Where to Stay in New York City – For First Timers

NYC is magical! If you are trying to decide where to stay in New York City, it can be a complicated decision. There are hundreds of fabulous options that make picking the one much harder.

To make things easier for you, we have narrowed down a list of places where we stayed as first-time visitors and you know what? We couldn’t be luckier!

There’s an unending number of hotels in different New York City neighborhoods. Although, the vast majority of visitors stay on the island of Manhattan, while parts of Brooklyn and Queens have also become trendy and sometimes more affordable.

Except for lower Manhattan, New York’s streets are set up in a grid pattern. Streets run east and west & avenues run north and south, which you’ll hear as heading uptown or downtown.
Despite where you choose to stay, the best location to stay in New York is near a subway station as it can get you anywhere you want!

During our 10 days visit, we stayed in three different districts and all of them had something special!

1.Manhattan

Manhattan is the most popular place where you can stay in New York City. It is home to the main attractions well known from famous movies. Manhattan has also plenty of charming neighborhoods with some of the best restaurants, trendy boutiques, great museums, parks, and everything you want to see during your visit to New York City.

If you ask us for the best location in Manhattan, our answer is Midtown – which is the most central point. Midtown is located between 34th Street and 59th Streets. You will be close to well-known points like Times Square, Broadway or Rockefeller Center.

WHERE WE STAYED?

Intercontinental Time Square

If you’re visiting New York for the first time and want to do all the touristy things, then this is a great choice. Located on the 44th Street Intercontinental Times Square is just a block away from the famous Times Square and a couple of minutes’ walk from Broadway shows. The hotel is very central and has 607 rooms and 39 floors. We spend two nights on the 38th floor in the King Bed Sky View Studio with incredible panoramic views over Manhattan. Book your stay here!

Intercontinental Time Square restaurant called Stinger Cocktail Bar and Kitchen serves delightful food. We ate there on our second night and loved our meal. It was delicious.

Radisson Hotel Time Square

Only two blocks away from Madison Square Garden and Penn Station, Radisson Hotel New York Times Square is ideal for travelers craving easy access to businesses and tourist destinations. It is a walking distance from Hudson Yards and the famous Vessel monument or Highline Park.

We stayed two nights in the King Bed – Empire State View on the 28th floor and it was charming. We had a beautiful view and a very comfortable bed. We enjoyed in-room breakfast delivery offered by the third part company collaborating with Radisson Hotel Time Square. Book your stay here!

2.Brooklyn

Brooklyn is becoming a New York City’s real hot spots. With historic neighborhoods, unique art museums, a fabulous food scene, and some of the best views of the Manhattan skyline.

WHERE WE STAYED?

The Funky Loft

Located in Brooklyn’s hip and artsy neighborhood of Bushwick, named by Time Out Magazine as “The Coolest Airbnb in Brooklyn” it is a photographers’ dream. Run by two beautiful human beings, Marcela & Dominique, The Funky Loft has been renovated and transformed into 3 bedrooms Airbnb. This place has an amazing style and unique furniture and kitchen equipment such as 1950’s coca-cola refrigerator. Our favorite part of the entire loft was the wooden swing hanging from rafters.

3.Queens

Located on Long Island City is an industrial neighborhood transforming into an energetic area with incredible Manhattan city views. It is only 15′ subway ride from the center of New York.

WHERE WE STAYED?

Boro Hotel

Industrial-chic hotel with really spacious rooms & balconies with skyline views located just a few minutes walk from the subway.

We stayed in the King Room with Manhattan View Balcony on the 11th floor and we very enjoyed it. Beautiful wooden design, spacious bathroom and incredible sunsets view over Manhattan. What we liked the most was a very comfy bed & large windows. Book your stay here!

The Boro hotel has a rooftop which was seasonally closed during our visit and restaurant on the ground floor where we had our breakfast.

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