18 Biggest Mistakes Tourists Make in NYC

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Mistakes Tourists Make in NYC

Planning a trip to New York City? These are the biggest mistakes tourists make in NYC!

As a native New Yorker, I love seeing tourists enjoy the city. Over 60 million tourists visit NYC each year, making it the top destination in the United States — and among the most visited cities in the world!

However, there are lots of mistakes that first-time visitors to NYC make. Whether you’re visiting from another country or just another part of the United States, New York can be a bit of a culture shock. If you don’t come prepared, you might be in for some not-so-great experiences.

I want you to have the best time ever in NYC, which is why I wrote this guide.

After writing my similar guide on mistakes to avoid in Paris, I decided I needed to talk about the city I know best in the world — New York! Without further ado, these are the biggest mistakes to avoid in NYC…

1. Not leaving Manhattan

New York City is made up of five boroughs: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island. As a tourist, you’ll most likely spend a lot of time in Manhattan. This is the heart of the city and where the majority of tourist attractions are. It’s the New York you’ve probably seen in movies and TV shows.

However, it’s not the only part of New York. I do love Manhattan because it’s where I’m from, and I think it has the most to offer to tourists, but you should leave Manhattan at least once on your trip!

The best place to visit outside Manhattan is Brooklyn. You can walk across the Brooklyn Bridge from downtown Manhattan and explore the charming neighborhoods of Brooklyn Heights and DUMBO. This would be my top recommendation for where to go outside Manhattan on your first trip to NYC.

If you’re visiting in December, the Dyker Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn is a great place to go for over-the-top Christmas decorations. And in the summer, Coney Island in Brooklyn is a fun destination. Or if you’re looking for a calm and beautiful oasis in the city, make your way to Wave Hill in the Bronx.

2. Staying in Times Square

Another mistake that many first-time visitors make is choosing a hotel in or around Times Square. This area in Midtown Manhattan is popular with tourists, but it’s actually kind of terrible.

Times Square basically only exists for tourists — actual New Yorkers go out of their way to avoid it. It’s crowded, filled with soulless chain restaurants and stores, dirty, and overrated.

Sure, you can go see Times Square if you’ve always wanted to experience it, but you don’t need to stay there. It’s not even necessary to stay in Midtown Manhattan because getting around NYC is so easy.

Which brings me to my next point…

3. Being scared of the subway

The subway is the best way to get around the city aside from walking.

Walking is my number one preferred mode of transportation in NYC, and it’s such a walkable city that you can easily get around on foot. For longer distances, the subway is a great option.

A lot of people are scared of the subway, but there’s really no reason to be. Crime on the subway is very sporadic and not something the average New Yorker lives in fear of. So forget what you’ve heard on the news, because it’s definitely exaggerated and doesn’t depict the reality of taking the subway.

New York’s public transportation is affordable and well-connected. It costs $2.90 per ride, and you can tap to pay at any station with your credit or debit card. So much cheaper (and faster!) than a taxi or Uber.

4. Thinking New Yorkers are rude

New Yorkers have a bad reputation for being rude. It’s true that most New Yorkers are very direct in a way that may be off-putting for some visitors, but that doesn’t necessarily translate to rudeness.

Actually, New Yorkers can be extremely helpful, especially to tourists. Don’t be afraid to stop and ask a New Yorker for directions — you just might end up getting some great recommendations too.

The only time I can think of that New Yorkers might come across as “rude” to a tourist is when that person is doing something that is considered a breach of the social contract in New York, such as…

5. Blocking the sidewalk

Please never do this. If you’re walking in a pair (or a group of three, four, or more), don’t think that you can walk next to each other and take up the entire sidewalk. New York’s sidewalks can be crowded, and you need to walk on the right side and walk single-file if people are coming in the other direction.

You should also never stop in the middle of the sidewalk or walk too slowly. If you want to take a photo of something or check the directions on your phone, step all the way off to the side to do so.

6. Eating at chain restaurants

New York is the melting pot of the United States, and it has all kinds of amazing cuisine. There are also tons of incredible local restaurants and hidden gems in every single neighborhood.

So it pains me when I see tourists come to NYC and eat at the same chain restaurants they can find at home. Like, eating at the Olive Garden in Times Square should be a criminal offense when there are literally hundreds of family-owned authentic Italian restaurants in New York that you could try instead.

So be sure to branch out and try some of NYC’s more unique culinary offerings!

7. Paying full price for museums

New York is home to some of the best museums in the world. I personally love visiting NYC’s museums, but I would never pay full price for them. As a New Yorker, I get free admission at some museums… but almost all museums in New York offer free or pay-what-you-wish admission on certain days.

I recommend checking my list of free museum days in NYC to see when they are so you can plan your visit. For example, the Guggenheim Museum has pay-what-you-wish admission every Saturday evening, while the Whitney Museum of American Art offers free admission every Friday evening.

8. Falling for scams

Another one of the biggest mistakes tourists make in NYC is falling for scams. While New York is definitely not the worst city in the world for scams, there are a few things you have to watch out for.

Street games like three-card monte or “entertainers” who are trying to get people to participate? Avoid. People trying to hand you anything or sell you tours on the street? Avoid. Characters in Times Square trying to get you to pose for a photo? Avoid. People approaching you on the subway trying to sell you stuff or ask for money? Avoid. People at the airport outside the official taxi stand trying to offer a ride? Avoid.

Basically, the best advice I can give you is to avoid anyone who is trying to interact with you on the street. Real New Yorkers know you stare through these people like they don’t exist and keep walking.

9. Trying to do too much

A lot of first-time visitors want to see and do it all in NYC, and end up trying to do too much. You don’t want to pack every moment of your schedule so you never have any time to relax.

Allowing room for some spontaneity in your schedule makes for a better travel experience. And I highly recommend planning your itinerary in a logical way that makes the most of your time.

For example, if you only have three days in NYC, I’d spend one day doing uptown and Central Park activities, another day doing Midtown and some of downtown, and your final day doing Lower Manhattan and a little bit of Brooklyn. This makes more sense than crisscrossing all over the city.

10. Wearing uncomfortable shoes

As I mentioned earlier, New York is a very walkable city, and chances are, you’ll be doing a lot of walking while you’re here. With that in mind, it’s important that you wear comfortable walking shoes.

Yes, New York is a fashion-forward city, but that doesn’t mean that people are walking around in high heels all the time. In fact, it’s way more common to see trendy yet comfortable sneakers.

I would recommend sneakers almost year-round. Wearing sandals in New York is gross (trust me), and you don’t want to be in high heels ever. If you’re visiting in the winter, you might also want to bring a warm, comfortable pair of waterproof boots for those days when it’s snowy or slushy outside.

11. Taking the subway at rush hour

I know I mentioned how great the subway is for getting around the city, but there is a caveat. If you can, avoid taking the subway during rush hour because it’s not a pleasant experience.

Typically, the subway is most crowded on weekdays from around 8 AM until 10 AM and 5 PM until 8 PM. Especially if you’re trying to get to Lower Manhattan or Midtown in the morning, or trying to leave in the evenings. Avoid traveling when the commuters do if you can help it for a much nicer time.

12. Renting a car

One of the worst mistakes tourists make in NYC is renting a car. I can’t even explain how bad of an idea this is! If there’s any destination in the United States where you don’t need a car, it’s New York City.

I’ve already talked about how easy it is to get around by walking or taking the subway. You can also utilize buses, and taxis and Ubers are another option. A rental car will most likely be more expensive than even taking a couple of taxis or Ubers per day, and it comes with numerous additional headaches.

For example, driving in NYC is not for the faint of heart. It can be challenging if you aren’t used to it. Parking is also a nightmare in the city. You can end up paying even more for parking than you spend on the daily cost of your rental car! So trust me when I say that a rental car is never a good idea in New York.

13. Taking a pedicab

I wanted to share one more transportation-related mistake that tourists make, and that is taking a pedicab. What are pedicabs? They’re little carriages pulled by a bicycle, also known as bike taxis or tuk-tuks.

You’ll see these all over the touristy areas of Manhattan. They can look like a lot of fun — many pedicabs have unique decorations or are playing music. Pedicab drivers can be aggressive about trying to get you in for a ride. And if you’ve been walking around all day, it might not sound like a bad idea.

You can sit back and relax and enjoy the view, right? Not quite. The problem is, pedicabs are a huge rip-off. They can charge up to $7 per minute, which means a 15-minute ride could cost you $105. You should definitely avoid these and take a regular taxi or Uber instead if you’re tired of walking.

14. Not trying NYC food

Earlier, I talked about how one of the mistakes tourists make in NYC is eating at the same chain restaurants they could find at home. Another mistake is not trying New York City’s specialty foods.

Some classic NYC foods to try include bagels, hot dogs, pastrami sandwiches, pizza, cheesecake, banana pudding, egg creams, and more. One of the best ways to experience NYC’s cuisine is on a food tour. These tours show you some of the best food spots around the city, including hidden gems and local favorites.

15. Only doing touristy things

I fully believe that touristy activities are popular for a reason. If it’s your first time ever visiting NYC, I’m not going to say you should skip any of the major tourist attractions. But I will say that you shouldn’t only do touristy things. It’s fun to spend some time immersing yourself in other parts of the city too.

Whenever I travel, I always like to get a little off the beaten path and discover less touristy neighborhoods. These are often my favorite moments. I highly recommend taking some time to do the same thing in NYC. Spend a couple of hours just wandering around and getting lost away from the tourist crowds.

16. Wearing the wrong clothes

Another one of the mistakes tourists make in NYC is wearing the wrong clothes.

No, I’m not saying there’s a “wrong” or “right” way to dress in NYC! It’s a fashionable city, but it’s also a city where anything goes. You won’t look out of place regardless of what you wear.

What I mean is that it’s a mistake to wear the wrong clothes for the weather or the situation. I’ve seen tourists dressed up like they’re extras in Gossip Girl walking around in skirts and a thin sweater in the middle of winter. While it might make for some cute photos on the steps of the Met, it’s not practical.

Much like how I recommended prioritizing comfortable footwear, I also recommend wearing comfortable clothing! Especially if you’re visiting New York in the winter months (December through March), you will want to make sure you bundle up. Winters can be pretty severe, so you want to come prepared!

17. Going to the Empire State Building

Going to the top of the Empire State Building is a mistake? Yes, it is! This isn’t Empire State Building slander — I happen to love this iconic skyscraper. The problem with visiting the observation deck at the Empire State Building is that it offers a view of the skyline that doesn’t include the Empire State Building.

This is the same reason I don’t recommend going to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris either. You are paying to get a view that is missing the most iconic building in the city skyline!

Instead, I recommend visiting the Top of the Rock observation deck. This observation deck gives you an amazing view of the NYC skyline with the Empire State Building front and center.

You can also see it from the Edge observation deck, although in my opinion, it’s not quite as cool a view. And you can see it from the One World Trade Center observation deck, but since that tower is much further downtown, the Empire State Building and other Midtown skyscrapers are further away.

18. Not learning to navigate

Finally, one of the mistakes tourists make in NYC is not learning to navigate the city. You’ll feel a lot more confident about getting around once you figure out the basic layout — especially Manhattan.

The great thing about Manhattan is that much of it is on a grid layout. The numbered streets run east and west, while the avenues run north and south. Even-numbered streets run east, while odd-numbered streets run west. Higher-numbered streets mean you’re going north, and higher-numbered avenues mean you’re going west. Keep all of this in mind, and you can navigate much of Manhattan like a pro!

In Lower Manhattan, the grid stops and the streets become more jumbled. This can make getting around trickier. However, you can still use landmarks to know which direction you’re going. For example, when I’m downtown, I always look for the iconic One World Trade Center to know which way is south.

NYC Tourist Mistakes to Avoid

These are some of the biggest mistakes that tourists make in NYC.

As a native New Yorker, I’m happy to see tourists enjoying NYC. But I hate to see them do things that cause them to have a not-so-great experience in what I consider the greatest city in the world.

I hope this guide helps you avoid these common mistakes that tourists make in NYC!

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