I’ve collected these questions from friends visiting, from overhearing conversations on the subway, and from an embarrassing amount of time reading travel forums. Here are honest answers to the things people actually want to know before coming to New York.
Can You Drink the Tap Water in NYC?
Yes. Absolutely yes. New York City tap water comes from a protected watershed in the Catskill Mountains and Delaware River basin upstate. It’s so clean that NYC is one of only five major cities in the country that doesn’t need to filter its water supply. It won taste tests. It’s what the bagels and pizza are made with, and some people seriously believe the water is what makes them so good.
Bring a refillable water bottle and fill it from any tap. You’ll find water fountains in most parks and public spaces. Buying bottled water in New York is genuinely a waste of money.
Is New York City Safe?
Yes, with the same common sense you’d use in any major city. New York is statistically one of the safest large cities in the United States. Crime rates have dropped dramatically over the last three decades. I walk home alone at night regularly and I feel safe in the vast majority of neighborhoods.
That said, use your head. Keep your phone in your pocket on subway platforms. Don’t flash expensive jewelry. Be aware of your surroundings in crowded tourist areas like Times Square where pickpocketing can happen. And trust your instincts. If a street feels off, walk a different way. But please don’t let fear keep you from experiencing the city. Most of New York is perfectly safe for tourists.
Do I Need a Car in New York?
No. In fact, having a car in New York is actively unpleasant. Parking is either impossible or obscenely expensive. Traffic in Manhattan is some of the worst in the world. And the subway and bus system will get you everywhere you need to go faster and cheaper than driving.
I don’t own a car. Most people I know don’t own a car. We take the subway, walk, and occasionally use Citi Bike. For trips outside the city, there are rental car agencies and commuter trains. But for a visit? Leave the car at home. You won’t miss it for a second.
Can I Use My Phone on the Subway?
Yes, mostly. Cell service now works in most underground stations and tunnels in Manhattan and many in Brooklyn and Queens. The MTA has been expanding cellular coverage over the past few years and it’s gotten significantly better. You’ll occasionally lose signal between stations on some of the older lines but it comes back quickly.
Wi-Fi is available in all underground stations for free through a network called “TransitWirelessWiFi.” It works fine for checking maps and messages. Just don’t stand in the middle of the platform staring at your phone when a train is coming. That’s a good way to get a very specific New York look from a very specific kind of New Yorker.
Is It Rude to Not Tip?
Yes. Full stop. Tipping in New York is not optional, it’s how servers, bartenders, delivery people, and many other workers make their living. The standard in restaurants is 18 to 20 percent. For good service, 20 percent or more. For bars, $1 to $2 per drink or 20 percent of the tab.
I know tipping culture is different in other countries and I understand the frustration. But until the system changes, not tipping means someone is working for essentially nothing. Tip your servers. Tip your bartenders. Tip your delivery person, especially if they biked through traffic to get food to your hotel room.
For coffee shops with counter service, tipping is appreciated but more flexible. A dollar or rounding up is perfectly fine. The iPad-flip-with-guilt is a whole thing here and you don’t need to feel bad about choosing a smaller amount at a counter.
What’s the Difference Between Uptown and Downtown?
In Manhattan, uptown means north and downtown means south. It’s that simple, even though it confuses everyone at first. Higher-numbered streets are uptown. Lower-numbered streets (and the neighborhoods below 14th Street that have names instead of numbers) are downtown.
When someone says they live uptown, they usually mean anywhere above 59th Street. Midtown is roughly 34th to 59th Street. Downtown is everything below 14th Street. The area between 14th and 34th doesn’t have a catchy name. We just call it “the twenties” or reference specific neighborhoods like Chelsea, Gramercy, or Flatiron.
On the subway, “uptown” trains go north and “downtown” trains go south. This will matter immediately when you’re standing on a platform trying to figure out which direction to go. When in doubt, check the sign above the platform entrance. It’ll say the direction and the last stop on the line.
Why Is Everything So Expensive?
Real estate. That’s basically the whole answer. Rent is astronomical in New York and every business passes that cost on to you. Your $6 coffee isn’t expensive because the beans are made of gold. It’s expensive because the coffee shop is paying $15,000 a month in rent for 400 square feet.
But here’s the thing. Not everything is expensive. Street food, outer-borough restaurants, happy hours, and free activities can fill a day for very little money. The expensive version of New York is the one where you eat every meal in Midtown and take Ubers everywhere. The affordable version is right there next to it if you know where to look.
A few numbers for context. A regular coffee at a bodega is $1.50 to $2. A chopped cheese sandwich is $5 to $7. A dollar slice is $1 to $1.50. A subway ride is $2.90. It’s possible to eat well and get around for $30 a day if you’re strategic.
What’s the Deal With Green Cabs vs Yellow Cabs?
Yellow cabs can pick up passengers anywhere in the city but they mostly operate in Manhattan. Green cabs (officially called Boro Taxis) were introduced in 2013 to serve the outer boroughs and northern Manhattan above 96th Street. They can pick up street hails in those areas but not in the core of Manhattan below 96th Street.
Both use the same meter system and pricing structure. Both are regulated by the TLC (Taxi and Limousine Commission). If you see a green cab while you’re in Brooklyn or Queens and you need a ride, flag it down the same way you’d flag a yellow cab in Manhattan.
Honestly, most people under 40 just use Uber or Lyft now. But there’s something satisfying about hailing a yellow cab on a Manhattan avenue. It makes you feel like you’re in a movie. Do it at least once.
A Few More Quick Ones
What’s a bodega? A small corner store that sells everything from sandwiches to cat food to phone chargers. They’re on every block and they’re essential to New York life. If a local tells you to “go to the bodega,” they mean the one closest to wherever you currently are.
Should I go to Times Square? Briefly, if you’ve never been. Stand in the middle, look up, take a photo, and then leave. Do not eat there. Do not shop there. Do not engage with anyone in a costume who wants to take a photo with you unless you’re prepared to pay $10 for the privilege.
Is the pizza really that good? Yes. But not everywhere. Avoid any pizza place within three blocks of a major tourist attraction. Find the places where locals go. You’ll know them by the line of construction workers at lunch.
Do New Yorkers actually hate tourists? No. We hate slow walkers. There’s a difference. Walk with purpose, stay to the right on sidewalks and escalators, and don’t stop in the middle of a busy block to check your phone. Do those three things and you’ll be fine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. NYC tap water is consistently rated among the best in the United States. It comes from protected reservoirs in the Catskill Mountains and is tested thousands of times daily. You can drink it straight from any tap in the city. Bring a refillable bottle and skip the bottled water entirely.
The standard tip in NYC restaurants is 18 to 20 percent of the pre-tax bill. For excellent service, 20 percent or more is appropriate. At bars, tip $1 to $2 per drink or about 20 percent of your total tab. For delivery, 15 to 20 percent is standard. Counter service tips are more flexible but a dollar or a small percentage is appreciated.