Solo travel · New York City · United States
Solo travel in New York City
How to enjoy New York City at your own pace.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Fcb981 ; Eric Baetscher (attribution required), CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
New York is made for solo travel: eating at the bar is normal, museums and walks fill the days easily, and the subway runs all night. Neighbourhood bars, comedy clubs and free events make it easy to meet people. Many solo travellers base themselves in Lower East Side and East Village.
Key facts
- Base
- Lower East Side and East Village
- Getting around
- Metro
- Emergency number
- 911 for police, fire and ambulance
- Language
- English
Solo travel tips
- Sit at the bar in restaurants; many serve the full menu there, and solo diners are common.
- Free walking tours, comedy shows and gallery openings in Chelsea are easy ways to meet people.
- Stay in the East Village, the Lower East Side or Williamsburg for a lively base with good-value food.
- Late at night, ride in the subway car where the conductor sits — opposite the black-and-white striped board midway along the platform — or take a taxi.
- Use yellow cabs or ride-hailing apps; never accept rides from drivers soliciting in airport arrivals halls.
Where to stay
$$$ · Best for nightlife, budget, food lovers and solo travellers
Lower East Side and East Village
The former immigrant neighbourhoods of the Lower East Side and East Village are packed with bars, music venues and restaurants, from Katz's Delicatessen on Houston Street to ramen, dumplings and natural-wine bars along St Marks Place and Avenue A. The Tenement Museum tells the stories of the families who once lived here.
- Good
- Lively bars and music venues; Excellent, good-value food; Local, creative atmosphere
- Watch out
- Noisy on weekend nights; Fewer subway lines on the far east side
- Nearby
- Tenement Museum, Katz's Delicatessen, Tompkins Square Park, St Marks Place
Great on your own
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Museum · Upper East Side
Metropolitan Museum of Art
A Met ticket also covers same-day entry to The Met Cloisters in upper Manhattan.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Art
- History
- Rainy day
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Landmark · Liberty Island
Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island
Take the first ferry of the day and allow at least half a day for both islands; security screening is airport-style.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- History
- Kids
- Views
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Landmark · Midtown
Empire State Building
Late-evening visits are often quieter than sunset and show the city lights at their best.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Views
- After dark
- Architecture
- Kids
Viewpoint · Midtown
Top of the Rock
Book a slot about 45 minutes before sunset to see the city in daylight, at dusk and after dark.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Views
- Couples
- After dark
- Iconic
Landmark · Lower Manhattan
Brooklyn Bridge
Take the subway to Brooklyn and walk back towards Manhattan, so the skyline is in front of you; go early to avoid the crowds.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Views
- Photo spot
- Active
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Historic site · Financial District
9/11 Memorial and Museum
Visit the free memorial pools first, then allow two hours for the museum, which is emotionally intense.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Iconic
- Rainy day
Meeting people
- Smorgasburg — An open-air food market with dozens of vendors, held at weekends from spring to autumn on the Williamsburg waterfront and in Prospect Park.
- Food halls — Chelsea Market, the Essex Market on the Lower East Side and Midtown's food halls gather many vendors under one roof, ideal for groups who want different things.
- East Village and Lower East Side — Dive bars, speakeasy-style cocktail bars and small live-music venues around Avenue A and Ludlow Street.
- Greenwich Village — Historic jazz and comedy clubs and the Stonewall Inn, a landmark of the LGBTQ+ rights movement.
Sensible precautions
New York is generally safe in the areas visitors frequent, but pickpockets work crowded spots such as Times Square and busy subway trains. Costumed characters and people handing out 'free' CDs expect payment, and late at night it is best to ride in busy subway cars.
- Emergency number
- 911 for police, fire and ambulance
- Staying connected
- Free Wi-Fi is available at LinkNYC street kiosks, in many parks and in most subway stations, and eSIMs work well for international visitors.
Questions travellers ask
+Is New York City good for solo travellers?
New York is made for solo travel: eating at the bar is normal, museums and walks fill the days easily, and the subway runs all night. Neighbourhood bars, comedy clubs and free events make it easy to meet people.
+Where should solo travellers stay in New York City?
Lower East Side and East Village: Old tenements, dive bars and some of the city's best cheap eats.