Be aware of your surroundings and focus on tourist areas instead of exploring places off the beaten path on your own. Overall, New York City is a fairly safe city for those traveling alone. New York City is also safe at night, because the streets have lots of lights and people walk around all the time. The vast majority of New York City is safe for women traveling alone.
The important thing is that you stay close to the subway, because it will allow you to move around the city without problems. My first solo trip from Texas to New York and I appreciate safety information from a woman's perspective. The center and center of the city are full of hotels, but the neighborhoods are gray and a bit heartless; I was convinced that I didn't like New York until I realized that I had spent my visits in the center of the city. CityMapper is another useful tool for navigating New York's public transportation system, and it's free to download, with offline maps and schedules for all subways and buses in New York.
Some of my 25 favorite things to do alone in New York are taking a food tour through the streets of Queens, riding the Staten Island ferry, seeing a solo Broadway show, taking a day trip to Governors Island, visiting a Korean spa, trying food to post on Instagram, and much more. I suggest you plan to spend at least 5 days in New York to see some of the city's highlights, but of course, you won't be able to see everything. Keep in mind that Airbnb is illegal in New York City if the renter doesn't stay with you for the rent, unless the stay is longer than 30 days. Tucked away amidst the hustle and bustle of the Lower West Side, you'll find a quaint neighborhood with a charm and character that are almost completely absent from New York City.
There are so many people caught up against each other in New York that it's common for residents to seek solitude outside their homes, not inside them. If you're looking for a city where people won't be blown away if a woman traveling alone spends the day alone, eating and sightseeing, then New York is perfect for you. When you get here, you'll be transported to a strange world in which the dirt, grime, and total chaos of New York City are almost completely absent. I have been to 83 countries and 7 continents and consider New York City to be one of the safest cities in the world.
