Where to Stay When Visiting New York City

Midtown puts you within walking distance of Times Square, the Empire State Building, and Grand Central Terminal on 42nd Street. The stretch between 5th and 8th Avenues is dense with hotels at every price point. You can walk to the High Line via 34th Street, reach Central Park South in 15 minutes, and hop any subway line at nearly every corner. It is loud, crowded, and relentlessly touristy. But nothing beats stepping out at 7am and already being in the middle of everything. Stay near Lexington Avenue for blocks that are noticeably quieter without sacrificing any transit access.

Best for

First-time visitors who want landmark access without figuring out transit on day one

Walk times

Times Square 5 min
Central Park South 15 min
Grand Central Terminal 8 min

Skip if: You hate tourist crowds and paying $28 for a mediocre hotel breakfast

Local tip: Stay east of 6th Avenue. The blocks around Lexington and 3rd Avenue have the same subway access but 40 percent less foot traffic and hotels that run 15 to 20 percent cheaper.

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East Village

Real New York, cheap eats, zero tourist buses

Budget $0-$0/night

The East Village sits between 14th Street and Houston Street, anchored by St. Marks Place and Tompkins Square Park. This is where New Yorkers actually go out on a Tuesday. Ramen on 1st Avenue, dive bars on Avenue A, vinyl shops on 9th Street. Hotels here are fewer and smaller, but rates reflect it. The L train at 14th Street and the 4/5/6 at Union Square push you to Midtown in 20 minutes and Brooklyn in 15. Weekend noise after midnight on the main avenues is real. Request a room above the fourth floor when booking.

Best for

Solo travelersrepeat visitorsand anyone who wants late-night food options within two blocks

Walk times

Union Square (4/5/6/L/N/Q/R trains) 10 min
Brooklyn Bridge 28 min
High Line 32 min

Skip if: You have 8am Midtown meetings every day or you are traveling with children under 10

Local tip: Veselka on 2nd Avenue is open 24 hours and serves the best borscht in the city for under $12. Skip the brunch lines at the trendy spots on 7th Street.

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Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Where locals moved when Manhattan got too expensive

Budget $0-$0/night

Williamsburg runs along Bedford Avenue from Metropolitan Avenue down to East River State Park at the waterfront. The L train from Bedford Avenue station drops you at 14th Street in Manhattan in 8 minutes flat. You get rooftop bars with unobstructed skyline views, serious restaurants on Graham Avenue, and Smorgasburg food market on weekend mornings in summer. Hotel rooms are larger and 30 to 40 percent cheaper than equivalent Midtown properties. The L train does suspend for weekend maintenance occasionally. Check the MTA schedule on mta.info before finalizing your dates.

Best for

Design-conscious travelersanyone visiting for food or musicand budget-focused visitors who still want style

Walk times

Bedford Avenue L Train station 5 min
East River State Park 10 min
Smorgasburg (weekends April to October) 15 min

Skip if: You are doing the full tourist loop every day. Statue of Liberty, Empire State, MoMA. The transit adds 25 minutes each way.

Local tip: The Wythe Hotel rooftop bar is worth one visit even if you are not a guest. The Manhattan skyline at golden hour from there is the best free view in New York.

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Upper West Side

Calm, residential, and closer to everything than it looks

Budget $0-$0/night

The Upper West Side runs from 59th Street to 110th Street between Central Park West and Riverside Drive. Amsterdam Avenue and Columbus Avenue are lined with neighborhood restaurants, zero tourist traps, and bakeries that have been open since 1985. Central Park is directly across the street from most hotels here. The American Museum of Natural History sits at 79th Street and Central Park West. The 1/2/3 subway on Broadway carries you to Midtown in 10 minutes and the Financial District in 30. Streets go quiet by 10pm. It is the most livable stretch of Manhattan for a week-long stay.

Best for

Familiesvisitors staying more than 5 nightsand anyone who wants Central Park access without Midtown prices

Walk times

Central Park (72nd Street entrance) 4 min
American Museum of Natural History 8 min
Times Square (by 1/2/3 subway) 12 min

Skip if: You want to walk to nightlife or downtown attractions without taking the subway

Local tip: Zabar's on Broadway at 80th Street is a New York institution open since 1934. Get a bagel with lox before your morning Central Park walk and you will understand why people love this neighborhood.

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