Where to Stay in New York: Best Areas, Prices & Tips

New York hotel prices are among the highest in the world, and the gap between the advertised rate and the final bill is wide: city and state taxes add about 15% plus a few dollars a night, and many hotels add a destination fee on top. The neighborhood you choose changes the price less than you might hope, but it changes the trip a great deal. Prices below are for a standard double in spring or fall with taxes and any mandatory fees included.

Midtown West and Times Square: convenient and loud

The largest concentration of hotels in the city sits between 34th and 59th Streets west of Fifth Avenue: Broadway theaters, Rockefeller Center, the Museum of Modern Art, Penn Station and more subway lines than anywhere else. It is the easiest base logistically and the least characterful. Times Square itself is crowded until late; a hotel a few blocks away in Hell's Kitchen or near Bryant Park is quieter and often cheaper.

Suits: first-time visitors, theatergoers, short trips, anyone arriving by train. Typical price: $220 to $380 for three- and four-star hotels, $450 to $900 for luxury.

Midtown East and Murray Hill: calmer, still central

East of Fifth Avenue, around Grand Central and down into Murray Hill, the streets are quieter, the hotels skew toward business and chain brands, and the prices are often $30 to $60 lower than the Times Square side for comparable rooms. Fifth Avenue shopping, the Chrysler Building and Central Park's southeast corner are all walkable.

Suits: business travelers, couples who want Midtown access without the noise. Typical price: $200 to $350.

Chelsea and the Meatpacking District: galleries and the High Line

Chelsea has the city's art galleries, the High Line park, Chelsea Market and a stretch of design-led hotels. The Meatpacking District to the south has the Whitney Museum, cobbled streets and expensive rooftop bars. It is a 15-minute walk to Midtown and the West Village, with good subway links.

Suits: art and design, nightlife, repeat visitors. Typical price: $260 to $450 mid-range, $500 to $900 for the fashionable hotels.

Lower East Side and East Village: late nights and good food

Downtown's nightlife and restaurant neighborhoods, with tenement history, music venues, a dense bar scene and a growing number of boutique hotels, several with rooftop pools. It is noisier at night than most areas and a longer subway ride to Midtown and Central Park, but Chinatown, SoHo and Williamsburg are all close.

Suits: travelers in their twenties and thirties, food-focused trips, anyone who prefers downtown to the sights. Typical price: $220 to $400.

SoHo and Tribeca: shopping and design hotels

Cast-iron buildings, cobblestones, flagship stores and some of the most expensive boutique hotels in the city. SoHo is crowded by day with shoppers; Tribeca to the south is quieter, residential and expensive. Both are within walking distance of the West Village, Chinatown and the Financial District.

Suits: shoppers, design-minded travelers, anyone whose trip is downtown. Typical price: $350 to $800.

Financial District: weekend bargains

The southern tip of Manhattan empties out on weekends when the office workers leave, and hotel prices drop accordingly: the same room can be 30 to 40% cheaper on a Saturday than a Tuesday. You are next to the 9/11 Memorial, the Staten Island Ferry and Brooklyn Bridge, with good subway access north. Evenings are quiet.

Suits: weekend trips, budget-minded travelers who want a Manhattan address, families who like quiet nights. Typical price: $180 to $320 at weekends, higher midweek.

Upper West Side: Central Park and museums

A residential neighborhood of brownstones and pre-war apartment buildings between Central Park and Riverside Park, with the American Museum of Natural History, Lincoln Center and a relaxed, local feel. Hotels are fewer and tend to be older and mid-range. The subway reaches Midtown in ten minutes.

Suits: families, longer stays, anyone who wants Central Park as a morning routine. Typical price: $200 to $380.

Williamsburg, Brooklyn: skyline views and rooftop bars

Across the East River, Williamsburg has become a destination in its own right: independent shops, restaurants, music, and a run of hotels with rooftop pools facing the Manhattan skyline. The L train reaches Union Square in a few minutes; the ferry to Midtown and Wall Street is a pleasure in good weather. Rooms are often larger and slightly cheaper than Manhattan equivalents.

Suits: younger travelers, repeat visitors, anyone who wants a neighborhood rather than a tourist district. Typical price: $200 to $380.

Long Island City, Queens: the budget option with a view

One or two subway stops from Midtown across the river, Long Island City has a cluster of newer mid-range hotels at prices $60 to $120 below Manhattan, many with direct skyline views. The neighborhood itself is high-rise and quiet, with a riverside park and the MoMA PS1 gallery. It is the best value for a Midtown-focused trip.

Suits: budget travelers, families, business trips to Midtown East. Typical price: $140 to $250.

Best time to visit

September to early November is the most popular season and the most expensive, followed by the weeks from Thanksgiving to New Year, when prices peak. April to June is pleasant and slightly cheaper. July and August are hot and humid, but business travel slows and hotel prices often fall 20 to 30%. January and February are cold and the cheapest months of the year by a wide margin; the city functions perfectly well and museums are quieter.

Getting around

The subway runs 24 hours; tap a contactless card or phone at the turnstile, and after a set number of rides in a week the rest are free. From JFK, take the AirTrain to Jamaica and the subway or Long Island Rail Road (about 60 to 75 minutes to Midtown), or a yellow taxi at a flat fare to Manhattan plus tolls and tip (roughly $85 to $100 all-in). From Newark, the AirTrain and NJ Transit reach Penn Station in about 45 minutes. LaGuardia has no rail link; use the Q70 bus to the subway or a taxi. Walking is the best way to see neighborhoods; Manhattan avenues are long, streets are short, and 20 blocks is about a mile.

Booking tips specific to New York

Add the taxes and fees before comparing. Hotel taxes come to about 15% plus a per-night occupancy fee, and many hotels add a destination or amenity fee of $25 to $50 a night. Booking sites now generally include mandatory fees in the total, but always confirm on the final screen.

Rooms are small. A standard Manhattan double is often 20 m² or less. Read the room size and recent reviews; a cheap rate in a tiny room with a view of an air shaft is a common disappointment.

Weekends and weekdays swap. Midtown and the Financial District are cheaper at weekends; Williamsburg and the Lower East Side are cheaper midweek. Match your dates to the neighborhood.

Check-in is late. Four o'clock is standard. If you land in the morning, ask about luggage storage or pay for early check-in only if you really need it.

Frequently asked questions

Is Times Square a good base? It is the most convenient and the least pleasant. Stay a few blocks west in Hell's Kitchen or east near Bryant Park for the same access with less noise.

Manhattan or Brooklyn? Manhattan for a first visit focused on the sights; Williamsburg for a second visit or if you prefer bars and restaurants to museums. The subway makes either workable.

How many nights? Four nights covers the main sights at a reasonable pace; five or six if you want to add Brooklyn, a museum day and a show.

Should I stay in New Jersey to save money? Jersey City and Hoboken hotels are 20 to 30% cheaper and a 10 to 15-minute PATH train from downtown Manhattan. It works for budget trips, but you lose the late-night walk home. Long Island City is a similar saving with less friction.

Below are the hotels from our comparison we would book in New York, listed in the order the areas appear above, with indicative prices from up to four booking sites. Check the live total for your dates on each site before you decide.