New York Travel Guide: Skyscrapers, Subway and Mobile Data Tips

2026-09-26

Photo: Jakub Hałun, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (cropped)

New York invented the modern skyline, and it is still adding new towers, parks and observation decks. Here is how to see the best of the city, get around by subway and stay connected on a US trip.

The city that defined the modern skyline

New York City is home to about 8.5 million people and some of the most famous buildings on the planet. Every decade adds something new: the rebuilt World Trade Center, the Hudson Yards district and a wave of 'supertall' residential towers along 57th Street. It is also one of the most diverse cities in the world, with large Muslim and Central Asian communities.

April to June and September to early November have the most pleasant weather. Summers can be hot and humid; winters are cold, but the holiday season in December is magical.

Top modern places to see

• One World Trade Center — the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere. The One World Observatory looks over the harbour and the 9/11 Memorial pools below.
• Hudson Yards and Edge — a new district on Manhattan's West Side with Edge, an outdoor sky deck with a glass floor, and a direct link to the High Line park.
• Summit One Vanderbilt — a mirrored, multi-level observation experience next to Grand Central Terminal.
• Empire State Building and Top of the Rock — the classic views, with the Rockefeller Center deck offering the best photo of the Empire State Building itself.
• Central Park — 341 hectares of green space in the middle of Manhattan; rent a bike or walk from the Plaza to the reservoir.
• Brooklyn Bridge and DUMBO — walk across the bridge from Manhattan and enjoy skyline views from Brooklyn Bridge Park.

Getting around

The subway runs 24 hours a day and is the fastest way around. You don't need a special card: tap a contactless bank card or phone at the OMNY readers on turnstiles and buses. OMNY has a weekly fare cap — after 12 paid rides in seven days with the same card, further rides that week are free.

From JFK, take the AirTrain to the subway or the Long Island Rail Road; from Newark, the AirTrain connects to NJ Transit trains to Penn Station. Yellow taxis, Uber and Lyft are everywhere, but traffic makes them slower than the subway at rush hour.

Mobile data and eSIM tips for New York

Roaming in the United States is expensive for most foreign SIM cards, and free Wi-Fi in the subway is limited. A travel eSIM gives you data on US networks as soon as you land, which you'll need for the subway app, ride-hailing and restaurant bookings.

• How much data? A week in New York with maps, ride-hailing, messaging and social media usually needs 5–10 GB. Take more if you plan to travel to other US cities.
• Useful apps: Google Maps or Citymapper for subway routes, the MTA app for service changes, Uber or Lyft and a restaurant booking app.
• Data-only plans: most travel eSIMs don't include a US phone number. Messaging and internet calls work fine; for services that send SMS codes, keep your home SIM active.
• Weekend service changes: subway lines are often rerouted at weekends and late at night, so always check live directions rather than a saved map.

Practical notes for travellers from Uzbekistan

• Visa: citizens of Uzbekistan need a US visitor visa (B1/B2), which requires an interview at the US Embassy in Tashkent. Appointment waiting times can be long, so apply early and check travel.state.gov for current rules.
• Payments: cards are accepted almost everywhere, including subway turnstiles. Visa and Mastercard cards from Uzbek banks usually work; carry a little cash for street vendors.
• Halal and Uzbek food: halal food carts are on many Manhattan street corners. For Uzbek plov, samsa and lagman, head to Brooklyn (Brighton Beach, Midwood, Sheepshead Bay) or Rego Park and Forest Hills in Queens, home to large Central Asian communities.
• Prayer: the Islamic Cultural Center of New York on 96th Street is one of the city's largest mosques, and there are hundreds of mosques and prayer spaces across the five boroughs.