Destination guides > North America > USA > Mid-Atlantic > New York > New York City
New York City
With over eight million people living within the city limits and almost 19 million people in the metropolitan area (which sprawls across three states), New York City is the ultimate metropolis.
It boasts a gritty appeal that’s missing in many other big American cities and it has a vibrant atmosphere that’s fuelled by the millions of people who live and work in the city.
Most of New York City’s attractions lie on Manhattan, which includes Downtown and Midtown Manhattan (the United States’ two largest central business districts).
Downtown or Lower Manhattan refers to the southern tip of the island, which includes the Financial District plus funky areas like Chinatown, Little Italy, Soho, Tribeca, Greenwich Village, the East Village and the Lower East Side.
The city becomes more structured north of 14th Street as it adopts an orderly grid system with avenues running north-south and streets running east-west. This area includes Chelsea (where many of New York City
’s hostels are) and Midtown, which for most people is the real heart of the city.
Uptown Manhattan includes Central Park and the expensive apartments on the Upper East and Upper West Sides. North of Central Park is Harlem, a neighbourhood that has been given a bad name by film and TV, but which has some nice areas with old Brownstown homes.
Coming & going
Local transport
Hostel accommodation
Eating and drinking
Sightseeing, museums & tourist attractions
Practical information
INFORMATION CENTRES & USEFUL ADDRESSES
NYC & Company
810 7th Avenue, New York City
Subway 7 Avenue (B, D, E)
Tel 212 484 1222
Website www.nycgo.com
Open Mon-Fri 8.30am-6pm, Sat-Sun 9am-5pm
Federal Hall Information Center
26 Wall Street, New York
Subway Broad Street (J, M, Z)
Website www.nycgo.com
Open Mon–Fri 9am–5pm
Brooklyn Tourism
209 Joralemon Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201
Subway Borough Hall (4, 5)
Tel 718 802 3846
Website www.visitbrooklyn.org
Open Mon-Fri 10am-6pm
Tourist information centre in Lower Manhattan
EMBASSIES & CONSULATES
Australia
150 East 42nd Street, 34th Floor, New York NY 10017
Subway Grand Central-42 Street (4, 5, 6, 8); Grand Central (7) Train Grand Central (Metro North)
Tel 212 351 6500
Website www.newyork.usa.embassy.gov.au
Open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm
Canada
1251 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
Subway 47 Street-Rockefeller Center (B, D, F, V); 49 Street (N, R, W); 50 Street (1)
Tel 212 596 1628
Website http://geo.international.gc.ca/can-am/new_york/menu-en.asp
Open Mon-Fri 9am-noon & 1pm-3pm
Ireland
345 Park Avenue, 17th Floor, New York NY 10154
Subway 51 Street (6); Lexington Avenue-53 Street (E, V)
Tel 212 319-2555
New Zealand
780 3rd Avenue, 19th Floor, New York, NY 10017
Subway 51 Street (6)
Tel 212 832 4038
United Kingdom
845 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10022
Subway 51 Street (6); Lexington Avenue-53 Street (E, V)
Tel 212 745 0200
Website www.britainusa.com/ny/
INTERNET ACCESS
Free wireless internet hotspots are available in many city parks including Bowling Green, Bryant Park, City Hall Park, South Street Seaport, Union Square Park, the atrium of 60 Wall Street and the World Financial Center Winter Garden.
Free Wi-Fi internet access in City Hall Park, Lower Manhattan
All Barnes & Noble bookshops have free Wi-Fi. Manhattan branches include: Fifth Avenue (555 Fifth Avenue, New York; subway 5 Avenue (7); open Mon-Fri 8am-9pm, Sat 9am-9pm, Sun 10am-9pm); Greenwich Village (396 6th Avenue, New York; subway Christopher Street-Sheridan Square (1), W 4 Street (A, B, C, D, E, F, V); PATH 9th Street; open Mon-Sat 10am-10pm, Sun noon-7pm); Lincoln Triangle (1972 Broadway, New York; subway 66 Street-Lincoln Center (1); open 9am-midnight daily); Tribeca (97 Warren Street, New York; subway Chambers Street (1, 2, 3); open Mon-Sat 9am-10pm, Sun 9am-9pm) and Union Square (33 East 17th Street, New York; subway 14 Street-Union Square (4, 5, 6, L, N, Q, R, W); open 10am-10pm daily).
NYCwireless (website www.nycwireless.net) also operate a network of free Wi-Fi hotspots throughout the city.
Most New York hostels offer internet access. In Manhattan the following hostels offer free wireless access: 320 Times Square Hostel, Big Apple Hostel, Broadway Hotel & Hostel, Chelsea Spot, Chelsea Star Hotel, Columbus Circle Hostel, HI - New York City, Jazz on Lenox, Jazz on the Park, Jazz on the Town, Jazz on the Villa, L-Hostel, MiHostel, Pink Hostel, Royal Park Hotel & Hostel, Tone On Lex, Village Inn Hostel and Wanderer's Inn West. In Brooklyn Loftstel - Williamsburg, New York Loft Hostel and ZIP112 Hostel have free wireless internet.
