New York City is huge – and can a little overwhelming, especially for first-time visitors.

Each neighborhood of New York offers something unique, but if you’re looking for somewhere to stay, some arears are better than others if you want to make the most out of the city.

Check out my guide of where to stay in New York City – and where you might want to avoid.

Best places to stay

Midtown

Midtown is the hands down THE best place to stay on a trip to New York City, especially for first-time visitors.

And I’m not just saying that as a former resident of Midtown myself.

It’s got everything you need: walkable to major attractions, countless restaurants of any type of food imaginable, and lots of public transportation options to take to any part of the city and beyond.

It’s also the part of NYC I tend to stay in whenever I visit.

Major attractions:

• Times Square
• Empire State Building
• Rockefeller Center
• Grand Central Terminal
• MoMA (Museum of Modern Art)

Where to stay:

Hen na Hotel New York: I’ve personally stayed at this hotel, located right near Penn Station and Madison Square Garden, and can 100% recommend it. From its large rooms to its Japanese toilets (so cool!), it’s clean, comfortable, and has friendly staff – including the T Rex who greets you in the lobby.

Pestana Park Avenue: If closer to Grand Central Terminal is more your vibe, check out Pestana Park Avenue. Sleek and modern, it offers amazing views of the city.

Chelsea

More residential than Midtown, Chelsea offers both the relative calm of a more residential neighborhood while still boasting a vibrant and artsy nightlife. It also boasts a large LGBTQ population.

Increasing gentrification means that Chelsea is now home to some of New York’s hottest spots, in addition to its longstanding art galleries.

Major attractions:

• Madison Square Garden
• High Line
• Hudson Yards and the Vessel
• Chelsea Market

Where to stay:

The Hotel Chelsea: If you’re looking for a hotel with a history, The Hotel Chelsea is it. Arthur Miller, Bob Dyland, and Dylan Thomas have all stayed here.

The Maritime Hotel: In the mood for something nautical? Try The Maritime Hotel, with its on-theme décor leaving you feeling like you’re on a ship in the middle of the urban jungle.

Upper West Side

This family-friendly area is also one of New York’s wealthiest. It’s considered one of New York’s most cultured and intellectual areas (Columbia University is nearby).

The Upper West Side has endless bakeries, restaurants, and major attractions to offer visitors. It’s also quieter and calmer than other areas of New York, so you can be sure to get a good night’s rest.

Major attractions:

• American Museum of Natural History
• Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts
• Central Park

Where to stay:

The Wallace Hotel: The Wallace Hotel is the perfect romantic getaway. Rooms are light, airy, and comfortable and the hotel is located on a quiet street.

Hotel Beacon: A relatively affordable hotel in a well-to-do part of town, Hotel Beacon is just a block and a half from the American Museum of Natural History. Some rooms even include kitchenettes, for those days where you just want to stay in.

Upper East Side

If art is your thing, and money is no obstacle, consider staying in the Upper East Side. Home to some of the world’s best museums and some of New York’s best-heeled residents, the Upper East Side is for those who love luxury.

 Major attractions:

• Metropolitan Museum of Art
• Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
• Central Park
• The Frick Collection

Where to stay:

Carlyle Hotel: If you want to splurge on your stay in NYC, consider staying at the Carlyle. This lavish hotel is located a mere stone’s throw from Central Park.

Loews Regency New York Hotel: For a slightly more affordable option, check out the Loews Regency. Rooms are cozy and spacious and the hotel is perfectly situated between the charms of the Upper East Side and the sights of Midtown Manhattan.

Greenwich Village

Greenwich Village has long been known for its bohemian vibe. With its treelined street and brownstone buildings, it’s a picturesque oasis.

It’s also home to fantastic eateries, jazz clubs, and boutique stores. It also has a much more local feel than other parts of Manhattan.

Major attractions:

• Washington Square Park
• The Stonewall Inn
• Whitney Museum of American Art

Where to stay:

Washington Square Hotel: Boutique hotel in a quite spot – which is a bonus in New York! The hotel also features an on-site gym and spa.

Walker Hotel Greenwich Village: Feel like you’ve stepped back into Greenwich Village’s 1920s heyday in this conveniently-located hotel. Rooms are small (not unusual in NYC), but comfortable and the hotel is just steps away from a subway station.

Williamsburg

Welcome to the heart of hipsterdom: Williamsburg, Brooklyn. In keeping with the neighborhood’s culture, you’ll find coffee shops, street art, and breweries galore.

It’s also a great place to consider staying on a trip to NYC due to its easy access to Manhattan.

Major attractions:

• Williamsburg Bridge/Domino Park
• Bushwick Inlet Park

Where to stay:

Wythe Hotel: If you’re looking for the quintessential Brooklyn experience, you have to stay in a converted factory. That’s exactly what the Wythe Hotel is. But don’t be fooled by its utilitarian history; the hotel is modern, comfortable, and boasts an on-site restaurant and bar.

Pod Brooklyn: As the name might suggest, the rooms here are small. But what it may lack in size, the hotel makes up for in design, cleanliness, and proximity to restaurants and other eateries.

Long Island City

Long Island City, located in Queens, has been gaining popularity in the last few years. Conveniently located within striking distance to Midtown Manhattan, it offers slightly cheaper accommodations and a great view of New York’s famous skyline.

Major attractions:

• MoMA PS1
• Noguchi Museum
• Socrates Sculpture Park

Where to stay:

LIC Hotel: Relatively affordable as far as New York City hotels go and located a couple blocks from a subway station into Manhattan. The hotel also offers a rooftop terrace with some impressive views.

The Modernist Hotel: Another relatively affordable option, with several restaurants and bars around. Also a good option for those traveling from LaGuardia airport.

Where to avoid

Times Square

There’s no doubt that Times Square is the beating heart of New York. And with so much around – think shopping, dining, Broadway shows, comedy shows, and more – it would be tempting for a visitor want to be in the center of it all.

But that’s precisely why I’d avoid Times Square.

Being the center of it all in the city that never sleeps means it’s, well, noisy. All. The. Time. If you want to get a good night’s rest, this probably isn’t going to be the area for you.

Financial district

There are a lot of interesting things to see in the financial district. Wall Street, The Battery, the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, to name a few.

That being said, it’s not somewhere I’d recommend to a visitor, first-timer or not.

While it’s filled with the hustle-and-bustle of workers during the day, at night it just seems kind of…abandoned. It’s a stark contrast to other parts of the city that have a robust nightlife.

The Financial District does have a few bars around, like the historic Fraunces Tavern, for the most part it feels empty compared to the rest of the city. Almost eerily empty.  

Outer boroughs

New York City is made up of five boroughs – Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island.

Apart from the areas mentioned above (Williamsburg in Brooklyn and Long Island City in Queens), you probably are best avoiding staying in any boroughs apart from Manhattan.

First, they’re farther from the city’s main attractions. You don’t want to have to spend time your previous vacation time commuting if you can help it.

Secondly, unless you’re familiar with the area, not all of the neighborhoods are safe – and some are downright dangerous. While many of the outer boroughs have some really interesting places to see and visit, it’s best to stick to tried and true areas for your stay.

A note on safety

Millions of visitors a year visit New York without a major incident.

Nevertheless, New York is a big city and it has all the problems that you’d normally associate with big city living, such as theft and assault.

The areas recommended here are all relatively safe, although no area in New York is completely crime-free. While tourists are unlikely to be the victim of a major crime, you should still take the same precautions as you would with any big city.

Did you find this guide helpful? Let me know in the comments!