The guide to New York City for solo female travelers

Made by Alicia with love💚

How much does NomadHer recommend New York City for solo female travelers?

(😩 Bad, 😊 Fine, 😍 Amazing)

Our score is : 😊 Fine

New York City, the city that never sleeps might be a little overwhelming for a newbie solo traveller however with proper planning can be an experience you’ll never forget!

In terms of being safe in NYC it is important to always be aware of your surroundings, avoid walking around unpopulated areas at night, and if possible during the night try to go out in groups. You can do this by connecting with other women from the NomadHer app or gathering with others from the hostel you’re staying at. There are even some facebook groups that are for solo travellers in NYC.
Something I enjoyed doing during solo travel trips was finding pub crawls. Normally on outings like this I have found, there are other solo travellers from all over the world!
New York City consists of the 5 boroughs. They are the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens and Staten Island. NYC is located where the Hudson River meets the Atlantic Ocean and is one of the world's major commercial, financial, and cultural centers

This travel guide is written by a female Upstate New Yorker - Alicia Persaud, a NomadHer Ambassador

Words to remember

Taxi
MTA - the metropolitan transport authority (subway)
Bodega - tiny grocery that sells everything
Bacon egg and cheese - best breakfast sandwich, a classic!
BK - Brooklyn
Uptown/Down - north of the city / south of the city
Knicks - Basketball team representing NY in the NBA
Yankees - Baseball team representing NY in the MLB

Do’s

• Keep an open mind!
• Don’t expect the glamorous New York City you see in the movies. There is a lot of pollution, rats etc. People aren’t always dressed up. People aren’t very friendly. Taking the subway isn’t the easiest thing to do. It is likely you will get lost.
• Hit up the tourist destinations
• They’re tourist destinations for a reason, experience as much as you can with the time you have. There is a ton of history and culture embedded in this city.
• Expect severe weather
• New York summers are HOT and New York winters are FREEZING! Honestly I would say the best time to visit is in the fall when things are a bit milder and you can see the leaves in central park change color!
• Eat as much as possible
• It’s no secret America has an obesity epidemic. However…. While you are here, short term. Enjoy all the food NYC has to offer. Indulge in sweet treats, pizza, fried pickles, whatever your heart desires, it is likely you can find it here.
• Take day trips to Upstate New York
• I might be a little biased on this but…. There are beautiful landscapes up north. If you like to hike / be outdoors you have to check out Sam’s Point, Lake Minnewaska etc. There are also lovely wineries and art exhibits such as Storm King Art Center.
• Dont’s
• Expect to accomplish everything on your list in a day
• NYC is densely populated, on top of this is home to a ton of tourists. It is likely you will have to wait on long lines at various tourist attractions which in turn may prohibit you from accomplishing as much as you would like.
• Rent a car
• I feel like this one might be self explanatory but…. NYC traffic truly is one of a kind and I would not recommend anyone drive in it unless they were familiar with the area. On top of that parking is extremely expensive.
• Leave home without a phone or charger
• This one might also be self explanatory but feeling lost in NYC without a phone could be a nightmare. Don’t put yourself in this situation!
• Walk around random parts of the city at night
• I think if you are in Midtown or heavily populated areas this can be okay, however it is important to remain cautious of your surroundings and keep an eye on your belongings. I wouldn’t take the subway by myself at off hours, I wouldn’t take walks in Central Park by myself during the night. It is important to be aware of your surroundings at ALL times.

Things to see

• Empire State Building
  The Empire State Building is a 102-story skyscraper in Midtown Manhattan. It is home to a few museums and incredible views! Get a cute IG pic here ;)

• Central Park
  Central Park is the largest urban park in NYC and one of the largest in the world consisting of 843 acres2!
  There are tons of things to do within Central Park. The Conservancy hosts activities daily. One of my favorite things to do is to row around the pond!

• Statue of Liberty
  Visiting the Statue of Liberty on Liberty Island and the Immigration Museum on Ellis Island is a wonderful experience and to get the most out of it, realize that visiting can take most of a day.

• Times Square
  At the intersection of Broadway and Seventh Avenue in New York City's Midtown Manhattan, stands Times Square. Time Square is a major commercial intersection, tourist destination, entertainment center, and neighborhood.

• The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  The Metropolitan Museum of Art of New York City, colloquially "the Met", is the largest art museum in the United States.
  The Met presents over 5,000 years of art from around the world for everyone to experience and enjoy.

The Brooklyn Bridge
For the best views of the bridge head to the Brooklyn Heights Promenade or Pier 15 in the Seaport district5. You can also walk or bike on the bridge!

Broadway
There are 41 professional theaters in the Theater District and the Lincoln Center along Broadway in Midtown Manhattan. Each with 500 or more seats, present world-renowned theatrical performances6. My favorite was the Lion King :).

Museum of Sex
The Museum of Sex gathers and preserves art and objects that support its goal of presenting humans sexuality's origin, evolution, and cultural significance. My friends and I went for my birthday one year. It was very funny. There is a bouncy house with inflatable boobs.

The Cloisters
Tucked away in scenic Fort Tryon Park, the Cloisters—an annex of the Met—showcase art and architecture from medieval Europe.
Numerous artifacts, illuminated manuscripts and ephemera fill the halls. Even the building itself—constructed from European monasteries transferred to the U.S.—looks like something out of Game of Thrones.

Snug Harbor Cultural Center
Once a retirement home for aging sailors, Snug Harbor reinvented itself as an arts center and botanical garden in the 1970s. Explore the property's nine distinctive gardens, including the bamboo forest and koi ponds of the Chinese Scholar’s Garden and the intricate maze of boxwoods at the Connie Gretz Secret Garden.

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NYC staple foods

• Hotdogs
  An American classic! Can be found just about anywhere, whether you’re walking the streets of Manhattan or at a sporting event. Beef and pork are the traditional meats used in hotdogs. There are tons of toppings you can put on your hotdogs, most common are relish, and condiments such as ketchup or mustard.

• Pretzels
  A doughy and salty snack easily obtainable on the streets of NYC.

• Pizza
  New York-style pizza has big, thick slices with a crisp crust that can be folded. Pizza that has no additional toppings is referred to as "plain," "regular," or "cheese."
  Pizza is normally sold by the slice or as a whole pie, which is typically 18 inches in diameter and divided into eight slices.
  It is common to see a $1 slice stands across NYC! (Who say’s you can’t eat cheap in NYC.. hahaha)
• Bagels
  Come in a variety of flavors such as sesame or onion and is paired with an assortment of toppings such as the classic cream cheese, or bacon egg and cheese.
  This American delicacy is easily eaten on the go for breakfast or lunch.
  A new bagel combination that I have tried and am obsessed with is a spinach bagel with cream cheese, avocado, tomato, and bacon, I know it might sound gross but hear me out…. Don’t knock it until you try it.
• Roasted nuts
  One of my favorites snacks that I can only find in NYC! These roasted nuts are warm, sweet and simply delicious, you can get all kinds such as almonds, cashews, or my favorite coconut.
• Hamburgers
  Very similar to hot dogs except in a patty form and might be more widely found! There are many variations ranging from $1 burgers at fast food restaurants such as McDonald’s or burgers with gold flecks and truffles.

Disclaimer

Our guide was made with care & love, but that doesn't mean that we always get everything right. Please know that the information above can be outdated and measures in countries may change overnight because of Covid-19. Don't hesitate to correct us with better recommendations or latest knowledge!