New York City

Main sights

• Central Park

  Paths, lakes and lawns from 59th to 110th Street; the southern half holds most of the famous spots, and it is easy to spend a whole day inside.

• Brooklyn Bridge

  The 1883 suspension bridge has a walkway above the traffic. Walk from Brooklyn towards Manhattan for the skyline in front of you.

• The High Line

  A former freight railway converted into a 2.3 km elevated park through Chelsea and the Meatpacking District.

• Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island

  Reached by ferry from Battery Park. The free Staten Island Ferry passes close by and offers the classic harbour view at no cost.

• Times Square and Midtown

  The neon crossroads, the theatres and the great skyscrapers of the 1930s, including the Empire State and Chrysler buildings, all within a short walk.

• 9/11 Memorial and Lower Manhattan

  The memorial pools, the Oculus transit hub and the oldest streets in the city around Wall Street and the Battery.

Neighbourhoods worth wandering

• Greenwich Village and the West Village

  Where the grid breaks down: crooked streets, townhouses, cafés and small parks.

• SoHo, Nolita and the Lower East Side

  Cast-iron warehouses turned boutiques, followed by tenements, delis and a layered immigrant history.

• Chinatown and Little Italy

  Dense, busy and best explored hungry; Chinatown has grown to swallow most of its neighbour.

• Upper West and Upper East Side

  Residential avenues flanking Central Park, with Museum Mile along Fifth Avenue on the east.

• Harlem

  Brownstone rows, historic churches and a rich musical heritage north of the park.

• Brooklyn Heights and DUMBO

  Across the river: the Promenade's skyline view, Brooklyn Bridge Park and cobbled streets beneath the bridges.

Best areas to explore on foot

1. Lower Manhattan to the Village

   Battery Park – Wall Street – 9/11 Memorial – Tribeca – SoHo – Greenwich Village: a long morning through the oldest and most varied streets.

2. High Line and Hudson waterfront

   Walk the High Line north from Gansevoort Street, then return along the Hudson River Park's continuous riverside path.

3. Central Park loop

   The southern loop past the Mall, Bethesda Terrace, the Lake and Bow Bridge covers the highlights in a couple of hours.

4. Over the Brooklyn Bridge

   Take the subway to Brooklyn, walk the Heights Promenade and Brooklyn Bridge Park, then cross the bridge back towards Manhattan.

Practical walking notes

• Terrain

  Manhattan is largely flat; the slopes are in Central Park, Upper Manhattan and Brooklyn Heights. Bridges have long approach ramps but no stairs on the main walkways.

• Distances

  Twenty north–south blocks equal roughly a mile (1.6 km); crosstown blocks are two to three times longer. A 'quick walk' from 14th to 59th Street is 45 blocks, about 3.5 km.

• Pace and crossings

  New Yorkers walk fast and cross when the road is clear regardless of signals. Keep right on busy pavements, step aside to check your phone, and never stop at the top of subway stairs.

• Weather

  Summers are hot and humid, with July averaging around 25°C and frequent higher spikes; winters are cold, with January near freezing, and pavements can be icy after snow. Spring and autumn are ideal.

• Accessibility

  Street level is mostly level with kerb cuts at most crossings. Only a minority of subway stations have lifts; buses are fully accessible and the Staten Island Ferry is step-free.

When to visit

• April–June

  Mild, with the parks in blossom; the most pleasant walking months.

• July–August

  Hot and humid, with thunderstorms. Waterfront paths and shaded park routes are more comfortable than the avenues.

• September–November

  Clear, crisp days and autumn colour in Central Park; often the best time of all.

• December–March

  Cold, sometimes snowy, but festive in December and quiet in January and February. Dress in layers.

Getting there and getting around

Arriving

• By air

  JFK and LaGuardia are in Queens; Newark is in New Jersey. JFK connects to the subway and Long Island Rail Road via the AirTrain; Newark connects to Penn Station by NJ Transit rail via its own AirTrain; LaGuardia is served by bus and taxi only.

• By rail

  Amtrak arrives at Moynihan Train Hall at Penn Station in Midtown, including services from Washington, DC (about three to three and a half hours) and Boston. Grand Central serves commuter lines.

Local transport

• Subway

  Runs 24 hours a day on most lines. Fares are paid by tapping a contactless card or phone at the turnstile; the same fare covers any distance. Express trains skip stops, so check the map.

• Buses

  Slower but useful for crosstown journeys where the subway does not go, and step-free.

• Ferries

  The Staten Island Ferry is free and runs around the clock. NYC Ferry routes along the East River are an inexpensive way to see the skyline.

• Citi Bike

  A large bike-share network with day passes; protected lanes along the Hudson and across the bridges make it practical for visitors.