The 5 major differences between New York and your city!

1/ Skyscrapers that touch the sky

• Unless you live in Dubai, home to the world’s tallest building at 829 m (2,720 ft), no skyscraper in your city comes close to New York’s. Paris’s tallest structure, the Eiffel Tower, reaches only 300 m (984 ft). Lyon’s Incity tower, completed in 2015, tops out at 170 m (558 ft). Marseille’s CMA-CGM tower stands at 147 m (482 ft), and Brussels’s Midi Tower reaches 168 m (551 ft). None of these compare to New York’s buildings.
• In New York, the city’s tallest building, One World Trade Center, reaches 541 m (1,776 ft). The 300 m (984 ft) mark has become the standard height for new buildings in Midtown. More and more towers now exceed 400 m (1,312 ft). In New York, expect to experience a completely different scale.

2/ Taxis everywhere

• In many cities, you know those times when you can’t find a taxi anywhere—whether at the train station or outside your apartment. Taxis in most European cities blend into the background.
• Not in New York. Here, waves of taxis flood the streets and avenues. The effect is striking because New York’s taxis are bright yellow-orange. This stream of cabs seems endless—you wonder what the streets would look like without them. Here’s a number to know: there are 12,000 taxis in New York. Now you understand the yellow tide.

3/ A city that never sleeps

• In most cities with a subway, tram, or bus network, you’ve experienced that moment during an evening out when you check your watch to catch the last train—or face an expensive taxi ride home.
• Not in New York. The subway runs 24 hours a day. And you won’t be alone on the trains. New York is known as “the city that never sleeps,” and you’ll see why. No other city in the world stays this active around the clock. You’ll find restaurants and shops open all night. Add Times Square with its constant neon glow, plus taxis that never stop running, and you get a city that’s always awake.

4/ The wail of sirens

• Here’s a difference you’ll hear rather than see. In most cities, police and fire sirens produce a familiar two-tone sound—a steady, predictable pattern.
• In New York, sirens take on a different character entirely. Instead of a gentle two-tone, you get a wailing sound that fills the streets and avenues, adding to the city’s unique atmosphere. This howl is pure New York. If you’ve only heard American sirens in movies, prepare yourself—your first real siren will give you a genuine thrill. Here’s a sample to get an idea…

5/ The kindness of New Yorkers

• Finally, here’s what stands out about New York compared to other cities: New Yorkers’ genuine friendliness toward visitors. If you’re lost or confused about something—like how to use the subway ticket machines—someone will help. On the New York Forum, visitors often share stories of New Yorkers walking them directly to their destination to make sure they don’t get lost. You’ll find this spirit of helpfulness throughout the city.
• You’ll also notice that service is taken seriously in New York shops and restaurants. Whether you’re a tourist or a local, you’ll be greeted with a “hello” or “how are you doing today,” and staff will check in to see if you need anything. It’s a refreshing change from the indifferent service you might experience elsewhere.