New York Holidays & City Breaks

With four distinct seasons and many parades and festivals throughout the year, New York City offers a holiday as diverse as its residents. In ‘the city that never sleeps’, tourists can have the best in food and entertainment at their fingertips. The largest city in the U.S. is also one of the world’s most energetic. From a night in a museum to a street-food festival, this metropolis has it all.

Weekend breaks to New York

Weekend breaks to New York are guaranteed to impress even the pickiest of travellers, with its modern culture, vibrant nightlife and welcoming atmosphere. Discover a new appreciation for life when you visit the Big Apple and let it capture your imagination as well as your heart. Explore world-famous sights such as the Statue of Liberty and reach the top of the Empire State Building for panoramic views of the entire city.

You can see and do so much with a weekend break to New York and with so many flights from the UK to choose from, you’re in complete control of your schedule and your time. Shop in Times Square, visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art or take it easy with a relaxing stroll through Central Park. No matter how you want to spend your time in the city, weekend breaks to New York offer an exciting experience that you’ll remember for a lifetime.

Things to do

With four distinct seasons and many parades and festivals throughout the year, New York City offers a holiday that’s as diverse as its residents. In The Big Apple, you’ll have the best in food and entertainment at your fingertips. The largest city in the U.S.A is also one of the worlds’  most energetic. From an evening spent wandering around a museum to savouring the aromas of a street-food festival, this bustling metropolis has it all.

New York’s famous skyline isn’t just to be admired by the city’s residents; visitors here can gaze at the concrete jungle from many different observation decks. Down on the ground, hunt for bargains in Midtown or see Impressionist artworks at the Guggenheim Museum. In the evening, enjoy a mouth-watering Asian meal in Chinatown or take in a show in one of the theatres on Broadway.

Great sights

The first time you go to New York it almost feels like you’ve been there before. This is because there’s so many famous places across the city that you’ve seen lots of times in countless films, TV shows or on the news. From the Statue of Liberty to Central Park, and Times Square to the Empire State Building, New York is packed with familiar sights.

Famous culture

You might even feel like you already know certain aspects of the city’s culture, whether that’s gorging on a huge breakfast in a cosy café, joining the crowds in buzzing Times Square, or seeing a breathtaking Broadway show. Everything starts to make sense as you tuck into a New York strip steak or frozen yoghurt, and venture along streets that have stores made famous by films like Breakfast at Tiffany’s.

Year-round destination

If you’re a fan of the Home Alone films, then you’ll know how pretty and enchanting New York can be over winter as the city gears up for the festive season. Central Park is simply stunning covered in a layer of snow, although it’s just as great in the summer when you can join the runners and dog walkers along the pathways. Sit down in the grass and watch some local kids play baseball as you enjoy the warm weather before heading to the Meatpacking District for a night out.

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Map of New York

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31 ℃

Best time to visit: Spring and Autumn

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7 hours 40 minutes

John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) is located in Queens, 26km southeast of central Manhattan. Newark International Airport (EWR), in New Jersey, is also 26km from midtown Manhattan.

New York is best for...

p>Shoppers: Buy your Christmas gifts along Fifth Avenue.

 

Art enthusiasts: Marvel at the Metropolitan Museum’s Roman antiquities and Egyptian mummies.

Theatre fans: Catch a Hollywood celebrity in a Broadway musical.

Fast facts for New York

Language: The language spoken in New York City is English.

Currency: The currency used in New York City is the US Dollar ($).

Local time: New York City is 5 hours behind GMT/UK time.

Fly: John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) is located in Queens, 26km southeast of central Manhattan. Newark International Airport (EWR), in New Jersey, is also 26km from midtown Manhattan.

Flight time: 7 hours 40 minutes.

Tourist information: Further New York City tourist information can be found at www.nycgo.com.

 

Getting around New York

By foot: The attractions, restaurants and shops of Midtown and Lower Manhattan are best reached on foot.

By tourist bus: Open-top, hop-on/hop-off buses are a great way for visitors to see the sights.

By bus and metro: Metrocards for busses and Subway can be purchased for pay-per-ride or unlimited travel. All journeys are the same price no matter how far you travel. Buses require exact change or a Metrocard.

By bicycle: A bicycle-sharing scheme (Citibike) offers thousands of bicycles at hundreds of docking stations in Manhattan and Brooklyn.

By taxi: You can hail a taxi from the street. Cab drivers accept cash or credit cards, and 10-15% tip is expected.

Events in New York

Independence Day: Several fireworks extravaganzas take place on July Fourth. Crowds line the riverbanks for the largest show, which includes fireworks launched from barges in the Hudson and East rivers.
 
New Year’s Eve Ball Drop: Be prepared for below-freezing temperatures, huge crowds and hours of standing in one place. But it’s worth it for the live entertainment and festive atmosphere of Times Square on New Year’s Eve.
 
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade: On the fourth Thursday of November, New Yorkers begin Thanksgiving Day celebrations with a parade of marching bands and huge hot-air balloons that ends at Macy’s department store.

New York safety and security

Visa / Health: Before your holiday to New York City, visit www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/usa for recommendations and advice on visas and health.

New York weather

Temperature: Average highs of 29-31 (°C) in summer, 4-6 (°C) in winter

Best time to visit: spring and autumn

NYC has four distinct seasons, so summers are hot and humid whilst winters will have snow. Spring and autumn are more comfortable, but summer has many free activities and December is full of festive cheer.

Best hotels in New York

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