Where to stay in NYC first time you visit the city

Last Updated on May 11, 2026 by Ioana

NYC is my favorite city in the United States and probably in the world. I love its diversity, I love its energy, and I love how all cuisines in the world are a few subway stations away. New York City truly has it all: great food, great entertainment, and a plethora of attractions waiting to be explored. I lived in the city for about 10 years, so this list includes my recommendations of where to stay in NYC first time you visit. This post contains affiliate links. When you make a purchase I may get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Find out more here.

Midtown

Midtown is the neighborhood where some of the best things to do in NYC are located. Times Square, the Empire State Building, Bryant Park, Grand Central Station, New York Public Library, Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall, the Chrysler Building, Flatiron Building, Top of the Rock are all in Midtown.

This is the perfect neighborhood if you want to be within walking distance of a lot of attractions. If you’re planning your trip, check out my one week NYC itinerary.

I will warn you that Midtown is probably the busiest and most crowded neighborhood in Manhattan. Locals avoid it like the plague.

However, if you are able to tolerate huge crowds, it can be a great place to stay for first-time visitors due to the proximity to a lot of places in Manhattan.

Here are some good hotels in Midtown.

Hyatt Grand Central

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ • 7.3/10 (2,849 reviews)
💲 Mid-range • 👉 Check current prices here

If you want to stay in Midtown, but a bit further away from the hustle and bustle of the Times Square area, then you might consider staying around Grand Central.

Hyatt Grand Central is connected to the Grand Central Terminal. If you plan on making a day trip and need to take the train from Grand Central, this is the perfect location.

While you’re here, go inside Grand Central Terminal to check out the whispering gallery. It’s located near the Oyster Bar. 

If you and another person stand diagonally opposite and whisper something by the arch, the other person will be able to hear it. It’s a really cool thing that not a lot of people know about in NYC.

This can also be a great option if you visit NYC for the US Open tennis tournament since you can take the 7 subway from Grand Central. For more hotel recommendations, check out my guide on the top hotels near US Open.

Lotte New York Palace

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ • 8.0/10 (496 reviews)
💲 Luxury • 👉 Check current prices here

Lotte New York Palace is an iconic hotel on Madison Avenue. It is the first 5-star hotel in NYC. 

This is where a lot of famous tennis players like Serena Williams and Simona Halep used to stay during the US Open tournament. Who knows who you might run into here?

Hilton Club The Central at 5th New York

⭐️⭐️⭐️ • 9.1/10 (1,082 reviews)
💲 Mid-range • 👉 Check current prices here

Hilton Club the Central at 5th is a modern hotel less than one block away from 5th Avenue. Perfect location if you want to go shopping on 5th! 

It has pretty spacious rooms by New York standard, heated bathroom floors, and electronic curtains.

Refinery Hotel

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ • 8.4/10 (597 reviews)
💲 Luxury • 👉 Check current prices here

The Refinery is a modern hotel with loft-style rooms. It used to be a hat factory and Prohibition-era tearoom. 

It has a very trendy rooftop bar with one of the best views of Empire State Building in the city. If you want to enjoy these views, check out my article on the best hotels in NYC with Empire State Building views.

There is always a line to get into this bar, especially during the weekends.

The hotel is close to Bryant Park and Times Square. 

W New York – Times Square

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ • 7.9/10 (1,228 reviews)
💲 Mid-range • 👉 Check current prices here

If you dream of sleeping in Times Square, the W Hotel is the perfect choice for you. It’s located on Broadway and it has incredible views of Time Square.

It’s near the theater district, so you would have a very short walk back to the hotel after watching a Broadway show.

Central Park

Central Park is the iconic park in Manhattan that’s been featured on so many movies and TV shows. Staying at a hotel with Central Park views is a great option if you like tree-lined streets and an amazing mix of nature and concrete in a central location.

The good thing about Central Park is that it’s huge. It spans across 51 blocks. And you can stay anywhere around its perimeter. 

Central Park South is the closest to a lot of attractions in midtown. 

Upper West Side is the best area if you want to pretend you’re a local since it’s a very residential area. 

Upper East Side is the perfect place to stay if you want to pretend you’re in Gossip Girl and if you want to be close to a lot of museums. 

I don’t recommend you stay North of Central Park as first time visitors since it’s a more dangerous area. 

Park Hyatt New York

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ • 8.8/10 (11 reviews)
💲 Luxury • 👉 Check current prices here

Park Hyatt New York is a luxury hotel located close to Carnegie Hall and Central Park. It offers incredible views of the park and it also has a large swimming pool.

Due to the prime location near Central Park South, most hotels in this area tend to be luxury hotels and come at a premium price.

The Ritz-Carlton New York

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ • 8.1/10 (142 reviews)
💲 Luxury • 👉 Check current prices here

Another fancy hotel in this area is the Ritz-Carlton. This one is actually located on Central Park South. 

Sarabeth’s, the famous brunch restaurant featured in Gossip Girl, is down the street. It takes less than a minute to get there from the Ritz.

Chelsea

Chelsea is a lively neighborhood in NYC. It’s residential, but it has a lot of restaurants and bars. Plus, the High Line, Chelsea Market, and a lot of art galleries are also here. These are great things to do alone in NYC if you’re traveling solo.

Chelsea is close to Greenwich Village and SoHo. All these neighborhoods are great, so you can pick any of them for your stay.

Chelsea is a bit more upscale, Greenwich Village has a lot of New York University students, and SoHo is a fashion hub.

Made Hotel

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ • 8.6/10 (1,025 reviews)
💲 Mid-range • 👉 Check current prices here

Made Hotel is a modern 4-star hotel in a great location on 29th Street. The rooms are cozy and they have everything you need for a great stay.

It also has a rooftop bar with great views. They often have live DJs and music here. And they also organize events such as meditation sessions.

And they are pet friendly!

The High Line Hotel

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ • 8.6/10 (1,002 reviews)
💲 Mid-range • 👉 Check current prices here

The High Line Hotel is a historic hotel in a brick building near the High Line. It’s one of the few hotels in NYC that actually has spacious rooms.

The High Line is an elevated park built on a former New York Central Railroad. It’s a linear park and it has a lot of plants, street art, and benches where you can sit down and enjoy the view. It runs between the Meatpacking District and Hudson Yards.

Even if you don’t end up staying in this area, it’s worth taking a walk on the High Line.

The Moore

⭐️⭐️⭐️ • 8.5/10 (1,531 reviews)
💲 Mid-range • 👉 Check current prices here

The Moore is a boutique hotel in the heart of Chelsea. If you feel fancy you can book their suite which has a private terrace and a seasonal soaking tub.

​They have a fitness center that’s open 24/7 and they are pet friendly.

Lower Manhattan

The financial district is another great neighborhood option for your first trip to NYC. You will be very close to Wall Street, One World Trade Center, and the Statue of Liberty.

Artezen Hotel

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ • 9.2/10 (1,437 reviews)
💲 Mid-range • 👉 Check current prices here

Artezen is a boutique hotel in the Financial District. It’s close to all attractions in this area. The rooms are small, but they have everything you need. The hotel also has a cool rooftop lounge.

Hyatt Centric Wall Street

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ • 8.0/10 (827 reviews)
💲 Luxury • 👉 Check current prices here

Hyatt Centric Wall Street is a high-rise hotel that’s very close to Wall Street and Battery Park. It has great views of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.

Conrad New York Downtown

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ • 9.0/10 (717 reviews)
💲 Luxury • 👉 Check current prices here

Conrad Downtown is an all-suite luxury hotel in Lower Manhattan. It has a rooftop bar called Loopy Doopy with great views of the Statue of Liberty and the Hudson River.

They have 2,000 pieces of contemporary artwork in the hotel, including a 10-story installation in the lobby. It’s really cool!

Brooklyn

As you might know, the best views of Manhattan are from outside of Manhattan. The DUMBO area offers some incredible views of both Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridge.

If you don’t care too much about views and you’re on a budget, you can choose to stay in a different neighborhood in Brooklyn such as Downtown Brooklyn or Brooklyn Heights.

This way you can access more affordable hotels. And you can be in Manhattan in about an hour if you take the subway. Check out my beginner’s guide to NYC for more tips on how to navigate New York.

1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ • 8.6/10 (559 reviews)
💲 Luxury • 👉 Check current prices here

1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge is a sustainable hotel with one of the best views of the Manhattan skyline. They are pet-friendly, so feel free to bring your furry friend.

They have an amazing rooftop pool where you can go for a swim with some incredible views or just relax with a drink.

EVEN Hotel Brooklyn

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ • 8.0/10 (1,022 reviews)
💲 Mid-range • 👉 Check current prices here

The EVEN Hotel offers spacious accommodation options at more affordable prices compared to similar Manhattan hotels.

The hotel is very close to Barclays Center so you can take advantage of this and get some tickets to a concert while you’re in the city.

Ace Hotel Brooklyn

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ • 8.8/10 (1,943 reviews)
💲 Mid-range • 👉 Check current prices here

Ace Hotel Brooklyn is a boutique hotel in Downtown Brooklyn. It has a hip vibe. The location is great and you can be in the Financial District in about 10 minutes by subway.

Jersey City

Jersey City is another great place to stay if you’re on a budget. Since you’re technically in New Jersey, prices tend to be lower compared to Manhattan. And you’ll get some amazing city views.

Sonesta Simply Suites Jersey City

⭐️⭐️⭐️ • 8.4/10 (1,566 reviews)
💲 Mid-range • 👉 Check current prices here

Sonesta offers spacious rooms with a full kitchen, allowing you to cook if you don’t want to eat out for all meals.

It has a great location as it’s very close to the PATH station. The PATH is the subway that connects Jersey City to NYC. The tickets cost the same as a NYC subway ticket. 

From Sonesta you can be at World Trade Center in 10 minutes by PATH. Even though you are staying in Jersey City, you still feel like you’re in the city since you can be in Manhattan in a few minutes. Plus, you get the Manhattan skyline views as well.

Hyatt Regency Jersey City on the Hudson

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ • 8.0/10 (1,046 reviews)
💲 Mid-range • 👉 Check current prices here

Hyatt Regency Jersey City on the Hudson offers breathtaking views of Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty. It also has an indoor pool. What’s cool about it is that every hotel room has a view. A pretty sweet deal!