The Ultimate Guide on Where to Stay in New York City

New York City receives around 63 million tourists every year. It's one of the most famous and popular cities in the entire world. As one of the leading financial and cultural capitals, it's certainly worth checking out.

But before you visit, it's important that you do some planning. First off, you should know that the city itself is broken up into five distinct boroughs - Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, and the Bronx. But more importantly, you should know where to stay in new york city before you make the trek over there.

Interested in learning more? Continue reading and we'll walk you through the best places to stay in New York City.

For First Time Visitors: Midtown

If you're visiting New York City because you've fallen in love with it after watching the various movies and tv shows and reading books and articles about it, then Midtown is for you.

Staying in Midtown allows you to be within walking distance of some of New York's most popular attractions. These include Times Square, MoMA (the Museum of Modern Art), Central Park, 5th Avenue, Broadway, the Empire State Building, and Rockefeller Center.

When you're in MIdtown, it's easy to explore the rest of the city on foot and you're also near all of the major subway lines.

For Lovers of Luxury: Upper East Side

If you like things to be a little quieter in the city that never sleeps, then the Upper East Side might be more your speed. This area is great for anyone who wants to have the option to explore Central Park and be able to quickly get to a variety of museums.

There are also a bunch of upscale homes and stores that sell expensive clothes and other items. And if you like seeing tiny dogs in fancy baby strollers, this is the place to be.

The strip of 5th Avenue known as Museum Mile also runs through the Upper East Side. Here, you'll find such well-respected museums like the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Goethe Institute, the Guggenheim Museum, the Neue Galerie, and the Jewish Museum.

For Romantics: Greenwich Village and Chelsea

For anyone who wants to feel like their back in 1960s New York, then these two areas are for you. Greenwich Village and Chelsea definitely have a more authentic feel than other touristy parts of the city. These areas are more popular among the hipster crowd and have been for decades.

While you're staying here, feel free to take a stroll through Washington Square and watch older New Yorkers play chess while NYU students cool off in the fountain. You're also likely to see plenty of street musicians and acrobatic performers.

And if you enjoy scenic walks, make sure to walk through the Washington Mews - a row of former horse stables that are now administrative offices for NYU. And don't forget to grab a slice from Artichoke Pizza while you're in the area.

For the Artistic Type: Lower East Side and SOHO

SOHO (South of Houston) and the Lower East Side are some of the coolest and hippest areas in the city. SOHO is right next to the Village and is known for its gorgeous cast-iron building as well as its many design and art shops.

While the Lower East Side is more residential, both of these neighborhoods offer you a great mix of cute boutiques and cool restaurants that can suit any price range. These are also the areas where you'll find New York's famous Chinatown, Little Italy, and the Bowery.

For Families: Greenpoint

If you're looking to have a fun time with your family but want to stay away from the chaos of Manhattan, then you should definitely consider staying in Greenpoint. This Brooklyn neighborhood feels more like it's part of a small town rather than a piece of a massive city.

A lot of young families already live in this area and this is helped by the combination of trendy bars and fun family restaurants. It also only takes 30 minutes to get to Times Square on the Subway which is fairly quick.

Some fun things to do in Brooklyn involve shopping for vintage clothes and used books.

For Hipsters: Williamsburg

Williamsburg is another hipster spot and it's often regarded as the hipster capital of the world. The neighborhood has a number of record shops, book stores, vintage clothing shops, as well as trendy bars and cafes. And if you want to go into Manhattan, you can just walk across the Williamsburg bridge.

There is also a number of green spaces in the area for those who like to spend time outside. Definitely make sure to check out East River Park to get great views of the skyline and McCarren Park if you want to have a lovely picnic. And the new Domino Park is fun for hipsters as well as families.

Williamsburg is certainly one of the most popular places for where people get vacation rentals.

The Importance of Knowing Where to Stay in New York City

New York is an extremely diverse place filled with dozens of little neighborhoods. Knowing where to stay in New York City can help save you from becoming too overwhelmed and accidentally staying in an area that ends up being less than ideal. The important thing is to know what you want to get out of your trip and then figure out which areas are going to help you to best achieve that experience.

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