Look, you did it. You bought that flight to the "Big Apple" and you're already picturing yourself strolling through Central Park with a giant cup of coffee in your hand, feeling like you're in a proper Hollywood movie.
New York is brutal, no two ways about it. But it's also a city that doesn't stop, doesn't forgive and devours unsuspecting tourists for breakfast. If you don't want to be "that" tourist who blocks the sidewalk and pays $30 for a mediocre burger in Times Square, Martin is here to save you.
Here's your survival itinerary for your first time in NYC:
1. Golden Rule: Walk Fast and Don't Block the Sidewalk 🚶♂️💨
New Yorkers are always running late for something. The sidewalk to them is like a motorway. If you want to stop and take a photo of the skyscrapers, lean against a wall! Never, ever, stop suddenly in the middle of the sidewalk, or you risk getting bumped into and a hearty insult (in perfect English, of course).
2. Forget the Tourist Boats: The Staten Island Ferry is Free 🗽⛴️
Want to see the Statue of Liberty up close for the Instagram shot, but don't want to pay $30 on a boat packed with people? Do as the locals do. Hop on the Staten Island Ferry. It's 100% free, runs 24 hours a day and goes right past Lady Liberty herself. The trip takes about 25 minutes, you reach the other side, turn around and head back to Manhattan. It's the best bargain in the city!
3. The $1 Pizza Slice is Your New Religion 🍕
Eating in New York will wreck your budget if you're not careful. Avoid the restaurants around Times Square (they're proper tourist traps). The real food culture in this city is on the street. Look for the famous "Dollar Slices" (which can now cost $1.50, blame inflation). For pocket change, you eat a slice of cheese pizza fresh out of the oven, folded in half like a true New Yorker. Quick, cheap and divine.
4. The Subway: Local vs. Express (Read the Signs Carefully) 🚇
The New York subway is your salvation, but it can be a maze. The most important thing to remember: there are "Local" trains (which stop at every station) and "Express" trains (which skip half a dozen of them). If you take an Express by accident, you can find yourself on the other side of the city without meaning to. Google Maps is your best friend, but always check the screens before you board.
5. Times Square: Look, Take the Photo and Bounce 📸
Yes, you have to go to Times Square. It's mandatory to be blinded by those giant screens and feel the chaotic energy of the place. But don't stay there too long. Snap the obligatory photos and escape to the real neighbourhoods: stroll through Greenwich Village, eat in Chinatown or cross the Brooklyn Bridge at sunset. That's where the real soul of the city lives.
The Return from the "Big Apple" to Reality
New York is incredible, but the trip home is brutal. Almost 8 hours of flight with full jet lag hitting you, after walking 20 kilometres a day every single day.
You land back in Portugal, dragging your heavy bags (because of course you brought too much shopping from the outlet) and your brain is asking for one thing only: your bed.
At this point, the last thing you want is to face taxi queues in the cold, drag your luggage onto the metro or deal with Uber surge pricing that decided to spike just as you arrived dead on your feet.
Be a smart New Yorker even back here in Portugal. Before you leave, drive your own car to the airport and hand the keys to the Multipark team. Our Valet Parking service keeps the car in a secure, monitored lot.
When you land exhausted on the way back, you walk through the Arrivals door and your car is right there waiting for you. Warm, comfortable and ready to roll. All you have to do is throw your luggage in the boot and drive home listening to Frank Sinatra.
Start and end the trip stress-free. Check your Valet Parking quote at Multipark and conquer the city that never sleeps!
