Never Go to Times Square and Other NYC Tips
“You are not enjoying the family or the seventy wonders of the city, but the answer he gives to your question,” wrote Italo Calvino in his novel Invisible Cities . Welcome to Hack Your City, Lifehacker’s new series of city-specific tips – some from us, then some from you. Each city works in its own way, sets its own tasks, hides its secrets. Everyone deserves their own travel guide for both visitors and residents.
In the first issue, we talk about New York. At first glance, New York can be daunting. It’s loud, it stinks, it’s expensive. The subway system is convoluted and its rules are constantly changing. Everyone is against each other, but that’s what makes New York so interesting.
My main advice to newcomers and new residents: people are busy. This is why everyone seems so harsh. But if you ask for help and quickly state your need, most New Yorkers will be happy to help you. We love to give directions and recommend places to go.
But at any given moment, 95% of New Yorkers are late for something. If you stop us and get in our way for no good reason, of course we will be furious.
Bypass
In most cases, the best way to get directions is to ask Google Maps. Now that the app is up to date on special conditions such as train delays and weekend schedule changes, it’s a pretty reliable way to find out the most direct route for all modes of transport.
The next best app is Transit , which shows you all nearby transport lines at a glance, including the actual waiting times for buses based on location. It also shows travel times for several modes of transport, just like in Google Maps.
Metro
The metro is the best choice for most trips over one or two miles. It is often faster than a car (but Google will let you compare travel times) and it runs around the clock. This is a more challenging learning curve for new users, but the savings are worth it.
For the past several years, the New York subway has been in complete chaos. The system is still recovering from Hurricane Sandy, and growth in use is outpacing new developments. Trains are constantly delayed, stopping between stations, and then being redirected to other routes while you are still on them.
So if you are not very familiar with your route, listen carefully to the train announcer. It will be difficult to understand them. Ask someone around them if they understand better; someone on this train will be much more familiar with his quirks than you. It’s okay for a group of people to figure out together where the hell their train is going.
Train destinations can be designated Uptown and Downtown, Inbound or Outbound, or by their final area such as Brooklyn. Never assume that these directions mean what you think. Check which direction you are told by Google or public transport, and list several stops along your route, making sure they are in the correct order. Ask someone again.
When you board the train, some of the signs may point to a different line. Do not panic. Ask your travel companion about the discrepancy. MTA signs are designed in Kafkaesque style. I’m really sorry.
One of the features of New York City’s giant subway system is that multiple stops share the same name. For example, lines B and Q have stops at 7th Ave in Brooklyn and Manhattan.
If you’re only here to visit, use your credit card to buy MetroCard at any kiosk. The 7-day unlimited card is a good deal if you plan on making at least 13 trips. Otherwise, use MTA ‘s online rate calculator ahead of time to figure out how much to put on your card. (The MTA adds a 5% bonus, so the amount you withdraw is not the amount you actually get on your card. Yes, that’s silly.)
If you live here, give up the stalls! Subscribe to EasyPay card, which is automatically recharged. They are available in options for one trip and for 30 days without restrictions. The website is terrible, the customer service is worse and you need to keep all your login details – they won’t remind you of your account number. If you lose your card, you need to call immediately so that someone else does not use it and charge you. But the rest of the time it just works. Never again will you be in line to desperately push buttons while your train leaves without you.
If you have an unlimited card and someone asks you to swipe it when you leave the station, do so. They probably need it.
Another app for metro users: Exit Strategy shows which part of the train you need to sit on for the fastest exit or transfer. Unfortunately it hasn’t been updated since January 2016, but is still useful for all but the newest stations.
Buses
New York City buses are underrated. They are roomy and relatively clean. Many of them travel in dedicated lanes, so it is not easy for them to get stuck in traffic. They are still much slower than a train, but allow sunlight and cellular signals to pass through. And in much of Brooklyn, they are your only decent option.
Walking
People walk farther in New York than in most other places. It should be so! Most of the city is best reachable on foot. And the vast majority of them are safe to walk, especially during the day or with a few people. For the most part it is safe in the middle of the night, which is never dead in tourist areas.
But before planning a long walk through several neighborhoods, check with a local or stick to the beige patches on Google Maps. These are the shopping areas where there will be more pedestrian traffic. These places are safer and usually more interesting.
Driving
Do not bring your car to New York unless absolutely necessary. The parking is expensive and the driving is terrible. Most people in the city do not own cars; many do not even have a license. We’re tuned in between Uber, Lyft, cabs and Car2Go.
Task list
You don’t need our help finding places to eat and drink in New York. Check out endless travel guides and lists of the “best” from New York and Time Out New York .
And for an expensive city, there are many free attractions. Some of our readers have listed here:
Take the cheap ferry to Governor’s Island , a public park located between Brooklyn and lower Manhattan. Over the past few years, public areas have been expanded and developed. On one half of the island, abandoned military corps are full of bizarre (albeit often gruesome) art pieces. On the other half, there are artificial hills with long slides and winding paths to cinematic views. In between is a collection of world-class food vans in New York City. Get a whole coconut that you can drink fresh coconut water from; when you’re drunk, take it back and they’ll chop it up with a machete so you can eat the meat.
Instead of the crowded High Line, stroll down the Brooklyn Heights waterfront and then down to Brooklyn Bridge Park.
Avoid Times Square if you can. Bad place.
New York City events, like its bars and restaurants, are constant and constantly promoted. Free events include Coney Island Mermaid Parade , Brooklyn Book Festival and New York City Open House weekend .
Four days a year, the setting sun aligns with the grid of Manhattan streets, creating a pleasing effect. Check it out every May and July.
Tell us about your tricks
Of course, this is just the beginning. Tell us your best New York City travel tricks or your favorite unclassified gems – really good public art, favorite outing in the comments below, and we’ll list the best in a new post.
After that, we will cover the 3D Treasure Chest of the City of San Francisco.
Update September 27, 11:30 am: We’ve collected the best tips from the comments and added our own: