The city that never sleeps… and somehow makes insomnia feel like a lifestyle choice.
Visiting New York is like dating a wildly charismatic person who also makes you cry in public. It’s thrilling, chaotic, expensive, unforgettable—and yes, sometimes smells like hot trash juice. But no matter how many times it breaks your spirit, you keep crawling back for more.
Whether you’re a first-timer with stars in your eyes or a returner with unfinished business (read: one more attempt at getting into that speakeasy), NYC always delivers something unexpected. Here’s the brutally honest breakdown of what makes the Big Apple irresistibly iconic—and infuriatingly exhausting.
Top 5 Things That Absolutely Slap About Visiting NYC
1. The Energy
The vibe is electric. Everyone’s in motion, chasing dreams, dodging rats, ordering bagels with scary precision. It’s inspiring. You will leave more caffeinated, goal-driven, and weirdly assertive.
2. Food That Rewires Your Brain
The pizza. The bagels. The Halal carts at 2 a.m. The $1 dumplings in Chinatown and Michelin-starred pasta in the West Village. Every craving you’ve ever had lives here—and has a line around the block
3. People-Watching as a Sport
The woman in a full ball gown walking a ferret in Soho? The subway saxophone player in a Spider-Man costume? The finance bro crying outside a Sweetgreen? Welcome to Broadway: Sidewalk Edition.
4. Culture You Can’t Fake
Broadway shows that gut-punch your soul. World-class art at The Met. Pop-up galleries in Brooklyn that make you pretend to understand performance pieces. It’s all here—and then some.
5. That Movie-Magic Moment
You will have a moment that feels straight out of a rom-com or Jay-Z music video. Maybe it’s that skyline view at sunset from the Brooklyn Bridge or your first proper New York slice on a curb at 3 a.m. Trust—it’ll hit.
“New York doesn’t care if you’re having a good time—but somehow,
it still gives you the best time of your life.“
The 10 Worst Things About Visiting NYC (Sorry, But It’s True)
1. The Prices Are Straight-Up Disrespectful
$8 for a latte? $23 for a cocktail? Hotel rooms the size of your college dorm closet? You’ll laugh, then cry, then Venmo request your parents for emotional support.
2. The Crowds Will Break You
Times Square is a glittery hellscape. The subway at rush hour feels like a human Jenga tower. Tourists walking three across on the sidewalk? Prison-worthy offense.
3. The Smells (Plural)
There’s a moment each summer when the city smells like hot dog water and existential dread. No one talks about it, but we all endure it.
4. The Subway System Is a Messy Queen
Unreliable, chaotic, home to both unplanned delays and spontaneous concerts. It’s iconic and terrifying. You’ll learn to love-hate it, mostly through gritted teeth.
5. Aggressive Vibes Are Just… Normal
Everyone’s in a rush. Everyone’s yelling. No one will say “excuse me” unless it’s followed by “I’m walkin’ here!” But oddly enough, it starts to grow on you.
6. The Weather Has Zero Chill
Sweaty armpit heat in the summer, bone-shattering wind tunnels in winter. Spring and fall show up for like six days total. Good luck packing for this emotional rollercoaster.
7. Line Culture Is Out of Control
Want that viral TikTok cookie? Hope you’re emotionally prepared to wait 45 minutes in a line that wraps around the block—for something that may or may not be mid.
8. Sirens Are the City’s Lullaby
If you think you’ll sleep peacefully in NYC, think again. The soundtrack is part EDM drop, part ambulance, part someone screaming about a conspiracy theory.
9. It’s Weirdly Hard to Find a Public Bathroom
When nature calls, New York… ignores it. You’ll either become a Starbucks bathroom ninja or consider peeing in Central Park behind a tree. No judgment.
10. You’ll Feel Like a Local Just in Time to Leave
Once you’ve finally figured out how to navigate the subway, where to get a cheap drink, and how to walk like you’re late to a job you hate—your trip’s over. Classic NYC.
Here’s the thing: Even with all the chaos, grime, and attitude, New York is still one of the greatest cities on Earth. You’ll leave with a full camera roll, slightly bruised ego, three new life goals, and a deep, irrational belief that you might just belong there.
Because no matter how brutal it gets, New York reminds you that you’re alive.
