Solo Travel In New York City - Updated 2024

Amber
Amber 
Updated
| 5 min read

New York City is one of the most well-known cities in the world, with easily identifiable landmarks including the Statue of Liberty and Times Square, both of which are great places to visit during a solo trip to the city. With so many options of places to see, things to do and hotels to stay in, planning a solo trip can quickly become overwhelming. Don’t let it! With this handy guide, you can easily conquer your trip planning, and potentially find some fun possibilities you didn’t know existed. Did you know bike tours in Central Park existed? Be sure to read on for more information about this, as well as the best hotel options and handy tips for your solo excursion to New York, USA!

We handpicked these listings carefully, considering (wherever possible) Superhost status, recent guest reviews, location, accommodation type, prices, availability of dates, decor, and amenities. The image galleries get refreshed with the latest updates regularly. They were last updated on April 07, 2024.

1. 1. Enjoy the largest art museum in the country

Metropolitan Museum of Art
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Carlos Delgado used under CC BY-SA 3.0

The Metropolitan Museum of Art is in fact so large that the entirety of its art collection is housed in three separate locations within New York City. When visiting the Met, you’ll be able to browse art that ranges from pieces made by the ancient Egyptians to those made by modern-day artists — that’s over 5,000 years worth of art. With that much art to see, you would be hard pressed to see it all in a day, especially with it being spread across three locations in a busy city. Lucky for you, you can buy a 3-day pass (good for 3 consecutive days) that includes admission to all exhibits and free public guided tours, which are available in 10 languages.

2. 2. Take a cruise around Manhattan Island

Approaching Liberty Island
Source: Photo by user Prayitno / Thank ... used under CC BY 2.0

One of the best (and most unique) ways to tour a city is by cruise, and New York City is no exception. It affords you the opportunity to see the bustling city from a different angle. With this tour, you will spend 2.5 hours cruising around Manhattan Island, listening to your guide provide you with an informational, yet entertaining commentary. You will also get up close views of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, both of which are important landmarks within the city. Food, drinks and souvenirs of your excursion can be purchased aboard the boat.

3. 3. Tour Central Park by bike

Drone photo of Central Park 20170506-001-2 (33679392984)
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user CucombreLibre used under CC BY 2.0

Taking a guided bike tour of Central Park guarantees you don’t miss any of the attractions within the green heart of New York. On this two-hour tour, you will cycle past such sights as Strawberry Fields, Belvedere Castle and Cleopatra’s Needle. This tour keeps a leisurely pace, making it an easy to complete for most people. Tours depart both in the morning and afternoon, allowing you to pick a time of day most convenient to your schedule.

4. 4. Catch 'The Book of Mormon' on Broadway

Broadway
Source: unsplash.com

What would a visit to New York City be if you didn’t take in a Broadway show? While seeing just about any show would be an exciting experience, if you’d like a suggestion, perhaps consider purchasing a ticket to see ‘The Book of Mormon’. This musical comedy has been playing to sold-out crowds since 2011 and is the winner of nine Tony Awards, so you know you’re in for a good time. The story follows two Mormons on a missionary trip to spread their faith to the people of Uganda, with the most hilariously disastrous of consequences. Matinee and evening time slots are available, but be sure to buy your tickets as far ahead of time as possible, as they tend to sell out quickly!

New York Tour Guide

Annie Leguennec

Annie Leguennec

My name is Annie. I am a local Tour guide based in Philadelphia enjoying fully what the city has to offer with its deep history, street arts, murals, architecture, traditional food, black history, Farmer Markets, green space, a melting pot of neighborhoods and its great locals. I am looking for to welcome you and show you this incredible city where you will gain a better understanding of the ci... Read more

Tours by Annie

5. 5. LUMA Hotel — Times Square (from USD 470)

Stay right where the action is in this hotel, located a short 1,000 feet (305 meters) from Times Square. Within walking distance, you’ll find attractions such as Central Park, the Empire State Building, Madame Tussauds New York and Minksoff Theatre. LUMA Hotel also features an on-site restaurant, Ortzi Restaurant and Bar, which offers guests the chance to dine on cuisine that is inspired by the Basque Country of Spain and France; guests are also free to enjoy the lounge and bar area of Ortzi. You’ll find great shopping opportunities nearby, with brands such as Apple, Prada and Nike available for purchase.


LUMA Hotel - Times Square

Wifi Available Wheelchair accessible

Address: 120 West 41st Street
381 meters (0.3 ft) from Times Square

Parking Restaurant Room service Bar 24-HOUR FRONT DESK Non-smoking rooms Laundry Dry cleaning

6. 6. MADE Hotel (from USD 483)

You are sure to enjoy your New York solo excursion when staying at the MADE Hotel. The location is fantastic, with attractions like Madison Square Gardens and Times Square being less than a mile away. Inside the hotel, you’ll find the on-site restaurant, Ferris, where you can get an American breakfast, lunch and dinner throughout the day. You’ll also find the coffee shop, Paper, where you can enjoy a cup of coffee, tea and an assortment of baked goods during the day; come back by during the evening hours, and you can grab a cocktail or glass of wine. If the weather is pleasant, be sure to visit the second-floor patio where you can spend a bit of time relaxing and taking in the city-scape.


MADE Hotel

Wifi Available Wheelchair accessible

Address: 44 West 29th Street
1.34 km (0.9 mi) from Times Square

Parking Restaurant Pets allowed Room service Bar 24-HOUR FRONT DESK Terrace Non-smoking rooms

7. 7. Radisson Martinique on Broadway (from USD 206)

Located in Manhattan, the Radisson Martinique is part of the National Trust of the Historic Hotels and features a French Renaissance design. You’ll be a short distance away from Times Square and Penn Station as well as Madison Square Garden and the Manhattan Mall Shopping Center. The hotel has an on-site restaurant and bar to appease your appetite if you don’t feel like hitting the streets for food, and also offers guests same day dry cleaning services and a 24-hour gym.


Martinique New York on Broadway, Curio Collection by Hilton

Wifi Available Wheelchair accessible Visual Aid: Braille

Address: 49 West 32nd Street
1.11 km (0.7 mi) from Times Square

Parking Restaurant Pets allowed Room service Meeting/banquet facilities Bar 24-HOUR FRONT DESK Fitness centre

8. 8. Carnegie Hotel (from USD 329)

This boutique hotel is perhaps unsurprisingly located a mere 550 feet (168 meters) from Carnegie Hall, which makes this hotel a great choice if you have tickets to an event there. Shopping opportunities on Fifth Avenue are easily accessible from the hotel, as is Central Park and the Museum of Modern Art. Enjoy a continental breakfast each morning of your stay and indulge yourself at least once with the wine hour hosted each night in the lounge. 24-hour snacks and coffee services are also available to guests during their stay at the Carnegie Hotel.


Carnegie Hotel

Wifi Available Wheelchair accessible

Address: 160 West 56th Street
866 meters (0.6 ft) from Times Square

Parking 24-HOUR FRONT DESK Non-smoking rooms Dry cleaning Facilities for disabled guests Ironing service Internet services Lift

9. 9. Buy your Metrocard at the airport

Subway, NYC
Source: Photo by user Henning Klokkeråsen used under CC BY 2.0

During your trip to New York City, having a Metrocard can be invaluble: it is your pass for using the city’s public transportation system and a great way to save on taxi fares that will add up quickly. These passes can be purchased in special vending machines located throughout LaGuardia, JFK and Newark Airports. Be sure to buy them before leaving to minimize any potential travel hiccups.

10. 10. Find cheap and good eats at Queens

Indian-Food-wikicont
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Mohans1995 used under CC BY-SA 4.0

New York City is famed for its delicious eats, and you’ll certainly find no shortage of great places to grab a bite to eat. If you are looking to eat on a budget but still enjoy your meals, trying heading over to Queens, where you can find tasty food without breaking the bank. You can find everything from bagel shops to any number of pizzerias, diners, or Chinese food to satisfy your appetite.

Make plans to travel solo to New York City

As one of the biggest cities in the world, you’ll find no shortage of things to do when you make a solo trip to New York City. You may not get to see everything you’d like the first time around, which can mean only one thing: a second solo trip to New York City someday!

Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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Amber has enjoyed being an office manager at a geotechnical engineering firm for seven years and has a Bachelor's degree from Tarleton State University in Marketing. When not working or wrangling...Read more

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