What to Pack for New York City
Congratulations! You’ve bought your plane tickets, you got your hotel, you are coming to New York City! Now, you need to know what to pack for New York City. Fortunately, we at Welcome to Times Square are NYC experts, and we are here to tell you exactly what to pack for your trip to NYC. We also want to state that having a great NYC packing list will help you have your very best NYC experience. That, and of course appearing on our giant Times Square billboard!
What Clothes to Pack for New York City
When deciding what to pack for NYC, it’s important to consider the time of year that you are visiting. New York City experiences all four seasons in their fullest forms. In the summertime, the temperatures can rise to over 100 sticky degrees, and the air can feel very humid, to say the least. During this time, you’re going to want to pack loose-fitting light clothes, a hat, sunglasses, and of course tons of sunscreen. During the winter, New York City can dip into sub-zero temperatures. If you’re packing for a NYC winter, pack a heavy coat. We prefer water resistant, or waterproof, in case it snows. Long underwear, such as the Heattech line from Uniqlo, will be really useful, and it could be worth investing in a heated vest or heated gloves such as those which Ororo makes. SmartWool socks will keep your feet toasty and dry, as will waterproof boots. During the spring and fall, temperatures can change drastically within a 24-hour period. This means layering is important. Bring sweaters, jackets, and a few different pants and footwear options.
Overall, you need to prioritize comfort. We all know NYC influencers walk around in cute dresses and high heels, but the truth, is they wear their sneakers and jeans running from location to location. Trust us, you’ll enjoy yourself so much more if you are comfortable!
Pack Your Most Comfortable Shoes for NYC
The number one packing mistake people make traveling to NYC is packing anything other than their most comfortable shoes. It is very common to walk 10,000-20,000+ steps a day in New York City. These steps will be up and down stairs, on cobble stones, and Belgian blocks, jumping around pot holes, leaping over puddles, perhaps journeying through snow, and maybe even stepping in WHO-KNOWS-WHAT…! Nothing will knock you out quite like a blister on your heel or big toe . You definitely want to pack your most comfortable shoes. We strongly suggest you bring your most comfy pair of sneakers to New York City. If it’s wintertime, bring your most comfortable water-resistant boots. Of course there may be special occasions when you will want to dress up. Perhaps seeing a Broadway show or attending a fancy party or even a night out at the club. What local New Yorkers do is they stuff their dress shoes in their bag and switch them out when they get to the venue. Trust us, you’ll thank us later.
Helpful Things to Pack for NYC
When packing for NYC, clothing obviously takes center stage. There are other useful things to know about packing for NYC.
You will want to bring a bag that fully closes. While crime is a lot lower than the news would have you think, it’s still good to keep your belongings close and enclosed. Travelon is a company that makes pickpocket-proof bags in a ton of great styles. Sure they’re not as trendy as Gucci, but they will keep your belongings safe.
Because you’ll be out exploring in NYC, make sure to pack an extra battery pack for your phone and other electronics. Nothing is worse than running out of phone battery and being unable to use Google maps, or call for help.
Pack a a great camera! This way you can capture all the memories you make. Share those memories with the world by putting them on a giant Times Square Billboard! Depending on availability, you get put your photos on a Times Square billboard the same day you take them! Visit welcometotimessquare.com to learn how you can appear on a billboard in Times Square for 24 hours for just $150 a day!