5 reasons to travel solo to New York

1/ Do exactly what you want

• Travel with a partner, family, or friends and you’re constantly negotiating. Everyone has different interests, and compromise is inevitable. Travel alone and that problem disappears. You do what you want, whenever you want.
• Want to spend three hours at the top of the Empire State Building or Top of the Rock watching the sunset? No one’s rushing you. The same goes for lounging on the High Line or in Central Park, catching the sunrise from the Brooklyn Bridge, or taking your time with the art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and MoMA. Solo travel means you can change your plans on a whim.

2/ Meet New Yorkers

• New York has over 8 million residents—that’s 8 million chances to meet someone. And the best way to meet New Yorkers or other travelers? Travel alone. It’s much easier to start a conversation with someone or chat with a stranger on the subway or in a restaurant when you’re by yourself.
• Here’s a trick that almost always works: start taking a selfie at a spot like Brooklyn Heights Promenade or Central Park, and a New Yorker will almost certainly offer to help. After the photo, curious New Yorkers often ask “where are you from?” The conversation is on.
• Another idea: if you play chess, challenge a New Yorker to a game in Washington Square or Union Square. You’ll get to chat about the city between moves.
• Don’t hesitate to approach firefighters outside their firehouse either. You’re far more likely to get a tour of the station when you’re alone than if you show up with a whole family or group of friends.

3/ Save time everywhere

• Solo travel means you’ll be ready to go much faster in the morning. No waiting for everyone to shower. Same with breakfast—once you’re done, you can be out the door in minutes.
• You might also save time getting to the top of observation decks at the Empire State Building, Summit, The Edge, Top of the Rock, and One World Observatory. Staff often ask if anyone in line is traveling alone so they can fill elevators to capacity. If that’s you, raise your hand.
• Being alone can also speed things up at New York bars and restaurants. It’s always easier to grab a seat at the bar than to wait for a table for four to open up.

4/ Treat yourself

• Traveling alone makes it much easier to stick to your budget and set your own priorities. No one will tell you it’s too expensive or impossible. You’re in charge.
• Want to splurge on a helicopter tour over New York or buy a New York baseball team jersey? Go for it. Then balance it out with a quick bagel or burger for lunch. In the end, you answer to no one.

5/ Take professional-quality photos

• Any photographer will tell you: it’s always better to shoot alone. You can wait as long as you need for the right light or the perfect moment, without anyone pushing you to move on.
• You can also return to that photogenic spot as many times as you want—something impossible when traveling with others, since no one wants to revisit the same place twice. If you’re a photographer, New York is your playground.