Tourist Tips for NYC
While New York City can seem like an intimidating place at first, a few insider tips for NYC can go a long way towards making you comfortable in New York. Scroll below for some of the best tourist tips in NYC.
Weather in NYC
New York City weather can be unpredictable at best. The best insider NYC tip we can give you is to expect the unexpected, and check the NYCTourist weather page frequently for updated information on the NYC forecast. However, there is one thing we can tell you - layer up during the Winter in NYC, and expect humidity during the Summer.
| |
| Average Temperature and Rainfall Per Year |
| |
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
| High (°F/C) |
37/3 |
40/5 |
50/10 |
61/16 |
71/22 |
80/27 |
85/30 |
83/28 |
76/25 |
65/18 |
54/12 |
42/6 |
| Low (°F/C) |
25/-4 |
26/-4 |
34/1 |
43/6 |
53/12 |
63/17 |
68/20 |
67/20 |
60/16 |
49/10 |
41/5 |
30/-1 |
| Days of Rain |
11 |
10 |
11 |
11 |
11 |
10 |
11 |
10 |
8 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
Tipping in NYC
Tipping is expected in New York City, and it's the right thing to do.
Thousands of hard workers in NYC make their living off of tips. Tipping is expected in New York City, and it's the right thing to do. After all, the word TIPS is actually an acronym that stands To Insure ProperService. Put yourself on the right side of the service industry in New York City by tipping properly.
We know your next question - "But how do I know when I'm supposed to tip?!" Relax, NYCTourist has you covered. Read the helpful information below for tipping in NYC.
- Taxi Cabs: 15% of fare.
- Coat Check: At least one dollar per bag.
- Bellhop: Again - at least one dollar per bag.
- Waiters, Waitresses and Bartenders: 15%- 20% of the bill, based on the service.
Click here for a helpful NYC tipping chart.
More Tips For Tourists in New York City
With so many NYC attractions to see and things to do in New York, it can be tough to figure out where to begin your NYC itinerary. Here are some helpful hints to guide you through your vacation in NYC.
The Staten Island Ferry near Battery Park is free to ride, and provides a beautiful view of Manhattan. Also, most NYC TV show tapings are free to attend so long as you're willing to wait in long lines for tickets. Finally, perhaps the best free event in NYC is the Shakespeare in the Park Series in Central Park. Again, while you'll have to stand in line for at least a few hours, the reward is a first-class production with high-profile actors like Al Pacino and Merryl Streep!
Check out the NYC Things to Do Page for the full list of free events in NYC!
- Walking in NYC: There are 6,400 miles of sidewalk in New York City. That's right - 6,400 miles! Throw your feet a bone by wearing comfortable shoes during your vacation in NYC.
- Avoid Street Vendors: Yes, a $5 pair of Gucci sunglasses is in fact too good to be true. And no, the NY Fire Department will not get a cut of that FDNY hoodie you bought on the street for $10. Do yourself a favor and avoid getting ripped off by street vendors in New York City. (Food vendors excused - their hot dogs are delicious!)
- No Smoking Indoors: While many states have adopted a law banning smoking in indoor public spaces, New York in particular takes this state law very seriously. In fact, pretty soon it may be illegal to smoke in outdoor public facilities as well. We recommend NYC tourists be wary when lighting up in New York City.
- Keep the NYC Maps Off the Street: Try and blend in with the rest of NYC by keeping your tourist maps in your hotel room, or by downloading an NYC map application for your smart phone. This keeps you from becoming a target for possible pick-pockets or worse, and it also makes you look much, much cooler.
And finally ...
- Use Public Transportation!: Keep your car parked during your stay in New York City. With parking rates starting at $20 per hour or more, we highly recommened using the NYC subway, or taking one of the many taxi cabs available in New York City. Not only will you save money, but you'll also get the full NYC experience!
For a list of safety tips in NYC, click here.
