Planning a trip to New York City in Spring? Here is my guide to a long weekend in New York in May!

New York has to be my favourite big city in the entire world. Here is everything that I got up to in my long weekend trip to NYC in May.

This trip was my second visit and it was just as magical as my first. I flew across the pond from London for 5 days to be reunited with my mum and stepdad!

This was my second reunion with my mum after an extended period apart in New York so this city has a very special place in my heart.

We stayed in a hotel in Midtown just down the road from Grand Central Station. Can’t remember the name but it was extremely expensive. I’m very grateful to my mum for sponsoring the accommodation!

NYC in May- view over midtown — The view from our hotel. Staring into the neatly arranged blocks of endless buildings and 10 lanes of yellow taxis never get old.

The NYC vibe gets me every time

The first time I came to New York it was for Christmas in 2013. This visit to NYC was in May during an unseasonal heat wave. Both times (okay especially at Christmas) the city made me feel like I was in a movie.

All my memories of the place legit feel like a dream. There is so much amazing energy everywhere. Thousands of people, yellow cabs, those traffic lights, hotdog stands and iconic landmarks around every corner.

Everywhere just looks like the set of a movie. We were up from the early morning to late at night rushing around the city, energised by street pretzels and shitty Starbucks coffee.

I love the people in NYC, they’re so full on. They speak loudly and sometimes offensively in their east coast accents. But they’re full of personality and in my experience genuinely helpful as well as entertaining as hell.

Here is a list of all the things I got up to in NYC in 5 days in May.

Top of the Rock

Here’s a special shout out to the Top of the Rock viewing platform! I don’t think a trip to New York would be complete without coming to this viewing platform. I came here my first time and it was the first thing on my list to do again.

Booking in about an hour or so before sunset means you get to see the most iconic skyline in the world go from day to night before your eyes.

You get the best views here over Central Park and the Empire State Building. There are so many different platforms and photo opportunities! You may need to wait a bit to get a snap people free but it’s worth it!

I actually really, really did not want to leave. I remember just looking out over the city wishing for time to stop so the moment didn’t have to end.

So special returning to one of my favourite places ever with my mum!

The High Line

The High Line in Midtown Manhatten is old train tracks turned into an elevated park. It was a really unique experience! You get some amazing views at certain points over the city.

Brooklyn Bridge and Dumbo

We went across the river to Brooklyn and scoped out some hipster cafes and had a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge. The weather in NYC in May was scorching! A very different experience to visiting in December.

We visited Bluestone Lane Coffee Shop which is an Australian cafe. They had a great menu and good coffee but the execution and food quality weren’t the best, unfortunately! Still, it was a beautiful little cafe

famous street view of a bridge in Dumbo Brooklyn, NYC in May — Almost got run over taking this but it had to be done. One of the most iconic frames in the city.

Brooklyn Bridge, NYC in May — Brooklyn Bridge! (duh)

Posing on Brooklyn Bridge, NYC in May — Taking this picture was actually kinda terrifying with the roaring traffic just on the underside of my right butt cheek, mum also wasn’t happy about this situation. But you gotta do what you gotta do!

Found an Australian cafe in Brooklyn with real coffee! Finally a cafe in America where they don’t look at me like I’m mad when I ask for a long black.

A Night Out at The Django Jazz Bar in Tribeca

We had a really nice evening out in Tribeca with family friends who live in New Jersey. They took us to an amazing restaurant (I can’t remember the name!) and then to a jazz bar called The Django under The Roxy Hotel.

It was awesome! I felt like I was in The Great Gatsby. The hotel itself is 20s themed and after I went back to London my mum and stepdad stayed here for a few nights and absolutely loved it.

They even have James Bond themed Sundays where people seriously go all out dressed up. That’s is one thing I notice about the people in New York, they know how to dress up! They always look so immaculate and put together (just like the movies yes!).

Times Square

A trip to New York is incomplete without visiting Times Square! Times Square was only a few blocks from where I was staying so I just strolled down a couple of times to soak in the energy and the madness!

NYC in May- Times Square in May — All of the blinding lights at Times Square. Consumerism at it’s finest!

Grand Central Station

Like I said we were staying across the road from Grand Central Station so of course, we went to check it out. There are some really nice, but very expensive, markets inside the station. There’s also this really cool tunnel area where you can whisper into the wall and a person on across from you will be able to hear you! It’s called the Whispering Gallery.

The World Trade Centre Memorial and Occulus Train Station

I visited the World Trade Centre memorial in 2013 when it was still being built but wanted to go back again this time more to check out the architecture at the Oculus Train Station!

When I visited the memorial in 2013 it was closed off and entry was ticketed so I was surprised to find the memorial completely open when I visited NYC in 2017! It was amazing to stroll around again and reflect on the events in 2001.

The train station was also incredible to look at!

This is the train station next to the new World Trade Centre. It’s just as striking as the sparkly skyscraper itself.

Excessive Shopping

To be honest I spent most of my time shopping (let’s not talk about the ££ damage, but seriously the shopping here is off the planet). I did most of the damage in Soho and on 5th Avenue. I bought a ton of makeup from e.l.f, a bunch of Adidas gear and my favourite guilty pleasure is Forever 21!

The Flatiron Building

I walked past this iconic building on 5th Avenue during my shopping spree so I thought it was worth throwing in here! If you’re in the area definitely check it out!

In between the site seeing and excessive shopping we wanted to hit up some nice rooftop bars given the heat wave. Good news: the views didn’t disappoint, the bad news: the gin & tonic left much to be desired!

I didn’t cover a lot of the main tourist attractions this time around as I’ve already done most of them!

This trip was about spending some quality time with my parents and revisiting some favourites in a different season.

Advice on getting from JFK airport to Manhatten

I arrived landed late at night in New York and me being familiar with the tube in London, I thought it would be totally fine to just get the subway from the Airport into Manhattan.

I was wrong.

The subway is confusing as hell and the station by the airport is incredibly sketchy. I came away with a new appreciation for the tube! My suggestion is to fork out for an Uber if your flight gets in late!

I eventually made it safely into the big city and met my mum in the middle of the street in the dark surrounded by the famous New York skyscrapers. Such an unforgettable reunion.

Cautionary Note About The Restaurant Scene in NYC

Review sites like Trip Advisor and Zomato are apparently big business in the Big Apple and most of the highly rated restaurants and bars are actually made up of paid for fake reviews.

We kept going to ‘the best’ place for this or that and always came out so disappointed so when some friends who live there enlightened us it all made sense. The best way to find good spots is to go by word of mouth from locals and remember to make those reservations so you don’t miss out!