Last Updated on October 6, 2025
If you are a female who loves to travel solo and you are toying with the idea of going to NYC, well, you are just on the right track! A lot of female travelers wonder if it is safe to travel to New York alone. And as someone who has spent quite a bit of time in NYC as a solo female traveler, let me tell you: Yes, absolutely! In fact, I loved my solo soujourns to New York City so much, that I ended up moving here. In 2024, I contributed a chapter to the book
In fact, New York is perfect for a solo trip because there’s so much to do that you’ll never feel lonely, and hundreds of thousands of women conquer the Big Apple on their own every single day. And if you’ve never traveled solo before, let me tell you: there’s no better place for a solo trip than to the city that never sleeps.
New York is the perfect place for solo travelers as it is made for solitary people and it is not uncommon to see people eat alone at restaurants, sit at a coffeeshop or at a bar alone, see a Broadway show by themselves or treat themselves to a solo date at a museum. 
Here is my ultimate guide for the solo female traveler in NYC:
What to do and see in NYC
New York has so much to offer for solo travelers! In addition to the must-see sights in NYC, such as the Brooklyn Bridge, Times Square, the Empire State Building, Central Park, Grand Central Terminal, and the Flatiron Building, I recommend:
An Observation Deck
There are currently five observation decks at a height of over 1,000 feet – and they’re all fairly different! There’s the Empire State Building (the OG), the Top Of The Rock (which has the best view of Central Park, imo), EDGE (the greatest outdoor balcony), SUMMIT (best for social media pics) and One World Observatory (closest to the Statue Of Liberty and both the Brooklyn and the Manhattan Bridge). I’ve written a detailed comparison of all the NYC observation decks here.
Visiting one of the observation decks gives you a real appreciation of the sprawling city below you. It’ll also give you a better understanding of the city itself – the five boroughs, the rivers, the islands, and the different neighborhoods.
See a Broadway show
A Broadway show is a must-do in New York City! Look into the shows that are playing while you’re in town prior to your trip – there are so many, it can feel overwhelming. Decide if you’d rather see a play or a musical – or both! In my opinion, you don’t need to be a die-hard theater fan to enjoy an evening on Broadway. Broadway productions are famous for a reason, and most regional theater productions can’t compare to some of the epic performances you can see in NYC. I recommend looking up what’s showing while you’re in New York (the New York Theater Guide is a good starting point for that) and then create a shortlist of the plays or musicals that sound the most interesting to you. Then see what’s available on the day of your choice, and how much tickets are. There are often discounted tickets available for the same day – and you can even book tickets through GetYourGuide.
Here are some of my absolute favorites:
- Wicked (a classic!)
- Moulin Rouge (spectacular production with great music and dancing)
- The Outsiders (won the Tony Award for Best New Musical for a reason! Excellent acting and some cool effects throughout the show.)
Enjoy New York’s parks and green spaces
NYC is a bustling city – 8.7 million people live in the Big Apple, and depending on where in the city you are, it can feel overwhelming. I certainly need my breaks from the crowds on Fifth Avenue or Times Square, and I take advantage of the many parks and green spaces in NYC. Central Park is the most obvious one – a must-see in New York City, if you ask me – but there are so many more beautiful parks that are worth visiting. Here are some of my personal favorites:
Brooklyn Bridge Park – this park stretches along the Brooklyn waterfront all the way from the Manhattan Bridge down to Pier 6, with several former industrial piers turned into recreational areas. Stunning views of the Brooklyn Bridge included! My favorite pier is pier 3, which has several small, hidden lawns, and perfect skyline Manhattan views. TimeOut Market, a food market with around 20 restaurants /food stalls and a couple of bars (head to the upstairs bar for the views) is located on the northern end of the park, as is the famous Manhattan Bridge photo spot. The further south you walk (away from the bridges), the less touristy it feels.
Bryant Park – Even though this park is small, it is one of my favorite spots in Midtown Manhattan. Tiny compared to Central Park, but I love sitting on the vast lawn in the summer months, enjoying a coffee and a bagel (Zucker’s is just across from the park, and I also love Ole & Steen for pastries and coffee) for breakfast before starting my day. Around lunchtime and in the afternoon, the park becomes busy and is great for people watching, and during the summer months, the park offers free activities such as yoga, bird walking tours, and salsa classes. Check the Bryant Park website for a full list. One of my personal favorite summer activities in NYC is watching a movie in Bryant Park.
Domino Park – This park on the Williamsburg waterfront in Brooklyn is still relatively new: until 2016, the space was still occupied by the defunct Domino Sugar Refinery, and after the factory buildings were demolished, a beautiful park was created in its place. I love laying in one of the many sun chair loungers, which were created from wood that was found in the old factory buildings. In fact, many things that were saved from the factory can be found in the park: mooring bollards, screw conveyors, sugar tanks… to name just a few. There are lots of great places to eat or grab a drink just steps away from the park, and a small outdoor taqueria right inside Domino Park (great for a sunset margarita).
Washington Square Park – Hands down the best place for people watching in Manhattan! Despite being on the smaller side, there are quite a few lawns to relax on, or you can sit down on one of the many benches and just observe what’s going on around you. And there’s always so much going on in this park: live music and street performers, people selling artisans, the pigeon man, the chess players, and so much more! You can even buy pre-rolled joints and other interesting things right in the center of the park. If you want to enjoy a cup of coffee while people watching, there’s a Stumptown just a block away, and if you don’t mind waiting in a long line, grab a dosa from the Dosa Man.
Little Island – Another new(ish) park in NYC: Little Island, an artificial island that was gifted to New Yorkers by billionaire Barry Diller in 2021. It was built atop 132 tulip-shaped concrete pillars of varying heights, giving the park an interesting look. Even though the island is little (as the name would suggest!), I love the views over Downtown Manhattan from the hill in the southwestern corner of the park, and there’s a small amphitheater that has performances during the summer months. There are only a couple of concession stands that I don’t think are great, so bring some food, or go to the food hall at Pier 57 (right next to Little Island). Chelsea Market is also nearby and has plenty of food options. You can combine a visit to Little Island with a stroll through Chelsea Market, explore the Meatpacking District, visit the Whitney Museum (excellent art museum) and walk the High Line.
Check out the flea markets & vintage stores
I love all kinds of markets: artisan markets, flea markets, food markets, spice markets… and I’ve dedicated an entire article to the best markets in NYC, but here’s a short round-up of markets that are, in my opinion, well worth a visit:
- Brooklyn Flea: A small flea market right in the archway of the Manhattan Bridge in DUMBO. There are also vendors selling new items (jewelry, clothes, art…), not everything is vintage. It takes place every Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 5pm.
- Grand Bazaar: Another smallish market, and this one only happens on Sundays (10am – 5pm), but the variety of vendors is great and there are also some food vendors.
- New York Public Library – If you love books, head straight for The New York Library, which is free. Find yourself surrounded by an ocean of books and take advantage of the free WiFi and events going on in the library. Don’t miss the spectacular Rose Main Reading Room.
- Single and ready to mingle? I’ve got great news for you: it’s easy to meet people in NYC! Check out Con Fuego in Bronx, Le Bain and The Jane Ballroom in Manhattan, Judy and Punch in Queens and Union Pool and Mood Ring in Brooklyn. The Sofar living room concerts are also a great way to meet new people.
- The main attractions are a Must, of course! If you want to see all of New York’s main sights, consider getting a New York City Pass. Attractions included: the Empire State Building and the American Museum of Natural History, the Top of the Rock Observatory OR the Guggenheim Museum; Ferry Access to Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island OR a Circle Line Sightseeing Cruise; 9/11 Memorial & Museum OR the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum. You’ll get to visit 5 attractions of your choice, but you’ll save 40% of the admission. Check it out here:
Where to shop:
New York City is a shopper’s paradise. It’s known as the fashion capital of the U.S. for a reason, so make sure that you pack your credit card 😉 But even if you don’t want to spend a lot of money on designer clothes, you’ll love shopping in NYC: there are vintage shops galore, where you can thrift designer brands for little money. Here’s a great guide for the best vintage shops in New York City for women.
Practical Information
Where to stay
Look for a place that is within minutes of walking to the subway. For a first-time visitor, Manhattan is the most convenient borough to base yourself in, since most of the major attractions are in Manhattan. Some of the most popular neighborhoods with solo female travelers are the East Village and the West Village, or Midtown (especially convenient if you’re planning on seeing a Broadway show or two). If you want to stay in Brooklyn, check out places in Williamsburg, which is the trendiest neighborhood in Brooklyn and only one stop from Manhattan on the subway. Long Island City in Queens is also just across the East River from Manhattan. No matter if you’re looking to book an Airbnb or a hotel, make sure to read recent reviews before you make a reservation.
How to get around NYC
The subway is easy to navigate and safe to use, and it runs 24 hours. The subway is usually faster than a taxi / Uber because it can’t get stuck in traffic, and it’s obviously cheaper, as well. It’s easy to pay via contactless payment (credit card or Apple Pay / Google Pay) – no ticket purchase necessary. One ride costs US$3, and after 12 rides, every consequent ride is free! You only pay for the first 12 rides in a 7-day period, and after that, it resets.
If you feel safer taking a rideshare or a cab after dark – hailing a taxi is easy in Manhattan, but in the other borough, you’ll have to use the Uber or the Lyft app. I personally prefer ordering a car via the app, because it shows me exactly how much I’ll pay and which route the driver will take – no silly games played by cab drivers who want to add a couple of blocks to the ride.
Luggage Storage
If your flight leaves in the evening or afternoon, and you’re eager to make the most of your last day in New York City, but unalble to store your luggage in your hotel or Airbnb – no need to worry! There are plenty of luggage storage options in NYC. The three biggest providers (all app-based) are LuggageHero, Stasher and Bounce. Between these three providers, there are hundreds of safe spaces throughout the city where travelers can store their luggage. You can find a place that offers storage by typing in the address near which you’re looking to store your luggage, or simply “Penn Station”, or “Grand Central Terminal”, and each respective app will show you all available options. These services are cheap, typically charging between $6 and $10 for each piece of luggage for a full day.
