New York City, The Big Apple, Manhattan, NYC
the greatest city in the world!

Welcome…

To the NYC Insider Guide, a New York City Travel Guide created by a fourth-generation lifelong New Yorker.

NYC Insider Guide Melissa

Planning a vacation is always fun, but in a place like New York City, with SO MUCH to see, do, tour, shop and eat – you want to make sure to do everything you can during your New York City Vacation. That is no easy feat, even for those of us who have lived in New York City our entire lives.

Consider me your very own NYC Insider to help you make the most of your NYC vacation, find our hidden treasures and advise you on the best New York City events, tours and attractions. I’ll also show you tons of discounts and coupons, how to see Museums for free and so much more!

Explore this New York City Travel Guide to book your trip and get New York City Insider tips, free maps, where to spend and save your money, secret ways of getting discounts and most importantly, what to book NOW so you don’t miss out!

NYC Insider Picks

Latest News

Best US Tennis Open Hotels

Best NYC Locations, Cheap, Budget, Closest The Best US Tennis Open hotels include our cheap, budget and lesser known discount hotels along with Hotels near...

Broadway Shows for Kids

Lion King, Wicked, Harry Potter and More! Choosing the best NYC Broadway Show for Kids can be quite a challenge! NYC always has an amazing...

NYC Holidays

July 4th in New York City 2023 Fireworks

NYC Fireworks Boat Cruises, Hotels, Yankees+ July 4th in New York City is amazing! The weather is almost always wonderful and our 4th of July...

NYC Monthly Events

New York City Events January 2023

NYC January Events, Activities and Things to Do Calendar Happy New Year! New York City Events January 2023 include catching the last of the Rockefeller Center...

New York City Events February 2023

NYC February Events and Activities Calendar New York City Events February are full of sports, concerts, shows and special events, like Valentine's Day, Lunar...

New York City Events March 2023

NYC March Events and Activities Calendar New York City Events March 2023 include March Madness, Big East Basketball, Kid's Night on Broadway, 20 at 20...

New York City Events April 2023

NYC April Events and Activities Calendar New York City Events April 2023 include Bruce Springsteen, Jerry Seinfeld, Billy Joel, Bono, tons of comedy...

New York City Events May 2023

NYC May Events, Things to Do, Activities Calendar The best New York City Events May 2023 include Mother's Day, Memorial Day, Taylor Swift,...

New York City Events June 2023

NYC June Events & June Things to Do New York City Events June 2023 are packed with amazing outdoor culture and adventures, along with tons...

New York City Events July 2023

NYC July Events and Activities Calendar New York City Events July 2023 include July 4th Fireworks, Bryant Park Movie Nights & Picnic Performances, Martini...

New York City Events August 2023

NYC August Events & Things to Do New York City Events August 2023 include the US Tennis Open, Shakespeare in the...

New York City Events September 2023

NYC September Events, Festivals Calendar New York City Events September 2023 include the US Tennis Open, Giants, Jets,...

New York City Events October 2023

NYC Insider Guide October Events Calendar New York City Events October 2023 include New York Comic Con, Giants and Jets football, Nets and Knicks...

New York City Events November 2023

November Events & Things to Do Calendar New York City Events November 2023 include the Rockettes at Radio City, Thanksgiving Dinner, Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade,...

New York City Events December 2023

NYC Insider Guide December Events and Activities Calendar New York City Events December 2023 are filled with dozens of New York Christmas Trees &...

New York City Activities

New York City Tourist Attractions include the typical Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty, Museums of Modern Art and Natural History, Central Park and so much more. Some of our newer attractions include the 9-11 Memorial Museum, Madame Tussauds Wax Museum and Times Square. But, do you also know you can have a martini and listen to classical music at a Museum? Or eat Chinese food while looking at the Statue of Liberty? Come enjoy NYC like a local….

New York City Tourist Attractions

...the best things to see and do in NYC New York City Tourist Attractions include the typical Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty, Museums of...

List of NYC Broadway Shows

...find the BEST NYC Theater tickets! Welcome to the List of NYC Broadway Shows, which I hope will help you find the best seats to...

New York City Concerts Shows | Live Music in NYC

Shows, Events and Sports Calendar New York City Concerts 2023 include some of the world's BEST talent you will ever see in the...

NYC Vacation Itineraries

Sample Vacation Itineraries...NYC Insiders Share Their Trips New York City Vacations offer so many incredible things to do, sometimes its hard to...

Visiting New York With Kids

Favorite Family Things to Do, Hotels, Attractions Visiting New York with kids is truly a delight. After all, it is how I first experienced my...

New York City Nightlife

Night Tours, Cruises, Rooftops, Clubs, Attractions New York City Nightlife offers something for everyone, every day and every night. After all, this IS the city...

New York City Museums

Many Museums are actually FREE? Yes, they are! New York City Museums range from the world-renowned Metropolitan Museum of Art NYC and American Museum of...

New York Restaurant Guides

Pizza, Bagels, Steak, Food Trucks and More New York Restaurant Guides cover the almost 19,000 restaurants in NYC... you can eat at different one every...

New York City Shopping

Insider Guide to Shopping in NYC New York City is a shopping and fashion paradise, but some of the best New York City shopping is...

New York City Sports Teams

Giants, Jets, Yankees and Mets! Cheering on one of our New York City Sports Teams is a top pick for any NYC trip. Make sure...

NYC Events Today

Over 50 Things to do in NYC and NYC Events Today! NYC events today, like every day, include shows, concerts, Broadway, sports, kids...

New York City Tours

...Walk, Bike, Bus, Blade and Fly Over NYC There are so many special New York City Tours. You can tour New York by walking, bus,...

Fun Things to do in New York in Spring

There are hundreds of fun things to do in New York in Spring. With the cherry blossoms, green foliage, sparkling rivers and warm weather as your backdrop, Spring is the time to take advantage of rooftops, biking, tennis, volleyball, walking tours and so much more.

Things to do in New York in Spring


July 4th Cruises - NYC Insider Guide Best Sellers

Book your front row seat to the Macy's July 4th Fireworks on a variety of private, upscale and family-friendly cruises, with on-board DJ’s to get you dancing the night away, plus food and drinks.

July 4th Hot Sellers Right Now

Cornucopia Majesty July 4th Family Fireworks Party Cruise


Explore and Indulge Like a Real NYC Foodie

There is no shortage of pizza, bagels, street vendors, cupcakes, craft beer and cocktails, rooftops and mini food parks to explore and so many more food choices in the five boroughs, along with wonderful guides who can't wait to show you them all!!!!


Best New York City Hotel Rooftops

NYC Hotel Rooftops offer some of the best skyline views in the whole City, along with cocktails and food, views, pools, cabanas, sundecks and retractable roofs. Our top picks for the most surreal views and cocktails include:

New York City Hotel Rooftops

See More: Best New York City Hotel Rooftops


Museums

Museums and attractions are open, some with reduced capacity, safety protocols, reservations and vaccination proof. Check out the new Museum of Ice Cream (SoHo), Guggenheim, MoMA, Whitney and so many more NYC Museums from which to choose.


New York City Museums


Attractions & Sightseeing

NYC attractions are open, some with reservations required. Whether you want to sightsee from the sky or selfie with celebs @ Madame Tussauds, you can be safe and explore.

Go HIGH or Go Home

Top of the Rock, Empire State Building, One World Observatory, Edge or the new SUMMIT? Which is best and, if we have to choose, which should we visit? There is no easy answer, but here are some facts to help guide your choice.

Edge NYC Observation Deck

  • Empire State Building - (86 and 102 floors) Best for patient movie and history buffs who need to check it off their bucket list. Recently redone indoor 102nd Floor Observatory
  • Top of the Rock - (67-70 floors) Best for sweeping 360° vista views, including of the Empire State Building and Central Park. Shorter lines and cheaper than the ESB.
  • One World Observatory - (100-102 floors) Best for homage to the Twin Towers. Modern and high tech, with phenomenal views
  • Edge - (100-101 floors) Highest outdoor observation deck, glass bottom floor, deck extends 80 feet away from building (photo)
  • Summit One Vanderbilt - (91-93 floors) Opened Oct 2021, all glass elevator, indoor and outdoor decks and glass terraces off the side of the building. One of the hottest tickets in town



Secret NYC Insider Tours

Explore our subways secrets with a local guide, go behind-the-scenes at the Basilica of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral, uncover surprising gems and historical tales of Grand Central Station, cocktail your way through Manhattan’s best and most secretive speakeasies and much more!


Fun Things to Do in NYC


NYC Neighborhood Guides

Save with a NYC Attractions Pass

Get savings coupons and find the best NYC Attractions Pass Discounts for your NYC vacation. Unbiased reviews of the New York City Sightseeing Passes. Which is the BEST – NY Sightseeing Pass, New York City Explorer Pass, New York Pass or CityPASS?

NY Sightseeing Pass
NYC Sightseeing Pass

The New York Pass
New York City Pass Discounts

  • Includes 100 tours and attractions
  • Choose 1, 2, 3, 5, 7 or 10 Days
  • New York Pass

NY Explorer Pass
New York City Explorer Pass


NYC Insider Printable Guides

"The guides are exactly what we were looking for to help us navigate NYC and the highlights of each area.
THANK YOU for taking the time to put this together."

NYC Insider Printable Guides


 

"Amazing, Melissa. This is my second copy! Congratulations for this always excellent guide. I have been living in this area for 18 years, but I still leave the guide as a treat when people come to visit me by their bed. So comprehensive!"

 

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Manhattan Neighborhood Map

NoHo-NYC-Map Midtown West Map Central Park NY Chelsea Hudson Yards Upper West Side NYC Midtown West Map Midtwon West Meatpacking-District West Village SoHo-NY-Map Tribeca-NY Upper-East-Side east-village-nyc Financial District NYC Lower East Side NYC midtown-east-map-nyc Little-Italy-NYC-Map union-square-flatiron-nyc-map Gramercy Chinatown-NYC-Map NoHo-NYC-Map greenwich-village-nyc Garment-District-map Harlem Neighborhood Guide

See our complete Manhattan Neighborhood Map and Guides

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Broadway Shows NYC

List of Broadway Shows NYC


Buy Great Broadway Tickets Today!

Top Picks for Broadway Tickets

Note: All of our ticket partners are legitimate, recommended ticket sellers and guaranteed to sell you official NYC Broadway tickets.


NYC Hotels Times Square

The best NYC Hotels Times Square chosen by a NYC local! If you want to be in the heart of Broadway, all the tourist action, Restaurant Row, lounge by a pool, check out the best views from a rooftop or splurge on the live NYE Ball Drop, we will show you the best places to stay.

See All: NYC Hotels Times Square & Broadway

NYC Hotels Times Square


New York City Shopping Guides

New York City Shopping



Best Hotels for NYC Events & Holidays

NYC events and holidays bring in massive amounts of visitors, all of which want prime views and access to the July 4th fireworks, Macy's Thanksgiving Parade, New Year's Eve fireworks, Marathon finish line and more. Here are our top hotel picks for NYC's most popular annual events.


NYC Hotels by Type

NYC offers hotels of every type you can imagine. Boutique hotels with cool features like pools, rooftops and gyms, to suite hotels which are more comfortable for families or those who want more apartment-type lodging, to cheap budget hotels with bunk beds, check out our top choices appealing to all budgets and tastes.


NYC Hotels by Amenity

Turn your NYC stay into your home away from home with our amazing hotel amenities. Get an in-room jacuzzi tub to soothe after a long day of sightseeing, check into a hotel with an amazing rooftop to watch our skyline twinkle at you while sipping a cocktail and dive into the nooks and crannies of Central Park with a free bike. We've hand picked all the best of the best - the places where New Yorkers check into for a stay-cation.


New York City Hotel Map

Booking.com

Top of New York City Hotel Deals


NYC Hotels By Attraction - I Want To Be Near...

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How to Save on Hotels in New York City

Check out all our tips and dozens of promo codes to help save on NYC Hotels. Whether you are visiting NYC on a budget, or just looking to save a little on luxury, we share all our insight on How to Save on Hotels in New York City.

NYC Printable Guides - Available for Immediate Download

REALLY??? This is a lifesaver! I’m too ADD-riddled to ever have been able to compile all this info in a useful way. Thanks to these tools, our 3 short days in NYC will be spent just how we want with no time wasted. I really can’t say enough good things. To anyone on the fence about this purchase…it truly is the best $20 you can spend and will probably save you way more than that in time alone.

NYC Insider Printable Guides

Honestly this was the best book I’ve ever purchased and it was worth every single dollar I spent on it!!

Top of New York City Hotel Deals


Why You Will Love New York City

My favorite world travel experiences are always when I have a local guiding me before or during my trip. We all love to have recommendations from someone we know and trust before we hop on that plane or train (and if you don't know me, yet, feel free to read more About NYC Insider Guide and why I started this website).

New York City Travel Guide

Please explore the New York City Insider Guide at your own pace. I hope it helps you plan your New York City Vacation, so you not only go home as a NYC Insider, but plan to visit us again soon.

If you come to NYC, stay in a Times Square hotel, jump on a HOHO Bus Tour, go only to the Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty and Madame Tussauds Wax Museum, well, you may actually never run into another New Yorker; and you certainly won't get to experience some of the most amazing things this city has to offer. I hope to be able to show you how do it all - see our world-famous and historical attractions, while also experiencing some of our local culture.

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About the Insider New York City Travel Guide

New York City Checker Cab

Don't believe a word of the hype - we are some of the most diverse, friendy, smart and fun people you will ever meet. I mean that wholeheartedly - it takes me almost 30 minutes to walk the two blocks to the subway, because I'm always saying hello to my neighbors, doormen, shoe guy, manicurist, bartender, dry cleaner, deli, gym...and that's all on my block!

I love this city so much and nothing makes me happier than when you love it, too. Please enjoy my insider tips, the kinds of things you discover only when you have hundreds of friends and family members and our collective prior generations passing down "insider" information.

Mom and Cousin on my Uncle's Checker Cab (scanned photo - circa 1950)

I have no connections with the New York City tourism and travel industry, so all the information on this site is genuine. I will never recommend anything unless I'm absolutely confident it's the best (and by my and NYC standards, that's pretty high!). Please enjoy all the real information from a real person who lives here.

I can't wait to show you some of my favorites.

Thank you for visiting the NYC Insider Guide ...welcome to our city and I hope you love it as much as I do!

NYC Insider Guide Melissa

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