Concrete jungle. The big apple. The city that never sleeps. Whatever you call it, New York is good vibes all around, it's cooler than the friends from Friends.

Destination highlights

• New York-style pizza. That's it, that's the highlight.

• Loads to explore (from parks to museums)

• Landmarks you'll recognise from TV and movies

• Times Square, where you'll feel the buzz of the city at it's heart.

Good to Know

🍕 Fun Fact: New Yorkers fold their pizza slices. It’s not rude, it’s tradition.

🏖️ Best Park (a city’s version of a beach!): Central Park – over 800 acres of iconic green space.

🍺 Cost of a pint: Around $8–10 (approx. £6.30–£7.80), but dive bars are your friend if you're after a cheap holiday.

🚕  Getting Around New York City

Getting around NYC is easier than you might think. The subway is the go-to for locals and tourists alike, running 24/7 and reaching all five boroughs. It’s the fastest way to get from downtown Manhattan to Brooklyn or Queens. 

If you're after more comfort, taxis and ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft are everywhere, while ferry services offer scenic trips to destinations like Staten Island, with amazing views of the Statue of Liberty along the way. 

Don’t forget to walk! Many major attractions are close together, so be sure to bring comfy shoes and enjoy the energy of the streets.

What are the best sights to see on your holidays to New York?

There's loads to do on a New York city break, but we've taken the liberty of sky-scraping together some of the good stuff. Sorry.

• Empire State Building - duh, it's (almost) the title of an Alicia Keys song for a reason. Apart from being an iconic landmark from the outside, this Art Deco skyscraper has some seriously fun exhibits (so you can see what it'd feel like to star in King Kong), and it serves up some of the best views in New York, which you can cut the queue to if you bag an express pass straight to the top.

• Brooklyn Bridge - you can see this whopping bridge from loads of places across the city, but if you'd rather be close to the action then you can pop your comfy shoes on and follow the walking route. It takes about an hour to walk the full bridge, and you can go from either Brooklyn to Manhattan or Manhattan to Brooklyn - although we recommend starting at Brooklyn so you can admire the skyline along the way. Don't forget - you don't have to walk the full thing, and you can turn back and go the way you came if you want to experience the bridge from both directions!

• Statue of Liberty - for the best view of this famous landmark, you'll need to hop on a ferry across the water. You can either just ride past the island if you're only interested in snapping a few far-off photos, or, if you want a closer look, you can take a ferry over to Liberty Island where the statue lives. Spoiler: it's bigger than you think! There's a museum there too, in case you fancy grabbing a souvenir.

• Central Park - that's right, it's not all concrete and skyscrapers - there are a few trees knocking about. Loads in fact, if you head to Central Park. Quite fittingly, this place is pretty central, so it's easy to get to from most points in the city, whether you walk, hop in a cab or take the subway. Once you're there, you'll have over 800 acres of pathways, woodlands and lakes to explore. It's even got an ice skating rink, outdoor yoga classes, and - get this - its own zoo. Talk about everything but the kitchen sink.

• Rockefeller Centre - every ice-skating scene you've ever seen in a Christmas movie set in America happened here. Probably. Just trust us, it's iconic. While the rink and famous Christmas tree are the stars of the show in winter, in the warmer months you'll usually find pop-up bars and seating areas so you can enjoy a cocktail or a bite to eat in the heart of it all.

• Times Square - it seems like a no brainer that you're gonna wanna pound the pavement on your New York holidays, and where better to get your steps in than the iconic Times Square? The screens light up the night and no matter what time you're strolling through there's guaranteed to be a buzz; we're talking street performers, food vendors and the hubub of chatter from people going here, there and everywhere. Try some of the bars nearby for a tipple or two, hit up a restaurant for some delish food, or make your way to Broadway and catch your next fave show.

Christmas and New York holidays are a match made in heaven

Forget Lapland. If you're looking for full-on festive magic with skyscrapers, snowflakes and sparkling lights, New York at Christmas is like stepping into your favourite holiday movie. Think Home Alone 2 meets Elf – with better food and the best Christmas markets.

🎁 Must-Do Christmas Experiences:

• Rockefeller Centre Christmas Tree – The big one. Lights, ice rink and festive tunes in Midtown.

• Dyker Heights Christmas Lights (Brooklyn) – Locals go all out – we’re talking inflatable Santas, choreographed lights and candy-cane chaos.

• Ice Skating in Central Park – Glide your way through Wollman Rink under twinkly lights and frosty trees.

• Holiday Windows on Fifth Avenue – Department stores like Saks and Macy’s go mad for festive window displays.

• Bryant Park Winter Village – Ice skating, hot chocolate and over 100 pop-up stalls for that perfect last-minute gift.

• Radio City Christmas Spectacular – The Rockettes have been serving high kicks and holiday cheer since the 1930s - if we wanna talk about a New York staple for the holiday season, this is top of the list.

Top Tip - Snow isn’t guaranteed, but a snowy day in NYC in December? Total main character energy. Pack layers and pray to the weather gods.

What are the top hotels for your New York holidays 2025 / 2026?

We know what you're thinking. Beach holidays are our jam, so we can't possibly sell hotels in the Big Apple, right? Wrong. We're branching out - get with the programme. Whether you're planning your 2026 holidays well in advance, or if you've had some last-minute inspo, we've got a hotel for that. Here are a few of our favourites if you want the full New York experience:

• Hotel Belleclaire - it's swanky, it's got a bakery on site, and its façade was the filming spot for some scenes in The Equaliser (the one with Denzel Washington). Need we go on?

• Fairfield Inn & Suites New York Manhattan Central Park - rooms with views, a city chic vibe and a full American breakfast buffet that dreams are made of (yep, there's bagels).

• Hard Rock Hotel New York City Times Square - go hard (rock) or go home - that's the saying, right? This one's smack-bang in the middle of the Times Square action, with a rooftop bar, in-house yoga classes and speakers in all the guestrooms so you can play your favourite tunes.

• Hyatt Grand Central New York - this place is cosied up alongside Grand Central Station, with a breakfast buffet and market for snacks to-go, a fitness centre and modern rooms with huge flatscreen TVs.

• Doubletree by Hilton Hotel New York Times Square West - soak up the city skyline views from this four-star hotel, with a cocktail lounge, all-day restaurant and Hudson River Park just a short walk away.

• The New Yorker, A Wyndham Hotel - go all out on the swank factor with a stay at this hotel... we're talking art deco design, a 24/7 on-site American diner and a fitness centre to work off the pancake sweats. Yeah, it's a vibe.

• Paramount Hotel Times Square - talk about being in the heart of the action, these swanky digs are only a 2-min walk away from Times Square and the bright lights of Broadway - there's also an on-site music venue showcasing all things Sony and an on-site vintage clothes shop - we're sold.

New York holidays 2025 / 2026 Travel Guide

👩‍❤️‍👨 Things to do in New York for couples

Looking to turn up the romance on your New York holidays? Start with a leisurely stroll through Central Park – it’s like stepping into a rom-com, but the stars are you and your other half. After that, cosy up on a horse-drawn carriage ride before heading off to the Met Cloisters for a romantic stroll along a winding road to a castle by the riverside - think knights and queens vibes. And for the ultimate boujee date night? Book a table at a rooftop bar like The Press Lounge where you can sip on cocktails as you watch the sun dip behind the skyline – it's a proper good way to feel like you’re living in a real-life fairytale. Couples holidays don't get much more perfect than this.

Foodies, we haven't forgotten you! Nothing says ‘I love you’ like a candlelit dinner at one of New York’s iconic restaurants. Want to really wow your partner? Swing by Le Bernardin or Eleven Madison Park – where the food is so delish, it’ll have you both swooning.

🍕 Things to do in New York for foodies

Wait there though foodies, while we've got you. New York is your playground, and it's got a menu that'll make your taste buds do a happy dance! Start with a classic New York slice – Joe’s Pizza in Greenwich Village is the stuff of legend, or add a dash of swank and head over to Chelsea Market where you can sample everything from fresh oysters to gourmet tacos, all under one roof.

But wait, there’s more! The city that never sleeps is also the city that always eats. Whether it’s a bagel from Ess-a-Bagel (don’t forget the schmear) or a boujee brunch at Sarabeth’s, there’s a delish bite around every corner. And for the ultimate foodie experience? Book a food tour in Brooklyn – think pizza, chocolate, and artisanal everything. It's top-notch nosh that’ll have you dreaming about your next meal before you’ve even finished your last.

Fancy something sweet? A trip to Dominique Ansel Bakery for a cronut is an absolute must. It’s a bit of a queue, but trust us, it’s worth it. And don’t even get us started on the street food – from food trucks serving up gourmet lobster rolls to carts dishing out the best halal food this side of the Atlantic, New York is a top-tier foodie paradise that’s sure to leave you stuffed and satisfied.

👪 Things to do in New York for families

New York's not just for the grown-ups – it's a top-tier playground for family holidays! Start with a visit to the American Museum of Natural History – dinosaurs, space, and a whopping great blue whale hanging from the ceiling - no chance of these exhibits coming to life at night though, we've been there, done that. Fancy a bit of outdoor fun? Central Park is your go-to with its playgrounds, boat rides, and the famous Central Park Zoo.

For an adventure to remember on your New York holidays, take the little ones to Coney Island. Ride the Cyclone if you dare, then treat yourselves to some candy floss and a Nathan’s hot dog – it’s a family-fun day out with something for everyone to do. And for the cherry on top of your holidays to New York? Make your way to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Educational and fun, these landmarks are perfect for curious kids. The ferry ride itself is a mini-adventure, and the museums offer fascinating insights into the history of the land of stars and stripes.

🏙️ Things to do in New York for thrill-seekers

If your idea of a holiday involves more adrenaline than relaxation, New York's got you sorted, we reckon it's a perfect excuse to book a group holiday with your pals if they're craving city lights with a dash of thrills. Ever thought of climbing a skyscraper? You can get close with a trip up to the Edge at Hudson Yards – it’s the highest outdoor sky deck in the Western Hemisphere. If you're still craving that rush, take a helicopter tour over the city – seeing the Big Apple from the skies will have your heart racing faster than a yellow cab in rush hour.

But if heights aren’t your thing, don’t worry. There’s plenty of pulse-pounding action at the Chelsea Piers, where you can tackle rock climbing, skateboarding, and even a bit of ice hockey. Whatever your thrill, New York’s got an adventure that'll make your jollies unforgettable.