Local Facts & Figures | Seasonal Highlights | Places of Interest | Best Buys & Bargains | Rest & Recreation

Area: New York City comprises 5 boroughs: Brooklyn, the Bronx, Manhattan, Queens and Staten Island, spread over an area of 800 sq km.

History: Originally inhabited by Native Americans, the area we now know as New York City became a European settlement, known as New Amsterdam, in 1613. The city was surrendered to the English at the end of the Second Anglo-Dutch War in 1667 and was renamed New York in honour of James, Duke of York and in 1685 became a royal colony when James succeeded his brother, Charles II, as King of England.
In 1783, the American Revolutionary War led the Kingdom of Great Britain to recognize American independence, and New York temporarily became the first capital of the United States.

Location: The City of New York is located among a cluster of islands surrounding New York Harbour on the East Coast of North America.

Weather: The climate in New York is similar to that of continental Europe, with hot and humid summers, icy cold winters and mild weather in the intervening months. 5 day forecast

Climate: Temperatures range from below freezing in winter to a high of 32 degrees in summer. August is normally the hottest month in New York.

Seasons: New York City enjoys four distinct seasons - Spring runs from March to May, Summer from June to August, Autumn from September to November, and Winter from December to February.

Time zone: New York runs to Eastern Standard Time (EST), which is 5 hours behind GMT (-5 GMT).

Transport: The Metropolitan Transportation Authority in New York is the largest transportation network in North America. Consisting of bus, railway and subway services, this network serves all five boroughs 24 hours a day, seven days per week. In addition to this, the city's famous yellow cabs are abundant and can be easily flagged down on the street.

Metropolitan Transportation Authority
For train and bus timetables and downloadable maps, visit the official site of the MTA.

Download maps

Cultural mix: New York is the classic melting pot of cultures; the city has the largest number of diverse ethnic groups in America, and they live together comfortably. There are more than 180 languages spoken here.

Currency and credit cards: The US Dollar ($) is the official currency, and is further divided into 100 cents. All banks operate from 9.00am to 3.00pm, Mondays through Fridays, and several major banks open on Saturday mornings. All international credit and debit cards are widely accepted. Currency Converter

Dress code: In general there are no specific rules for attire in New York, however important business meetings call for a suit and tie, or the female equivalent of corporate attire. The more upscale restaurants and hotel dining rooms expect you to dress appropriately. It is advisable to check with the restaurant if a specific dress code is required.

Languages: English is the official language, although given the size of the large multicultural population many other languages are used in everyday life.

Visa regulations: Please check with your travel agent, the US Consulate in your own country and/or other concerned authorities for the most current information on visa regulations for various nationalities.

Useful Links
New York City Official Tourism Website
Manhattan Chamber of Commerce

New York has countless festivals and events, and is a year-round tourist destination, with very few of its attractions closing or reducing their hours during the winter months.

While the actual dates of many important events are timed to match the season and the calendar, they may change slightly from year to year. The information below provides a guideline to the city's many celebrated events:

In January, the New York National Boat Show showcase luxury yachts, along with performance boats and other marine craft and equipment at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center.
Everything goes green along Fifth Avenue for the annual St. Patrick's Day Parade in March, followed by the Easter Parade which also makes it's way down Fifth Avenue later on in the month, and on National Tartan Day in April you can see pipers and drummers march their way down Sixth Avenue in the Tunes of Glory Parade.

In May, the International Food Festival transforms sections of Ninth Avenue from 37th to 5th Street. Jazz greats play at the JVC Jazz Festival from June until early July; while on 4th July celebrate Independence Day with a range of activities across the city including tall ships sailing along the Hudson River, and the Macy's Fireworks Extravaganza over the East River. The New York State Fair begins late August through to early September, followed by the New York Film Festival in late September.
Lower Broadway celebrates Columbus Day in October with cultural displays, food and live entertainment. In early November, more than 60,000 runners will compete in the world's largest road race - the New York City Marathon. The annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade follows later on in the month, while the Rockefeller Center host their annual Christmas Tree Lighting in late November, whilst Ice Skating at The Rockefeller Center is a typical New York experience.

On December 31st, hundreds of thousands of revellers bid farewell to the departing year, and welcome the new year in the Times Square New Years Eve celebration.

Public Holidays

Useful Link
We have provided a link below to help you find out more about New York's activities and events calendar. If you are unable to find the information you require, perhaps we can be of assistance. Please email us on info@jumeirah.com.

TimeOut New York
... from the award winning series of guides to the world's major cities, Time Out's New York Guide offers an exhaustive and lively insight into the city.

The City of New York is bursting with attractions for visitors of all ages.

Here is a listing of important venues and the most popular attractions in the New York City area:

Landmarks: The Empire State Building. This full height of this Art-Deco style building , including the broadcast antenna, extends to 448 metres. An observatory at the top of the building affords panoramic views across the city. The Statue of Liberty stands on Liberty Island in New York Harbour and can be reached by ferry. A visitors museum in the base of the statue charts the history. Stretching 486 metres over the East River, connecting Manhattan and Brooklyn, is the Brooklyn Bridge - one of the oldest suspension bridges in the United States. The Chrysler Building was the world's tallest building when it opened in 1930. This title was surrendered to the Empire State Building upon it's completion the following year. The Rockefeller Center, a set of buildings partially located along the Avenue of the Americas, was originally intended to be an opera house for the Metropolitan Opera Company. However, following the 1929 stock market crash circumstances quickly changed, and the Art-Deco style buildings were conceived soon after. The Rockefeller Center houses the nation's largest indoor theatre, Radio City Music Hall.

Museums: The Metropolitan Museum of Art opened in 1842, and is considered to be one of the world's most important museums, housing treasures ranging from medieval art, European masters and an extensive collection of period weapons and armour. Overlooking Central Park, the unique Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, houses modern art collections. The Whitney Museum of American Art was the beneficiary of many works of art by Edward Hopper. A section of Fifth Avenue has been officially designated as 'Museum Mile' because of the number of well respected, prominent museums located there.

Outdoor attractions: Ellis Island, located in New York Harbour, was originally the main port for immigrants entering the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Today, the museum on Ellis Island is open to tourists. Central Park - just one of a number of public parks that offer a retreat from the urban jungle of Manhattan. This famous park is a popular location for joggers, cyclists and skaters in the evenings and weekends. A wide range of open air performances are hosted in the park throughout the year, from Shakespeare productions, to the New York Philharmonic. The Circle Line is a sightseeing cruise that circumnavigates the island of Manhattan, enabling you to see all five boroughs, 7 major bridges, 3 rivers and over 25 landmarks including a close up of the Statue of Liberty. The Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum is a museum located on the Hudson River inside the World War II aircraft carrier USS Intrepid. The museum, open throughout the year, is host to the annual Fleet Week which takes place in the last week of May. The world famous Bronx Zoo is the location of the largest man-made rainforest in the world, the Congo Gorilla Forest.

When it comes to shopping, you really can't beat New York. From the upscale Madison Avenue to the bargain-friendly Lower East Side, the Big Apple offers something for everyone.

A veritable shopper's paradise, you'll find the most luxurious stores on Fifth Avenue: Saks Fifth Avenue, Bergdorf Goodman, Tiffany & Co, Cartier and many more. On Madison Avenue you will find Barneys New York, Giorgio Armani and Versace among others.

A treat for children and adults alike is a visit to FAO Schwarz, the world famous toy emporium. Here you will find a world of toys and games - everything from toys for babies to antique collectibles and luxury gifts for the young at heart!

Useful Links
Saks Fifth Avenue
... the flagship luxury department store on Fifth Avenue.

Macy's
... the flagship store in Herald Square is a New York City landmark.

Bloomingdales
... visit the store where a number of today's radical designers got their big break.

Barneys New York
... a Manhattan institution, this luxurious store is located on Madison Avenue.

FAO Schwarz
... the oldest toy store in the United States. You can meet the FAO Schwarz toy soldier, experience the aviation-quality motion simulator and sample the mouth-watering desserts at FAO Schweetz.

New York City offers unlimited opportunities for rest and recreation, whether it's walking, cycle tours, in-line skating or horse riding through Central Park. If you prefer something a little less energetic, why not visit one of the public gardens, or treat yourself to dinner and the theatre.

Theatre: You can't visit New York without taking in a show in the famous Theatre District. One of the most popular pastimes for tourists and residents alike, with a variety of shows available to suit everyone. Discounted tickets are available at the 1/2 Price TKTS centre on Broadway.

Sports: American Football, Hockey, Baseball, Basketball; the New York metropolitan district has them all. Catch the teams at the Bronx's Yankee Stadium, the Giants Stadium in New Jersey, Madison Square Garden in Manhattan or the Nassau Coliseum in Long Island among others.

Beach: Visit the beach, amusement parks and boardwalk at Coney Island in the South of Brooklyn.

Gardens: To escape from the hustle and bustle of the city, why not pay a visit to one of the many gardens that are open to the public? The New York Botanical Garden, The Cloisters, Wave Hill and the Central Park Conservatory Garden are just a few of the natural attractions in the city.

Music: The East Village and Lower East Side are the more prominent destinations in the city for music lovers, and are well known for having a 'venue on every block'.

Fitness: As well as having innumerable fitness clubs dotted throughout the city, there is also a vast range of activities that don't require you to join a gym. How about in-line skating or horse riding in Central Park? Or put your walking shoes on and take to your feet to get some exercise while at the same time exploring Manhattan at your own pace. The choices are endless in this richly diverse city.

Useful Links
Ticket Master
.... if there is an event in New York and you require a ticket, purchase it online.

Metropolitan Opera Company
... the home of the Met. As an opera fan this should be the first site you visit on the internet.