Yes, New York is packed with tourists: more than 65 million visitors come each year.¹ But we love it anyway. New York is energetic, exciting, beautiful, loud, rowdy, weird and absolutely delicious.

Here’s our five-minute guide to the best things to do, see and eat in NYC, while avoiding the busiest attractions like Times Square and the Empire State Building. Be sure to bring a great pair of walking shoes, a daypack for carrying your stuff, and the free Allyz® TravelSmart app from Allianz Global Assistance. The Allyz TravelSmart app is your best friend on the road, letting you access your policy and 24-Hour Hotline Assistance from your phone.

3 Reasons You Need Travel Insurance for New York

1. Trip cancellation benefits are a must. New York City is the most expensive city in the U.S.² The average cost of a hotel? Around $300 per night.³ Don’t risk losing your vacation investment — protect your trip with insurance, so you can be reimbursed for nonrefundable trip costs if you have to cancel for a covered reason.

2. Travel delays are common. Crowded airspace and dicey weather mean frequent delays at New York’s three airports: JFK, LaGuardia and Newark.⁴ Trip delay benefits can reimburse you for eligible expenses incurred during a covered delay. Or, if your plan includes SmartBenefits®, you can opt to receive a fixed inconvenience payment of $100 per insured person, per day, for a covered travel delay (or baggage delay). The Allyz TravelSmart app can notify you if your flight’s delayed, so you’re not caught unawares (just remember to enter your flight details).

3. Hotline Assistance can save your trip. In the big city, anything can happen. Lost wallet? Medical emergency? Victim of a theft? Just call 24-Hour Hotline Assistance, and our experts will do their best to assist you. Access the hotline with one tap from the Allyz TravelSmart app.

3 Cool Things to Do In New York

1. Walk the High Line. This former elevated rail line opened to the public as a park in 2009. It runs through Chelsea from Gansevoort Street in the Meatpacking District to West 34th Street. You can admire the sculptures and lushly planted gardens, then descend to the street for a snack or some shopping.

2. Visit the  Museum of the Moving Image. This temple to filmmaking isn’t just for enthusiasts, but anyone who’s fascinated by the magic of movies. It includes artifacts from movies filmed in New York, a video arcade with playable games and an exhibit dedicated to the work of puppeteer Jim Henson, including Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy.

3. Enter the Vessel. The centerpiece of mega-development Hudson Yards is an architectural artwork called the Vessel (or “the Shawarma,” if you’re a native New Yorker). Book a free ticket to climb the Vessel’s 154 flights of stairs and get a new vantage point on the city.

3 Great Boutique Hotels in NYC

New York City hotels run the gamut from the tiniest micro-hotels to lavish properties like the Plaza. For a comfortable but (relatively) affordable stay, seek out a smaller boutique hotel.

Perhaps the most famous of the NYC boutique hotels is the Library Hotel. Each of its 10 floors is inspired by a category of the Dewey Decimal System, and each of the 60 rooms has a unique collection of books and art related to that category. Included are a breakfast buffet, evening wine and cheese reception, and turndown service.

North of Little Italy is The Nolitan Hotel, a slender tower with views of the Williamsburg Bridge to the east and the Empire State Building. The Nolitan offers guests perks galore: complimentary bikes and skateboards, huge TVs and game consoles.

There are affordable boutique hotels in NYC, too. One winner is the Leon Hotel in Chinatown, with nicely appointed, modern rooms and friendly staff.

3 Classic New York Restaurants

Trying to single out any of the best restaurants in New York City — let alone the top three — is an impossible task. That being said, there are some old-school restaurants that deliver a New York experience you just can’t get anywhere else.

The Lexington Candy Shop on the Upper East Side is the oldest example of a fading New York institution: the corner luncheonette. It opened in 1925 and remains a popular place for classic treats: egg creams and milkshakes, freshly squeezed lemonade and lime rickeys, and the Butter Burger (exactly what it sounds like).

Founded in 1905, Lombardi's Coal Oven Pizza in Little Italy claims to be the oldest pizzeria in the United States. The margherita is phenomenal, and the clam pie, with freshly-shucked clams, garlic and lemon, is a dish you’ll never forget.

The classic, wood-paneled New York steakhouse experience can be found at Keen’s, an institution founded in 1886. Order a few fresh oysters to start, then the “legendary mutton chop” or the chateaubriand for two. 

New York’s the city dreams are made of… so don’t let a travel mishap ruin your dream vacation. Every year, more than 70 million American travelers trust Allianz Global Assistance to protect them. Find the travel insurance plan that’s right for you.

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