New York is a city that never sleeps.
You’re always on the go, and you’re always open to new experiences—whether that’s grabbing brunch in SoHo or catching a show uptown. You like art, but you also like being able to see the Statue of Liberty. You want to find the best apps for tourists so you can make sure your NYC experience is as convenient and exciting as possible.
In this post, we’ve compiled the 10 best apps for tourists in NYC. There are a lot of apps out there that can help you get around efficiently and experience everything New York has to offer. We’ve done the hard part for you by highlighting the most user-friendly, reliable options on the market right now—and we’ll even share some tips and tricks for how to use them effectively while you’re here.
If you’re visiting New York and want to get the most out of your trip, start by downloading these 10 apps.
Best Apps For Nyc Tourists
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 trip planner app
Annual Events in NYC
New York City is the place to see and do everything—including some of the world’s most famous recurring events. Whether you’re planning a visit next week or next year, the list will help you find what’s happening during your stay.
Book Your Hotel
Book Your Hotel
New York City offers a wide range of accommodations to fit every taste: marquee hotels that reflect NYC’s bright lights, boutique hotels tucked away on charming side streets, family-friendly stays close to parks and greenery. Whether you’re looking to visit nearby attractions, explore NYC history or be in the center of it all, these hotels will make New York City your home away from home.
Save on Attractions
Save on Attractions
Save on admissions to some of New York City’s most iconic attractions with New York CityPASS, New York Explorer Pass, New York Pass and Build Your Own Pass by Smart Destinations. Each offers a different experience, but all give you substantial savings.
Tickets & Deals
Tickets & Deals
Want access to the best things to do in New York City? We’ve got all the discounts, prime seats and package deals you need to have a great time and not miss a thing. Click here for details, and enjoy your trip.
Make Restaurant Reservations
Make Restaurant Reservations
Your eating choices in New York City are as limitless as your cravings. Want a 15-course tasting menu at the latest trendsetting restaurant? A porterhouse for two at an old-timey steakhouse? A plateful of Chinese dumplings? The City has thousands of places featuring cuisines from around the world. Explore this section to find the restaurants—and meals—of your dreams.
See Broadway Shows
See Broadway Shows
Broadway is the bright beating heart of the NYC’s performing arts scene. No visit to the City is complete without experiencing the rousing entertainment available in Midtown Manhattan’s Theatre District, where dozens of historic venues stage bold new musicals, long-running hits and fascinating dramas every night of the week.
Explore More with Priceless® Cities
Explore More with Priceless® Cities
Mastercard’s Priceless Cities platform features opportunities to explore the City in unique and meaningful ways. Be it a private shopping tour with a personal stylist or a photo op with a Broadway cast, each Priceless Experience is an invitation to make New York City your own—and, in turn, unforgettable.
More Info
Maps & Guides
Maps & Guides
Use our online and print resources to help navigate the City, whether you’re walking, biking or taking the train. In addition to searching the maps and neighborhood guides we offer, you can order an Official Visitor Map and either download or order an Official Visitor Guide for a quick rundown on local hotels, restaurants and attractions.
Boroughs & Neighborhoods
Boroughs & Neighborhoods
New York is a city of neighborhoods. And while there are nearly endless options for eating, sightseeing and shopping throughout the five boroughs—Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island—the City derives its personality from hundreds of small communities whose cultures make them feel like cities of their own.
Basic Info
Basic Info
Welcome to NYC. Planning a trip to the five boroughs can be part of the fun, but there’s also a lot of ground to cover. Click here to find information about transportation, weather, the City’s layout, the local time zone and more visitor resources.
Accessible NYC
Accessible NYC
Discover the great diversity of NYC’s accessible arts, entertainment and dining options. Find out what’s happening in accessible theater and performing arts, sports and recreation, family attractions, museums and galleries, and so much more. Come on in to explore why New York City is the most welcoming place in the world.
Tours
Tours
It’s fun to explore New York City on your own, but tour guides offer expert knowledge and connections that you can’t get anywhere else. To make the most of your trip, choose from the experiences listed here and see NYC from a new perspective. An expert guide can give you just the insider experience you’ve been craving.
Family Guide
Family Guide
No place delivers unforgettable family experiences quite like New York City. Click through for all the inspiration, family-friendly itineraries and practical details you’ll need to choose your own NYC adventure.
LGBTQ+ Guide
LGBTQ+ Guide
In New York City, anyone and everyone fits in. Here, Pride is more than just an event—it’s a way of a life. NYC has a thriving LGBTQ community and culture, and the entire City is your playground. Click here for fun itineraries, the latest events and the scoop on great nightlife, dining, shopping and entertainment.
Official Visitor Guide
Official Visitor Guide
Our free visitor guide and map offer suggestions for getting around the City, ideas on what to see and do each day, and an up-to-date calendar featuring some of the season’s best events. Download your copy today.
Free in NYC
Free in NYC
In New York City, there’s always something fun to do that doesn’t cost a dime—museum admissions, cultural festivals, holiday parades and TV show tapings are just a few examples. Get the scoop on these and other wallet-friendly activities, and find out where and when the best of them take place.
Seasonal Guide
Seasonal Guide
No matter when you’re coming to New York City, the guides here will help you plan to make the most of the season. Whether you’re dining outside and rocking out at free concerts in parks during the summer or ice-skating and counting down in Times Square during the holiday season, we’ll make sure you don’t miss a thing.
Conclusion
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