Where to stay in New York

Deciding where to stay in New York is as difficult as any other trip. This may seem a very simple thing to do but, if you want to get the best of your trip and to enjoy it at its best, you must choose the area where you are going to unpack your bags wisely.

When planning our 5 days itinerary in NY, we had to look into so many websites to decide that we thought it would be good to recollect all the information in just one post for you to decide with security where to stay in New York.

New York is such a big city made up of five boroughs: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx and Staten Island. Each of them is divided into multiple neighborhoods with different atmospheres.

For travelers, the best option will probably be Manhattan since it’s the center of most of the touristic attractions. Here in Manhattan the place where you want to stay may vary depending on the type of trip you are planning. However, some tourists prefer something more quiet like Brooklyn.

We do not recommend staying at either of the other boroughs, not only for its fame of being dangerous, because this is not entirely true, but because they are quite far away from everything you are going to want to see. Even if you are on a budget, you will be able to find some good places in Brooklyn without having to go to other areas.

Here you have a sum up of where to stay in New York depending of your interest:

Manhattan: perfect for first time travelers and short trips

- - Midtown Manhattan: best fort first time travelers, close to the attractions
  - Upper East Side: close to Central Park, most luxurious area
  - Upper West Side: close to Central Park, family and residential area
  - Financial District: good for work trips
  - Soho: cool and fresh area, good for young people interested in fashion
  - Greenwich: historical neighborhood and best nightlife

Brooklyn: perfect for young travelers than will spend more days in NY

- - DUMBO: perfect spot if you want to be in Brooklyn but close to Manhattan
  - Williamsburg: both historical (ultra orthodox) and hipster area
  - Downtown Brooklyn: students or artist coming to work in NY
  - Park Slope: famous brownstones buildings, residential
  - Gowanus: industrial area, cheap but far from Manhattan
  - Greenpoint: similar to Williamsburg but more expensive
  - Bushwick: good for street art lovers and young people, nightlife

Where to stay in Manhattan

Midtown Manhattan

When you see New York city on TV or in a movie, you’re almost always looking at images of Midtown Manhattan. Centrally located, Midtown is where you’ll find iconic sights like Times Square, the Empire State Building, Broadway, Bryant Park, The Museum of Modern Art and Rockefeller center.

It is the perfect place to stay in New York for first time travelers as well for those visiting with teenagers. Here you will find very luxurious hotels as well as good options on a budget.

Advantages

You will be at the center of the city, at the heart of the tourist area
Very close to most of the activities so it is walkable
Most of the main subway lines connect through Midtown, making it easy and convenient to travel to different areas during the day.
Great for families and first-time visitors
Close to Grand Central Terminal and Penn Station which you may want to use to go on a day trip to another city

Disadvantages

It is constantly busy and crowded and at night you may be hearing quite a lot of noises.
It is not the cheapest area to sleep in NY.

We stayed in this area, exactly at Bryant Park, our hotel was The Americana Inn New York City. We are very happy with our choice, we were on a budget so this is a very cheap option to be in the city center. However, even though it has a kitchen which is nice, we do not recommend it for families since the bathroom is shared.

Upper East Side

On the Upper East Side (UES), which stretches from 59th to 96th streets along the East River, luxury fashion meets with fine places. This area is noted for being expensive because of the families that have lived there (such as the Rockefeller and Kennedy families), and it has been portrayed in famous series such as Gossip Girl and Sex and the City.

The UES is also home to Museum Mile, which runs along Fifth Avenue along Central Park and includes some of New York City’s (and the world’s) greatest museums such as the MET.

Even though you’ll be further away from Midtown’s main attractions, you can get there in approximately twenty minutes by metro or bus. It’s a more residential neighborhood than certain neighborhoods further downtown in New York City. There will be many young families and pets wandering around and enjoying the parks!

Advantages

It is a lovely place to walk
Near Central Park (Bike itinerary in Central Park)
Luxury places
Quiet and family friendly

Disadvantages

It’s price
Further from popular attractions

Upper West Side

The Upper West Side (UWS) stretches from West 59th Street to West 110th Street and is bounded by the Hudson River and Central Park. This is one of the greatest spots to stay in New York City if you’re searching for a family neighborhood and hotel and you do not want to spend as much as you would in the Upper East Side.

Cultural New York institutions such as Lincoln Center, the Beacon Theater, and the American Museum of Natural History are to be found here. The UWS is home to some of the most attractive apartment complexes and townhouses in the city, including The Dakota and The San Remo, both of which front Central Park.

There are a number of playgrounds and smaller parks, as well as family-friendly hotels (some of which even provide children’s programs), making it an excellent choice for young families to stay and enjoy. You can take the metro or bus to Midtown and other districts in around twenty minutes, allowing you to avoid some of the more congested regions.

Advantages

Known for being great for families
Near Central Park (Bike itinerary in Central Park)

Disadvantages

It’s price
Further from popular attractions

Financial District

The Financial District is the hub of New York’s status as the world’s financial capital. This lower Manhattan district is home to Wall Street and The New York Stock Exchange and is a good place to stay in New York City for business.

The Financial District is a historically significant commercial district. The cobblestone streets and old cafés and pubs date back to the 1800s! Because most business travelers are gone by the weekend, you can generally save money and get fantastic offers on hotels.

The Financial District is home to the World Trade Center and the 9/11 Memorial. Visit the monument and museum, or climb to the top of One World Trade for panoramic views of New York City as we did (5 days in NY itinerary).

This area is also ideal for watching the activities in New York Harbor, including views of the Statue of Liberty on Ellis Island and the Staten Island ferry. The Brooklyn Bridge, which connects Manhattan and Brooklyn over the Hudson River, is a short walk away. On a nice afternoon by the ocean, have a drink at Pier 17 and observe the boat traffic.

Advantages

Close to Brooklyn
Budget-friendly if visiting on weekends
Historical place close to many tourist attractions

Disadvantages

There is not night life or cute dining options
It can be exhausting and loud for its day life during weekdays

Soho

Designer boutiques, stores, and art galleries line the cobblestone lanes of SoHo south of Houston Street. Because SoHo is a more residential district, you won’t have to fight crowds to get into major attractions, just the stores and art galleries!

SoHo is home to numerous high-end restaurants and bakeries, including Laudurée and Dominique Ansel, as well as some of New York City’s greatest pizza. This fashionable area, full of models and influencers who live there, attracts fashionable crowds. It’s also a short walk to the West Village and other parts of lower Manhattan.

Advantages

Many restaurant options
Great photo spots
Maybe you get to see famous people or influencers
Not as many crowds as in other areas of Manhattan

Disadvantages

Far away from public transportation, it is by far the worst connected area
Quite expensive

Greenwich

Greenwich Village is a tiny neighborhood on Manhattan’s lower west side that we visited during the night on an organized tour as you can read in our 5 days in NY itinerary.

This area, often known as “The Village,” is bounded to the west by the Hudson River and to the east by Broadway. It’s one of the most desirable (and costly) neighborhoods in the city, and it’s home to some of the top restaurants and clubs, making it the perfect spot to stay for nightlife.

Greenwich Village is located outside of New York City’s grid system, and brownstones fill the tiny, curving streets. This is the place to stay in New York City if you want to walk around and see the city’s classic architecture and historic residences.

This area is home to both New York University and The New academic, so be advised that it is crowded with students during the academic year and may get loud at night.

Advantages

Great night life

Disadvantages

Not many hotel options

Where to stay in Brooklyn

DUMBO

DUMBO is perhaps the most popular neighborhood in Brooklyn to stay. Because of its close location on the East River overlooking the spectacular NYC city skyline and the finishing points of both the historic Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan Bridge, this picturesque area is certainly one of the most popular things to do in Brooklyn and in NYC.

Advantages

Close to Manhattan via public transportation
Amazing views of the city skyline
Cool environment

Disadvantages

More expensive location in Brooklyn
Touristic area

Downtown Brooklyn

Downtown Brooklyn is one of the best places to stay in Brooklyn if you’re attending any events at the Barclays Center or the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM), need to come to Long Island University in Brooklyn, or need a centrally located spot in the borough with easy access to just about anywhere else in the city.

Because of Atlantic Terminal, the subway and the Long Island Railroad (LIRR) can take you almost anywhere.

Advantages

Cheap
Good if traveling for work

Disadvantages

Far from Manhattan attractions
Not an historical neighborhood either a cute one

Park slope

Park Slope, a lovely neighborhood consisting of brownstones, is one of the greatest under-the-radar spots for guests looking for places to stay in Brooklyn.

This is regarded as one of the most popular districts to live in the city, and while it may appear to be distant from NYC attractions in Manhattan, this is misleading since Park Slope has a plethora of subway stops and subway lines that make it extremely quick and simple to go where you need to go.

Even better, Park Slope offers a thriving eating and shopping scene on both 5th and 7th Avenues and is a short walk or subway ride from Downtown Brooklyn’s Barclays Center. Better better, you may enjoy everything there is to do in and around Prospect Park, which was planned by the same architects as Central Park, since Park Slope forms one of the park’s outer borders.

This is a terrific area to stay in Brooklyn if you want to stay in a peaceful neighborhood, stay more residentially, and experience what it’s like to live in one of the city’s most desirable communities.

Advantages

Most popular place in Brooklyn to live, famous in Hollywood
Cute residential neighborhood
Well connected to Manhattan

Disadvantages

Not many hotels (but there are cute Airbnb)
Expensive

Gowanus

The industrial district of Gowanus is one of Brooklyn’s fastest changing neighborhoods and locations to stay. This formerly industrial district is rapidly gentrifying and becoming one of the city’s major communities of artists and entrepreneurs.

This is a good spot to stay if you want to explore Brooklyn and get into Manhattan fairly quickly via the subway, as it borders the two charming, residential brownstone-filled districts of Carroll Gardens and Park Slope.

Advantages

Cheap since it is still growing
Cool streets with street art and industrial buildings

Disadvantages

Further from Manhattan attractions
Can be loud and dangerous at night

Greenpoint

Greenpoint is Brooklyn’s northernmost neighborhood, running along the East River. The area borders Williamsburg and was once home to a sizable Polish community. If you’ve been to New York City before, Greenpoint is the place to stay for a calmer, more residential district.

Greenpoint, like Williamsburg, is a highly hipster area with new luxury apartment complexes lining the river. There are several restaurant alternatives, which can become packed on weekends as well as amazing bar and nightlife options.

Greenpoint also has a number of parks where you may have a picnic, visit the seasonal farmer’s market, or exercise. McCarren Park and Msgr. On your journey to stores and art galleries, admire the stunning architecture and traditional townhouses that border the streets.

Greenpoint is more difficult to get by subway than other Brooklyn neighborhoods since just one line (G) travels straight there. Other options are to take the boat (which costs the same as the train) and enjoy the riverside views of the skyline, particularly around dusk.

Advantages

Residential area
Multiple parks
Hipster pubs and restaurants

Disadvantages

Some areas are not very safe at night
Not very accessible by public transport

Bushwick

Bushwick is one of the trendiest areas to stay in Brooklyn if you enjoy street art, Hispanic food, and some of the greatest nightlife. The Bushwick Collective, an outdoor open air gallery of vibrant murals by painters from all over the world, is well-known in this area.

This area is adjacent to Williamsburg, another of the greatest locations to stay in Brooklyn for individuals searching for nightlife, fantastic shopping, and waterfront views of the city, as well as Bedford-Stuyvesant aka Bed-Stuy.

If you enjoy the nightlife, this is a great area to be in, since it is the home of the famed club, House of Yes, which organizes some of the finest-themed parties with full-on performances and is regarded as one of the top nightlife and club locations in the world.

Advantages

One of the coolest areas of Brooklyn
Good cheap food
Cheap hotels and apartments
Good nightlife

Disadvantages

Quite far from Manhattan attractions
Not the best place for family trips

Best hotels in NY

Above you will find the best areas to stay in Manhattan and Brooklyn for you to decide which fits most for you and, in each area, some hotels where you can stay whether you are on a budget or you want something more fancy.

Here, we have recollected the best hotels where to stay in NY by categories for you to have an idea:

Best Overall Hotel: The Langham, New York
Best Luxury Hotel: The Mark Hotel
Best For Families: Loews Regency
Best For Business: Four Seasons Hotel New York Downtown
Best Boutique: Crosby Street Hotel
Best Near Central Park: 1 Hotel Central Park
Best on a Budget: The Jane

Any of these New York City hotel options would make for a great home base during your trip to NY. Now, let’s do a deep dive into the best areas in Manhattan and Brooklyn to stay in.