9 Must-Have Apps for Your Trip to NYC
While preparing for your trip to NYC, don’t underestimate the power of your smartphone! There are plenty of resources that can help you plan your trip, or even make your time in NYC a little bit easier. From transportation to entertainment, you’re sure to be happy you downloaded a few of them before your trip. With these apps at the ready, the city is your oyster.
Sure, cabs line the streets, but what do you do when there’s no yellow in sight? Uber is extremely popular for Manhattanites, and it’s easy to see why. You rarely have to wait more than 5 minutes for your ride, and you don’t have to worry about finding a cab that’s empty. Other great features include the ability to split the fare with your friends and different car levels.
Price: Free
If Uber is surging, and you can’t seem to hail a cab, this app comes to your rescue! City street corners are rated based on the amount of cab activity, and you can even view based on different times or days of the week. Ready to head out? Simply shake your phone with the app open to hail a cab.
Price: Free
Want to hit up that popular restaurant you read about? Use OpenTable to make sure you’re on the list! You can make reservations for the restaurant you heard about, and also see restaurants with available reservations at the time you are booking.
Price: Free
While us New Yorkers have lost some of our beloved navigation apps in recent years (RIP HopStop), there are still plenty of options available. The MTA can be intimidating to first-timers, but using Transit can ease the process. You can plan your trip to see which route to take, check out departure times, and even compare all of your options (subway, taxi/Uber, walking).
Price: Free
Enjoy a complete guide to Central Park in the palm of your hand. Let this app guide you to the more than 200 things to see in this massive public space. It includes maps, information and photos on points of interest, as well as a calendar with a list of events.
Price: Free
If you’ve been to the city before, or want to do something other than the usual tourist attractions, this is the app for you! You can view lists of upcoming events, look at daily suggestions for things to do, and even find lists telling you where to eat or drink. Their website also has all of the information, in case you want to free up some space on your phone.
Price: Free
Some of the best art in New York City can be found beyond the confined spaces of MoMa, The Met, and every other museum. This app showcases the public works of art found throughout the streets of New York. Users can find information on artists and individual pieces, browse photos, take neighborhood tours and listen to podcasts featuring artists, architects, historians and curators. The app has a small fee, but you can access most of the same features by visiting their website.
Price: $1.99
When you’re out on the town and nature calls, you no longer have to scramble to find a restroom. This handy app from Charmin pinpoints your exact location and finds the nearest public restrooms. You can even browse ratings, “sit”or “squat”, from other users to find the cleanest facility.
Price: Free
Avoid the crowd by downloading the TKTS Booth app. You can find discounted tickets to Broadway and Off-Broadway shows, without waiting in line. Make sure you don’t miss the show you’ve been wanting to see by purchasing tickets in the morning! You can also find last minute ticket deals.
Price: Free
Download these apps before you arrive to get the most out of your trip to NYC!