrak trains run up the Hudson Valley to Albany and on to Niagara Falls, and Metro-North commuter trains reach Beacon and the lower Hudson Valley.
To explore the Catskills, Adirondacks and Finger Lakes properly, hire a car. Buses connect the larger towns.
Costs
What New York costs
New York City is one of the most expensive cities in the world. Dorm beds start around $45 and often run to $80 or more, and a simple meal costs $15 to $25 before tip and tax. Upstate is cheaper, though accommodation outside the cities is mostly motels and campsites.
Sales tax in New York City is 8.875 per cent, added at the till, and restaurants expect 18 to 22 per cent tips on top. Museums, Broadway and observation decks add up quickly.
Save with pizza slices, food carts, free sights, the fare cap on the subway and pay-what-you-wish museum times.
More on costs in New York
Safety
Safety and scams
New York City is safer than its reputation, and the main tourist areas are busy at all hours. Watch for pickpockets in crowds and on the subway, keep your phone close on the platform, and avoid empty subway cars, which are often empty for a reason.
Ignore costumed characters in Times Square who demand money for photos, and anyone selling 'free' CDs. Buy Broadway tickets only from the theatre, TKTS or official lotteries.
Upstate, the risks are outdoors: weather changes fast in the Adirondacks and Catskills, and hikers need maps, layers and water. Health insurance is essential in the USA. In an emergency, call 911.
What's on
What is on while you are there
Parades, festivals, concerts and the biggest New Year's Eve in the world.
Staff pick
31 October
Village Halloween Parade
New York City
The Village Halloween Parade in New York City is the world’s largest public Halloween celebration, drawing over 80,000 costumed participants and up to 2…
Staff pick
31 Dec – 1 Jan
New Year’s Eve at Times Square
New York City
Experience an iconic New York City event and join the more than a million people on New Year's Eve at Times Square in NYC,…
Staff pick
1–31 October
Archtober
New York City
Celebrate the rich architectural history of New York City during Archtober, a month-long presentation of events showcasing the beauty of the building across the…
Staff pick
5–18 October
NYC Off-Broadway Week
New York City
Discover your new favorite play, musical, or show during NYC Off-Broadway Week. The event features over 28 shows that offer discounted tickets so everyone…
Staff pick
7 Oct – 6 Dec
BAM Next Wave Festival
New York City
For over 150 years, the Brooklyn Academy of Music's Next Wave Festival has been engaging both local and global communities through ideas, audiences, and…
Staff pick
15–18 October
New York City Wine and Food Festival
New York City
Savor the flavors of some of the world’s most renowned chefs and splurge at tasting stations from hundreds of chefs from around the country.…
Staff pick
24 October
Diwali Times Square
New York City
Celebrate Diwali at Times Square, a vibrant cultural event that brings the rich traditions, art, and heritage of India to one of the world’s…
Staff pick
14–15 November
Renegade Craft Fair
New York City
The Renegade Craft Fair in New York City is a curated marketplace showcasing the creativity and talent of independent makers and artists. Featuring handcrafted…
Hostels
Where to stay
The highest-rated hostels across New York's main cities, straight from Hostelworld. Prices and availability are live on each property page.
Lamartine Chelsea
New York
Rooms from $60 a night
See dates and book
La Sienna
New York
Rooms from $48 a night
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International Student Center
New York
Dorms from $50 a night
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American Dream Hostel
New York
Rooms from $71 a night
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HI New York City Hostel
New York
Dorms from $39 a night
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The BED Stuy Hotel
New York
Dorms from $43 a night
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The Local NYC
New York
Dorms from $39 a night
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Interfaith Retreats
New York
Rooms from $87 a night
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Hotel 31
New York
Rooms from $30 a night
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NY Moore Hostel
New York
Dorms from $37 a night
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Chelsea International Hostel
New York
Dorms from $36 a night
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Kama Central Park
New York
Dorms from $55 a night
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When to go
Spring and autumn are the best seasons, with mild weather and, in October, red and gold leaves upstate. Summer is hot and humid in the city and perfect in the mountains. Winter is cold, with snow upstate and festive lights in the city in December.
Jan
Cold. Skiing upstate
Feb
Cold, quiet
Mar
Cool, early spring
Apr
Spring blossom
May
Pleasant, busy
Jun
Warm. Summer begins
Jul
Hot and humid
Aug
Hot. Upstate is cooler
Sep
Warm and pleasant
Oct
Autumn colour upstate
Nov
Thanksgiving parade
Dec
Festive lights and New Year's Eve
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs for New York City, rounded. Upstate is several degrees colder.
What your trip will cost
Per night, for one person, based on New York City prices.
Treat these as a guide. Upstate is cheaper; Broadway and observation decks cost extra.
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- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
New York State questions
The ones we get asked most.
How many days do you need in New York?
At least four or five for New York City, and a week or more if you want the Hudson Valley, the Adirondacks or Niagara Falls.
Is New York City expensive?
Very. Dorm beds start around $45 and often run to $80 or more, and tipping and sales tax add around 30 per cent to restaurant bills. Free sights and cheap food help a lot.
How do I get from JFK to Manhattan?
Take the AirTrain to Jamaica or Howard Beach and the subway or LIRR into the city, around $11 in total, or a taxi.
Can I visit Niagara Falls from New York City?
It is around 650 km away. Fly to Buffalo or take a train or bus of around nine hours, and stay at least a night.
Is the subway safe?
Yes, millions ride it every day. Watch your phone and bag, and avoid empty cars.
When is the best time to visit New York?
May, June, September and October for comfortable weather, and October for autumn colour upstate.
Do I need a car in New York State?
Not in the city. Upstate, a car makes the Catskills, Adirondacks and Finger Lakes much easier.
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