NYC LGBTQ. Where should I stay as a woman in NYC? Which areas are best in New York when visiting?
Planning a trip to New York can be daunting, but we got you covered.
First things first, let’s orient ourselves a bit to New York City.
NYC is a huge city that is comprised of 5 boroughs:
Manhattan: most densely-populated borough. where most people think when they think New York. most tourist activities are here. even if you are in another borough, can be referred to as “the city.”
Brooklyn: second most densely-populated borough. many nice neighborhoods and parks, restaurants. East of Manhattan across the East River, south of Queens.
Queens: many different neighborhoods. Home to two of the three major airports: La Gaurdia and JFK. Home to the U.S. Open. East of Manhattan across the East River, north of Brooklyn.
The Bronx: Home to Yankee stadium and the Botanical Gardens, also Fordham University. North of Manhattan.
Staten Island: mostly residential. South of Manhattan and near New Jersey.
GG’s no-brainer: as a tourist, stay in Manhattan, where most of your activities will be located. You’ll save time on the subway or in cabs.
Alright GG, I should stay in Manhattan - where? In Times Square?
We get the temptation but we strongly advise against it. Times Square is in midtown Manhattan, so it can be convenient. It is where most of the theaters are for Broadway, which is an activity you may do once or zero times. Other than that, it is one of the primary central business districts. This combination makes it a deadzone of Manhattan, people that live in New York avoid it, unless they are seeing a show or going to work.
Be like a New Yorker, like GG, and don’t stay in Times Square.
Okay GG, but where do I stay?
If you’re not visiting someone in particular, stay in Manhattan close to multiple train lines, this means it’s centrally located and you’ll be able to easily get to the activities that you plan.
Downtown Manhattan
Downtown refers to any of the neighborhoods from 14th street and below (south). Generally, the eastside is a bit more on the younger side with more affordable rents.
West Village and Greenwich Village: Both very nice neighborhoods that are extremely walkable, with many restaurants, cafes, shopping, museums, and art galleries.
East Village: A little younger and rowdier but similarly interesting with restaurants, cafes, and shopping. More cheap eats are readily available. The avenues decrease as you go east (1st avenue is east of 2nd ave which is east of 3rd ave), after 1st ave it goes from A to B to C to D. Avoid straying too far into the letters (B/C/D) as you will likely be in a transit desert.
Tribeca: Even further downtown, close to the Financial District (FiDi) including the 9/11 Memorial and Battery Park. Cobblestone streets with a mix of old industrial style lofts and new highrises. Lots of restaurants and boutiques.
Soho: Centrally located but is a very popular shopping area, expect crowds on the weekends. Soho around 6th avenue and west is more quiet (often referred to as West SoHo or Hudson Square).
Chelsea, Flatiron, Gramercy Park
All of these neighborhoods straddle an interesting area between ‘downtown’ and ‘midtown’ Manhattan - they go both ways 🤪. Each of these neighborhoods have walkability, access to trains, many restaurants and shops. Flatiron is home to many of the tech companies' New York outposts.
Is it safe, is it safe to just be who we are?
These areas of downtown Manhattan are very safe - but it is New York City, be aware of your surroundings and use common sense.
Greenwich Village is home to the Stonewall Inn, Henrietta Hudson, and many other gay bars are in the area. Gay nightlife is creeping north on the westside, with many gay bars moving up into Chelsea and into Hell’s Kitchen.
Upper West Side and Upper East Side
More residential and close to Central Park, where you can spend many days exploring the planned beauty of the park. Walkable and family-friendly, these areas are great if you want something a bit more relaxed.
Disclaimer: Not Financial or Legal Advice
The content provided on this blog is intended for general informational and entertainment purposes only. It is not intended to be, and should not be construed as, financial or legal advice. The information presented on this blog may not be current, complete, or accurate.