New York City is one of those rare and magical places that has the potential to attract millions of tourists and new residents from all corners of the world. If you’re on a short travel schedule or have just moved to the Big Apple in pursuit of your dreams, the impressive city might be hard to navigate at first glance.
Luckily for you, there are hundreds of apps that aim to make your life a bit easier – and when we say hundreds, we aren’t joking. There are so many cell phone applications that promise to make your NYC life better and easier, that it’s quite difficult to know which one is actually useful. That’s why we’ve researched and came up with the 9 indispensable New York City Apps that locals and visitors equally find beneficial – check them out:
Exit Strategy NYC
Navigating the NYC subway can be overwhelming and exhausting at the same time. You need to calculate which subway car door brings you closer to the exit of your final destination, which takes some time getting used to. While locals know their usual route from years of experience, Exit Strategy NYC is there to show you exactly where to stand on the platform so you can board the train at the right position and arrive directly in front of the exit of your destination. It also works offline, which is fantastic, since the phone signals are quite weak on the subway. The $3.99 investment is definitely worth it!
Central Park App
Central Park is definitely one of the most iconic landmarks in the city, which is a favorite among tourists and locals alike. The picturesque 843 acres of beautifully-maintained landscapes are indeed attractive; however, thanks to its enormous size, it’s quite easy to get lost in the massive park. Thankfully, the Central Park App gives you the inside scoop on everything that’s happening in the green space and helps you get around with ease.
Downtown NYC
The official app for the Downtown Culture Pass, this mobile phone app offers fantastic deals and discounts to a large number of Lower Manhattan Attractions. The Downtown NYC App is ideal for tourists wandering around the heart of Manhattan, and is perfect for locals looking to explore their beloved city. While it’s a fantastic tool, the downside is that it’s only available on iOS devices.
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ILoveNY
As the official app of the New York City Tourism Board, ILoveNY offers a wealth of information about the city’s highlights to both permanent and temporary residents. It also boasts plenty of useful advice on what to see and do in the wider New York area as well. The app can be downloaded on both iOS and Android devices and what’s even better – it’s completely free!
OpenTable
You can’t exactly just walk into a random restaurant in NYC on a busy Friday night and expect to be seated and served right away – you have to reserve a table in advance. Here’s where OpenTable comes in handy. Through this easy-to-use tool, you can reserve and manage restaurant reservations, check availability, opening times, and other useful info from ultra-cheap street food trucks to fine dining restaurants.
Red Rover
Red Rover is a social events tool where parents can explore activities, events, and workshops for their children to participate in. Furthermore, with the help of this app, people can share their info with other parents and make play dates on the fly. The only downside is, again, it’s only available for iOS devices.
Spot Hero
If you’re someone who’s brave enough to tackle the somewhat scary NYC traffic via car, then Spot Hero is definitely a must-have app. Put simply, this tool helps you find available parking spots in various garages in all corners of the city. It works on both iOS and Android devices.
Price per Pint
Those who frequent bars and would love to know upfront how much they need to pay for drinks, should definitely check out Price per Pint. It showcases real-time pricing of mixed drinks, wines, and beers at any time of day. Users can filter search results based on their preferences, which is definitely an added bonus.
CUPS
A fantastic app all coffee-lovers must have, CUPS is your personal guide to some of the city’s finest coffee shops. You can opt for various prepaid plans for coffee, tea, and other beverages at participating local vendors and small businesses. The tool helps regular coffee drinkers save a ton of money and can even lead you to new and awesome coffee shops you haven’t heard of yet.
