In a nutshell
- We love New York, visit regularly, and Jenny even lived there for a year. Here we share the best neighborhoods for where to stay in New York — plus specific hotel recommendations for every budget.
- First-time visitors should stay in Midtown, Manhattan. Our top pick is CitizenM — great value near Times Square. Pod 51 is another solid option, also in Midtown.
- New York is seriously expensive — budget at least 300 euros per night for a decent room. Prices drop a little during the off-season.
- Need to keep costs down? Check out our guide to the best budget hotels in New York.
The Best Neighborhoods to Stay in New York
To help you quickly find the right place to stay in New York, here’s our rundown of the best neighborhoods — based on personal experience.
These are our favorite neighborhoods and hotels in New York:
- Midtown Manhattan: ideal for first-time visitors to New York – CitizenM
- Chelsea & Greenwich Village: authentic New York – SpringHill Hotel
- Brooklyn: alternative New York – Penny Williamsburg
- Queens & Jersey City: if you want to keep costs down – LIC Plaza
All of these hotels are in great locations, and you’ll be close to New York’s top attractions.
The best neighborhoods to stay in New York on a map
To help you find your bearings, we’ve marked the best neighborhoods to stay in New York on a map — including the top attractions.
Staying in Midtown Manhattan
Midtown is the right neighborhood for you if you’re visiting New York City for the first time, want to see as many highlights as possible in a short time, and don’t want to deal with long commutes.
About 90 percent of all New York visitors are perfectly situated here. Midtown is not only the most popular area for hotels, but also where you’ll find the widest selection in every price range.
You’ll be within walking distance of many of the city’s most famous must-sees: 5th Avenue, Times Square, New York’s best museums, Top of the Rock, Central Park, and the Empire State Building are all right there.
From Midtown, you can easily explore the city on foot and reach every other part of town without any hassle.
All major subway lines run through Midtown, so you’re never far from the nearest station. Super convenient!
Advantages of staying in Midtown:
- Super central
- Great public transportation access
- Huge selection of hotels in every price range
- Many attractions are within walking distance
Disadvantages of staying in Midtown:
- Very touristy — not where locals hang out
- Fewer great restaurants compared to other neighborhoods
- The tourist crowds can get overwhelming at times
- Can be noisy — check reviews for noise complaints before booking
Our hotel recommendations for Midtown Manhattan
We’ve stayed in Midtown Manhattan twice and can recommend two hotels from personal experience: the CitizenM Hotel at Times Square and Pod 51.
Both offer excellent value for money in a prime location. The CitizenM also has a solid breakfast option.
Good and affordable
Better
Luxurious
Staying in Chelsea & Greenwich Village
Chelsea and Greenwich Village are ideal if you want to experience the New York you’ve seen in movies and TV shows — street life, character, and all.
Chelsea is still part of Midtown Manhattan, while Greenwich Village is already in Downtown Manhattan.
Both neighborhoods are buzzing with life. You’ll find street musicians, record and book stores, the classic brownstone buildings that define New York, and loads of great small restaurants.
Chelsea and Greenwich Village simply have that iconic New York energy.
Advantages of staying in Chelsea & Greenwich Village:
- You’re right in the heart of New York City life
- A huge range of great restaurants for every budget
- Lots of stylish, characterful hotels to choose from
- Quick subway access south (Wall Street, Brooklyn Bridge, Statue of Liberty) and north to Midtown
- Feels like the New York you’ve always imagined
Disadvantages of staying in Chelsea & Greenwich Village:
- Midtown sights are no longer within easy walking distance
- It can get noisy on evenings and weekends — check reviews before booking
Our hotel recommendations for Chelsea & Greenwich Village
Good and affordable
Better
Luxurious
Staying in Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the perfect base if you’ve already done the classic highlights, want to explore beyond Manhattan, and are drawn to more alternative, creative neighborhoods.
Brooklyn is huge. Around 2.7 million people live here — as many as in Rome, the eighth-largest city in Europe.
If you’re looking for a place to stay in Brooklyn, pay close attention to the exact location and how well it’s connected to Manhattan. All the hotels we recommend here have a great location and solid transit links.
The trendiest neighborhoods in Brooklyn are Williamsburg, Greenpoint, and Bushwick.
If you’re into street art, independent shops, great food, and New York’s best nightlife, Brooklyn is your spot — check out our Brooklyn tips for more.
That said, if your main goal is visiting the classic sights in Manhattan, we’d honestly advise against staying in Brooklyn. The daily commute adds up fast.
Advantages of staying in Brooklyn:
- You’ll be staying where real New Yorkers live
- Tons of restaurants, bars, and shops for every budget
- Hotel prices are noticeably cheaper than in Manhattan
- A great neighborhood for younger travelers
Disadvantages of staying in Brooklyn:
- You’ll need to travel to all the major sights
- Depending on where exactly you stay, the connection to Manhattan can be less convenient
Our hotel recommendations for Brooklyn
Good and affordable
Better
Staying in Queens & Jersey City
Queens and Jersey City are the right pick if you’re watching your budget and need an affordable hotel in New York — without ending up in the middle of nowhere.
Queens sits on the other side of the East River. Jersey City is across the Hudson River and is technically no longer part of New York.
Both are very well connected to Manhattan. By subway, you can reach Midtown Manhattan in about 15 minutes from either location.
Which is better: Queens or Jersey City? Honestly, it doesn’t matter much. You’re mainly there to sleep. You won’t spend a lot of time in the neighborhood itself. Queens feels more typically New York; Jersey City is considered a little more sterile. We’d focus your energy on finding the best price rather than agonizing over which side of the river to pick.
Our tip: Check out our article on budget-friendly places to stay in New York for even more recommendations and specific hotel picks.
Advantages of staying in Queens or Jersey City:
- You get more for your money than in Manhattan
- Pay less, but still reach the main attractions quickly
- Great views of the New York skyline
Disadvantages of staying in Queens or Jersey City:
- You’re not in Manhattan
- You’ll always need to take the subway to reach the sights
Our hotel recommendations for Queens & Jersey City
Good and affordable
Better
Our 5 tips for booking a hotel in New York
Before you book, here are five practical things to know about finding accommodation in New York.
Hotel prices in New York
With New York’s sky-high real estate costs, it’s no surprise that budget-friendly hotels are hard to come by.
You’ll rarely find a decent hotel room in Manhattan for under 300 euros. Prices dip in January, February, July, and August — but overall they vary enormously, sometimes even from one day to the next.
We’ve already mentioned our article on affordable places to stay in New York, but it’s worth repeating. Also take a look at our New York budget guide, where we’ve broken down all the costs.
Quality vs. Price
If you filter by good reviews when booking, you’re unlikely to go too wrong. But there’s one thing you need to know: New York hotel rooms are tiny. And we really mean tiny.
They’re not quite Japan-tiny, but you’re still looking at roughly 15 square meters for around 300 euros a night, depending on the location.
This is a good reason to pack light. Check out our city trip packing list — if you travel with less, the small rooms won’t feel like a problem.
Book early
This one’s really important: book as early as possible. New York is busy year-round, and during peak season hotels fill up fast. Leave it too late and you’ll be stuck with whatever’s left.
Monitor hotel prices
In our experience, it’s genuinely worth tracking prices on the hotels you like over several weeks. Rates swing a lot depending on the time of day and day of the week. Book at the right moment and you can easily save 100 to 200 euros.
Keep resort fees in mind!
The resort fee (also called a destination fee or facility fee) is an extra charge that many hotels in New York City and other US cities tack onto the room rate. It’s usually justified as covering amenities like Wi-Fi, gym access, a daily newspaper, or similar extras.
The fee typically runs between $20 and $50 per night — sometimes more. And you pay it whether you use those services or not.
It sounds a bit cheeky (and honestly, it is), but it’s completely standard practice in the US. Very few New York hotels skip the resort fee, and unfortunately there’s no way to avoid it.
These hotels we recommend do not charge resort fees (as of March 2025):
- CitizenM
- Civilian Hotel
- SpringHill Hotel
- Henry Norman Hotel (A $250 deposit is required. Refunded upon checkout)
- LIC Plaza Queens (A $100 deposit is required. Refunded upon checkout)
