10 Common NYC Visitors Mistakes (And How To Avoid Them)

What are some of the most typical mistakes made by first-time visitors to New York City? In today's NYC Tips video, we go over a variety of topics (from money to tourist traps) and how to make the most of your visit to New York. Tell us if you've ever made one of these typical mistakes in the comments section.

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New York is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, but many first timers make the same mistakes when they visit here! So let us help you out by sharing 10 common tourist mistakes to avoid in New York.

1. Underestimating how much walking you’re going to do
Bring some comfortable shoes

While the subway and buses will help you cover longer distances, you should prepare to walk quite a few kilometers around museums, stores, and between close sites in New York. With traffic and taxi prices what they are, walking the few blocks to the next item on your list is always better.

2. Expecting to buy Broadway tickets at the box office
Plan ahead to guarantee a seat at a good price

Broadway theaters and the plays they regularly offer are immensely popular, so anyone wanting to purchase tickets on the day of the performance is nearly certain to be disappointed. Even if you are fortunate to locate a vacant seat, the cost of occupying it will be unreasonably high.

3. Not using the subway
And not learning how to in advance

The yellow cabs of New York are famous for many things, but not for being fast or cheap. It's not uncommon for first-time visitors to New York to waste hours in rush hour traffic. The subway is speedier and cheaper, but not without flaws. Another major mistake committed in New York is not researching the ticketing system, which is uncommon.

4. Booking a hotel near Times Square for your whole stay
There’s more to New York than Midtown

Midtown Manhattan is home to many of New York City's most well-known attractions, including Times Square, the Empire State Building, and Broadway. Few New Yorkers, however, consider it to be the 'real' New York. In other parts of the city, you'll find more affordable hotels as well as a wider selection of local stores and restaurants.

5. Only eating at chain restaurants
And then complaining about the food

A staggering variety of cuisines are available at New York's restaurants. The recognizable names, like McDonald's and Pizza Hut, mislead some guests, who wonder why the eating scene is so popular. The Meatball Shop and Dos Toros are just a couple examples of modest local eateries that serve authentic American cuisine.

6. Not using the hop-on hop-off bus
Convenient and informative

In cities like New York, such as, hop-on-hop-off buses are a terrific method to see everything. Avoid figuring out public transportation or paying for a taxi. A one-day ticket covering Manhattan costs around $40, but there are many more routes and ticket options to choose from.

7. Stopping in the middle of a busy sidewalk
It’s why people think New Yorkers are rude!

New Yorkers have a reputation for being rude and grumpy, but the reality is that the majority of them are quite friendly, but also extremely busy. With walking being such a popular mode of transportation, tourists stopping in their tracks to admire the view and blocking the sidewalk may be extremely inconvenient.

8. Forgetting the suburbs
See more of the real New York

Each of New York's outer boroughs has its own distinct personality and attractions. Brooklyn, in particular, is worth mentioning. Simply crossing the famous Brooklyn Bridge is a solid start, and you'll be rewarded with spectacular views of the Statue of Liberty and the Manhattan skyline on the other side.

9. Underestimating the winter weather
Expect freezing temperatures and strong winds

Although New York is around the same latitude as Portugal, the climate is far from Iberian. During the winter, cold air and currents from the Arctic Ocean sweep down the Canadian coast, bringing temperatures around 0°C and storms that can dump up to 6 inches of snow on city streets.

10. Not tipping properly
Who to tip and how much?

In most countries, a tip is an optional gratuity for good service. Tipping is practically mandatory in the US. What typically confuses tourists to New York is who and how much to tip. Generally, you only tip service providers like waiters, taxi drivers, and hairdressers.