22 Best Things to Do Alone in NYC (Solo Female Travel Guide + Safety Tips)
Updated 2/26/2026
Photo credit: Jessie Festa, NYC Photo Journeys
Start spreading the news: NYC is safe and fun for solo female travelers!
I lived there for a while as a digital nomad by myself, and if you’ve got the urge to visit, I say do it, solo or not.
NYC was unlike anywhere else I’ve experienced, and if you’ve never been in a city as large as New York, you’ll probably feel the same.
Shortly before I moved there, I met someone from New York who told me that New York would knock you down sometimes but also lift you back up again. I think that’s true. Sometimes you just have to ride it out and go wherever the city takes you.
You might be thinking…Isn’t it dangerous? And overwhelming?
Solo female travel in NYC might sound intimidating at first, but New York is actually one of the easiest big cities to explore alone. Between walkable neighborhoods, late-night food spots, and endless things to do, NYC is surprisingly solo-traveler friendly. If you’re thinking about visiting New York alone, here are some safety tips plus my favorite things to do solo in the city.
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Is NYC Safe for Solo Female Travelers?
All right, let’s get the big question out of the way first. Is it even safe?
The answer is yes – just use common sense and keep your head on a swivel, like you would anywhere else. With that being said, here are a few tips.
NYC Safety Tips
Keep moving. People in New York may yell things at you. Sometimes weird things. There may be catcalls. There may be people who try to tell you a story. Keep moving. You’ll never see them again.
Carry some pepper spray. I befriended a girl who lived in Brooklyn and had an interesting conversation with her on the subway about NYC safety. “Yeah, I just spray and go on,” she said. Just like it was nothing. I admired her for not letting fear hold her back or the potentially harmful thought of “What if they’re harmless?”.
Fortunately, I’ve never been in a situation where I felt the need to pepper-spray someone, and while I hope it stays that way, it’s good to know it’s an option.
Be aware of your surroundings and stick to well-lit areas. This goes for pretty much any place you travel. In NYC, if you’re staying in Manhattan, you likely won’t have a ton of bus or subway connections at 2 a.m. The only time I felt a bit “iffy” was when waiting for a bus late at night (I lived in Queens). It was fine, but desolate, and in New York, that’s weird. If you’re in a very populous/touristy area, you won’t have to worry about this.
When in doubt, take a cab or a Lyft. It’s absolutely worth paying for safety. If I had it to do over again, I would have taken a Lyft instead of a bus at midnight in Queens.
Walk with a purpose. Look like you know where you’re going, and try not to look down at your phone too much. And please, if you need to pause, step out of the way!
Photo credit: Jessie Festa
Iconic NYC Attractions
One important tip: no matter what you do in NYC, you won’t see it all. It is massive. I was there for 6 weeks, and don’t get me wrong–I saw quite a bit, but not everything. But that’s just one reason to come back! That being said, here are some of the best things to do alone in NYC.
Statue of Liberty
There are a few different ways to see the statue. I’ll get into two:
Staten Island Ferry (free!). Ride the ferry to Staten Island, where you’ll get fabulous views of the statue along the way. You can take alcohol on board and enjoy the view. I recommend a sunset trip.
Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island tour. If you have the time, I highly recommend visiting the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. You have the option of going inside the statue, which was pretty cool. Fun fact: my grandfather was born on Christmas Day on a boat from Norway to Ellis Island.
9/11 Memorial and Museum
The memorial was an absolutely beautiful tribute and was ideal for solo reflection. If you’d like, you can visit the museum too. Somber but beautiful at the same time.
The shameless Starry Night selfie…
Visit a Famous Museum, Like The MoMa or the Met
Or whichever museums call to you–there are so many iconic ones here! I recommend picking 1-2 if you’re only in New York for a short time. What’s great about exploring museums solo is that you can take as much or as little time at each exhibit as you want.
Brooklyn Bridge
Walk across the famous Brooklyn Bridge! Elgie and I enjoyed it.
Things to Do Alone in NYC at Night
Not pictured: the myriad of influencers and wannabes…
Broadway and Times Square
You can knock both of these out at the same time. I saw Come From Away on Broadway, and it was a fantastic experience! You have to go to a Broadway show, or Off Broadway, or Off Off Broadway. You can’t go wrong with theatre in NYC.
Visit Times Square if you’ve never been. You have to go, even if only once.
Comedy Show in Greenwich village
I went to the famous Comedy Cellar, and Dave Attell showed up unannounced!
Have a Drink at a Rooftop Bar
You have to go and take in the city lights at least once! This could be a cheaper alternative than the Empire State Building or other spots. I went to 230 Fifth.
Deep in concentration at the club…
Go out Dancing
I recommend Slate for a great solo club experience. They have other fun things to do there as well, such as giant Jenga and a slide! If you’re feeling social, challenge a stranger to a game.
Low-Key Things to Do Alone in NYC
If you’re anything like me, you’ll need breaks from the hustle and bustle. Luckily, there are plenty of quiet things for introverts to do in NYC:
Just Walk Around Your Neighborhood
No matter where you stay, there will be corner stores, restaurants, markets, etc. Don’t overthink it. Just go outside and enjoy a walk around your neighborhood!
Photo credit: Jessie Festa
Spend an Afternoon in Central Park
Yes, Central Park is lively. But it’s also enormous. If you’re looking to just enjoy the day and read a book, bring a blanket and have at it.
Get Creeped Out at Roosevelt Island (or Just Enjoy the Tram Ride There)
Roosevelt Island houses the Smallpox Hospital ruins and is pretty desolate compared to the rest of New York. If you want to escape the crowds, you could come here and explore. There’s a really fun aerial tram ride to get there for the cost of a subway ticket. The tram leaves from 59th St. and 2nd Ave in Manhattan and has spectacular views!
Eating in Little Italy on a food tour
Best Places to Eat Alone in NYC
NYC is very much a “solo city.” Many people dine solo there, and there’s no reason why you should feel weird as a solo diner pretty much anywhere. Here are a few of my favorites:
These do not look like your regular Starbucks offerings…
Fancy Starbucks
61 9th Ave
Fancy Starbucks, a.k.a Starbucks Reserve, was a pleasant surprise. Enjoy a cocktail or coffee while taking a break with a book in the city.
Chelsea Market
75 9th Ave
This is more of a food hall-style experience, which is often more comfortable for solo travelers, especially if you’re not used to eating alone. Walk around, shop, and enjoy some of the many eateries here.
Droooool…
Liberty Bagels
Various locations
The rainbow bagels not only look pretty, they’re tasty too! I wish I had one right now…
Joe’s Pizza
Various locations
Some of the best slices in the city and super easy to eat alone!
Don’t Want to Eat Alone? Do a Food Tour!
I did this Food tour of Chinatown and Little Italy, and it was fun and delicious (had the absolute best dumplings of my life, pictured above)!
Shopping in NYC
Fancy Nordstrom
The Nordstrom flagship store isn’t your typical Nordstrom. There’s a bar right in the shoe department! Could be dangerous…
The Strand
828 Broadway
Does wandering through a massive bookstore sound like heaven to you? There are 18 miles of books in this awesome store. You don’t want to miss it!
Vintage Shops
If you want to find unique vintage pieces, take your pick! You can’t go wrong with vintage shopping in NYC. Try L Train Vintage in the East Village.
Interesting items in Chinatown…
Chinatown
If you’re looking for something unique (or just plain weird), reasonably priced souvenirs, or some knockoff designer bags, head to Chinatown. Canal St. will be your go-to for fake purses.
How to Get Around in NYC Solo
Walk and subway. Don’t fear the subway. It’s how pretty much everybody gets around in NYC, and people are willing to help you if you need it. If you’ve spent time in a city and been disappointed by transit, well, rethink it. NYC transit is actually useful and efficient.
If you’re staying in the outer boroughs, you could drive around to do your daily errands. I still recommend taking the subway as much as possible.
Is the NYC Subway Safe for Solo Female Travelers?
Yes, by and large. I even found it enjoyable, especially when dancers and performers would randomly come on board!
However, if you’re not staying close to a subway stop and you’re out late at night, I’d consider a Lyft instead.
Best Areas to Stay in NYC for Solo Travelers
This depends on what you’re looking for, your traveling style, and your budget.
If you’re only there for a few days, stay in Manhattan, get the full NYC experience, and walk or subway to everything. Here are a few popular Manhattan neighborhoods you’ll love:
Soho. For the shoppers. Here you’ll find all the designer shopping you could need!
Greenwich Village: If you love comedy shows, stay close to Greenwich Village.
East Village: Bohemian vibes, music shows, arts, and vibrant nightlife. Cool place.
Times Square: One of the busiest areas, but definitely worth it if you’ve never been to NYC.
Chelsea: For the art lovers. Home to over 300 art galleries!
If you’re a digital nomad or otherwise will be there awhile, consider Queens. Yes, you are farther away from the city, but you have so much more time to explore, and not just in Manhattan. You could spend a month in Queens and a month in Brooklyn if you wanted. Furnished Finder is my go-to for digital nomad housing.
No matter where you stay, it’s ideal to be a short walk from a subway station (one that you’ll actually use). Or if you take your car, like I did, a short drive from a subway station. I drove to the subway, parked for free, and rode downtown. It took a while, but it was worth it.
Map of where to stay in NYC:
It’s set to Manhattan, but feel free to move it around!
FAQ: Solo Travel NYC
How do I make friends and meet people in NYC?
Making friends in NYC is easy! After all, there are 8 million people there. Here’s how I did it:
This Facebook Group was amazing! I met so many people through this group and went to a lot of cool events.
New York Social Network was another great group. Check Eventbrite for their events.
Take a tour. There’s no shortage of tours in NYC–food tours, city, tours, etc. Find one that sounds good and go meet people!
Related reading: How to make friends as a solo traveler.
Is NYC dog-friendly?
There are a lot of dog-friendly activities in NYC, including doggie bakeries, like Elgie is enjoying above.
Can dogs go on the subway? One thing about New Yorkers–they will make anything work. There’s a rule that dogs on the subway must be in carriers, but “carriers” is pretty loosely defined. If you look up NYC dogs on the subway, you’ll find pictures of huge dogs in Ikea bags (sometimes wearing the bags like pants) and other humorous loopholes in action. Look it up and thank me later.
How do I not look like a tourist in NYC?
Walk fast! One thing that stood out to me right away was how fast New Yorkers walk. There’s no meandering on the sidewalk here, and if you walk too slow, you’ll definitely hear about it. If you need to pause, move to the side.
If you’re worried, save the I Heart NY shirt for when you’re home. New Yorkers don’t wear those. On the other hand, you could say fuck it and wear it anyway, like I did…
I went out in public like this…
What Else to Know about Solo Travel in NYC?
It really is that big. Before I actually went to New York, I mean, I knew it was big, but it’s MASSIVE… I also thought New York is New York is New York…but no. The boroughs are so different from one another and pretty far apart.
Empty subway cars are empty for a reason. There’s an unbearable stink. The AC is out. Whatever the reason, don’t get on an empty subway car.
The people could really get to you. By the end of my time there, I was really feeling cramped. You just don’t get a moment to yourself, ever, when you’re out and about. I found myself getting annoyed because some guy on the subway was staring at the same wall I was.
People will talk trash to you. See point above. While I met many nice and helpful New Yorkers, at the same time, I’ve never been to any other place where people would just openly talk trash right in front of my face, and over nothing. Outfit, hair, etc (and no, I wasn’t wearing the shirt in the photo above!). I guess I’m not cool because I’m not from there…
You might want to move there. I fantasize about moving there allll the time. I loved NYC, despite all the people.
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