Tips for a second, third or fourth time in New York
Been there, done that. During a first visit you will experience the sights of New York checked off. The hustle and bustle of Times Square is probably still burned into your memory, you got a hot dog or pretzel at a stand, then plopped down in Central Park and walked the High Line. Great, then your next visit will be a lot more relaxing. No longer the pressure to see everything big, but more time to dive into the different neighborhoods.
In this article we tip New York like a local, we stroll through the nicest neighborhoods and look for hidden gems. These are all the tips for a second, third or fourth time in New York.
* Your first time in New York, but do you want to see New York off the beaten track? Then you can also use this article as a guideline.
New York is Huge and ticking everything off during a first visit is almost impossible. But hey, then you always have a reason to go back. Did you miss one of the highlights during your first visit, such as The Empire State Building, 9/11 Memorial & Museum or the Statue of Liberty? Then the CityPASS® is recommended.
With that pass you can tick off just about all the sights. And a great budget tip, because the pass is much cheaper than buying individual tickets for all the attractions. And with that pass you also get a discount for popular Broadway musicals and plays.
It is very easy to stay in Manhattan, because there is plenty to do and see. But hip Brooklyn across the East River is actually ten times more fun. A mix of creatives and hip entrepreneurs fill the streets here and there is a nice restaurant, nice coffee bar or vintage shop on every street corner. The neighborhoods of Williamsburg, Greenpoint, Bushwick and Clinton Hill are favorites. Where should you go?
Food and drinks
Brooklyn Bike Tours
Just like New York, Brooklyn is mega. Getting around the different neighborhoods in Brooklyn can be done via the subway. Effective, but a shame, because of course you can't see anything underground. To really discover the neighborhood, take your bike. And you prefer to take your bike with Tony from Brooklyn Bike Tours. We can safely recommend the cycling tours that this man organizes together with his wife black mention in New York. During the Sunset & Skyline Pizza Tour you'll explore the best sights and tastiest pizzas in the North Brooklyn neighborhood. Not normal 'slices' (really a number of them), but rather the crème de la crème of pizzas. You can try Detroit style pizzas (square pan pizza) or Mini Montanara Pizza (fried pizza). Tony has energy for ten and knows the neighborhood like no other. You won't get more relaxed in the city, when the sun is slowly setting while you're pedaling your bike.
In any case, one of these food tours through the city (or rather: all these food tours) are a great tip for a second time in New York.
Industry City
Industry City is a under-the-radar spot in New York, and a city within a city. Formerly used for manufacturing and distribution, today its 16 different buildings are home to more than 550 businesses and feature more than 50 shops and eateries. A mixture of media, creatives and entrepreneurs. As a tourist, it is a nice food hall and the ideal opportunity to discover Sunset Park as a dining destination. There is one like that all-avocado-bar: Avocaderia, and you can get good ramen and sushi in Japan Village.
Sunset Park
We will also immediately tell you about Sunset Park, the place where Industry City is located. A relatively unknown neighborhood, but Sunset Park is located in the middle of the neighborhood. Not a large or special park, at least at first glance. But a park with one of the best views of Manhattan. The park is located two blocks away Wyndham Garden Brooklyn Sunset Park, a good (not too expensive) base for your second, third or fourth visit to the city. If you want to treat yourself, book one of the rooms with fantastic views of Manhattan. Gift to yourself.
Little Caribbean
Chances are you don't even know it's home to one of the largest and most diverse Caribbean communities outside of the West Indies. This neighborhood, called Little Caribbean, runs from Empire Boulevard to Flatbush and Nostrand Avenues to Church Avenue. A hidden gem, and so much fun to explore thanks to dozens of restaurants, shops, cultural centers and religious institutions. The name already suggests that the food in Little Caribbean is guaranteed to be good. A no-brainer: that you can do another delicious food tour here, where you will learn everything about the Caribbean community of Brooklyn combined with, for example, jerk chicken, patties, curries, salted fish cakes with spicy tamarind sauce, sweet pastries, fresh juices and authentic Caribbean rum. Come on.
Here you will find everything about the Food tour through Little Caribbean, but you can also use one take a self-guided tour of Little Caribbean.
Need reliable transportation from the airport to the city? Airlink NYC is one of the reliable providers of shared service between the airports and Manhattan. Then you share your transportation with other travelers and that also saves you money. Be sure to save this link.
Brooklyn, check. You could spend a whole week there, but we have to move on. On to Queens, one of the five boroughs of New York. You will find the borough, consisting of, for example, Long Island City, Astoria and Flushing, east of Manhattan and below Brooklyn. Plenty to do, plenty to see, so here we go:
Sports competitions
Queens is home to the US Open tennis played annually at Flushing Meadows. You will also find the New York Mets (baseball club) and the New York City FC (soccer team) here. Nice to see how they hit or kick a ball here.
Long Island City
Fifteen minutes from Manhattan and you are in Long Island City, where the hotels are cheaper and the art scenes more lively. Here you will also find MoMA PS1, part of the Museum of Modern Art in Manhattan, and the Silvercup Studios, where films and series are recorded.
Rockaway
New York's Best Kept Secret, that's what is sometimes written about Rockaway Beach. A remote part of New York, where it feels like a chill holiday instead of a chaotic city. The people here are calmer and the image of the city is completely different. We would rather describe Rockaway as a charming harbor town with New York as its backyard. Chill vibes here through and through and also the only place in New York City where you can surf legally. A nice place to spend a day during the warm weather and also an inspiring place. Lou Harris and the Black Surfing Association are encouraging black youth in Rockaway to surf. You can read all about that here.
Also a place to have a quick (but tasty!) and cozy meal - for that you have to go to The Cradle NYC where they serve Nigerian - but also for a long stay in a modern hotel you have come to the right place. Just for a moment Rockaway Hotel type it in and the design shades fly by.
Little India
Little Italy, Little Caribbean, Little Odessa, Little Tokyo; You are probably aware that there are many different communities in New York. You will also find Little India, a colorful neighborhood in Jackson Heights where you can eat for a good price and stroll through markets.
Astoria
Just think of the azure blue sea, white houses and olive trees and voilà, you imagine yourself in Greece. At least, Astoria is the neighborhood with a large Greek population, many Greek restaurants and feta cheese on the market. Astoria Park is very relaxed for a picnic (with fantastic views). You will also find the Noguchi Museum and Museum of the Moving Image.
Flushing
Chinatown is definitely worth it When in New York, but you often see this part of the city during a first visit. So very touristy. A nice alternative is Flushing in Queens, home to the largest Chinatown. You will find more variety there than in the restaurants in Manhattan.
- Library hopping: the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building of the New York Public Library and the Morgan Library and Museum are not to be missed.
- Visit the original Woodstock grounds from 1969. Rent a car, because it is still about a two-hour drive.
- Sleeping in the city is nice, but sometimes it is more practical to sleep close to the airport. More than nice to spend the night at it T.W.A. Hotel overlooking the JFK runways, good food at The Paris Café and The Sunken Lounge Food Hall, a rooftop pool overlooking the runway, an airplane converted into a cocktail lounge, a Twister Room and so on...
You can find more tips on the New York City Tourism website.
