 New York skyline | ||
| New York City | ||
| State | new York | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents | 8.398.748 (2018) | |
| height | 11 m | |
| Tourist info web | www.nyc.gov | |
no tourist info on Wikidata:  | ||
| location | ||
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New York City (also known as "The Big Apple", "NYC" or just "New York") is the largest city in the country by number of residents United States and is one of the largest cities in the world. New York is a global hub for media, entertainment, art, fashion, research, finance, and commerce.
Of the statue of Liberty in port until Empire State Building high above the skyline of Manhattan, from the subway to the skyscrapers of the Wall street, from the conspicuously luminous signs of the Times Squares up to the natural beauty of the Central Parks and from Yankee Stadium in the Bronx up to Coney Island in Brooklynthat are New York landmarks and major landmarks across America.
New York City is located in the south of the US state new York at the mouth of the Hudson River and forms together with long Island and large parts of the state of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Connecticut the New York Metropolitan Area, which with its almost 19 million inhabitants is one of the most populous urban regions in the world.
Districts
New York is divided into various districts and neighborhoods by the locals, and there are also several administrative subdivisions. The actual city of New York consists of five Boroughswhich simultaneously represent five separate counties. Each borough is administered by both a district and a county administration and has its own cultural characteristics - each of them could practically form a separate city.
background
New York City is a global center of international finance, politics, film, music, fashion and culture and is one of the most important and influential cities in the world. Many high-ranking museums, galleries and theaters are located in this city. In addition to many global companies, the United Nations is also based here. The influence of this city on world affairs should not be underestimated. Many of the decisions made here affect large parts of the world.
Immigrants and their families from over 180 different nations have found a home in New York. Many travelers are drawn to New York by the culture, the feeling and the cosmopolitanism.
language
English is the main language in New York and is widely spoken. However, one can hear languages from all over the world in the many different communities. There are many Spanish-speaking neighborhoods with a large Latino and Hispanic community. It is possible to get by with just Spanish in New York even without knowledge of English, but this is quite difficult. Many establishments in the commercial and tourist areas have staff who speak Spanish. In addition to English, the city administration's services are also available in Chinese and Spanish.
climate
New York City has a humid continental climate and all four seasons are noticeable. From June to September it is hot and humid, from September to December there is a cool and dry autumn climate, from December to March there is a cold winter and from March to June there is a damp spring.
The temperatures fluctuate a lot. The coldest month is January with an average daily temperature of only 3 ° C. The warmest month is July with an average daily temperature of 29 ° C. Most of the time, temperatures fluctuate between -18 ° C and 38 ° C during the year, although there may be deviations in some cases. It is not uncommon for a sunny January day at 16 ° C to be followed by a snowy day at –3 ° C. Furthermore, New York is occasionally hit by snowstorms, which can bring up to 60 cm of fresh snow in up to 48 hours. Even if snow flurries are common during the winter months, the snow usually only remains for a few days. Snowstorms usually occur between the earliest Thanksgiving (the fourth Thursday in November) and the second week of April at the latest, but this long period does not correspond to the norm.
Tropical storms can also occur during summer and autumn.
population
Diversity ranges from the richest, most famous people in America to the homeless. Since the city was founded by the Dutch, a diverse and culturally rich city has developed over time.
getting there
By plane
New York City can be reached by plane from almost any country in the world. There are three large and several small airports in the region. The John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and the Newark Liberty International Airport (EEA) are large international airports, whereas LaGuardia Airport (LGA) mostly only handles domestic flights.
Teterboro Airport (TEB) is very popular with business and private jets.
Major airports
There are two major airports in the New York City metropolitan area:
- 1 John F. Kennedy International. (short JFK). This major airport, which is served directly from many airports in Europe, is located on the southern edge of Queens, in the north of long Island. For details about this airport see the article about JFK.
- 2
- 3 Newark Liberty International. A good alternative is Newark Liberty International (EWR), which is available in Newark (New Jersey) and is therefore often overlooked by European tourists, to many points in New York City (Manhattan included) but offers a faster connection than JFK. Like JFK, there are direct flights to EWR from many airports in Europe. For details about this airport see the article about Newark.
Other airports
Some more airports in the New York Metropolitan Area (outside the New York City metropolitan area) are primarily domestic routes:
- Long Island MacArthur Airport (ISP), on the verge of Bohemia, long Island. A smaller airport a good 53 miles east of Manhattan. For details about this airport see the article about long Island.
- Teterboro Airport (TEB), on the verge of Hoe sack, New Jersey. A smaller airport a good 20 km northwest of Manhattan.
- Westchester County Airport (HPN), on the verge of White Plains in Westchester County. A smaller airport a good 30 miles north of Manhattan that many American and Canadian travelers choose when their destination is in the north of Manhattan New York Metropolitan Area (e.g. in The Bronx, Mount Vernon, New Rochelle or Yonkers) lies. For details about this airport see the article about Westchester County.
Inter airport transfer
- Bus / subway - Traveling between airports by bus / subway / PATH trains is the cheapest option, but requires frequent changes and allow at least 2 hours for this.
- New York City Airporter bus - Offers transfers between the three major airports for $ 24. The buses run every 20-30 minutes.
- taxi - The quickest option to change airports is to use a taxi. A taxi between JFK and LGA costs between $ 25 and $ 29 and takes about 30 minutes. A taxi between LGA and EWR costs around $ 78 plus toll and takes around 60-75 minutes. A taxi between JFK and EWR costs around $ 85 plus toll and takes 60-75 minutes.
With the helicopter
In Manhattan there are two heliports:
- On the Downtown Manhattan Heliport (JRB) business travelers who fly in with scheduled helicopters land and take off sightseeing flights over the city.
For details about this airport see the article about Manhattan. - Also from VIP heliport Sightseeing flights start (W 30th St, on the banks of the Hudson River).
By train
See also:Rail travel in the USA
The following transport companies take their trains to terminals in the New York City area:
- The national railway company Amtrak stops with 14 of their lines in the Pennsylvania Station (Penn Station) in Manhattan.
- The regional transport company Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) connects Penn Station with terminals in New Jersey, in Queens, Brooklyn and other places long Island. In the Grand Central Station and in the Harlem-125th St Station MTA trains stop from northern and northeastern suburbs and neighboring cities. MTA also operates a railway line Staten Island.
- The regional transport company New Jersey Transit (NJ Transit) connects Penn Station to various terminals in New Jersey.
- The regional transport company Port Authority Trans-Hudson (PATH) drives from New Jersey from multiple breakpoints in Manhattan at.
By bus
- For detailed information on how to get here by bus, see the articles about Manhattan, Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island.
The nationwide operating bus company Greyhound maintains the following terminals in the metropolitan area of New York City:
- Brooklyn (288 Livingston St, corner of Bond St)
- Manhattan: Port Authority Bus Terminal
- Manhattan: Corner of State St & Bridge St (only used occasionally)
- Manhattan: Corner of Church St & Chambers St (only used occasionally)
- Manhattan: Corner of Church St & Worth St (only used occasionally)
- Queens: Queens Village (corner of Hillside Ave & Springfield Blvd)
The following regional transport companies operate bus routes in New York City and beyond:
- Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) entertains in all five Boroughs from New York City as well as in Nassau County a close network of regional and local buses.
- New Jersey Transit (NJ Transit) operates in New Jersey many regional and local bus routes, some of which also Manhattan approach.
In the street
- For detailed information on how to get here by car, see the articles above Manhattan, Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island.
With New Yorkers and the people who come to New York to work tend to leave the city for the weekend, expect the streets out of town to be congested from Friday afternoon through Saturday morning. Conversely, the streets leading into the city are congested on Sunday afternoon. The New York congestion calendar can easily shift around the American holidays. As a rule of thumb, however, if you have to travel to New York City by car, the weekend is the best time to do this. Parking is also usually cheaper on weekends than on weekdays.
By boat
You can also arrive by ship. In the spring of 2004, the Queen Mary 2 of the Cunard fleet took over the liner service from Southampton to New York, a few times every summer she also starts from Hamburg to New York.
mobility
In the street
Dynamic cardsBetter not to go into town by car unless it is inevitable! A “gridlock” in particular - when the intersections are blocked again and nothing moves back or forth - can be very nerve-wracking. Parking is also scarce and expensive, especially in Manhattan. Half an hour of parking can cost $ 10
taxi
- Yellow cabs mostly move in Manhattan or stand at the airports. They are rarely found in other districts. The price starts with a basic fee of $ 2.50 and a tax of $ 0.50, with an additional $ 0.40 for every half mile. There is also a night surcharge of $ 0.50 between 8:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. and a rush hour surcharge for the time from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday to Friday of $ 1. Tipping is a common practice in all parts of America. All yellow taxis accept Visa, MasterCard and AmericanExpress for payment. In the unlikely event that the card reader is defective, the taxi driver will point this out to you before the journey. To stop a taxi, stand on the side of the road (without obstructing traffic) and hold your arm up above your head. The illuminated sign on the taxi provides information about the status of the taxi:
- When the illuminated sign is off, the taxi is occupied or otherwise unavailable.
- If the illuminated sign is on you can use the taxi.
- Borough taxis were opened in 2013 due to the shortage of yellow cabs outside of Manhattan introduced. In contrast to the yellow cabs, the taxis are light green. These vehicles are not allowed to pick up parts of Manhattan and the airports, but they are also allowed to drop passengers in these areas. The tariffs and rules are otherwise identical to those of the Yellow Cabs.
- Gray or black cars, better known as “car services” or “livery cabs”, can only be requested by phone and are not tied to the taxi tariffs. Make sure to ask about the tariff on the phone so that you don't get a nasty surprise. “Livery” or “TLC” is written on the underside of the license plate.
Basic taxi rules
- All licensed taxis (yellow for Manhattan and green for the rest of the city) and limousines are allowed to take four passengers, three in the back seat and one in the front passenger seat. Some newer minivans and SUVs are also allowed to carry more than four passengers. Larger vehicles can be ordered, also useful for arriving or departing from the airport with a lot of luggage, from one of the many companies in the yellow pages.
Subway and bus
The best way to see New York is to make your way through the canyons on foot. But if it rains again or your feet hurt, take a ride on the New York Metro. A one-way ticket is $ 2.75 if you buy the ticket from the bus driver. Otherwise you use a MetroCard on which you can load credit. The single trip then costs $ 2.75, (reduced $ 1.35) the weekly ticket $ 33 (price 2020)[1]. The card itself, without credit, costs $ 1. Be careful when choosing trains / lines: Expressways do not stop at all stations and so it can happen that you suddenly find yourself in an area that you did not want to go to (or which you even want to leave as soon as possible). There are also the locals who stop at each station. With the buses, please note that there are also express buses that cost 6 $ and in which the weekly ticket is not valid.
By boat
New York is a city on the water, which is why some distances can be covered by ship. It is seldom the fastest option. In any case, however, there is also the aspect of the prospect.
- Staten Island Ferry. (
South Ferry - Whitehall Street) offers a free tour with a good view of the Manhattan skyline and the Statue of Liberty. The ferry runs every 20 minutes and it is best to try to be quite far ahead when disembarking in order to be able to go back straight away. Just sitting down is not allowed and is usually not worthwhile, as another ferry goes back earlier. It is best to be at the ferry terminal as early as possible and try to get on the ship as early as possible in order to get a good standing room at the railing. On the right side of the ferry (from Manhattan towards Staten Island) you can see the Statue of Liberty and have a very good view of Manhattan.
- East River Ferry. The East River Ferry is also an alternative to the subway and. In addition, you have a very nice view of the skyline of the eastern part of Manhattan. Above all, you can see the Brooklyn Bridge very well from here. It starts in Manhattan on East 34th Street and drives through Brooklyn to Wall Street. A single trip is $ 2.75.
By bicycle
The network of cycle paths in New York is constantly being expanded and cyclists have long been a common sight in Manhattan's street canyons. Even as a tourist you can stay on the surface when the weather is right and simply take your bike instead of the subway.
On foot
The distances in Manhattan are enormous. For example, the route from Battery Park (southern tip of Manhattan) to Central Park takes around 1.5 hours. The distance is 7.7 km (!). There is also a dense stream of pedestrians on the sidewalks (especially on the avenues), so that you don't get on too quickly there either. Hence, New York is not very pedestrian friendly. Therefore, if possible, you should use the subway.
In addition to the usual bike rental options, there is also in New York Citi bike a rental system with fixed locations that can be used by everyone (similar to the Call-a-Bike system in Germany). Here you need a credit card with which you can make the booking at the machine, you pay $ 12.00 for 24 hours or $ 24.00 for three days and can then use a bike anywhere for a maximum of 30 minutes as often as you like. use it and return it to each station. Surcharges are added for longer use in one piece. Long-term rentals (i.e. for bike tours outside the station area) are therefore unattractively expensive. The next bike can be borrowed from 2 minutes after a successful return. Attention: With use, a security deposit of $ 101 per bike is blocked on the credit card! The station density is medium and the area served includes almost all of Manhattan and parts of Brooklyn. A road map with cycle paths and all stations is available at every station, so that you can plan longer tours through the city, including changing your bike.
A maximum of two bicycles can be borrowed with one credit card. Groups should therefore have several credit cards with them.
Attention: when returning it to the station, make sure that the bike locks into place correctly (first yellow, then green light and confirmation tone), otherwise the bike is considered not to be returned and it can be really expensive. Sometimes it helps to raise the rear of the bike.
Tourist Attractions
For the prospect
The most famous viewpoints are where the city is dramatically built into the vertical: in Manhattan. Viewing decks are z. B. on the Empire State Building (Tenderloin) and at the Rockefeller Center (Midtown). The viewing platform on the 100th floor of the One World Trade Center (Financial District) opened. However, the spectacular view that can be enjoyed from the following points is completely free of charge:
- Brooklyn Bridge (please referCivic Center)
- Frank Sinatra Drive in Hoboken, New Jersey
- For detailed information on viewpoints in Manhattan look there.
Museums
The largest number of museums can be found in Manhattan (please refer There). These include famous institutions such as the American Museum of Natural History, the “Guggenheim” and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
What is less well known is that the others too Boroughs New York City is home to many top-class museums:
- In the Bronx One finds Fort Schuyler and the Maritime Industry Museum.
- In Brooklyn you can do that Brooklyn Children's Museumwho have favourited collections of the Brooklyn Historical Society, the Brooklyn Museum, the Jewish Children's Museum, the Living Torah Museum, the Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Arts, the New York Transit Museum and the Weeksville Heritage Center visit.
- In Queens are that American Museum of the Moving Image, the Fisher Landau Center (now closed and no longer open to the public), the Museum of African Art, the New York Hall of Science, the Noguchi Museum, the P.S. 1 Contemporary Art Center, the Queens County Farm Museum, the Queens Museum of Art, the SculptureCenter and the Socrates Sculpture Park.
- On Staten Island can they Historic Richmond Town, the Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art, the Staten Island Children's Museum and the Staten Island Institute of Arts be visited.
Zoos and aquariums
The 7 American Museum of Natural History
in the Upper West Side of Manhattan owns a Butterfly Conservatory (Butterfly house). You can see animals in the pet shop for free. Many pet stores offer a wide variety of crawly animals, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and small mammals, and are as entertaining as entrance-fee parks. It is worth taking a look at the yellow pages.
National memorials
Not every tourist is interested in American history. Some memorials are still worth seeing.
National monuments - in New York City one finds
National memorials(National Memorial)
- 12 Federal Hall (in the Financial District).
Put here George Washington took his oath of office, here was the Bill of Rights adopted. - 13 General Grant National Memorial.Mausoleum of the 18th President of the USA in the borough Morningside Heights.
- 14 Hamilton Grange National Memorial.Home of Alexander Hamilton, one of the United States' founding fathers, Hamilton Heights.
activities
New York City is deservedly famous for its unique stage and theater landscape. The majority of the theaters are in Manhattan and here again especially in the area Times square. Opera fans come to the "Met" and the New York City Opera (both in the Upper West Side) on your costs.
- For stages and theaters in Manhattan look there.
But also in the rest Boroughs there are stages and ensembles that do not need to hide, e.g. B .:
- In the Bronx can you do the Bronx Opera visit.
- In Brooklyn do they exist Opera Company of Brooklyn, the Brooklyn Academy of Music and the Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts.
shop
Manhattan owns a variety of shopping districts, one of which is the department store mile on 5th Avenue in the district Midtown is likely to be the most famous. More interesting than the many exclusive department stores and high-end boutiques, however, are the countless independent small retailers, which - spread all over the city - offer something unusual that you would otherwise search in vain in the monotony of American shopping malls. Browsing and studying the Yellow Pages pays off in New York City.
Others too Boroughs have their shopping areas:
- Bronx
- Fordham Road
- Brooklyn
- Fulton Street Mall
- Queens
- 165th Street
- Queens Center Mall
- Staten Island
kitchen
If you know where to go, New York City is a culinary paradise that can hardly be compared to any other city in the American East. In all Boroughs(Manhattan, Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island) is teeming with interesting ethnic restaurants as well as exclusive top restaurants.
- For detailed information see the individual district articles.
nightlife
The nightlife mainly takes place around Times Square. There are numerous bars and restaurants as well as other events such as B. Musicals.
accommodation
Most travelers focus on their New York visit Manhattan. In this case, it is best to choose accommodation in order to save yourself long journeys There. However, considerable bed capacities (and, on average, significantly lower prices) can also be found in other parts of the New York Metropolitan Area, for example in the airport area and in BrooklynAn inexpensive alternative to the rather expensive accommodations in Manhattan are cheap vacation rentals in Staten Island in the St. George district. This is close to the Staten Island Ferry Station, which can be reached on foot in around 5–10 minutes, depending on the location of the accommodation. The ferry itself is free of charge, runs every 15-30 minutes, offers beautiful panoramic views of Manhattan's skyline and Jersey City and docks directly on the southern tip of Manhattan. Vacation rentals start at around $ 80 a day, depending on the time of year and size. Different providers on the Internet or better still - because there usually no agency fee - at Craigslist look up.
Learn
New York City is home to a large number of colleges and universities, of which Columbia University is in Manhattan the most famous is.
Interesting study opportunities are however also in the rest Boroughs commanded. The following universities are located here:
- In the Bronx: Boricua College, some subsidiary organizations of the City University of New York / CUNY (Bronx Community College, Hostos Community College, Lehman College), College of Mount Saint Vincent, Fordham University, Manhattan College, Monroe College, SUNY Maritime College, Albert Einstein College of Medicine
- In Brooklyn: Boricua College, Bramson LOCATION College, Brooklyn Law School, some subsidiary organizations of the City University of New York / CUNY (Brooklyn College, Kingsborough Community College, Medgar Evers College, New York City College of Technology), Long Island University, Polytechnic University of New York, Pratt Institute, St. Francis College, St. Joseph's College, SUNY Downstate Medical Center
- In Queens: Bramson LOCATION College, Briarcliffe College, some subsidiary organizations of the City University of New York / CUNY (CUNY Law School, LaGuardia Community College, Queens College, Queensborough Community College, York College), Long Island City campus of the DeVry University, Plaza College, St. John's University, Vaughn College of Aeronautics & Technology
- On Staten Island: a subsidiary of the City University of New York / CUNY (College of Staten Island), Wagner College
Work
Without the appropriate visa, it is generally not advisable to take up work.
security
During the day, a city tour in Manhattan is no problem. Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island can also be visited on foot at any time. Except for the Bronx: If you speak bad English and look like a tourist, you shouldn't even visit Yankee Stadium (baseball) during the day, and if you want to be on the safe side, the trip to Columbia University ends at 125th Street.
At night, except in Downtown Park - 8th Ave. and up to 59 Street (beginning of Central Park) nothing can be done on foot. Despite the high number of police officers, it is advisable to leave Central Park at dusk. Brooklyn and Queens can also be dangerous in some areas.
Please make sure you get more information at the local tourist information office in Times Square before you set out on a voyage of discovery!
In the meantime, numerous tourist buildings can only be viewed after security checks similar to those at the airport. In some cases, this means that there are more security guards in a museum than regular visitors.
health
- For detailed information on hospitals and emergency medical services in the individual boroughs, see there.
The same applies to medical emergencies in New York City as elsewhere in the USA (see There). Travel health insurance that specifically includes the United States is essential. Since immediate payment is required at the doctor and in the hospital, you also need a credit card (preferably Visa).
In cases that do not allow postponement, you either call an ambulance on 911 or go to one yourself Emergency room of the nearest hospital. Emergency dental and pediatric services are also available in New York City (most smaller cities don't have them).
Since the Emergency room is not a pleasant experience, in all less dramatic cases one tries to make an appointment with a resident (specialist) doctor. In New York City, there is a good chance of finding a German-speaking doctor through appropriate research.
Practical advice
Tip
A few years ago, all taxis in New York were equipped to accept credit card payments. In order to be able to maintain or even increase the tip level, keys with pre-assigned suggestions (15%, 20%, 30%) were created on the readers. This innovation is so successful that the drivers were able to increase their tips and this is now being imitated by restaurants as well. Here the suggested tip rates are at a similar level and there is no longer any question of the 10% that has been practiced for years. Some restaurants have already introduced two types of tips. The service is automatically added to the price (“gratuity”) and then there is a field on the receipt for the “additional tip”.
stand in line
In New York, as in other parts of the USA, peak loads at events are not cushioned by more staff, but by longer queues. This means that the way to the entrance ticket or the hot dog is much longer than you are normally used to.
post
Postage stamps are not sold in postcard purchase stores, only in U.S. Post offices. The typical blue mailboxes can be found on many street corners.
telecommunications
Internet cafes can only be found with great difficulty. In contrast, in many restaurants and cafes (especially in chains) there are free Wi-Fi hotspots where you can connect to the Internet with your smartphone or tablet. In some parks, as well as in Times Square, this even works outdoors.
trips
The locals would ask why they even want to leave New York. But New York is also a wonderful base from which to visit the surrounding areas. In addition, New York City is the ideal starting point for onward or round trips to the Niagara Falls. See the suggested route From New York City to Niagara Falls.
- long Island - If you are traveling to New York in the summer, traveling to Long Island is a great idea. With its long, white sandy beaches, you can have both - big city and beach vacation. Many New Yorkers spend their time here on warm weekends. Take the Long Island Rail Road from Penn Station to Long Beach ($ 9 off-peak and $ 12.50 peak) and from there south to the beach. Take a day trip to Hampton Jitney from various stations in NYC to the "East End", where the Long Island wine country is located on the "North Folk" and the Hamptons on the "South Fork".
literature
- NFT - Not For Tourists Guide to New York City 2015, Not For Tourists, 2015. ISBN 978-1629146355 (Handy, extremely informative and clearly structured reference work with useful addresses - e.g. hotels, restaurants, shopping facilities - in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Jersey City; since detailed descriptions of the sights are missing, not quite as interesting for tourists, but very helpful for resettlers )
Web links
- www.usatipps.de
- www.NYC-Guide.de
- Real New York [1] ENY offers tours and helps with finding accommodation in New York
- New York City at Archiplanet
- ↑Subway, Bus & Staten Island Railway Fares at a Glance. Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), abgerufen am 17. Januar 2019 (in Englisch).