Parcours audioguidé pour visiter New York en 1 jour

The best times to discover New York are spring and autumn, when temperatures stay mild and pleasant for exploring the city on foot. Winter can be very harsh, with temperatures often below zero and snowstorms that make long waits outside the monuments difficult. Conversely, New York summers are stifling, especially in Midtown where the heat quickly becomes oppressive among the skyscrapers. Remember to pack a jacket even in fine weather, as temperatures drop quickly in the evening. The months of April-May and September-October generally offer the best weather compromise for making the most of your stay.

For a first visit to New York, ideally plan between four and six days. This will let you discover the must-sees of Manhattan without rushing too much, while keeping a pleasant pace. In three days you can see the essentials, but you'll have to make choices and string visits together. With a full week, you'll have the luxury of exploring other boroughs like Brooklyn or Queens, and taking the time to soak up the unique atmosphere of each area. Don't forget that New York is huge and that you often need to allow time for travelling between the various points of interest.

The subway remains the most practical and affordable way to get around New York. The network is very extensive and runs day and night, letting you easily reach every neighbourhood. A rechargeable transit card gives you access to the subway and local buses. The iconic yellow cabs and ride-hailing services are also very common but work out more expensive, especially during rush hour. For short distances in Manhattan, walking is often the best option to enjoy the city's atmosphere. Bike-sharing is a pleasant alternative for riding through Central Park or along the Hudson River.

New York remains an expensive destination that requires a substantial budget. Accommodation is generally the biggest expense, especially if you want to stay in Manhattan. Meals can quickly add up, even though you'll find options for every budget, from food trucks to starred restaurants. Also plan a budget for tourist attractions, some of which have high prices. Daily spending varies enormously depending on your choices and travel habits. To save money, favour accommodation outside Manhattan, happy hours in the bars and the many free activities the city has to offer.

New York is full of iconic sites that have made it world-famous. Times Square and its giant screens, Central Park for a leafy break, the Statue of Liberty as a symbol of hope, and the Empire State Building with its dizzying view are unmissable classics. Don't miss the Brooklyn Bridge, the 9/11 Memorial, or a stroll through the Greenwich Village or SoHo neighbourhoods either. The Ryo audioguide offers a tour right in the heart of Manhattan that takes you to discover these legendary places while revealing their fascinating history. Between iconic architecture, world-renowned museums and unique neighbourhood atmospheres, the city offers extraordinary diversity.

Tourist passes can represent a worthwhile saving if you plan to visit several paid attractions. They generally let you skip the queues and simplify the organisation of your stay. Several formulas exist, some offering a fixed number of attractions over a limited period, others giving unlimited access for a few days. Carefully compare the sites included with your sightseeing plan to work out whether the investment pays off. Bear in mind that New York also offers many free or inexpensive experiences that are well worth some of the paid attractions. The choice will really depend on your priorities and your travel style.

Brooklyn is absolutely worth the trip with its trendy neighbourhoods like Williamsburg, known for its art scene and fashionable restaurants, or DUMBO, which offers spectacular views of Manhattan. The Brooklyn Heights district charms with its historic character and its promenade along the East River. In Queens, explore the cultural diversity of Flushing and its authentic Asian restaurants, or Long Island City for its contemporary art museums. The Bronx is home to the famous zoo and botanical garden, as well as the birthplace of hip-hop. Each borough has its own identity and lets you discover a more authentic New York, far from the tourist bustle of Manhattan.

From JFK, the AirTrain connects you to the subway or the Long Island Rail Road to reach Manhattan. From Newark, take the AirTrain to the station and then the train to Penn Station. LaGuardia, closer but without a direct rail link, is reachable by express bus that drops you at several subway stations. Shared shuttles are an in-between option between public transport and a taxi, with good value for money. Taxis and ride-hailing remain more comfortable but considerably more expensive, especially during rush hour. Allow between forty-five minutes and an hour and a half for the journey depending on the airport and the traffic.

Several major observation decks share the views over Manhattan, and the choice mostly depends on what you want in the frame. From the Empire State Building the perspective is the most classic one, taking in the whole southern half of the island. From Top of the Rock, at the Rockefeller Center, it is the Empire State Building itself that enters the picture, with Central Park behind it, which often makes it the photographers' favourite. SUMMIT One Vanderbilt, the newest of them, leans more towards experience with its mirrored rooms suspended above Grand Central. Further south, the One World Trade Center observatory opens the widest view over the bay and the Statue of Liberty. In every case, late afternoon lets you see the city by day and then lit up.

Central Park can be crossed in an hour or savoured over a whole day. The southern section holds the best known images, with the Pond, the Wollman skating rink in winter, the Mall and its avenue of elms, Bethesda Terrace and its great staircase, then the lake you cross by Bow Bridge. A little further north, Strawberry Fields pays tribute to John Lennon and Belvedere Castle overlooks Turtle Pond. Beyond the reservoir the park turns wilder, with the woodland of the Ravine and lawns that see far fewer visitors. Depending on the season you will come across joggers, open-air concerts or rowing boats on the lake. The Ryo audio guide offers a dedicated New York route that runs alongside the park and the neighbourhoods bordering it.

The ferry leaves from Battery Park and stops at Liberty Island and then Ellis Island, where more than 12 million immigrants passed through between 1892 and 1954: allow half a day and book the climb to the crown early. At the Empire State Building, the 86th floor costs around 44 dollars; choose a sunset slot.

In Times Square, the TKTS booth sells Broadway tickets up to 50% off. In Lower Manhattan, combine the free Federal Hall, the Charging Bull and the 9/11 Memorial, before catching your breath on the High Line or in Central Park.

Find all the tips in our guides to activities in and around New York and 30 things you must do in New York.

The Staten Island Ferry, free and running 24 hours a day, passes within 300 metres of the Statue of Liberty during its 25-minute crossing. The Brooklyn Bridge can be crossed on foot at no cost, ideally before 8am.

In summer, Central Park hosts SummerStage concerts and Shakespeare in the Park, free but with limited places. Add the High Line, a 2.33-kilometre contemporary art walk on a former railway, the 200-plus murals of the Bushwick Collective in Brooklyn and the whispering gallery hidden inside Grand Central Terminal.

All twenty-five ideas are detailed in our guide to free activities and visits in New York.

Twice a year, in February and September, Manhattan hosts one of the world's four major Fashion Weeks. Born in 1943 from a « Press Week » dreamed up by Eleanor Lambert, it moved from the tents of Bryant Park to Lincoln Center before settling in 2018 at Spring Studios in Tribeca.

Most shows, from Michael Kors to Marc Jacobs, are reserved for buyers, journalists and guests, but some organisers sell VIP tickets to the general public, and the buzz can be felt across the city, from Chelsea to SoHo.

Dates, venues and access are covered in our guide to New York Fashion Week.

Yes, as long as you are a fan. Launched in 2019 for the show's 25th anniversary, this official immersive exhibition brings together more than 50 props and costumes, a replica of Monica's apartment with its purple door and yellow kitchen, the opening-credits fountain and the orange couch at Central Perk, where real coffee is served.

These are not filming locations: the series was shot in California. To avoid the queue at the purple door, come on a Wednesday or Thursday morning rather than a weekend afternoon.

Prices and an honest review are in our guide to The Friends Experience New York.

Burgers, pizzas and hot dogs are national favourites rather than local specialities. In New York, start with a smoked salmon and cream cheese bagel at brunch, then a giant street pretzel between visits.

For lunch, the pastrami sandwich on rye and the lobster roll, lobster served in a hot dog bun, are classics, as are fried chicken, barbecue ribs, mac and cheese and meatloaf. For dessert, New York cheesecake and cupcakes are a must.

Discover the ten must-tries in our top food specialities of New York.

More than a million people gather for the ball drop, a tradition dating back to 1907; today's sphere carries 2,688 Waterford crystals and 32,256 LEDs. The celebration starts around 6pm, but the most determined arrive at noon, along Broadway between 43rd and 50th Streets.

Entry is via 6th or 8th Avenue, and once inside you cannot leave and come back. Dress very warmly and bring water and snacks: there is no food and no toilets, and large backpacks, umbrellas and alcohol are banned. Take the subway, as Midtown is closed to cars.

All the practical tips are in our guide to New Year's Eve in Times Square.

Head to Times Square after 11pm, once the coaches have gone, and climb the red TKTS steps for a bird's-eye view. The Empire State Building stays open until midnight, Top of the Rock until 11pm with the Empire State in full view, and Edge offers a glass floor at 345 metres. Arrive 40 minutes before dusk.

Then cross the Brooklyn Bridge at nightfall towards DUMBO, before ending the evening in a Village jazz club or at Junior's, which serves cheesecake late into the night.

All fifteen experiences are in our guide to New York by night.

Start at Bethesda Terrace and its Angel of the Waters fountain, often livened up by musicians, then cross Bow Bridge, a cast-iron bridge from 1862 that is best early in the morning. Strawberry Fields and its « Imagine » mosaic pay tribute to John Lennon, opposite the Dakota.

Walk up the Mall, the park's only straight path, lined with statues of writers, then climb Belvedere Castle for the view over the Great Lawn, which hosts free concerts in summer. The zoo and its sea lions delight families.

All the highlights are gathered in our guide to making the most of Central Park.

Founded in 1870, the Met holds more than 2 million works spanning 5,000 years: you cannot see everything, so allow at least two hours and focus on your favourite periods. Don't miss the Temple of Dendur in the Egyptian wing, European painters such as Monet, Renoir and Degas, and the roof garden overlooking Central Park.

The museum is closed on Wednesdays; Thursday morning is the quietest time. Adult admission costs 25 dollars and is free for under-12s, who have their own audio guide.

Opening hours and tips are in our guide to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Opened in 1883, the bridge can be crossed free of charge 24 hours a day on a pedestrian walkway raised 5.5 metres above the traffic. Look up at its 84-metre neo-Gothic towers and its four steel cables of 5,282 wires each, a world first; plaques pay tribute to Emily Warren Roebling.

The view takes in One World Trade Center, the Empire State Building and the Statue of Liberty in the distance. On the Brooklyn side, carry on to Brooklyn Bridge Park and DUMBO, where Washington Street frames the Manhattan Bridge.

Everything to know before crossing is in our guide to visiting the Brooklyn Bridge.