Well, isn’t this exciting! You’re going to the States! Whether you’re all set to go, still deciding what program to do or where to work, or just looking for inspiration, this post will tell you everything you need to know for a summer in New York. Having spent the last summer there myself, I can share the advice I wish I had known beforehand, and all of the great things I did while I was there!

Just in case you’re still looking for jobs, here is a link to some on the East Coast specifically through the J1 Ireland Program. (https://j1ireland.com/j1-jobs/)

New York City. The Big Apple. Flashing lights, busy streets, hot dog stands and mean taxi drivers. What more could you want? You picked the best place to be for your summer. You won’t run out of things to do. And lucky for you, being on a university student budget, New York has plenty of things to do for FREE!

But first, let’s talk logistics for a moment:

Getting There: Fly into LaGuardia airport if possible--it tends to be a much quicker taxi ride into the city than from JFK. If you’re taking the train in, you’ll most likely arrive at Penn Station or Grand Central Station. Both options are on the island of Manhattan, so walking to your accommodation from the station is not out of the question. For getting around while you’re there, I highly suggest getting an unlimited metro pass. The subways and buses will get you anywhere you need to go!

Where to Stay: It’s no lie that New York is expensive as hell. Luckily, some universities open up their dorms for people to live in the summer. I suggest looking at NYU dorms and Parsons The New School dorms. These are your cheapest options. I advise against looking to sublease an apartment as New York is notorious for apartment scams. So unless you have a friend subleasing for the summer, I’d stay away. If the dorms don’t work out, I suggest looking into this company called Sonder. It’s basically an air bnb. It’s definitely not cheap, but if something comes up last minute where you need to find housing quickly, this is a good company you can trust. Webster Hall is an all female-dorm if that is of concern to you. There are plenty of student housing options aside from these, but these are the ones that myself and friends have utilized, so I can assure they are worthwhile options.

Now that those logistics are out of the way, we can talk about the fun stuff.

Must See’s:

The Empire State Building

Located in the heart of Manhattan on 34th Street, I recommend walking past in the evening when the sun is setting. If you want to go to the top, you may. But tickets are expensive, and when you take a photo of the city, the Empire State Building won’t be in it. If you want to view the city from above, I suggest going to the Top of the Rock, which is 30 Rockefeller Center, the famous NBC Headquarters.

Statue of Liberty

You can see the Statue of Liberty from Battery Park which is down near Wall Street. You can either take a ferry tour and get up close and personal with Her, and even go to the Ellis Island Museum. Or if you’re on a budget, you can still see the Statue of Liberty for free when strolling through Battery Park. It’s just kind of far away.

Brooklyn Bridge

Definitely use a nice day to take a walk along the Brooklyn Bridge. You don’t need to walk all the way across into Brooklyn, but just going halfway to get good photos will do the trick. This is also near Wall Street, so you can do Battery Park and this on the same day. Near the base of the bridge is a new event center called Seaport which has an amazing rooftop restaurant, an ice rink, and several concerts throughout the summer. Another fun way to see Brooklyn Bridge is to take the 34th Street Ferry to its last stop on Wall Street. This is a super cheap way to take a ferry under the bridge itself. You'll have stunning views of the bridge, Brooklyn, and Wall Street! 

Grand Central Station

A fun way to see Grand Central is to just take the subway and get off at this stop. Yes, it’s a subway stop and a train station. Using it will make you feel like a real New Yorker who’s walking fast and has somewhere important to be.

One World Trade Center

This is a must see for sure. The memorial will leave you painfully speechless. The new architecture is breathtaking. I highly recommend walking inside the Oculus, which is a train station, mall, and architectural marvel. This is also near Wall Street and Battery Park.

Things to Do:

Central Park

Walk through the famous Upper East Side and pretend you’re in Gossip Girl. I would say do Central Park and the Met on the same day, both of which are free! While you’re in the area, check out The Museum Mile on Fifth Ave. Every museum is free!

Upright Citizen’s Brigade

Otherwise known as UCB, this is a comedy theater in the heart of Hell’s Kitchen district. You’ll recognize alumni such as Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, amongst a slew of other famous comedians. Every Sunday they put on their longest running improv show called ASSSSCAT. Yep, that’s how it’s spelled. Reserve tickets Sunday at noon and go for free to the 9 pm show! You’ll be sure to laugh so hard that your stomach hurts.

Smorgasburg

Every Saturday in Williamsburg Brooklyn, there’s a food festival called Smorgasburg which features international cuisine that simply cannot be beat. Take the 34th Street Ferry over to Brooklyn, have some fun snacks, and spend the rest of the day in Williamsburg walking through trendy vintage stores and street markets.

Unless you are wanting to buy tickets for special tours, everything mentioned above is free to see and do! (except for buying food at Smorgasburg I suppose...but that’s worth it!). A summer in New York will satisfy all of your Sex and the City and Wolf of Wallstreet dreams. Though it can feel expensive and claustrophobic at times, remember that there really are so many fun, free things to do!