A guide to solo female travel in New York
6 min read
New York: the city that by no means sleeps.
Even if a store looks shut, powering the scenes there are numerous employees cleaning, restocking, and readying the upcoming change for when doors open to hectic customers and curious consumers.
They say that if you’re “tired of London, then you are exhausted of lifestyle,” and as a feminine traveller I feel this also applies to New York — a metropolis in which there is usually one thing to see or snack on when I’m travelling on your own.
Here’s my consider on solo vacation for females in the Massive Apple.
Most effective time to take a look at New York?
The most effective time to stop by the Large Apple is almost certainly all through autumn or “fall” — specifically Oct. The close-of-year time appeals far more than brutally incredibly hot summers and biting winters in New York.
In autumn you will have superb weather for strolling close to and exploring the town, improved even than in spring. Rainy spells are fewer common than you consider about late September to early November. A different motive to select the hallowed period is to beat the buzzing crowds. Christmas in New York is certainly magical, but you’d improved be ready for enormous touristy crowds clogging up just about every cute alleyway.
An additional reward: rates will probable have dropped. A large excess fat New York selling price tag is anticipated, but peak time is concerning Thanksgiving and New Year’s. If those are not plenty of reasons, then let’s also toss in the most amazing seasonal colors. Looking at Central Park in glorious honey and burnt sienna is unquestionably amazing. Other parks to catch in whole elegance are Prospect Park, the Cloisters and Fort Tryon Park.
Which neighbourhood is best to stay in?
This is in all probability the most tricky (and particular) decision to make because there are so many possibilities. Every region in New York is distinctive and will give you a really various knowledge. Your ideal guess is to investigation a couple unique places in depth and then choose where by you’d most like to get shed.
If you are searching for the city’s most well known sights, then Midtown Manhattan is the position to be. You will be surrounded by skyscrapers, gorgeous museums like the iconic Moma and shut to Central Park for a great early morning or night stroll.
Meanwhile, if you desire to continue to be a bit further more away from the action, head to downtown. In the East Village you will be on the doorstep of Reduced Manhattan artistry — and you may well even place a celeb or two. A shorter subway ride will get you proper again to the metropolis centre.
Brooklyn is one particular of the most populated places and the slice-of-lifetime nucleus of urban tradition. It is house to legendary attractions like Coney Island, the Brooklyn Bridge and Prospect Park.
Queens is by much the most significant borough of the 5 — and in all probability most underrated. Even though Brooklyn is the “New Manhattan”, some are expressing that Queens has come to be the “New Brooklyn”. Activity aficionados have a large amount to see together with a botanical backyard, zoo, classic fairgrounds and the “original Hollywood” studios wherever Goodfellas and Sesame ended up filmed. A further bonus is the beautiful Chinese food scene owing to the quickest growing Chinese local community in New York residing in Queens – away from Manhattan’s Chinatown.
What to do?
A will have to do for solo travellers is a pub crawl — it’s one particular of the ideal means to meet new men and women. Not only will you make new reminiscences with fellow travellers, but also very likely bump into plenty of locals.
Do get yourself about to the “Top of the Rock’’ perched at the peak of the Rockefeller Centre. Why not the Empire Point out Building? Due to the fact from the Top rated of the Rock you will in fact be capable to see the Empire State constructing with all its surroundings. Best if you ebook the tickets on the net in progress and, if you do go in the winter season, then you’ll also uncover the most Instagrammable Xmas tree at the base.
If you love architecture and/or videos, then you ought to surely stop by Grand Central station. In the heart of Midtown, this place has been highlighted in innumerable Hollywood classics. The framework is certainly stunning even if you know completely nothing about architecture. Just sit at the Oyster Bar and delight in some wonderful men and women seeing — commuters, tourists, purchasers, and all.
Central Park is massive, so if you want to really check out every single inch of it, rent a bike. Yet again, you can come across online providers to ebook more cost-effective in advance. My favourite place is the Balto statue of a genuine hero of a doggy. To entirely appreciate it, watch the documentary-design and style movie Togo beforehand — you can find it on Disney+.
Another one particular of my favorite places, albeit touristy, is the Substantial Line. It runs by the Meatpacking District and Chelsea and is the great location for observing the sunset. It applied to be an aged railroad line from the 1930s intended for demolition — and thankfully avoided. Later it was transformed into a leafy, fantastically made elevated freeway with lots of locations to sit down, take it easy, have a consume and only take pleasure in a New York sunset right in the center of a busy road.
Is New York protected for solo woman travellers?
For a novice, the town may possibly appear a bit too much to handle at 1st. But with very careful planning and preparation it will be an expertise you are going to under no circumstances neglect. When it arrives to security in New York, the ideal information I would give is to generally be informed and aware of your environment. If you are previously dwelling in a major city like London, then this will likely currently be 2nd mother nature to you.
As a solo female traveller, connecting with other gals, regardless of whether locals or travellers, is a excellent notion. You can do this through applications like TravelSisters.co or basically by accumulating with many others from the lodge or hostel that you’re keeping at. There are lots of NYC-focused Facebook teams wherever you can attain out to other individuals, much too.
Past but not the very least, a handful of don’ts based mostly on my knowledge checking out the city that never ever sleeps…
Don’t…
…expect that you’ll deal with to do every thing on your bucket listing in a day.
…think that you will avoid queues. Even when I say “beating the crowds” it is incredibly possible that you will nonetheless have to wait in line. New York is just that well-liked.
…rent a car. Parking is high priced and site visitors can be incredibly confusing.
…leave your accommodation with out a charger. Seems a no-brainer nowadays, but be guaranteed to normally have a electrical power bank or cable (with the appropriate plug!) with you. Because if you get dropped, your cellular phone could be your finest friend to come across your way dwelling.
… stroll around dodgy regions alone at evening. Be mindful of your surroundings and continue to keep an eye on your issues at all periods.
