Where to stay in New York City

For a first trip to New York, stay in Manhattan: Midtown if you want the classic sights and Broadway on your doorstep, Greenwich Village, SoHo or Chelsea for charm and food, or the Upper West Side for a calmer base next to Central Park. To save money without losing time, look at Williamsburg or DUMBO in Brooklyn, or Long Island City in Queens, one or two subway stops from Manhattan.

The quick answer by traveler type

• First-timers on a short trip: Midtown — near Times Square, Rockefeller Center and the subway hubs.
• Couples and food lovers: Greenwich Village, SoHo, TriBeCa or Chelsea.
• Families: Upper West Side or Upper East Side, by Central Park and the big museums.
• Nightlife and a younger vibe: Williamsburg or the Lower East Side.
• Budget: Long Island City, Brooklyn or Upper Manhattan, with a quick subway ride in.

New York neighborhoods compared

Midtown: the movie version

Times Square, Rockefeller Center, Broadway and endless yellow cabs — the city's pulse at its fastest. You can walk to the Empire State Building, Grand Central and Central Park's southern edge, and almost every subway line passes through. The trade-off is crowds and noise; it's the least "neighborhoody" part of town. Staying a few blocks east or west of Times Square is calmer.

Downtown: the Village, SoHo, TriBeCa and Chelsea

Greenwich Village breaks the grid with winding streets, brick townhouses and jazz clubs; Washington Square Park with its arch, chess players and street musicians is the neighborhood's living room. SoHo and TriBeCa are cast-iron warehouses turned into boutiques and expensive lofts. Chelsea and the Meatpacking District are galleries, nightlife, Chelsea Market in an old cookie factory and the High Line park on a former elevated railway. If you want New York to feel like a place to live rather than a set, stay here.

Upper West Side and Upper East Side

Leafier and slower. The Upper West Side has Lincoln Center, the American Museum of Natural History and cozy coffee shops; the Upper East Side has Museum Mile, the Met and grand townhouses along the park. Great for families and anyone who likes a quiet evening.

Brooklyn and Queens

Williamsburg is lofts, record shops and craft beer with Manhattan views across the river. DUMBO is tiny and ridiculously photogenic: the Manhattan Bridge framed between brick warehouses, a waterfront carousel, great pizza. Queens is one of the most diverse places on earth — a round-the-world food tour on one subway line — and Long Island City has skyline views and good-value hotels close to Midtown. Further out, Brighton Beach ("Little Odessa") and Coney Island with its vintage amusement park make a fun beach day.

Top things to do in New York

• Central Park — Bethesda Terrace, the lakes, Strawberry Fields; rent a bike or just walk.
• Walk the Brooklyn Bridge — on the pedestrian boardwalk above the traffic, ideally toward Manhattan.
• Statue of Liberty — take the ferry to the island, or see it for free from the Staten Island Ferry.
• Empire State Building or Top of the Rock — the classic views; the latter has the Empire State in the frame.
• The Met — Egyptian temples to Impressionists; you won't see it all in a week.
• The High Line, Little Island on the Hudson and the Vessel at Hudson Yards.
• 9/11 Memorial — the two reflecting pools where the Twin Towers stood.
• Grand Central Terminal — look up at the constellations on the ceiling.
• Times Square at night — once is enough, but do it once.
• The Flatiron Building, Harlem for gospel and jazz, and a Broadway show.

What to eat

• A bagel with cream cheese and lox — the classic New York breakfast.
• A pizza slice — thin, foldable and eaten on the go.
• Pastrami on rye at Katz's Delicatessen on the Lower East Side, serving since the 19th century.
• Hot dogs at Coney Island, and anything in Queens.

Practical tips

• Use the subway. It's the fastest way around, especially at rush hour. Pay by tapping a contactless card or your phone at the turnstile (OMNY); weekly fare caps mean frequent riders stop paying after a certain number of trips.
• Views on a budget. Instead of an observation deck, have a drink at a rooftop bar with an Empire State view.
• From the airports. From JFK, the AirTrain connects to the subway and the Long Island Rail Road; from Newark, the AirTrain links to NJ Transit and Amtrak trains to Penn Station; LaGuardia relies on buses and taxis.
• Hotel fees. Many hotels add a nightly "resort" or "destination" fee and city taxes on top of the room rate. Compare the total price.
• When to go. Late spring and fall are the most pleasant; summer is hot and humid; December is magical and very busy.

The scam to skip

The costumed characters in Times Square hug you for a photo, then won't let you go without a tip. If you don't want to pay, don't pose — wave from a distance. Also say no to "free" CDs handed out by aspiring rappers, which come with a demand for cash. For the global version of these tricks, read common tourist scams and how to avoid them.

How many days?

Four or five days lets you cover Midtown and Central Park, Downtown and the Statue of Liberty, a museum day, and an afternoon in Brooklyn. A week gives you time for Harlem, Queens and Coney Island. Flying on to Europe? See where to stay in London and where to stay in Paris.

New York in TripGist

TripGist maps thirteen New York neighborhoods across Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx with a short take on each, the landmarks and lesser-known spots like Little Island, what to eat, subway and view tips and the Times Square warning. Free, no ads, on iPhone and Android.