New York City is one of the most exciting and dynamic places on Earth. It’s also one of the most populated—with 8.6 million people cramped into a space of only 305 square miles, it’s easy to see how things can get a little claustrophobic.
Luckily, there are some great apps out there that can make your life in the big city just a little bit easier. They can help you navigate the subway, find a new neighborhood hangout, keep track of your budget, or even meet new friends.
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Best Apps For New York City
The city so nice they named it twice! New York is different things to different people, but two facts are certain. One, there’s always something to do in New York; and two, if you don’t get clued in on the when, where, and how of the city, you’ll find something you didn’t want to do sucking up all your free time (like waiting for a cab). And that’s where the following New York City apps can help.
Here’s a collection of New York apps that can help you stay ahead of the game on your next trip to the Big Apple. This is by no means a comprehensive list because, like New York itself, there is too much to investigate in one pass. But the New York City apps here should cover most of your general needs (and a few specific ones) to help you navigate your Gotham adventure.
The Best New York City Apps for Travelers: Transportation
Citymapper New York
Unless you’re Spider-Man (and if you are, call me), you’re going be using New York’s impressive and sprawling bus and subway system to get around. Even if you’re from a metro area that has a mass transit network, New York’s can be daunting. The New York City app from Citymapper should be your first tool in using and understanding the public transit system. Not only does it have full maps that can be used offline, but it also shows real-time bus and train departures and lets you combine public transit with other modes such as bike shares and cabs.
Cost: Free
Platforms: iOS, Android
RELATED: 10 Best Things to Do in New York City
Exit Strategy NYC
Sure, Exit Strategy NYC has both a complete subway and bus map for all five boroughs of the city, but as the name implies, its focus is about accessing these options. Exit Strategy also provides the locations to all station entrances and exits, making it easier for you to transition between street and subway. Add to that tips on where to stand on the platforms (a skill some longtime residents of the city still haven’t mastered) and you’ll be in great shape for all your subway hopping needs.
Cost: $3.99
Platforms: iOS, Android
ParkMe
You might be one of the few extremely … let’s say “brave” people who are willing to drive to New York and deal with the cough cough joy of parking there. That means you’re going to pay for parking, be it for a space, for a meter, or to get your car out of impound. ParkMe is one of the best New York City apps for this endeavor. It scans data for lots near your location to show you availability and rates, and lets you prepay and reserve a spot ahead of time. It may sound like I’m overselling how bad the parking is, but trust me: You’ll want to be prepared.
Cost: Free
Platforms: iOS, Android
RELATED: The Ultimate New York Shopping Guide
Citi Bike
Want to zip around New York City on two wheels? Citi Bike is the city’s official bike-share program. The app will help you find the nearest docking station, save your favorite stations, purchase a day pass, and track your ride stats.
Cost: Free
Platforms: iOS, Android
NYC Ferry
Use the ferry app for route maps, ticketing info, and schedules so you can explore NYC by boat and get around sans traffic. The ferries also offer a free Wi-Fi network.
Cost: Free
Platforms: iOS, Android
The Best New York City Apps for Travelers: Attractions
iTourMobile
This app uses GPS technology to locate your whereabouts and provide information on points of interest nearby, like a Sex and the City filming location or famous pizza shop. Download and use it when you’re walking around NYC, because you never know what’s right around the corner in this fascinating city.
Cost: Free or $1.99 per month to access subscriber-only tours
Platforms: iOS, Android
MoMa Audio
Whether you’re at the museum or in your living room, you can get guided audio descriptions of the museum’s latest collections. There are also detailed visual descriptions for the visually impaired.
Cost: Free
Platforms: iOS
TKTS
Millions of people go to New York every year to see shows on and off Broadway. And while there are numerous ways to purchase tickets, few are as useful as the TKTS stands in Manhattan and Brooklyn. This app lets you avoid the lines, check ticket availability, and read reviews of shows. Known for both last-minute tickets and big discounts on day-of tickets, TKTS is a must-have for anyone who wants to take in a show on the Great White Way.
Cost: Free
Platforms: iOS, Android
Statue of Liberty
View the famed NYC landmark through different augmented reality modes and brush up on your history before visiting. You also have access to an on-island audio tour with a map, as well as a podcast miniseries.
Cost: Free
Platforms: iOS
WhyzzExplorer
This app gets the entire family involved on a trip to New York City. Let this app guide you through quizzes, conversations, and food challenges as you and your loved ones get to know the Big Apple.
Cost: Free
Platforms: iOS
The Best New York City Apps for Travelers: Recommendations
Time Out New York
A staple for locals and tourists alike, Time Out New York can show you all the latest concerts, exhibits, events, and everyday happenings at any and all times. Using this New York app, you can check ticket availability, showtimes, and even reviews for those two shows you’re trying to decide between. (If I were you, I’d go for the one that isn’t likely to be touring next year.) If you’re on a budget or have simply spent too much money on Fifth Avenue, make sure to use the “cheap” and “free” filters on this most useful of New York City apps.
Cost: Free
Platforms: iOS, Android
Tripadvisor
Create and share trips with points of interest with your whole group. The new Tripadvisor app is handy for mapping out all of the places that you want to go in one place. P.S. We have our own profile page to follow that has handy, pre-curated trips (and so does the tourism board, NYC Go). Tripadvisor is SmarterTravel’s parent company.
Cost: Free
Platforms: iOS, Android
Yelp
Odds are if you do any traveling or dining, you’ve got Yelp on your smartphone. While Yelp isn’t always the best app for every location, for major cities like New York it certainly proves its value. Besides reviews, listings, maps, and menus for every type of food you can imagine, it’s a great backup for all the other apps on this list. You don’t always have to be a local to find good stuff in a new town.
new york trip planner app
As far as urban travel destinations go, few capture the imagination like New York City. Countless movies, songs, and legends have made it the number one choice for many travelers around the world, and top 10 for countless others.
If you’re one such traveler planning your first trip to the city, the best piece of advice is: don’t try to see everything in one trip. New York is as full of attractions as you imagine and more, and there’s no way you’ll be able to visit them all. Prioritize what you absolutely want to see and do, and focus on those.
This ties into the second piece of advice: be prepared. Chances are that even whittling down your list to the essentials, you’re still packing too much into your days. The more help you have to navigate the city, the better.
Got travel insurance for your trip to New York yet? A good policy can cover you for all kinds of sticky situations, from medical emergencies to canceled flights, theft, lost luggage, and more. We’ve been using World Nomads for over a decade.
Luckily, your smartphone or tablet is invaluable in this regard. It can assist with everything from finding your way around to looking up a place to eat tonight, getting last-minute tickets to Broadway shows to making the most of museum visits, and much more. Here’s how.
Table of Contents show
Transportation
Taxis in New York City
ParkMe
If you are one of the brave souls that dare to drive into the city, ParkMe will save your sanity. Driving isn’t really the problem, although when you’re stuck in traffic during rush hour, you may doubt the truth of that statement. The biggest issue is finding somewhere to leave the car when you’re done.
This app will point you in the right direction. By collecting data from ticket machines in parking lots around the city, it shows available spots in your vicinity, along with rates and suggestions based on cost and distance from where you are.
It also allows you to book a spot before you arrive, and pay from the app. Want to be a maverick? The app also forecasts where there’s a higher chance of finding street parking at any given time.
iOS and Android, free
Exit Strategy
The notion of “pre-walking” (entering the train exactly where the exit will be in your final destination) is as inherent to the NYC subway as platform concerts and, ahem, funny smells. Locals have their usual stations memorized, and the rest of us have Exit Strategy.
This app shows you where the exits are located in every station, on both sides of the tracks, so you can get into the right subway car and save time. It even works offline, which is convenient, since service is spotty below ground.
iOS and Android, $3.99
CitiBike
Care to see the city on two wheels? Both locals and tourists are doing it more often, and the city is increasingly catering to them. If you want to join them, there’s no need to bring your own bike or find out where to rent one. Just grab a Day Pass from CitiBike, and download the super-useful app.
It shows the CitiBike station closest to you right now, where the most convenient station is at your destination, and even suggests places to stop and check out, dine, or shop at along the way.
iOS and Android, free
CabSenseNYC
When it comes to symbols of New York, the quintessential yellow cabs always get a mention. With the rise of Uber and other ride-sharing services, taxis aren’t as popular as they once were, but you’ll likely still ride in them at least once.
CabSenseNYC shows you where to best stand in order to successfully hail one, like a New Yorker would. The app analyzes data from the taxi commission in order to find the busiest corners, then points you at the nearest one.
The app will even make it easier for you to grab the attention of a cabbie, by whistling and flashing a message when you shake the phone. Yes, really.
iOS only, free
Food & Drink
apps new york city
NoWait
Have you picked the perfect place to eat? Great. Now, before you head out, wouldn’t you want to know how long it will be before you get to enjoy the meal? No, we don’t mean how long it takes to get there — we mean how long it will take to get a table.
New Yorkers love eating out, and you’ll realize that the first time you’re told there’ll be an hour wait for your table. Avoid this (the surprise, not the announcement) with NoWait.
The app tells you how long the wait will be at the restaurant of your choice, allows you to add your name to the waitlist, and sends you a text when your table is ready. Walk in like a VIP.
iOS and Android, free
QuickTip
One of the hardest things to do when arriving in New York, especially if you’re not from the US, is figuring out how much to tip. Some sources say 15%, others say 20%, others say to double the tax. Even if you can decide which one of these pieces of advice to follow, you still need to do the math to figure it out.
Enter QuickTip. This app helps you calculate the exact amount to tip based on the percentage you choose (take it from a former New York waitress: 15% is the minimum anywhere, 20% is acceptable in most places, 25% is expected in super-nice restaurants). Just enter the full bill amount, and the app does the math for you. Easy peasy.
iOS only, free
Info
Brooklyn Bridge
ILoveNY
With a name that evokes the infamous New York T-shirt you may or may not be thinking about buying, the app promises a wealth of info for permanent and temporary NYC lovers, and it delivers.
This is, in fact, the official New York tourism board app, and you’ll be hard-pressed to find a more comprehensive source for the goings-on, services, and must-knows in the city. It includes info on the wider New York region as well, should you want to venture outside of the five boroughs.
iOS and Android, free
Sit or Squat
When you have to go, you have to go. It doesn’t matter if you’re smack-dab in the center of one of the world’s metropolises, when nature calls, you must answer.
Sit or Squat points you to the nearest public restroom in the vicinity, along with a rating of “sit” or “squat” (you can probably guess what each of them means) by previous users. Yes, this app is on the quirky side, but when the time comes, you’ll be glad you have it.
iOS and Android, free
Tickets, Events, & What’s Going On
Times Square NYC
TKTS
If your shortlist of must-do’s in NYC includes a Broadway show, then remember the following four letters: TKTS. The company operates three booths in the city, starting with its flagship location in Times Square, selling discount tickets to shows around the city both on and off-Broadway.
If you’d like to know ahead of time what’s on offer (and you probably do, because the lines aren’t short,) go ahead and download the app. It offers updated info on the tickets offered at each of the booths, along with waiting times for each of them.
No, you can’t buy online and skip the lines altogether, but at least you’ll be able to better plan your day.
iOS and Android, free
Today Tix
Today Tix sends out alerts for discounted tickets for same-day shows, on Broadway and off.
Tickets can be purchased through the app (so no lines, yay), but not in advance. You’ll never know which shows are on offer until the day they’re playing, what the best deals will be, or how many tickets will be available. It’s all a bit of a surprise, really, but isn’t that part of the fun?
iOS and Android, free
ShopDrop
Now, fess up to it: was one of your goals in New York City to shop everywhere in sight? If so, then you need to look up sample sales in the city. You know the drill: brands, designers, and stores offer all their excess stuff at super-discounted prices, and lucky shoppers take it off their hands.
ShopDrop will turn you into one of those lucky shoppers. The app will help you find those coveted sample sales, unearthing ones you may not be aware of, complete with address and opening times.
Conclusion
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