New York
New York – you have to do it at least once
New York is one of those places you feel like you already know before you've even been.
The yellow cabs. Central Park. Brooklyn Bridge. Times Square. The Empire State Building. You've seen it all hundreds of times on screens, in films and probably on your Instagram feed.
And then you step out onto a Manhattan street for the first time and realise you didn't really know it at all.
New York is loud, fast, slightly chaotic and ridiculously exciting. One minute you're surrounded by skyscrapers in the Financial District, the next you're eating an enormous pastrami sandwich on the Lower East Side or sitting in Central Park watching actual New Yorkers argue about a baseball game.
You can come here for a long weekend. Spend a week. Make it the first stop on a USA adventure. Or use New York as the beginning – or end – of something much, much bigger.
However you do it, New York is one of those cities we think you should experience at least once.
Man at graffiti workshop in Brooklyn
Cloudy photo of governors island
Dinosaur at the American Museum
Bikes in Central Park
Sunny image of one world observatory
The Empire State building
Don't just see New York. Experience it.
Yes, go to Times Square.
See the Empire State Building. Walk across Brooklyn Bridge. Look up at the skyscrapers. Visit the 9/11 Memorial. See the Statue of Liberty.
They're famous for a reason.
But don't spend your entire New York trip ticking things off a list.
Start a morning with a run around the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir in Central Park alongside New Yorkers getting their miles in before work.
Grab a coffee afterwards and watch the city wake up.
Take the subway downtown. Walk through the Financial District, wander down Wall Street and join everyone else attempting to get a photo with the Charging Bull.
Then keep going towards The Battery, where Manhattan finally runs out and New York Harbor begins.
Times Square at night
KILROY pro tip: one of the best views in New York is free
Want a pretty exceptional view of Manhattan without paying for an observation deck or sightseeing cruise?
Take the Staten Island Ferry.
It's completely free and used by thousands of New Yorkers as part of everyday life. Jump on at Whitehall Terminal at the southern tip of Manhattan, cross New York Harbor to Staten Island and then take it back again.
You'll get brilliant views of Lower Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty along the way.
Go around sunset if you can.
One of the best views of your New York trip. Zero dollars.
Not bad.
Staten Island Ferry
Other destinations in the USA
Discover other areas in the USA
A few things we'd do
Walk. A lot.
Use the subway for the big distances, but walk whenever you can. Some of the best bits of New York happen between the places you were actually trying to get to.
Get up early at least once.
Jet lag might do this for you anyway. Use it. Central Park early in the morning is worth it.
See New York from the water.
And remember: Staten Island Ferry... free!
Cross Brooklyn Bridge on foot.
Don't just look at it.
Eat New York.
Come hungry.
New York is a city where eating should be part of the experience rather than something you squeeze in between attractions.
Head to Katz's Delicatessen on the Lower East Side and attempt to finish one of its enormous pastrami sandwiches.
See some sport if the timing works.
Basketball at Madison Square Garden is a pretty spectacular New York night. Baseball gives you another very American experience if you're there during the season.
Don't over-plan.
Book the things you'd be gutted to miss. Leave space around them.
New York is very good at changing your plans for you.
New York can be the trip – but it doesn't have to be
This is where New York gets particularly interesting for KILROY travellers.
You could absolutely fly over from the UK, spend five days here and fly home.
But you don't have to.
New York is also a brilliant first stop on a much bigger adventure.
Fly west across the Atlantic and start with a few days in Manhattan. Then keep going. Travel through the US, road trip across the country or fly onwards to the West Coast.
And when you eventually reach California, why stop there?
Keep travelling across the Pacific towards Hawaii, Fiji, New Zealand or Australia.
Suddenly those four nights in New York weren't a city break.
They were day one.
People walking across the bridge in New York
Why choose KILROY for your next trip
30+ years of expertise
For more than three decades, we’ve helped travellers discover the world. Our specialist knowledge and trusted global partners help you explore with confidence.
Personal travel advice
One dedicated travel expert who understands your plans, preferences, and goals. From first idea to journey home, they’ll guide you every step of the way.
24/7 support, wherever you are
If the unexpected happens, emergency support is always within reach. Wherever you are and whenever you need us, a KILROY expert is ready to help you.
The KILROY effect
The best trips don’t end when you get home. We create journeys filled with experiences, stories, and memories that stay with you long after the adventure ends.
Need help planning your trip to California?
Our travel experts can help you refine your ideas, pick the right destinations and plan your trip from start to finish.
Latest in the KILROY travel blog
We love to travel, and we expect that you do too! Find our travel stories, guides and top picks to feed your wanderlust with inspiration for your next trip.
Showing 3 / 3 results