New York City one of the top tourist destinations in the world; there’s so much to see and do but, for those who aren’t used to the big city, it can feel like a minefield. It’s easy to fall into the trap of limiting yourself to the main attractions, but New York has so much to offer and with the help of your phone you can have the confidence to venture further and see more.
Below are five apps that will help you experience New York like a true New York- HEY! I’m bloggin’ here!
New York Subway MTA Map (iOS, Android)
This is probably the most important app for any tourist in New York. No one wants to pay an extortionate amount of money for a Taxi, plus no one drives in New York: there’s too much traffic! The subway is the easiest way to get around the city, and while you could do the typical tourist thing of trying use one of those annoyingly large map subway maps that never fold up again, you could also download an easy to use map onto your phone. The app also contains a route planner so you don’t even have to work out how to get from your hotel to central park because it’s all done for you.
Downtown NYC (iOS, Android)
If you want to do more than just check out all of the popular tourist hot spots and instead feel like a real New Yorker, Downtown NYC is perfect. The app is a great source of information on a range of events within the city, including anything from a charity fundraiser, a themed night at a restaurant, to a silent disco in museum. The app also offers users discounts to selected events.
Open Table (iOS, Android)
A big part of New York is the food and to truly experience this like a local you need to venture away from the big chains in Times Square and delve into the local eateries. For a first time tourist in New York this can feel like a mine field and Open Table is there to help you. You can easily search by the type of cuisine you’re looking for and then read reviews from other tourists. What sets this apart from similar apps is that you can make a reservation right from within the app and avoid standing in a line waiting for a table after a long day of sightseeing.
TodayTix (iOS, Android)
No trip to New York is truly complete without watching a Broadway show but it’s not always easy to get last minute tickets without paying a high price. TodayTix has fixed that problem, allowing users to book last minute tickets, even up to an hour before the show starts. The app offers incredible prices and even a lottery system with a chance of getting an even greater discount.
Happy (Android)
After a long day of sightseeing all you want is to have a drink in a real New York bar, but you’ve missed happy hour. Don’t worry, Happy understands that it can be hard to fit restrictive happy hours into your busy day. Happy has teamed up with bars across the city to offer users their own personalized happy hour. The app shows you all participating bars on an easy to view map, all you then have to do is head there and enjoy the cheap drinks for an hour.
