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Where to stay in NYC

The best places to stay in NYC

Midtown and Times Square, Lower Manhattan, the Upper West Side by Central Park, Brooklyn and Harlem; here is where to stay in NYC, with honest advice on the real price of a room, short-term rentals that break the law and getting to the sights from each area.

By the Things to Do in NYC editorial team Hotels checked 24 October 2026

Compare the 6 areas
Manhattan seen from high above, looking south
Short answer

The best area to stay in NYC on a first visit is Midtown, near Times Square. The most subway lines meet there, and SUMMIT, Grand Central and Rockefeller Center are a short walk away.

Pick Lower Manhattan for the Statue of Liberty ferry and the 9/11 Memorial. Pick the Upper West Side for Central Park and the Natural History museum, or Brooklyn for a quieter base. Every hotel we list scores 8.0 or higher on Booking.com, checked on 24 October 2026.

Where to stay in NYC: the 6 areas compared

AreaBest forKeep in mind
Midtown & Times Square A first visit, Broadway shows and the sky decks Busy and loud; on New Year's Eve the streets around Times Square close from late morning
Lower Manhattan & Financial District The Statue of Liberty ferry, the 9/11 Memorial and Wall Street Quieter at night than Midtown; further from the Broadway theaters
Central Park & Upper West Side Central Park, the Natural History museum and families A train ride from Lower Manhattan and the harbor
Brooklyn (Williamsburg & DUMBO) A quieter base, the waterfront and the Brooklyn Bridge You take the subway into Manhattan for most sights
Harlem Small guesthouses, gospel and lower prices than Midtown Few hotels: our three picks are guesthouses
Niagara Falls A night at the falls on a trip from New York Far from New York City; these hotels are on the US side

Area 1 of 6

Midtown and Times Square

Midtown is the best base for a first visit. At Times Sq-42 St, the 1, 2, 3, 7, A, C, E, N, Q, R, W and S trains stop. The B, D, F and M stop close by.

SUMMIT and Grand Central are at 42nd Street and Park Avenue. Top of the Rock is at Rockefeller Center. The Broadway theaters are all around you.

With the hotel set, a hop-on hop-off bus tour shows you where everything is. The open-top buses start near Times Square.

Best for
A first visit, Broadway shows and the sky decks
Keep in mind
Busy and loud; on New Year's Eve the streets around Times Square close from late morning

Nearby guides: SUMMIT One Vanderbilt tickets · Broadway show tickets

Times Square by day: a wide, quiet street between towers hung with billboards

Our picks in Midtown & Times Square

More hotels in Midtown & Times Square on Booking.com →

Area 2 of 6

Lower Manhattan and the Financial District

Lower Manhattan suits visitors who want to start early at the harbor. The Statue of Liberty ferries leave from Battery Park, at Castle Clinton.

The 9/11 Memorial and One World Observatory are next to each other. The Brooklyn Bridge starts by the Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall station, on the 4, 5 and 6 trains.

Best for
The Statue of Liberty ferry, the 9/11 Memorial and Wall Street
Keep in mind
Quieter at night than Midtown; further from the Broadway theaters

Nearby guides: Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island tours

Wall Street between tall buildings with US flags

Our picks in Lower Manhattan & Financial District

More hotels in Lower Manhattan & Financial District on Booking.com →

Area 3 of 6

Central Park and the Upper West Side

The Upper West Side is the calm, green choice. The west side of Central Park is served by the 1, 2, 3, B and C trains.

The American Museum of Natural History is at Central Park West and 79th Street. Take the B or C to 81 St, or the 1 to 79 St. Our picks include a hostel and a hotel with kitchenettes.

Best for
Central Park, the Natural History museum and families
Keep in mind
A train ride from Lower Manhattan and the harbor

Nearby guides: New York museum tickets: Natural History, MoMA, The Met, Intrepid

The Central Park reservoir fountain with Upper West Side towers behind

Our picks in Central Park & Upper West Side

More hotels in Central Park & Upper West Side on Booking.com →

Area 4 of 6

Where to stay in Brooklyn

Brooklyn is the best base for a quieter stay with views of Manhattan. Brooklyn Bridge Park runs along the waterfront in Brooklyn Heights and DUMBO. It is open from 6 am to 1 am.

The trains near the park stop at High St (A, C), Clark St (2, 3) and York St (F). Three of our picks are in Williamsburg, a short train ride away.

Hotels near the Brooklyn Bridge: 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge sits on the waterfront, about 650 m from the Brooklyn Bridge Promenade. Pod Brooklyn, in Williamsburg, has compact rooms.

Best for
A quieter base, the waterfront and the Brooklyn Bridge
Keep in mind
You take the subway into Manhattan for most sights

Nearby guides: New York City tours: walking, neighborhood, night and private tours

A Brooklyn sidewalk lined with brownstones

Our picks in Brooklyn (Williamsburg & DUMBO)

More hotels in Brooklyn (Williamsburg & DUMBO) on Booking.com →

Area 5 of 6

Where to stay in Harlem

Harlem suits visitors who like small guesthouses and a neighborhood feel. Central Park ends at 110th Street, the start of Harlem. The B, C, 2 and 3 trains stop there.

Abyssinian Baptist Church, at 132 Odell Clark Place, holds Sunday worship at 10 AM.

Best for
Small guesthouses, gospel and lower prices than Midtown
Keep in mind
Few hotels: our three picks are guesthouses
The 125th Street / Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd sign in Harlem

Our picks in Harlem

More hotels in Harlem on Booking.com →

Area 6 of 6

Niagara Falls: if you sleep over on the trip

If you visit Niagara Falls, sleep near the falls on the US side, in Niagara Falls, NY. Our four picks are on Rainbow Boulevard, First Street and Fourth Street, close to the falls.

Best for
A night at the falls on a trip from New York
Keep in mind
Far from New York City; these hotels are on the US side

Nearby guides: Day trips from New York City

Niagara Falls with spray rising

Our picks in Niagara Falls

More hotels in Niagara Falls on Booking.com →

New York hotel prices and taxes

$341
median 4-star room a night, for two
5.875 %
city hotel room tax
+ $2
city fee per room, per night
+ $1.50
state fee per room, per night

In the 2026 New York City Travel Cost Study, the median advertised price of a 4-star hotel room in New York City was $341 a night for two adults, from 773 prices on Google Hotels read on 24 October 2026 for stays from October 2026 to September 2027.

On top of the room rate, New York City's finance department lists a 5.875 % hotel room occupancy tax plus $2 per room per night, a New York State fee of $1.50 per room per night, and sales tax; check whether the price you see includes them.

Places to stay in New York City on a budget

The cheapest beds on our list are in a hostel and in compact-room hotels. HI New York City Hostel, on the Upper West Side, has dorm rooms. Pod Times Square and Pod Brooklyn have small rooms.

Harlem guesthouses are another way to save. Book early, and compare rooms at the same rating.

For the rest of your costs, see our guide to a New York trip on a budget.

Can I rent an apartment?

Not a whole one for a short stay. The city says renting a whole apartment for under 30 days is illegal. A short stay is legal only when the registered host lives there, with at most 2 guests.

Where to stay in NYC: questions and answers

Where should I stay in New York City on a first visit?
Stay in Midtown, near Times Square. The most subway lines meet there, and SUMMIT, Grand Central and Rockefeller Center are a short walk away.

Where can I stay cheaply in New York City?
Try a hostel or a compact-room hotel. HI New York City Hostel on the Upper West Side has dorm rooms, and Pod Times Square and Pod Brooklyn have small rooms. Harlem guesthouses are another choice.

Where should I stay in Brooklyn, New York?
Stay in Williamsburg for hotels and bars, or near Brooklyn Bridge Park for the waterfront. 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge is on the water, about 650 m from the Brooklyn Bridge Promenade.

How much is a hotel in New York City?
It depends on the area and the hotel. Our section on hotel prices above gives the typical price of a 4-star room from our study. Taxes and fees may come on top, and hostels and compact rooms cost less.

What taxes are added to a New York hotel bill?
New York City's finance department lists a 5.875 % hotel room occupancy tax plus $2 per room per night. There is also a New York State fee of $1.50 per room per night, and sales tax. Check whether your price includes them.

Hotels checked on Booking.com on 24 October 2026: each link opened in the browser and showed the hotel, rated 8.0 or higher there. The scores shown are from that day; we list no prices because they change daily. Booking.com shows the live ones.

Sources (8), facts checked on 24 October 2026

Written by the Things to Do in NYC editorial team.