New York, the Big Apple has it all | CAA-Quebec Travel (2024)

When to go

Spring or fall, to avoid summer heat waves and winter’s chill.

Where to stay

Opt for a hotel in Manhattan to be where the action is and enjoy New York City by night.

What to eat

Taste the Shack Burger at one of the city’s Shake Shack restaurants.

Getting around

On foot or by subway, which is easy to use. To be avoided: by bicycle.

Important information about this destination

Planning to visit soon? Below are full details on the country’s entry requirements and health restrictions.

Read the legal notes

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New York, the Big Apple has it all | CAA-Quebec Travel (1)

Rainy-day New York

Even when it rains, New York City teems with things to do. It’s home to several prestigious museums for all tastes, like the Met, MoMA and the Guggenheim. The Big Apple, of course, is also all about shows and entertainment, from impressive Radio City Music Hall in the heart of Rockefeller Center to the big Broadway musical theatres. Buy your tickets ahead of time online and get attractive discounts!

Shopping is an absolute must in this extravagant metropolis, from world-famous Macy’s department store to M&M’s World to the giant Toys ‘R’ Us – complete with a Ferris wheel! –, in Times Square, the chic boutiques of Fifth Avenue, or Chinatown for all kinds of little souvenirs.

New York at Easter

Easter Weekend is one of the best times to visit the city. Rockefeller Center rolls out its themed garden, featuring an Easter Bunny topiary and giant Easter eggs. There’s also the famous Easter Parade and Bonnet Festival on Sunday, along Fifth Avenue, with participants decked out in crazy hats, and Easter egg hunts in public parks. And don’t forget to stop by the flagship Macy’s store at Herald Square for the colourful Flower Show!

Christmas in New York

The sight of the enormous lighted Christmas tree and skating rink at Rockefeller Center alone is worth the trip. Window-shopping is another must during the Holidays, with each retailer trying to outdo the next with imaginative storefront displays. At Macy’s, for example, a magical Christmas village takes up an entire department. And why not stick around until December 31 and usher in the New Year with the famous Ball Drop celebration in Times Square!

Contact one of our counsellors to start planning your visit to the “capital of the world,” where anything is possible.

Contact a counsellor

Tourist attractions

New York, the Big Apple has it all | CAA-Quebec Travel (2)

New York from on high

The Empire State Building is the most well-known edifice in the city, and one of the tallest. Two observation decks, on the 86th and 102nd floors, offer spectacular views of the iconic Manhattan skyline.

New York, the Big Apple has it all | CAA-Quebec Travel (3)

A panoramic view of Central Park

Top of the Rock, the 70th-floor observation deck at Rockefeller Center, provides a 360-degree view of the New York City—and the line-up is often shorter than at the Empire State Building.

New York, the Big Apple has it all | CAA-Quebec Travel (4)

Commemorating September 11, 2001

An indoor observation deck, One World Observatory, features a panoramic view of the city from the 102nd floor of One World Trade Center, built on the site of the fallen Twin Towers.

New York, the Big Apple has it all | CAA-Quebec Travel (5)

Up-in-the-air park

The High Line is an elevated linear park in Manhattan, built on a former rail line, with gardens and other greenery. Visitors can walk along it for 2.33 km from Gansevoort Street to West 34th Street.

New York, the Big Apple has it all | CAA-Quebec Travel (6)

New York City’s “lungs”

More than a public park, Central Park is a living space where you can picnic, listen to a concert, see a show, and enjoy a unique vantage point on Manhattan’s majestic buildings. Tip: rent a pedicab—the park won’t seem as vast, and your visit will be less tiring!

TOP 5

Must-dos

  • 1

    Guided walking tours on themes ranging from chocolate to photography

  • 2

    Hop on the Staten Island Ferry for a return trip (it’s free!) and see the Statue of Liberty

  • 3

    Stroll through famous cultural districts like Chinatown, Little Italy or Harlem

  • 4

    Hang out in Gansevoort Market in the Meatpacking District

  • 5

    See locations where popular films and TV series like Sex in the City and Seinfeld were shot

We love these addresses

Eataly at 200 Fifth Avenue, where you can sip the best cappuccino in the city and taste or buy great Italian fare.

Washington Square Park in the heart of Greenwich Village, with its marble arch modelled after the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. It’s the place to hang out, have a coffee, enjoy activities or play an outdoor game of chess.

Ellen’s Stardust Diner at 1650 Broadway, a retro eatery with a one-of-a-kind concept: don’t be surprised, while awaiting your food, to see your server mount a stage and become the star of the moment singing a solo.

Strong points

  • Many pedestrian walkways.
  • Continuous police surveillance.

Keep in mind

  • The large crowds can be intimidating at certain times of year, so try to schedule visits to the most popular attractions at the end of the day or during mealtimes, when the line-ups are often shorter.

Discover our exclusive explore cruises and tours

  • An amazing New York getaway Tours

For your safety...

Before any foreign trip, visit the Government of Canada’s Travel Advice and Advisories page to find out about the current situation in the country you wish to visit.

Travel insurance: Don’t leave home without it!

Costs for medical care in the United States are very high—among the highest in the world, in fact. Protect yourself with Emergency Medical Care coverage. That way, if an unexpected event lands you in the hospital, you won’t come home to a huge medical bill. Medical coverage is actually a must whenever you leave the province, even for a short stay.

New York, the Big Apple has it all | CAA-Quebec Travel (2024)

FAQs

Why is it called the Big Apple in New York? ›

How did NYC become "The Big Apple"? "The Big Apple" was popularized by a sportswriter for the New York Morning Telegraph, John J. Fitz Gerald, in the 1920s, according to the NYPL. In his column, he wrote that the NYC horse racing circuit was "the big apples" of competitive racing in the United States.

Do people still call New York the Big Apple? ›

New York City is known by many nicknames—such as “the City that Never Sleeps” or “Gotham”—but the most popular one is probably “the Big Apple.” How did this nickname come about? Although uses of the phrase are documented in the early 1900s, the term first became popular in the 1920s when John J.

How did New York get its name? ›

NEW YORK: Originally called New Netherlands, but changed in 1664 when taken over by the English and named in honor of the Duke of York. NORTH CAROLINA: In the early 1600's, the area was referred to in some English papers as Carolina and was thought to be named for Charles I of England.

Why is New York City so popular? ›

New York is a global center of finance and commerce, culture and technology, entertainment and media, academics and scientific output, and the arts and fashion, and, as home to the headquarters of the United Nations, is an important center for international diplomacy.

What do New Yorkers call New York? ›

Frequently shortened to simply "New York", "NY", or "NYC", New York City is also known as "The City" in some parts of the Eastern United States, in particular, the State of New York and surrounding U.S. states. New Yorkers also use "The City" to refer specifically to the borough of Manhattan.

Where is the city that never sleeps? ›

The City That Never Sleeps is a ubiquitously used nickname for New York City. It has been applied to several other cities around the world.

What did they call New York before New York? ›

The area was short inhabited by the Lenape; after initial European exploration in the 17th century, the Dutch established New Amsterdam in 1624. In 1664, the British conquered the area and renamed it New York.

Why is NY named twice? ›

The line "So Good They Named It Twice" is a play on the fact the name of the city and state are both "New York". "New York, New York" (as it is sometimes simply called) was the first hit for Kenny after a number of non-charting singles in the United States.

What salary do you need to live in NYC? ›

Researchers say a single adult needs to make more than $138,000, or an hourly wage of $66.62, to live comfortably while a family of 4 needs more than $318,000. According to Smart Asset, to cover necessities as a single person in New York City, you'll need an estimated $70,000 in wages.

Why do people love NYC so much? ›

“Diversity, everyone is here,” someone commented. Others echoed those sentiments. "The energy, the diversity and spirit of the people," reads a Facebook comment. "Best part for me: different international cultures and that alone brings several types of cuisines to try, experiences to be had (belly dance, salsa, etc.)

Why do they call New York the city that never sleeps? ›

New York City is mostly known as the city that never sleeps. The city earned its nickname because it is full of life and there is always something going on somewhere.

Why is NY called Gotham city? ›

When drafting a 1940s issue of Batman, writer Bill Finger reportedly flipped through a New York City phone book and came across the listing for Gotham Jewelers. He decided to situate Batman in the fictional Gotham, rather than Manhattan, to add to the mystery. (There's even a street in the Bronx named for Bill Finger.)

What is the meaning of the idiom The Big Apple? ›

The “Big Apple” as a nickname for New York City really takes hold in the 1920s jazz era. The term, already in popular meaning as betting on a sure thing, makes its way to racetracks in the early 1920s.

What is New York state's nickname? ›

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