Have you just moved to New York City?
If so, congrats! We hope you had a successful and stress-free move. We know that moving can be an exhausting process difficult to execute.
If you haven’t lived in NYC before and you conducted the move yourself, you probably didn’t have much time to explore the city. Green City Movers – Brooklyn Movers is here to help all the newcomers to learn how to get around in NYC.
The Big Apple is one of the most active and live cities in the world, and it’s not a coincidence that it’s called The City that Never Sleeps. In case you still haven’t moved to this city but you are planning to, this guide will definitely come in handy for you too.
Exploring the city: Get around in NYC like a pro
When settling in the New York, exploring the city can be infinite. You might feel like a tourist at first, but that is not the way to learn about the living style of the New Yorkers. Communicate and discover how people live. Learn how to get around in NYC.
You will find that New York City is the most culturally diverse city in the world. Make a list of all the things you want to visit, but make sure they are recommended by locals and not the most popular tourist spots.
That way you will avoid the biggest crowds and actually hear some interesting stories. Getting around NYC can be very easy or you can make it quite adventuresome.
If you have a smartphone, you can use apps to plan your trip. There are many good free ones, such as TripGo. The latter provides multi-modal transport options, combining public and private modes to give you the most suitable plans depending on your priorities.
Ways of transportation
After your residential moving NYC, one of the first things you’ll have to do is arrange for transportation. New York is an excellent walking city, and getting around in NYC by foot is the best way to familiarize yourself with neighborhoods.
Of course, sometimes you’ll need to move more quickly or cover great distances, for which you’ve got subways, buses, and cabs at your disposal.
Subways and buses: Purchasing a MetroCard is your first step to getting around on subways and buses; you must put a minimum value of $5.50 on the card when initially buying it.
You can do so at subway stations, from either automated machines or booth attendants. When you use a pay-per-ride MetroCard, a single subway or bus ride costs $2.75. The system is accessible to people with disabilities.
TAXIS: Cabs are a quick, convenient way to get around the five boroughs. The City’s fleet of yellow taxicabs and green Boro Taxis is regulated by the Taxi and Limousine Commission.
Taxis are available 24 hours a day. The minimum metered fare is $2.50, which increases 50 cents every fifth of a mile or every minute, depending on how fast you’re traveling; there is also a New York State tax surcharge of 50 cents per ride.
Cars: Use Google Maps to help you get around in NYC in case you’re planning to drive around the city. You have to make sure you know where to park. If you need to rent a car, it may be worth considering Zipcar and Enterprise.
Others: Ferries, pedicabs, cruise ships, bicycles and even helicopters are all great ways to get around New York
Local laws NYC
If you’re headed out for a night on the town, you should know that the drinking age in NYC and the entire United States – is 21.
Smoking is banned in public places throughout the city, including bars, restaurants, subways and taxis, and public parks and beaches.
Cigar smoking is permitted at cigar bars that register with the city. Those who are 21 or older can purchase cigarettes and tobacco in New York City.
Important phone numbers
Here are some important phone numbers to keep handy:
- Emergencies (police, fire or ambulance): 911
- Directory assistance: 411
- NYC government agencies and any questions or requests about City services: 311 or 212-NEW-YORK (639-9675)
- Printed NYC literature: 800-NYC-VISIT (692-84748) or 212-397-8222
Things to do
When planning a New York City relocation, consider that the best value of this city doesn’t cost money. The Big Apple, as lots of people call it, is a famous for its most recognizable pop-culture locations.
If you feel like exploring New York City with spending money, find out how to get around in NYC and visit some places where your favorite movies and TV shows are made.
Summer is the time to enjoy many events for free. You can find many festivals, concerts, and theater shown in an open space, many of them located in Central Park.
You can visit Shakespeare in the Park (Central Park) that gathers artists from Broadway and Hollywood or attend a free film screening in Bryant Park and Central Park.
Top 10 attractions in NYC
- Empire State Building
- Times Square
- Statue of Liberty
- Brooklyn Bridge
- The Cyclone
- One World Observatory
- American Museum of Natural History
- Bronx Zoo
- Grand Central Terminal
- Staten Island Ferry
How New Yorkers drink their coffee?
As pretty much everything else is, coffee is a science in NYC, as well. The locals here prefer to drink their favorite drink in the early morning, and usually outside of their home.
So, don’t be surprised when you hit your first long line in front of the coffee place extremely early in the morning. This is the norm in New York. Most of the locals prefer their coffee sweet and light, so this is what is called “˜regular’ in the city.
Also, if they’re asking for more than $5 for the cup, they’re definitely ripping you off. And if you’re looking to value what the New Yorkers do when searching for the best coffee in New York, value quality and location of the shop first.