New York in July – Brooklyn Bridge, DUMBO, Summit One Vanderbilt and the 9/11 Memorial

Our New York tips come from five hot days in July when we stayed in Brooklyn and did almost everything on foot.

July 2026, 32 °C, 90 percent humidity – and still: New York was one of the cities where we walked the most. We stayed in Brooklyn, not Manhattan, and that made the trip more relaxed and considerably cheaper.

Why Brooklyn

An apartment in DUMBO or Brooklyn Heights costs half as much as a hotel in Midtown, and the view is better: the Brooklyn Bridge and the Manhattan Bridge right outside the door, the East River, the Lower Manhattan skyline with One World Trade. From Brooklyn Bridge Park you get the evening view that other people pay $40 for on an observation deck – for free.

What was worth it

• Walking the Brooklyn Bridge at seven in the morning, towards Manhattan. Later it’s a queue of people.
• 9/11 Memorial – the two reflecting pools are free to visit, the museum charges admission. We stayed a long time; it is quiet even though thousands of people are there.
• Summit One Vanderbilt: $50–87 depending on the time (sunset is the most expensive). The mirror rooms are impressive, but don’t book on a rainy or hazy day.
• Ferry instead of subway: NYC Ferry for $4.50 runs up the East River – the best skyline ride for little money.

Costs (5 days, 2 people)

Apartment in Brooklyn about $1,100, subway/ferry $60, Summit $150, food $500–700 (always add 18–20 % tip). Pay in dollars with your Wise card, not in euros, when the terminal asks – otherwise you get a bad rate.

What we would do differently

Not in July. May or October is more pleasant. And book tickets for Summit and the museum two weeks ahead – the evening slots go quickly.

New York tips for arrival, the subway and entry requirements

To enter the USA you need an electronic passport and an ESTA authorisation, which has cost $40 since 30.09.2025. Only apply on the official site esta.cbp.dhs.gov, ideally at least 72 hours before your flight.

From JFK airport the AirTrain runs to Jamaica and Howard Beach stations, where you change to the subway or the Long Island Rail Road for Manhattan and Brooklyn. From Newark the AirTrain runs to the rail station, with trains into Manhattan. A taxi or Uber from the airport to Brooklyn is more comfortable but much more expensive.

In the city the subway is the fastest way to get around. Since 04.01.2026 a ride costs $3.00. The easiest way to pay is contactless with a card or phone right at the turnstile (OMNY): after 12 paid rides within seven days, all further rides in that period are free – you do not need a weekly pass. Important: always use the same card or phone, otherwise the cap does not count.

Staying in Brooklyn: DUMBO, Brooklyn Heights or Williamsburg?

DUMBO and Brooklyn Heights sit directly opposite Lower Manhattan, with skyline views and only a few subway stops into Manhattan. Williamsburg is younger, with bars, markets and street food, and is also quickly connected to Manhattan by the L train. For a first visit with limited time, DUMBO and Brooklyn Heights are the most practical choice.

New York tips: frequently asked questions

Facts as of 25.10.2026 – prices and rules can change, so check the official sources named above before you travel.

More of the USA: our week with a camper and rental car on the West Coast is in the Los Angeles road trip – Griffith Observatory, Santa Monica and Venice Beach.

Our photos

New York tips: our verdict

Our verdict on these New York tips: Brooklyn is a more relaxed and cheaper base than Manhattan, and the best skyline views cost nothing. It also pays to book observation decks for the evening, because then you see the city by day and by night. You’ll find more destinations on our destinations page; background on the city is on Wikipedia.