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Lonely Planet New York City
Lonely Planet’s New York is your passport to the most relevant, up-to-date advice on what to see and skip, and what hidden discoveries await you. Cross the Brooklyn Bridge, discover history at Ellis Island, and catch a Broadway show; all with your trusted travel companion. Get to the heart of New York and begin your journey now! Inside Lonely Planet’s New York Travel Up-to-date information - all businesses were rechecked before publication to ensure they are still open after 2020’s COVID-19 outbreak NEW top experiences feature - a visually inspiring collection of New York’s best experiences and where to have them What's NEW feature taps into cultural trends and helps you find fresh ideas and cool new areas NEW pull-out, passport-size 'Just Landed' card with wi-fi, ATM and transport info - all you need for a smooth journey from airport to hotel Planning tools for family travelers - where to go, how to save money, plus fun stuff just for kids Color maps and images throughout Highlights and itineraries help you tailor your trip to your personal needs and interests Insider tips to save time and money and get around like a local, avoiding crowds and trouble spots Essential info at your fingertips - hours of operation, websites, transit tips, prices Honest reviews for all budgets - eating, sleeping, sightseeing, going out, shopping, hidden gems that most guidebooks miss Cultural insights give you a richer, more rewarding travel experience - history, people, music, landscapes, wildlife, cuisine, politics Over 50 maps Cov ers Lower Manhattan & the Financial District, SoHo & Chinatown, East Village & the Lower East Side, West Village, Chelsea & the Meatpacking District, Union Square, the Flatiron District & Gramercy, Midtown, Upper East Side, Upper West Side & Central Park, Harlem & Upper Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens The Perfect Lonely Planet’s New York City , our most comprehensive guide to New York City, is perfect for both exploring top sights and taking roads less traveled. Looking for just the highlights? Check out Pocket New York City , a handy-sized guide focused on the can't-miss sights for a quick trip.
Looking for more extensive coverage? Check out Lonely Planet’s USA for a comprehensive look at all the country has to offer.
About Lonely Lonely Planet is a leading travel media company, providing both inspiring and trustworthy information for every kind of traveler since 1973. Over the past four decades, we've printed over 145 million guidebooks and phrasebooks for 120 languages, and grown a dedicated, passionate global community of travelers. You'll also find our content online, and in mobile apps, videos, 14 languages, armchair and lifestyle books, ebooks, and more, enabling you to explore every day. 'Lonely Planet guides are, quite simply, like no other.' – New York Times 'Lonely Planet. It's on everyone's bookshelves; it's in every traveler's hands. It's on mobile phones. It's on the Internet. It's everywhere, and it's telling entire generations of people how to travel the world.' – Fairfax Media (Australia)
Looking for more extensive coverage? Check out Lonely Planet’s USA for a comprehensive look at all the country has to offer.
About Lonely Lonely Planet is a leading travel media company, providing both inspiring and trustworthy information for every kind of traveler since 1973. Over the past four decades, we've printed over 145 million guidebooks and phrasebooks for 120 languages, and grown a dedicated, passionate global community of travelers. You'll also find our content online, and in mobile apps, videos, 14 languages, armchair and lifestyle books, ebooks, and more, enabling you to explore every day. 'Lonely Planet guides are, quite simply, like no other.' – New York Times 'Lonely Planet. It's on everyone's bookshelves; it's in every traveler's hands. It's on mobile phones. It's on the Internet. It's everywhere, and it's telling entire generations of people how to travel the world.' – Fairfax Media (Australia)
448 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 1998
416 people are currently reading
369 people want to read
About the author
Lonely Planet
3,676 books886 followersOUR STORY
A beat-up old car, a few dollars in the pocket and a sense of adventure. In 1972 that’s all Tony and Maureen Wheeler needed for the trip of a lifetime – across Europe and Asia overland to Australia. It took several months, and at the end – broke but inspired – they sat at their kitchen table writing and stapling together their first travel guide, Across Asia on the Cheap. Within a week they’d sold 1500 copies and Lonely Planet was born. One hundred million guidebooks later, Lonely Planet is the world’s leading travel guide publisher with content to almost every destination on the planet.
A beat-up old car, a few dollars in the pocket and a sense of adventure. In 1972 that’s all Tony and Maureen Wheeler needed for the trip of a lifetime – across Europe and Asia overland to Australia. It took several months, and at the end – broke but inspired – they sat at their kitchen table writing and stapling together their first travel guide, Across Asia on the Cheap. Within a week they’d sold 1500 copies and Lonely Planet was born. One hundred million guidebooks later, Lonely Planet is the world’s leading travel guide publisher with content to almost every destination on the planet.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
March 28, 2019
That was a wealth of information.
The only problem now is that this added FAR too many things I want to do while in NYC without magically adding more time to my trip.
The only problem now is that this added FAR too many things I want to do while in NYC without magically adding more time to my trip.
November 5, 2024
Incredibly detailed and so informative. I read this in early planning stages for a trip with my sister hopefully next fall. I have so much more research to do despite reading this, and the restaurants can tend to change so often so I definitely had to look at which ones were still open or not.
July 15, 2022
Fan van de Lonely Planet reisgidsen. Gids is opgedeeld volgens regio/wijk, wat ik handig vind, en bij elke wijk staan ook meerdere wandelingen die je kan volgen en die je meenemen langs de belangrijkste bezienswaardigheden en leukste straten van de wijk. Daarnaast staat het ook vol tips over eet- en drinkgelegenheden en andere praktische info.
January 16, 2019
Fantastic updated account of New York & the Borough's, the features on Queens & Brooklyn is superb. Recommend this to anyone travelling there or have lived there & want to catch up on it's growth. A must.
Just buy it, Lonely Planet are the best plenty of in depth accounts of New York City. Enjoy it folks.
Just buy it, Lonely Planet are the best plenty of in depth accounts of New York City. Enjoy it folks.
March 28, 2012
Not as good as the EyeWitness Guide to New York, but so informative nonetheless, which is what you want in a Travel Guide!
April 20, 2019
Extremely helpful, and the inclusion of the city and subway maps makes this a must-have. Only found a couple of things it talked up.
March 8, 2020
I planned a secret trip to New York City in advance for months. I had to read this at work. I painstakingly read every page like the most analytical and neurotic tourist ever. It made me excited to go. I made an itinerary while using this book.
Annnnnnnnd then I went to New York City with it, and realized it was as useless as a rock. I left it at the hotel. I threw that itinerary away when I realized that everything useful about New York City is online and free. In fact, instead of looking at the list of restaurants in the book, I started just searching for "best restaurants" on Google Maps and would get instant and superior results, not just a shortened list of what the authors wanted me to eat.
Not that this is anything new vis-a-vis the decline of travel books in relation to just using Google. I was just surprised that this book stuck to many traditional and mundane sights that people in the modern age have already disregarded as overexpensive, as taking too much of their valuable sightseeing time, and just generally being not worthy of visiting - I'm looking at you, Statue of Liberty tour ("What is this, a statue for ants?").
The book is also much too beefy and wastes time explaining things that don't need to be explained in my opinion. For example, there is a map of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in the book, though going to the museum itself, you will be provided with one. You could also alternately go on the museum's website. Why publish a useless map? No one is going to voluntarily use a map in a heavy book while visiting a museum.
Don't know how to use a subway? Just ask some New Yorkers, since it's so chaotic! (Thanks, Lonely Planet, for this great advice, by the way.) Don't want to waste your time and money on a travel book? Just use the internet!
Annnnnnnnd then I went to New York City with it, and realized it was as useless as a rock. I left it at the hotel. I threw that itinerary away when I realized that everything useful about New York City is online and free. In fact, instead of looking at the list of restaurants in the book, I started just searching for "best restaurants" on Google Maps and would get instant and superior results, not just a shortened list of what the authors wanted me to eat.
Not that this is anything new vis-a-vis the decline of travel books in relation to just using Google. I was just surprised that this book stuck to many traditional and mundane sights that people in the modern age have already disregarded as overexpensive, as taking too much of their valuable sightseeing time, and just generally being not worthy of visiting - I'm looking at you, Statue of Liberty tour ("What is this, a statue for ants?").
The book is also much too beefy and wastes time explaining things that don't need to be explained in my opinion. For example, there is a map of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in the book, though going to the museum itself, you will be provided with one. You could also alternately go on the museum's website. Why publish a useless map? No one is going to voluntarily use a map in a heavy book while visiting a museum.
Don't know how to use a subway? Just ask some New Yorkers, since it's so chaotic! (Thanks, Lonely Planet, for this great advice, by the way.) Don't want to waste your time and money on a travel book? Just use the internet!
February 19, 2019
The perfect companion !!
Great guide, ideal for 1st timers & old hands alike. I was in NYC for 5 days. This and the pocket version were my constant companions.
Great guide, ideal for 1st timers & old hands alike. I was in NYC for 5 days. This and the pocket version were my constant companions.
July 25, 2014
Estoy muy loco; de hecho es condición indispensable para leerse una vía de viaje de cabo a rabo porque, si no, te vuelves en el intento, ¡pero es que los que tenemos TOC queremos tenerlo todo atado y bien atado! Es por eso que, antes de cada viaje a un sitio nuevo, me compro la guía Lonely Planet del lugar y me la empollo, y eso a pesar de que en estos tiempos de Internet en el teléfono móvil y redes sociales de viajes cada vez son menos necesarios.
Como no conozco Nueva York pero aspiro a ir dentro de poco, me he comprado esta guía para descubrir las cosas más interesantes que ver, los mejores sitios donde comer (porque eso no lo perdono) y, sobre todo, los usos y costumbres de la ciudad. De particular interés me resulta siempre que viajo fuera el asunto de las propinas, porque suele ser muy diferente a la nuestra y terminas por tener un conflicto diplomático que sería innecesario si hubieras leído antes esta guía.
Por lo demás, no deja de asombrarme que solo entre dos personas puedan cubrir tantos hoteles, tantos bares, tantos monumentos, y encima explicarlo así de bien. Si no hay engaño, estas guías esconden un trabajo bastante arduo detrás, que no por consistir en ir a todas las pizzerías de la ciudad es menos trabajo.
Mi recomendación es que sigáis mis pasos siempre que viajéis porque soy un tío genial, aunque admito que para esto estoy un poco chapado a la vieja escuela, ¡con lo que yo he sido!
Como no conozco Nueva York pero aspiro a ir dentro de poco, me he comprado esta guía para descubrir las cosas más interesantes que ver, los mejores sitios donde comer (porque eso no lo perdono) y, sobre todo, los usos y costumbres de la ciudad. De particular interés me resulta siempre que viajo fuera el asunto de las propinas, porque suele ser muy diferente a la nuestra y terminas por tener un conflicto diplomático que sería innecesario si hubieras leído antes esta guía.
Por lo demás, no deja de asombrarme que solo entre dos personas puedan cubrir tantos hoteles, tantos bares, tantos monumentos, y encima explicarlo así de bien. Si no hay engaño, estas guías esconden un trabajo bastante arduo detrás, que no por consistir en ir a todas las pizzerías de la ciudad es menos trabajo.
Mi recomendación es que sigáis mis pasos siempre que viajéis porque soy un tío genial, aunque admito que para esto estoy un poco chapado a la vieja escuela, ¡con lo que yo he sido!
February 18, 2019
A good idea of what to visit when in NYC.
January 27, 2018
As a regular visitor to NYC (generally every couple of years), I am always looking for the city's hidden treasures for new things to see, do, shop and eat. Lonely Planet delivers on those treasures. I am looking forward to trying out the suggested neighbourhood walks, particularly in Williamsburg, Brooklyn Heights and the east side of Manhattan - areas where I have not spent much time on previous trips.
November 16, 2017
invaluable
February 24, 2019
Informative, I'd love if it adds more restaurants and bars.
March 11, 2023
Already dreaming with the summer trip to NYC I've downloaded and devoured the Lonely Planet Guide and I'm starting to feel that a week in the Big Apple is not enough to see/do everything I wish...
Even in modern times with everything available on the internet (the good and the bad things), I don't imagine myself planning a trip in advance without a guide that help me sort things out - and for the last 30 years Lonely Planet (along with DK) is my trustworthy companion!
Even in modern times with everything available on the internet (the good and the bad things), I don't imagine myself planning a trip in advance without a guide that help me sort things out - and for the last 30 years Lonely Planet (along with DK) is my trustworthy companion!
June 9, 2025
From this book I had probably the most well-organised trip I've ever done in my life. Although not everything was necessarily interesting to met that was presented, I absolutely had thousands of things that were in my interest area to consume, and didn't get around to half of them. The provided map is also excellent.
June 12, 2022
This book was awesome! I found the best little spaghetti shop in the East side called Spaghetti Incident that was amazing! Probably wouldn’t have even found it if it wasn’t for this book, thank you! Definitely helped me plan my entire 5 day trip!
May 24, 2025
Read and tested in the actual environment. Very well written, consisting of a lot of useful tips and stories and filled with a very good, practical (but chill!) traveler-attitude and vibe. And the maps! My inner organisation-need could not be more overjoyed.
December 5, 2019
Good guide, but didn’t get as much useful tips from it as I did with the Amalfi Coast Lonely Planet guide book. As it’s a city guide you can find most things online that were in here.
December 18, 2022
Mi ha accompagnata per le strade di New York. Guida impeccabile, anche se risale al pre-pandemia.
Non vedo l'ora di poterla riutilizzare!
Non vedo l'ora di poterla riutilizzare!
January 30, 2023
Really helpful in planning my trip
February 28, 2024
Comprehensive and enticing, a great introduction to tourist delights.
April 4, 2024
Insightful and useful. I’ve planned my whole trip with its tips!
July 6, 2024
Very good for accomodation. NYC is expensive, be prepared.
July 9, 2015
No one wants to be standing on a street corner in New York City, nose buried in a cumbersome guidebook. You'll make yourself a target for sure! So this pocket guide is a great alternative. It's a compact version of the Lonely Planet New York City guide.
The guide is divided into four sections: QuickStart Guide, Explore NYC, The Best of NYC and Survival Guide. The QuickStart section gives the highlights of tourist sites, local life, neighborhoods, a day planner and a "need to know" section. The Explore segment breaks the city into neighborhoods and examines them more closely (e.g., Greenwich Village, Midtown, Upper East Side, etc.). The Best of includes best walks, entertainment, restaurants, museums, parks and more. The survival guide imparts wisdom about pre-planning your trip, arriving in the city, getting around, money, emergency situations, information booths, transportation tips and more.
In the back is a pull-out folding map with a transit guide. As with any guide, the up-to-date ones are best, particularly because restaurants come and go so quickly.
The guide is divided into four sections: QuickStart Guide, Explore NYC, The Best of NYC and Survival Guide. The QuickStart section gives the highlights of tourist sites, local life, neighborhoods, a day planner and a "need to know" section. The Explore segment breaks the city into neighborhoods and examines them more closely (e.g., Greenwich Village, Midtown, Upper East Side, etc.). The Best of includes best walks, entertainment, restaurants, museums, parks and more. The survival guide imparts wisdom about pre-planning your trip, arriving in the city, getting around, money, emergency situations, information booths, transportation tips and more.
In the back is a pull-out folding map with a transit guide. As with any guide, the up-to-date ones are best, particularly because restaurants come and go so quickly.
April 5, 2022
Lonely Planet guides are one of my “go to” travel guide books, when I visit somewhere. They contain a good balance of “colour” and detail, without squeezing out one, by pushing the other too hard. Their city guides can focus too heavily maybe on the bigger/more glitzy tourist attractions, but unless you’ve visited a city a lot, and done those to death, there are worse places to start. By that stage, you probably don’t need a general travel book anyway.
This book is about New York, and it gives you a lot of information about whether a place is worth a visit, with all the major museums, attractions and sites covered in some detail, along with their opening times, and prices. This is probably what you need, when you first visit a place. It won’t give you as much information about the quirkier places to visit, but if that’s what you are looking for you might want to look for a more specialised travel guide.
This book is about New York, and it gives you a lot of information about whether a place is worth a visit, with all the major museums, attractions and sites covered in some detail, along with their opening times, and prices. This is probably what you need, when you first visit a place. It won’t give you as much information about the quirkier places to visit, but if that’s what you are looking for you might want to look for a more specialised travel guide.
January 6, 2014
Sometimes Lonely Planet can be too hip. This is the fourth travel guide I've read on New York so I knew which bits to read and which to ignore otherwise it can be overpowering. Having said that Lonely Planet does provide some corkers: In the past I've been to a Croatian restaurant serving local dishes, and had a massage from a professional blind Cambodian, both of which proved to be excellent recommendations. For example, this is the only guide that warns about buying Statue of Liberty crown tickets as far in advance as possible and that each customer can only buy four tickets as access is extremely limited.
The map that comes with the book is detailed compared to others and information on how to get to attractions is clear too. The Neighbourhoods At A Glance sections also offer Neighbourhood Walks which are ideal for those tight on a budget.
The map that comes with the book is detailed compared to others and information on how to get to attractions is clear too. The Neighbourhoods At A Glance sections also offer Neighbourhood Walks which are ideal for those tight on a budget.
April 14, 2016
Jam-packed with useful information, as you'd expect from Lonely Planet. Loved the gender balance. In examples of poets, writers, artists, etc. the authors include bounteous numbers of women who have contributed to New York life and culture. Great LGBT content, too. One gripe: as a Brit, I have no idea how to interpret Fahrenheit. Equivalent temperatures in Celsius would have been much appreciated. And that seems fair for a travel book.
I'm planning on realising my dream of visiting New York City in 2016, and this book has set me up well.
I'm planning on realising my dream of visiting New York City in 2016, and this book has set me up well.
March 29, 2011
Almost as good as most of the other Lonely Planet guides I have read...though I find the history section substandard, compared to many other volumes. Not quite as detailed as I hoped it would be...though it remains an indispensible resource.
August 14, 2016
Since the newest edition has just come out I had to stick with the one I purchased earlier. So, obviously, being published in 2014 it is a bit out of date. However, it still is a good source of compact information for any traveller.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews