New York

New York is five boroughs — Manhattan gets the spotlight, but Brooklyn and Queens have incredible food and culture. The NYC subway runs 24/7, pizza is a religion, and even free activities (Central Park, High Line, people-watching) are world-class.

Neighborhoods

Manhattan: SoHo for shopping and cast-iron architecture, East Village for bars and cheap eats, Chelsea for the High Line and galleries, Upper East Side for Museum Mile. Brooklyn: Williamsburg for hipster cafes and skyline views, DUMBO for Brooklyn Bridge photos, Bushwick for street art and nightlife. Queens: Flushing for the best Chinese food outside Asia, Astoria for Greek food and diversity, Long Island City for MoMA PS1 and waterfront parks.

Getting Around

Get a MetroCard or use OMNY (tap credit card). Subway is $2.90 per ride — same price anywhere in the city. Unlimited 7-day pass is $34. Use Google Maps or Citymapper for real-time directions and check for weekend service changes. Walk when possible — Manhattan is a grid, 20 blocks north-south is a mile. The High Line is a must-walk.

Food & Culture

Pizza: Joe's Pizza (Greenwich Village), Prince Street Pizza (spicy spring), Di Fara (Brooklyn splurge). A slice is $3–5 — eat it folded, standing up. Museums: Met (pay what you wish for NY residents, $30 suggested for visitors), MoMA (free Friday 4–8pm), Natural History (pay what you wish). Central Park: 843 acres of green — Bethesda Fountain, Bow Bridge, Strawberry Fields. Free and essential. Bagels: Russ & Daughters, Ess-a-Bagel, Katz's Delicatessen for pastrami.

Budget Tips

A realistic daily budget is $100–150 for hostel, transit, and meals. Free things: Central Park, High Line, Brooklyn Bridge walk, Staten Island Ferry (free view of Statue of Liberty), many museums have pay-what-you-wish hours. Eat cheap: pizza slices, halal carts ($6–8), Chinatown dumplings, and bodega sandwiches. Lunch specials are half dinner prices.