Where to Stay in New York City for First Time Visitors – A Complete Guide To The Best Areas and Hotels

This is a list of six best places to stay in New York City for tourists visiting the first time! They are: Midtown Manhattan, Downtown Manhattan, Upper West Side, Upper East Side, Brooklyn, and Queens. The most popular (and also most expensive) area to stay is Midtown Manhattan, which is home to many iconic tourist attractions such as Times Square, Empire State Building, Rockefeller Centre, and more.

However, there are many other charming districts in New York to consider staying at. I have written detailed descriptions for each of the areas below, along with a table for easy reference. I have also created clear maps of each district. I sincerely hope this guide will help you find a great place to stay in New York City! This article was last updated on 23 April 2020.

Table of Contents

• Summary of 6 Best Places To Stay In New York
• Map of New York
• 1. Midtown Manhattan
• 2. Downtown Manhattan
• 3. Upper West Side
• 4. Upper East Side
• 5. Queens
• 6. Brooklyn
• Conclusion

Summary of 6 Best Places To Stay In New York

I have created a summary table above for your easy reference. Click to enlarge!

Map of New York 

This is a map of the 6 best neighbourhoods to stay in New York.

1. Midtown Manhattan

Map of Midtown Manhattan

Midtown Manhattan is the area of New York City that is most often portrayed on popular media. We saw many world famous attractions such as the glittering Times Square, majestic Empire State Building, Chrysler Building, renowned Broadway Theatres, and more! It was a surreal experience to finally see these iconic tourist attractions in real life. Raevian also had a good time shopping at the Fifth Avenue shopping district, where there are many luxury boutiques such as Gucci, Valentino, Jimmy Choo, Prada, and more. Fifth avenue is also home to many mass market brands such as Adidas, Guess, Victoria’s Secret, Guess, H&M, etc. For a complete list of things to see and do, check out our article on 10 fun things to do in Midtown Manhattan. For awesome places to eat in Midtown Manhattan, check out our list of 16 Great Places to Eat in Midtown Manhattan.

Why Stay in Midtown Manhattan

Midtown Manhattan is the best district for tourist sightseeing. It is perfectly located for tourist attractions, upscale hotels, and great restaurants. The downside is that the accommodations here are generally very expensive. Despite the high price, we decided to stay in this district because it was our first time visiting New York City and we wanted to be near all the main attractions. Plus we were on our honeymoon as well!

Where to Stay in Midtown Manhattan

Within Midtown Manhattan, there are actually plenty of neighbourhoods. The most convenient area is around Times Square, but there are many other charming districts that are not as touristy as Times Square, and with slightly more affordable accommodations. Below I have given brief descriptions of each neighbourhood and also listed down the respective recommended hotels.

Best for Tourist Attractions: Times Square

This dazzling square is famous for its bright billboards and neon lights, and we loved the bustling vibe here! This is a must-visit for anyone coming to New York the first time. The downside is that it can remain noisy late into the night due to the many tourists here. Hotel Edison Times Square is a decent budget hotel in a fantastic location right beside Times Square. If you can afford to spend a bit more, you can consider InterContinental New York Times Square, a great value-for-money hotel that is just a five minute walk away from Times Square.

Best Peaceful Location for Tourist Attractions: Bryant Park

This is a beautiful small park that is just a five minute walk away from Times Square. In winter, it transforms into a pretty ice-skating rink. This is a great area to stay because it is near to many Midtown attractions, but at the same time it is very peaceful at night as compared to the bustling Times Square. We stayed at The Bryant Park Hotel during our holiday in New York, which is a luxury boutique hotel located opposite Bryant Park. We enjoyed our stay at this wonderful hotel very much and you can check out our full review of The Bryant Park Hotel!

Best for Nightlife: Chelsea

This area used to be a prominent gay district but today it is more known for its vibrant clubbing scene, upscale boutiques, art galleries, and expensive restaurants. There is a gay community and many gay bars as well. It is adjacent to The Meatpacking District, a former enclave of meat companies. The popular High Line, an elevated linear park built on abandoned railroad tracks, is nearby too. A great mid-range hotel in Chelsea is the Stewart Hotel, which offers comfortable rooms at great rates.

Best for Ethnic Restaurants: Hell’s Kitchen

This is a neighbourhood located in the west side of Midtown. It is known for its numerous ethnic restaurants, and is home to many aspiring young actors / Broadway performers. A fantastic value-for-money accommodation here is The French Quarters Guest Apartments, a boutique hotel that provides classy and comfortable rooms. And it is just a five-minute walk from Times Square!

Best for Famous Buildings: Midtown East

This area (also known as Turtle Bay) is home to many iconic buildings such as the Chrysler Building, Grand Central Terminal, United Nations Headquarters, Rockefeller Center, and more. Pod51 is a budget boutique hotel that offers hip and stylish rooms at very affordable rates.

Best for Dining and Culture: Flatiron District

This district is named after the iconic triangular Flatiron Building, and is home to Beaux-Arts buildings, Madison Square Park, trendy bars, Michelin-starred restaurants, Eataly (a popular Italian marketplace), and the very FIRST Shake Shack branch! It is near Union Square Park, a gathering point for activists and protestors. Gramercy Park, the upscale and exclusive neighbourhood with a private namesake park, is located nearby as well. A good accommodation in this area is the Lex Hotel NYC. This wonderful value-for-money boutique hotel offers very comfortable rooms at great prices. If you are looking for luxury and great service, The NoMad Hotel New York is a five-star hotel that offers spacious (by Manhattan’s standard) and beautiful rooms.

2. Downtown Manhattan

Map of Downtown Manhattan

Downtown Manhattan, also known as Lower Manhattan, has many iconic tourist attractions such as the Wall Street district, World Trade Center, 911 Memorial, and Battery Park. We also enjoyed strolling around the interesting neighbourhoods, such as Greenwich Village, East Village, Little Italy, NoLita, and more! And of course, Raevian had a good time shopping at SoHo, a prime shopping district in New York. For a full list of things to do here, check out our article on 10 Fun Things to Do in Downtown Manhattan. There are many great restaurants here too! You can refer to our list of 13 Great Places to Eat in Downtown Manhattan.

Why Stay in Downtown Manhattan

Downtown Manhattan is the best area for tourist sightseeing with affordable accommodations. The hotels here are relatively more affordable than those in Midtown. We stayed in the financial district for part of our holiday in New York as a way to save cost. Staying in the unique local neighbourhoods instead of touristy districts will also give you deeper insights into the culture of New York City.

Where to Stay in Downtown Manhattan

Best for Tourist Attractions: Financial District

This famous financial hub is lined with beautiful architecture stemming from the Gilded Age, and is home to many tourist attractions such as the controversial Charging Bull and Fearless sculptures, the New York Stock Exchange, 911 Memorial, Federal Reserve Bank of New York, and more! It is a must-visit for any first time tourist. We stayed in this area during our holiday in New York at the Residence Inn New York Downtown Manhattan / World Trade Center Area. This wonderful hotel offers stylish room with many amenities, daily breakfast buffet, and good service. It is conveniently located beside the Fulton St Subway Station which connects to all over New York. You can check out our full review of Residence Inn New York Downtown Manhattan / World Trade Center Area.

Best for Affordable Accommodation: Little Italy / Chinatown

These two ethnic enclaves are adjacent to each other. In Little Italy, we saw many Italian bistros serving Italian fare on red-and-white checkered tablecloths. Chinatown is home to many old-school Chinese restaurants, tourist shops, bubble tea shops, Chinese herbal remedy shops, and fresh produce stalls. If you are staying in this district, I highly recommend Hotel 50 Bowery NYC, a wonderful four-star hotel in Chinatown that offers spacious and beautiful rooms at great rates. There is even a rooftop bar with great views of the city. Service is great as well.

Best for Local Culture: Greenwich Village

We enjoyed exploring this LGBT-friendly neighbourhood (commonly referred to as “the Village”), which exudes a bohemian vibe with its cobblestone streets, 19th century townhouses and quirky shops. The district has a rich music history – it is where legendary musician Bob Dylan began his career! It is also home to Washington Square Park and the famous Friends (sitcom) Apartment. A good hotel here is the Walker Hotel Greenwich Village, a semi-luxury boutique hotel that offers classic stylish rooms.

Best for Shopping: SoHo

“South of Houston Street” was once an arty district home to aspiring artists. It has since evolved to become a popular shopping district, where rows of retail stores are nestled in cast-iron buildings along cobblestoned streets. Raevian had a great time shopping here! A decent budget hotel to stay in this area is the CITY ROOMS NYC SoHo, which offers small but affordable rooms.

Best for Foodies: Tribeca

This hip area is known for its industrial warehouses, many of which have been restored to become expensive lofts (Robert De Niro stays in one of them!). There are also a number of great restaurants and upscale boutiques here. The Frederick Hotel is a good value-for-money four star hotel that offers modern comfortable rooms. It is conveniently located beside the Chambers Street Station. If you are willing to splurge, you can stay at the luxurious Four Seasons Hotel New York Downtown, located near World Trade Center.

Best for Nightlife: East Village / Lower East Side

East Village was once famous for its punk music scene, but nowadays it is a chic district known for its vibrant nightlife, trendy bars, hip restaurants, vintage shops, and tattoo parlours. A good value-for-money hotel in this area is The Gatsby Hotel, which offers clean and comfortable rooms at great rates.

Lower East Side is a gritty (but safe) district that was once a Jewish neighbourhood. Nowadays it is known for its vibrant nightlife, hip bars, restaurants and music venues. Therefore, it can be pretty noisy at night. If you are planning on staying in this area, you can consider the Orchard Street Hotel, a budget hotel that offers basic decent rooms.

Best for Local Fashion: NoLita

“North of Little Italy” is an upscale district known for its chic boutiques, artisan shops, trendy bars, sidewalk cafes and popular restaurants. If you are on a budget, you can consider Eileen’s Airbnb, a decent one-bedroom apartment. Before you book, you can click here to get a $45 Airbnb discount coupon. If you can afford to spend more, The Nolitan Hotel is a stylish boutique hotel that has quite a number of good reviews on TripAdvisor.

3. Upper West Side

American Museum of Natural History

The Upper West Side is a culture-rich district located on the west side of Central Park. We saw many famous institutions such as the Lincoln Center (home of the Metropolitan Opera and New York City Ballet), Juilliard School, Fordham University and American Museum of Natural History. Being a Beatles fan, I had to pay homage to John Lennon at the Strawberry Fields memorial. Unfortunately, we didn’t manage to catch Shakespeare in the Park, which are outdoor performances of Shakespeare’s plays in Central Park.

Why Stay in Upper West Side

This is the best area for families because it is right beside the family-friendly Central Park, and the American Museum of Natural History is in this area too. The accommodations here are relatively more affordable compared to Midtown.

Where to Stay in Upper West Side

B&B – A great airbnb in this area is Brian’s studio apartment. It is very affordable and you get to stay in an entire one-bedroom apartment. Brian is an airbnb certified “superhost” too. Before you book, you can click here to get a $45 Airbnb discount coupon.

MidRange – A wonderful value-for-money accommodation is the Hotel Beacon, a four-star hotel that offers spacious and clean rooms at great prices. Service is exceptional and it is just a two-minute walk from the 72 St Broadway metro station.

4. Upper East Side

The Upper East Side is an upscale district in New York known for its posh residences, luxury hotels, famous museums, and high end shopping. It is located on the east side of Central Park. Walking down the museum mile along fifth avenue, we saw many world class museums such as The Metropolitan Museum of Art (the MET), the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, and the Frick Collection. We also did plenty of window shopping along the fabled Fifth Avenue and Madison Avenue, home to many retail stores and luxury boutiques. Unfortunately, our pockets were not deep enough to afford the Hermès handbags and Valentino heels.

Why Stay in Upper East Side

This is the best area for high end shopping. If you want to stay in an upscale district near Central Park, surrounded by luxury boutiques and famous museums, this is the place for you.

Where to Stay in Upper East Side

B&B – It’s pretty hard to find affordable accommodation in Upper East Side, so Hannah’s one bedroom apartment is a rare find in this otherwise expensive neighbourhood. It costs less than USD100 per night! The apartment is very clean and bright, and is conveniently located near the 72 Street Station. However, note that the apartment is on the fifth floor and there is no elevator. Before you book, you can click here to get a $45 Airbnb discount coupon.

Semi Luxury – If you want to pamper yourself without breaking the bank, the Loews Regency New York Hotel is a beautiful hotel that offers very spacious and luxurious rooms at relatively reasonable prices. Service is impeccable too.

Luxury – If you DO want to break the bank, then you can’t go wrong with The Pierre New York – A Taj Hotel. This five-star luxury hotel offers luxurious rooms and top-notch service. It is in a great location right beside the 5 Avenue Station. The hotel offers many luxuries, such as an elevator operator working 24 hours a day!

5. Queens

Long Island City is a popular middle-class neighbourhood in Queens

Queens is one of the five boroughs of New York City (the other four being Manhattan, Brooklyn, Staten Island and The Bronx). This diverse and colourful district was named as the top US travel destination in 2015 by Lonely Planet. After visiting the borough for ourselves, we could definitely see why. During our one day trip to Queens, we saw ethnic enclaves of Indians, Chinese, Latin Americans, and more! Consequently, it offers lots of delicious food from diverse cuisines. Tourists can indulge in a variety of food such as Indian biryani, Sichuan cuisine, Tibetan dumplings, Greek food, etc. We had an enjoyable day visiting tranquil waterfront parks and checking out awesome attractions such as the iconic Unisphere, the National Tennis Center (venue of the US Open), the diverse Jackson Heights, and more! For more details, you can check out our full list of 9 Awesome Things to do in Queens.

Why Stay in Queens

Queens is a good place if you enjoy staying in a heterogeneous neighbourhood. The hotels here are also quite affordable. And even though Queens is located across the river from Manhattan, many hotels here are just a 25 minute subway ride (or less) away from Times Square.

Where to Stay in Queens

Long Island City – We had a great time exploring this posh middle class estate that is known for its beautiful waterfront parks, upscale high-rise apartments, trendy bars and eateries, and burgeoning arts scene. A good hotel here is the Home2 Suites by Hilton New York Long Island City/ Manhattan View, which offers abundantly spacious rooms with a fully-equipped kitchen. There is even a microwave and full-sized refrigerator! Service is great and the vicinity around the hotel is very safe too. It is conveniently located beside the 39 Avenue Station, and is just a 20-minute subway ride from Times Square. The hotel price is quite reasonable considering its quality.

6. Brooklyn

DUMBO is a trendy neighbourhood in Brooklyn

Along with Queens, Brooklyn is another borough of New York City that is seldom visited by tourists. This is a pity because we saw many great attractions during our one day Brooklyn trip, such as the famous Brooklyn Bridge, the scenic waterfront Brooklyn Bridge Park, awesome flea and food markets, resplendent Christmas lights at Dyker Heights, and more! For more details, see our article on the 9 Best Things to Do in Brooklyn for First Timers. There are plenty of awesome eateries here too! You can check out our list of 8 Awesome Places to Eat in Brooklyn.

Why Stay in Brooklyn

Brooklyn is a good place to stay if you are looking to explore the attractions in this borough. The hotels are quite affordable too. Many of the hotels are just a 20-minute subway ride to Wall Street and 30-minute ride to Times Square.

Where to Stay in Brooklyn

DUMBO – This trendy neighbourhood is located roughly between the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges. Walking around here we saw many old warehouses, great restaurants, and art galleries. The famous Brooklyn Flea Market is held here on weekends too. A great hotel here is the Hampton Inn Brooklyn/Downtown, which offers modern and comfortable rooms at very affordable rates. The hotel service is impeccable and it is a short 20-minute subway ride away from Downtown Manhattan.

Conclusion

Congratulations on making it through such a long article! New York is a diverse city with plenty of neighbourhoods and it can be quite confusing at first. Therefore, we hope our guide will be useful in helping you find the best place to stay during your first visit to New York City. As usual, feel free to leave any questions in the comments section below!

This article is part of our completely free and fantastic Ultimate New York Travel Guide for First Timers. Why spend days researching when all your holiday information is simply a click away?