For pretty much every traveler, there must have been a time when the Big Apple was at the top of your bucket list.
New York City is one of the world’s most iconic cities for a great many reasons, with travelers around the world flocking to wander among its concrete jungle.
You might not think it was possible for New York to become any more popular, but according to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, a record-breaking 144 million passengers flew through JFK International, LaGuardia, and Newark Liberty International airports in 2023.
This figure smashed the previous record of 140 million, which was set in 2019.
So, it seems that New York’s popularity remains unwavering – here’s why travelers just can’t seem to get enough of NYC and why 2024 might be your time to visit.
Icon After Icon
You don’t need a travel writer to tell you about the obvious reasons you should visit New York.
The city is packed with icons on every block, so much so that you should probably plan longer than a weekend to see them all.
Besides the obvious ones, try and track down some of the free things to do in the city (there are plenty) to help keep costs down, or seek out some off-path tours.
Anniversaries Aplenty
The year 2024 represents some significant milestones for several of New York’s most famous museums and institutions – each of which will be running special events to celebrate.
Examples include the 200th anniversary of the Brooklyn Museum and the 100th anniversary of the Morgan Library and Museum.
Connectivity Keeps On Improving
As mentioned in the intro, more passengers traveled through the airports that serve New York in 2023 than ever before – with domestic airport LaGuardia enjoying a particularly impressive surge.
This airport has been undergoing significant redevelopment and rebuilding over the past few years, with the last parts of the work expected to be completed in 2024.
The airport’s Terminal B was named the best new airport terminal in the world according to Skytrax, all of which helps New York remain one of America’s most connected cities.
A Great Destination For LGBTQ+ Travelers
New York is already well-known as an LGBTQ+ friendly destination, with its annual Pride celebration set to take place on June 30 this year.
As well as that, New York will host the first visitor national monument in the country dedicated to LGBTQ+ history.
The Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center is set to open in Greenwich Village in June 2024.
Sport Never Sleeps
NYC is one of the homes of sport in the United States, with famous teams such as the Mets, Yankees, Knicks, Jets, and Giants all calling the city home.
The next few years look set to enhance that sporting reputation with the building of New York’s first professional soccer stadium set to commence soon, and the recent announcement that the MetLife Stadium in nearby Rutherford, New Jersey will host the final of the 2026 FIFA soccer world cup.
The city also hosts the world’s biggest marathon in November each year – a great event to experience as a spectator.
A Chance To Experience Luxury
New York is not the cheapest place to visit, but perhaps you should take that as your sign to indulge in a little luxury the next time you visit.
The city is blessed with countless luxury and boutique hotels that can give your city break a unique angle and leave you with long-lasting memories.
Great At Any Time Of Year
Balmy summer evenings in New York are hard to beat – golden light bathing the skyscrapers as you enjoy a cocktail on a rooftop bar or terrace; what a life!
But the city is also great to visit in winter or off-season too – in fact there are many special offers on accommodation and shows during January and February after the Christmas rush.
Don’t pigeonhole New York as being somewhere you can only visit at specific times of the year, it’s a true all-year-round destination.
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