Is it Safe to Travel to New York City Right Now?

New York is a largely safe city to visit, despite its reputation for crime. It may have a reputation for crime, of all kinds, but New York is almost as safe as any other megalopolis in the Western world. The overall risk is medium and some high-risk areas that you probably won't go to anyway as a tourist. When it comes to big cities, New York is safer than places like Philadelphia, Chicago and Detroit, but there's still a lot of danger in a city with nearly nine million people.

You can't take personal safety lightly here, but you shouldn't be afraid to visit one of the most dynamic places in the world either. Today, millions of people have decided to travel to New York City and hotel occupancy for the week of June 25 reached 87% of pre-pandemic levels, the highest of all major markets in the country. It's important to be aware of the areas that should be avoided in New York City. These areas are different from what they could have been two years ago and could be different in two more years.

When it comes to using the New York subway at night, a good tip is to stand near the subway card booth and close to the sign that says “trains stop here after working hours”, since they tend to be more crowded places. It's safe, but unless you want to take road trips to places like Long Island or upstate New York, it doesn't make much sense to drive around the city. The best time to visit New York City in terms of weather is from April to June, when the weather is warm and pleasant, but the tourist crowds aren't overwhelming. Fox points out that its restaurants welcome business travelers, weekend visitors from other parts of the country and now international travelers, who have come in increasing numbers since the United States.

Keep in mind that New York is a major tourist city, so wherever you are, you'll have to watch out for pickpockets and petty theft. New Yorkers aren't the nicest people, but they're very protective of others and most likely have been in their shoes. Get a FREE travel insurance quote from SafetyWing to get the right (and timely) support to protect yourself in New York.