Best Apps For New York

New York City is one of the most exciting places in the world, but it can be overwhelming when you’re new in town and don’t know where to start.

Luckily, there are plenty of apps out there that can make your life a lot easier. Here are some of our top picks:

Best Apps For New York

A hub for theatre, art, nightlife, and cuisine, New York City is a dream destination for any traveler. However, with so much to see and do, fitting it all in without getting lost can range from stressful to downright impossible. Download these great free apps to guarantee a savvy, stress-free, and authentic New York experience.

MTA Metrocard | © Mr. TinDC/Flickr
HopStop
There are many apps to guide oneself through New York City public transportation, but HopStop factors in real time changes and delays that make all the difference for any tourist on a tight schedule. HopStop is an extension of one of the first subway direction websites, and notifies users about essentially all modes of transportation based on location. Their trip planner feature not only suggests multiple routes to one’s destination but also factors in walking time and alerts the user to schedule interruptions. Even better, you can save your routes — a helpful feature for locals and those who just can’t wait to return.

Available for iPhone.

ParkMe
If you’re driving to the Big Apple, finding convenient and affordable parking can be a real challenge, but with ParkMe, you’ll never have to circle the block again. ParkMe provides information about parking in garages, lots, and even curbside. Reserve a space in your desired location — even weeks in advance — and avoid surge rates and added-on fees with their emailed confirmation. ParkMe also provides photographs of lots and spaces so that you’ll never get lost. This app even lets users know details about amenities – such as car washes or electrical vehicle charging – they might have never known their lot provided.

Available for iPhone and Android.

New York Pass – Travel Guide
Sometimes the sheer number of things to see and do in New York can get a little overwhelming. New York Pass – Travel Guide understands and has packed all of the best of the city into its free app. The app helps plan your trip by organizing tickets and attractions plus providing information on over 70 hot spots, along with practical tips. The new version of this app even includes an option for budgeting your stay. Another great feature for international travelers — the app doesn’t require Internet connection to work, as most features are offline. Online features actually have a ‘Wi-Fi Only’ mode to prevent accidentally racking up roaming data charges.

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Available for iPhone and Android.

Rush hour | © Giacomo Carena/Flickr
Downtown NY
This app, created by the Downtown Alliance, is your expert guide to fun events in lower Manhattan. From museums to nightlife, Downtown NY can help you ditch the regular tourist scene and discover little known exhibits or score tickets to cool shows. Many events are free, and others can be found for cheap by searching ‘Downtown Deals,’ which is directly affiliated with local restaurants, bars, museums, and more.

Available for iPhone and Android.

Central Park | © m01229/Flickr
Central Park
Visit one of the most iconic spaces in NYC, in style, thanks to this app created by the Central Park Conservancy. This app includes an index of over 200 things to see and do in Central Park, along with all the tools to get you there, such as an interactive GPS-enabled map for in-Park navigation and up-to-date event listings. You could even listen to celebrity tours of popular locations with the Celebrity Audio Guide — one of the many self-guided touring options. Central Park will also keep you plugged in with live Twitter and Tumblr feeds and information about the Central Park Conservancy, the foundation dedicated to keeping the park beautiful and accessible to all.

Available for iPhone and Android.

UrbanSpoon
If you want to enjoy the best of New York’s culinary scene but don’t know where to start, UrbanSpoon is the app for you. UrbanSpoon will suggest restaurants based on your location, taste, and price range. It even allows you to sort and map options based on their popularity, as well as their distant from you. It’s easy to find menus and important restaurant information, including phone numbers and hours of operation. You can also read reviews by food critics and fellow users to make sure you find the best place for you.

Available for iPhone and Android.

OpenTable
Once you’ve got your heart set on a culinary destination, it’s crucial to make sure you get a seat. UrbanSpoon conveniently links to OpenTable, the app that allows you to make hassle-free reservations. Save a spot at thousands of restaurants in the city, discover open tables near your location or in your dream cuisine, and view top picks by users. OpenTable even offers a Dining Rewards plan where frequent users can accumulate Dining Points for every reservation they honor and earn gift cards and Dining Checks!

Available for iPhone, Android, and Windows.

HotelTonight
If you like to live spontaneously, but with style, HotelTonight can help save you from crashing on an old roommate’s futon. HotelTonight finds last-minute deals on rooms that would otherwise go empty in hotels hand-picked for their location and grandeur. Plus, it provides a booking experience specifically designed for mobile users, with bookings made in under 10 seconds flat. Enjoy your freedom – and plush accommodations – without breaking the bank.

Available for iPhone, Android, and Windows.

Courtesy of Zeel
Zeel
If you’re looking to unwind after a long day out on the town, what could be more luxurious than a massage on-demand? Zeel delivers top-quality massages from vetted, licensed massage therapists to wherever you are – a hotel, friend’s apartment, or an Airbnb – in as little as an hour after the time you book. Zeel is available anywhere within the greater New York area from as early as 8 AM to as late as 10:30 PM, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, making it the perfect choice when hotels spas are closed or not part of your stay. The easy-to-use app lets you select the length of your massage, the technique (Swedish, deep tissue, or prenatal) and even the gender of your masseuse/masseur.

Available for iPhone and Android.

TodayTix
This app was created by theatre producers to help find tickets to the best Broadway shows on short notice. TodayTix offers incredible prices on shows up to hours before they run, and even offers lotteries for even steeper discounts on tickets. Once you book, head straight to the front of the line to have a friendly TodayTix concierge guide you to your seat. Avoid waiting in crowded rush lines and enjoy your trip knowing that you’ll still have a chance to see the best of NYC theatre for a fraction of the cost.

Available for iPhone, Android, and the Amazon app store.
By Allie O’Keefe

new york city app

Whether you’re looking for a bite to eat or the nearest (and cleanest) public restroom, smartphone applications can help you explore New York City with ease. We’ve compiled a list of some of our favorite NYC-centric apps so that, wherever you are, you can have the City at your fingertips. And don’t forget to visit nycgo.com’s very own mobile site for great info on attractions, dining, shopping, events, deals and more.

Navigation
Making your way through the streets of New York has never been easier thanks to these navigational apps, which provide detailed street and subway maps, transit information, the best corners for hailing a taxi and more.

BusBus NYC
Use with: iPhone, iPad
This live bus-tracking app shows you the location of actual buses on NYC streets, with green arrows on a real-time street map updating their location. This free app helps you know whether it’s worth waiting or if a walk might be quicker.

CabSense NYC
Use with: iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch
CabSense NYC analyzes data from the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission and other sources to help users find the best nearby street corners to hail a taxi based on where you are and when you need it. The app even comes with a built-in “cab hailer”—simply shake your phone and it will whistle and display a flashing message.

Exit Strategy
Use with: Android, BlackBerry and iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch
Don’t waste time mentally calculating which subway car door will bring you closer to the exit at your destination—this app does it for you. It also provides detailed maps of the entire subway system, and bus maps for all five boroughs and an off-line street map of Manhattan. Note: The iPhone/iPod version includes the entire subway system but the Blackberry/Android versions include every stop in Manhattan but only some in Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx.

Get There By Bike
Use with: iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch
A useful tool to help cyclists, leisurely riders and daily bike commuters navigate the road. Powered by Google’s Bike There service, the app provides directions for users that account for traffic, hills and local off-street bike paths. Bike boulevards, lanes and routes are also included. Record your own routes and mark dangerous intersections, safe bike-parking options and bike-friendly businesses on the shared map, too.

Gett
Use with:or Android or iPhone 

Gett has emerged as a rival to Uber, offering fixed-price rides in central Manhattan, advance booking and a few other features to entice City riders. A notable feature they offer is no surge pricing during peak traffic periods.

iTrans NYC Subway
Use with: iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch
In a rush? This app finds the fastest route between any two New York City subway stations, taking into account current schedules and service changes. iTrans NYC Subway provides users with detailed maps and walking directions, and even works off-line.

MTA Subway Time
Use with: iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch
Track your train with this app, which provides live, up-to-date schedules for the 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and L trains. Users can find nearby stations and receive alerts about any service delays to select lines.

MyCityWay
Use with: Android, BlackBerry and iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch
Find yourself longing for the nearest wireless hot spot, craft beer bar or pharmacy with late-night delivery? MyCityWay combines urban reference apps and app platforms with important City info and tips from its own user community to bring you a super-loaded City navigating tool.

NY Waterway
Use with: Android and iPhone
NY Waterway’s East River Ferry offers frequent and fast service connecting Manhattan with locations in Brooklyn and Queens as well as Governors Island. With the NY Waterway app, users can consult route maps and schedules, get service advisories and look up bus options near ferry terminals. Best of all, the app allows users to buy paperless tickets and simply present their phone as proof of purchase.

Transit
Use with: iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch
This app provides you with schedule information based on the closest transit options near you; it includes everything from the bus to the subway to the PATH train and even Uber availability. Even better, this app travels well as it can be used in other participating US cities like Los Angeles, Boston and Washington DC.

TripPlanner
Use with: iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch 

MTA’s Trip Planner is a handy way to plug in your location and destination and find options for the quickest way between the two. You can add in personal preferences, like the maximum amount you’d be willing to walk. 



Uber
Use with: Android and iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch
Uber took the car-service world by storm with its system of quick pickups by licensed, independent drivers. Get a fare quote, connect with your driver and let the automated system do the rest.

Weekender
Use with: Android and iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch
Have you ever found yourself standing on the subway platform on a Sunday night, tapping your foot frantically only to find out there was work planned on your line? Well, the Weekender app is your guide to getting around NYC when construction alters your weekend subway service. The app displays all service changes so riders can navigate around diversions.

Attractions
Whether you’re a lifelong local or a first-time visitor, there’s always plenty to discover in NYC. These apps provide key information on the City’s top tourist attractions as well as on lesser-known destinations that might not have been on your radar.

Central Park
Use with: iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch
The official mobile guide to perhaps New York City’s most popular green space, this app from the Central Park Conservancy provides users with a wealth of information about the many attractions and activities in Central Park. View a fully interactive map, read up on the park’s history, get the latest news on concerts and much more.

Downtown NYC
Use with: iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch
This is the official app of the Downtown Culture Pass, which offers discounts to Lower Manhattan cultural attractions as well as for the odd event and dining experience. Visit Wall Street, Century 21, the South Street Seaport and other popular destinations.

Empire State Building
Use with: Android and iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch
The official app for visitors to the Empire State Building includes facts and figures about NYC’s most iconic building. There’s also an interactive map that viewers can use to identify other buildings and landmarks they may spot from the observation deck.

Explore 9/11
Use with: iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch
The official mobile app of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum in Lower Manhattan offers information and insight regarding the tragedy. Users can view a timeline of that day’s events or take a walking tour of the area around the World Trade Center, accompanied by audiovisual narration and first-hand reports by first responders, rescue workers, volunteers and others. The app also includes an augmented reality mode, which overlays images taken by survivors and witnesses on your phone’s camera view.

I Love NY
Use with: Android and iPhone, iPad
The state’s official tourism site has an app that will help you find attractions and events in every New York region, including, of course, NYC.

ITourMobile
Use with: Android and iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch
This company focuses on themed routes in the City; samples include pizza slices, Sex and the City locations and ghost sites. Tours come with audio guides.

ShopDrop
Use with: iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch
Do you know what time the Theory sample sale starts? Is it uptown or downtown? The ShopDrop app answers all those questions, plus informs you of dozens of sample sales throughout the City that you might be unaware of. The app also works in Los Angeles, Paris and London.

St. Patrick’s Cathedral Tour
Use with: Android and iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch
While visiting this massive landmark, you can listen to a guided tour given by Cardinal Timothy Dolan and Monsignor Robert Ritchie, the church rector. Originally built in 1858, the cathedral is one of the City’s most spectacular architectural sights, boasting altars, stained-glass windows and a giant organ with more than 7,300 pipes. This app gives users in-depth information about this and more.

Time Out New York
Use with: iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch
Time Out’s app provides up-to-date event listings as well as reviews of art exhibitions, concerts, bars and restaurants. Listings can be further broken down into the Critics’ Picks and Free & Cheap categories. Users can also save their favorite venues and locations and send listings to their friends.

Top of the Rock
Use with: iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch
The Top of the Rock app makes taking photos from one of NYC’s most recognizable vantages a snap. Get postcard-esque pictures of the view, using special effects to mimic shots from years past. Options date back to 1933 (a time machine that does work!), and the app allows users to share and upload their images via social media outlets. The app also includes a guide to nearby stores and restaurants.

UrbanWonderer Audio Tours
Use with: Android and iPhone, iPad, iPod touch
Uncover new finds on themed City routes with UrbanWonderer Audio Tours. This free iPhone app offers GPS-driven, self-guided sightseeing tours for first-time visitors and business travelers, as well as native New Yorkers.

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Dining
With some 24,000 eating establishments and a plenitude of bars located within the five boroughs, New York City has a dining destination for every budget and taste. Use these apps to browse some of the City’s finest restaurants, find reviews by critics and locals and more.

MenuPages
Use with: iPhone, iPad, iPod touch
Look up menus and restaurants by cuisine type, neighborhood and price range. The app also allows users to download delivery and takeout menus from participating eateries.

OpenTable
Use with: Android, BlackBerry, iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch and Windows Phone
The perfect app for the foodie on the go, OpenTable allows users to search for restaurants, see menus and reviews and make reservations. Users can also earn rewards points redeemable for “Dining Cheques” good at any restaurant on OpenTable.

Yelp
Use with: Android, iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch and Windows Phone
This app allows users to search for nearby restaurants, bars, businesses and stores and also provides photos and—as you’d expect—plenty of opinionated user reviews of venues.

Arts and Culture
The importance of NYC’s role as a center for art and culture cannot be overstated; with hundreds of world-class museums, galleries, concert halls and theaters to choose from, there’s something for everyone. These apps can help you navigate and explore some of the best cultural attractions New York City has to offer.

Broadway.org
Use with: iPhone, iPad, iPod touch
With this app, you can browse current and future Broadway productions, as well as see show info, curtain times and ticket prices. Users can also find hotels and restaurants in the Theatre District.

Explorer: The American Museum of Natural History
Use with: Android and iPhone, iPad, iPod touch
This app serves as a personal tour guide through the halls of this world-renowned museum, providing users with customized information and step-by-step directions to exhibitions. Users can also share their discoveries with family and friends via email, Facebook and Twitter. The American Museum of Natural History also offers some exhibition- and collection-specific apps, which you can find at amnh.org.

MoMA
Use with: iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch
The next time you’re planning a visit to the Museum of Modern Art, use this app to plan the best way to navigate the museum’s permanent collection and current exhibitions. You can thumb through thousands of works, take multimedia tours, learn about featured artists and even take a photo via MoMA Snaps to send to family and friends. The museum also offers a books app.

New York Philharmonic
Use with: Android and iPhone, iPad, iPod touch
With this app, you can listen to the New York Philharmonic’s weekly radio broadcast, hosted by Alec Baldwin, and also access podcasts, videos and event information.

TKTS
Use with: Android and iPhone, iPad
Find listings of shows on Broadway (and off) for which you can buy discounted tickets at TKTS—there’s real-time info on what’s available at the three ticket-agency booths.

TodayTix
Use with: Android and iPhone, iPad
This app provides alerts for same-day discounted deals on Broadway and off-Broaday tickets. You can also submit through the app for rush tickets now available to some shows. Additionally, this app is active in other cities like Boston, Chicago, San Franciso, Philadelhia and Los Angeles.

Miscellaneous
Grade Pending
Use with: iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch
Grade Pending is similar to the NYC Health Ratings app in that it provides graded restaurant results for users, but this app takes it a step further, showing eateries on a map with color-coded dots that reveal their rating—green for good, red for…not so good. You can also search by restaurant name, street or cuisine type and bookmark your favorite dining spots. There’s even detailed information for restaurants including walking directions, phone numbers and weekly inspection result updates for the app.

NYC 311
Use with: Android and iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch
This app gives you City government-related info, like alternate-side parking updates. There is a host of other official City apps, including NYC Events and NYC Stuff Exchange.

NYC Health Ratings
Use with: Android
The NYC Health Ratings app provides restaurant health inspection results for 24,000 establishments throughout New York City. This app is also integrated with FourSquare, so you can easily check in and share restaurant ratings with friends.

QuickTip
Use with: iPhone, iPad, iPod touch
This simple app allows users to calculate the tip for meals or services and includes standard tipping percentages. It works with all international currencies.

Red Rover
Use with: iPhone, iPad, iPod touch
A social events tool, Red Rover allows parents to discover great activities for kids and to invite their friends to participate. The app allows users to share photos, make plans and tell fellow parents where they are (to make playdates on the fly). Note: it even includes a feature that highlights clean public restrooms.

Refill My MetroCard! or Metroptimizer
Use with: Android or iPhone
Do you have a hard time figuring out how much money to add to your MetroCard (and want to avoid the $1 card-replacement fee)? These apps will help you come up with an exact amount to add, so you don’t have a leftover balance after the MTA’s 5% bonus.

See Something, Send Something
Use with: Android and iPhone and iPad
Have you seen something suspicious but weren’t sure how to report it? Use New York State’s new app, See Something, Send Something, to alert authorities to a potential threat. For more info, visit ny.gov.

SitOrSquat
Use with: iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch
When nature calls, you’ll be glad you have this Charmin-backed app. Pinpoint your exact location with the press of a button—or you can enter an address, intersection or zip code—and find the nearest public restrooms. Users can even see which bathrooms are currently open and which have changing tables, as well as browse ratings to find the cleanest facilities.

Spot Hero
Use with: Android and iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch
Find and book parking spots in garages with this handy app.

TripIt
Use with: Android and iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch
Conveniently consolidate your trip plans and store them in your pocket (or wherever you keep your phone). This app allows users to organize everything from hotel and restaurant reservations to flights, meetings and even museum trips.

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