New York City

State: New York. Type: city (the most populous city in the United States). Comprises five boroughs -- Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island -- each coextensive with a county. 2025 estimated population: 8,584,629; metro area over 20.1 million. Settled by the Dutch on May 20, 1624; renamed New York by the English on September 8, 1664; the five boroughs consolidated into one city on January 1, 1898. Was the U.S. national capital from 1785-1790.

New York City sits at the southern tip of New York State on New York Harbor, where the Hudson and East Rivers meet the Atlantic. It is made up of five boroughs, each with its own character: Manhattan's dense skyline and Broadway theaters, Brooklyn's nightlife and dining scene, Queens's diverse immigrant communities and cuisines, the Bronx's history and hip-hop roots, and Staten Island's more suburban, historic feel. Landmarks such as the Statue of Liberty, Central Park, the Empire State Building, Times Square, Brooklyn Bridge and the United Nations Headquarters draw visitors from around the world, alongside a 24/7 subway system that opened in 1904 and remains the backbone of getting around. The city's official tourism arm, NYC Tourism + Conventions, promotes the destination through its Broadway and performing-arts scene, museums and galleries, and year-round events and festivals. As the country's largest and most densely populated major city, New York rewards visitors willing to explore beyond a single neighborhood, with each borough offering a distinct slice of the wider metropolis.

New York City occupies 300.46 square miles of land at the southern tip of New York State, on New York Harbor, at approximately 40.7128 degrees N, 74.0061 degrees W. It is the most densely populated major city in the U.S., with elevation ranging from sea level up to about 400 feet at its highest point. The five boroughs -- Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island -- are each coextensive with their own county.

Source material consulted for this entry did not include detailed climate statistics for New York City; broadly, the city has four distinct seasons with warm, humid summers and cold winters typical of the U.S. Northeast, but specific average temperatures and precipitation were not verified from an official source and are left unstated here pending confirmation.

Sources did not provide a specific official recommendation on best time to visit; the mix of hot summers and cold winters common to the region suggests spring and fall are typically more comfortable for extensive walking between boroughs, though this general seasonal reasoning was not independently confirmed against an official source for this entry.

The area was settled by the Dutch on May 20, 1624 and named New Amsterdam; the English took control and renamed it New York on September 8, 1664, after the Duke of York. New York City briefly served as the national capital of the United States from 1785 to 1790. The modern five-borough city was formed through consolidation on January 1, 1898, uniting Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island into a single municipal government.

Visitors typically combine iconic sights across boroughs: Broadway shows and Times Square in Manhattan, a walk or bike ride through Central Park, a ferry out to the Statue of Liberty, and a crossing of the Brooklyn Bridge. NYC Tourism + Conventions' official site organizes activities into categories including Broadway and performing arts, museums and galleries, tours and attractions, shopping, sports and nightlife, plus free festivals and city parks for budget-conscious travelers. Each borough offers its own draws -- Brooklyn's dining and nightlife, Queens's international cuisine, the Bronx's cultural history, and Staten Island's beaches and historic sites.

Signature sites include the Statue of Liberty, Central Park, the Empire State Building, Times Square, the Brooklyn Bridge and the United Nations Headquarters. Beyond Manhattan's core landmarks, each borough has its own notable places: Brooklyn's dining and nightlife districts, Queens's varied ethnic enclaves, the Bronx's historic and cultural sites, and Staten Island's historic sites and beaches, per NYC Tourism's own borough breakdown.

The city is served by a 24/7 subway system that has operated since 1904, which is the primary way visitors move around once in the city. NYC Tourism's official site lists an official airline partner but did not specify individual airport names in the material reviewed here; travelers should confirm current flight options for the New York City area's airports directly with airlines or a booking source, since this was not independently verified against an official airport source for this batch.

New York City itself has no single set of "opening hours" as a whole city; individual attractions (Central Park, the Statue of Liberty, museums, etc.) each keep their own schedules, detailed in this batch under their respective destination entries.

There is no admission fee to enter New York City itself; individual attractions such as museums, the Statue of Liberty ferry, and Broadway shows each set their own separate pricing, as covered in their individual entries in this batch.

Sources did not specify a recommended trip length; given the scale of the city and the number of major attractions spread across five boroughs, multi-day stays are typical for visitors wanting to see more than one or two landmark sights, though this general guidance was not tied to a specific official source.

NYC Tourism + Conventions' official site notes that hotels are available across the city "to fit every taste," with special rates highlighted around major events such as World Cup 2026; specific neighborhoods or hotel names were not detailed in the source material reviewed and are therefore left unspecified here.

NYC Tourism's official site highlights Brooklyn specifically for its dining and nightlife, and Queens for diverse international cuisines, alongside broader "Eat & Drink" content on its site; specific restaurant names were not confirmed from an official source and are therefore not listed here.

Within the city itself, the five boroughs each function as a mini-destination: Manhattan (Broadway, Central Park, skyline), Brooklyn (nightlife, dining), Queens (cuisine, scenic areas), the Bronx (history, hip-hop culture, ethnic neighborhoods) and Staten Island (historic sites, beaches, global dining), per NYC Tourism's own borough descriptions.

The New York City Subway, opened in 1904, runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and is the core of the city's transit network connecting all the boroughs (Staten Island via a separate rail/ferry link). Specific airport names and codes serving the city were not confirmed from the official source reviewed for this entry.

Sources reviewed for this entry did not include specific official safety statistics or city-issued safety tips for New York City as a whole; standard big-city precautions (staying aware in crowds, safeguarding valuables on transit) apply generally, but this was not tied to a specific official source and should be verified before publishing.

Comfortable walking shoes are advisable given the amount of walking and subway use typical of a NYC visit; a transit card/app for the subway is practical. Specific packing guidance was not detailed in the official sources reviewed for this entry.

Because New York City spans five distinct boroughs, first-time visitors are often advised by the official tourism site to explore beyond Manhattan to experience the full range of neighborhoods and cuisines. The 24/7 subway is the most practical way to move between boroughs and attractions. Booking Broadway shows, museum tickets and Statue of Liberty ferries in advance is recommended given how popular these attractions are, per the individual destination sources in this batch.

Dial 911 for any emergency, the standard nationwide U.S. emergency number. A specific NYC tourism helpline was not confirmed from the official source reviewed for this entry.

NYC Tourism + Conventions (official) - https://www.nyctourism.com

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.