15 Unspoken Rules About New York That All The Locals Know

Voting Rules
New Yorkers: Vote up the unspoken rules all tourists should know before they visit.

If you are planning a trip to New York, it's not enough to just watch Gossip Girl's reboot to learn about places, trends, or how to speak like a New Yorker. So once again, we've got you covered. Check out this list with secrets and local rules to have a non-touristic Big Apple experience. Vote for your favorite tips!


  • 1
    238 VOTES

    Don't Pull Out A Map

    From a former Redditor:

    Limit midtown to an hour unless going to a show. Then leave immediately after the show. Someone put a mall in the middle of New York City. You can go to a mall anywhere. Be careful flashing maps in high traffic areas. Showing a map is body language for "steal my wallet."

    238 votes
  • 2
    145 VOTES

    Not Everything "Touristy" Is Bad

    From a former Redditor:

    As a New Yorker, here are where I would recommend:

    Central Park: It's a huge, awesome park. People do Shakespeare plays there in the summer. Although it may be less interesting if you're from a rural area.

    Museum of Modern Art: Great museum

    Metropolitan Museum of Art: Huge museum with all sorts of sections about different arts. In the Egypt section, there is an actual Egyptian Temple that you can go inside in the middle of the room, and there in the medieval section, they have actual armor and weapons. There are so many great things in that museum, you should check it out.

    Museum of Natural History: Probably the most well-known museum in NY. It has fossil collections, artifacts from ancient civilizations, recreations of ancient hominids, and so many other great things.

    NY Hall of Science: This is probably the best science museum I've ever been to. I really very much enjoy it.

    Museum of the Movie Image: It is great for the history of film and video games.

    Time Square: It's the cliche tourist spots. I'm not a big fan, but I do admit that it looks spectacular at night.

    The Statue of Liberty: I don't care if you go to Ellis Island, or just ride the Staten Island Ferry to get a great view, but it should be seen (even though it's way smaller than in the movies).

    A Broadway Show: You have to see something on Broadway. Hamilton is awesome, but they're all really good in my mind.

    There are probably many more great things to do in NY, but I just woke up and these were at the top of my head.

    145 votes
  • 3
    305 VOTES

    Watch For People In Costumes

    From Redditor u/webauteur:

    I would skip Katz's Delicatessen. I've had better food at a company picnic. You can do better than that.

    Watch out for scammers trying to give you a free CD of their music. They will sign it and then ask you for money.

    The people in costume around Times Square are just hustlers bumming money for taking a photo with them. They can be aggressive and half [wild].

    305 votes
  • 4
    165 VOTES

    Take A Walk On The High Line

    From Redditor u/thehairyrussian:

    Take a walk on the High Line. It's a park built on an old elevated railroad track and it's beautiful. Also great food on there.

    165 votes
  • 5
    216 VOTES

    Don't Avoid The Subway, Do Avoid Chain Restaurants

    From Redditor u/StayDoomed:

    Don't drive, don't go to a chain restaurant or business, don't avoid the subway, don't stay only in Manhattan, and think you know what New York is like.

    216 votes
  • 6
    72 VOTES

    Born And Raised Champs

    From Redditor u/Tsquare43:

    Native Brooklynite here. Born and raised.

    It depends on what you want to spend, what you want to see. I can recommend places to eat, things to see. Some are free.

    - Ride the Staten Island ferry, it's free, and you get a great view of the Statue of Liberty and Lower Manhattan

    - Transit Museum in Brooklyn $7 for Adults; $5 for kids 17 and under

    - Everyone walks the Brooklyn Bridge - do the Manhattan Bridge instead, walk on the South Side of the bridge - you'll get great views of the Brooklyn Bridge and lower Manhattan - you'll also be near Chinatown

    - Central Park

    - Chelsea Market

    - Fire Museum

    - Di Fara's pizza in Brooklyn - go very early, it takes time, but the pizza is worth the price and the time.

    walk the High Line park - free and some really amazing views of the city.

    - Museum of Natural History

    - Grand Central Terminal

    - Strip house on E12th street - great steakhouse (if you have the means)

    - If you have any questions, PM me.

    72 votes