Where to Stay in New York City 2024: Best Hotels and Neighborhoods

To make things easier for you, we have narrowed down the long list of options into just a few great properties, organized by neighborhood and budget.

In this article, get an overview of some of New York City’s most popular neighborhoods with recommendations on where to stay in each of them. You can see the locations of all of these hotels on the map at the end of this article.

Where to Stay in New York City

The hotels we list in this article are very highly rated. All but a few get 8.5 stars or higher on Booking.com, and most of them get at least 9 stars. On this list you will find hotels, apartments, and hostels.

Even though this is a narrowed down list of all the hotel options in New York City, it is still a long list. At the end of the article, I narrow it down even more, giving you our top recommendations based on traveling style (skip ahead to this list now).

I list hotels as luxury, upscale, mid-range, and budget. A luxury hotel is a 5-star hotel, an upscale hotel is a 4-star property, a mid-range hotel is a 3-star property, and a budget hotel is a 1 or 2-star property or a hostel.

How Much Does it Cost to Stay in New York City?

If you are a budget traveler, you can spend as little as $30 per night in a hostel. If you are traveling as a group of two or more, a double room in a 2-star hotel will cost between $100 and $200. For the mid-range traveler, on average you will pay between $200 and $350 per night for a double room. 4-star rooms usually range from $350 to $450 per night, and the 5-star hotels usually start around $450 and go up from here.

These are the prices for a standard room at this level. 3-star hotels can offer deluxe rooms or rooms with a view for two or three times the price of one of their standard double rooms. The same goes for all classes of hotel.

These average costs can go up based on the time of year and during times of high demand for hotel rooms. Prices may also be cheaper during the off-season. In New York City, the highest demand for hotel rooms is from April through October, on holiday weekends, and during the winter holiday season.

Map of Where to Stay in New York City

Below is a map of New York City. The different colors represent the different neighborhoods. The black markers are the popular landmarks.

Best Hotels in Midtown Manhattan

This is the touristy heart of Manhattan. Midtown Manhattan is where you will find some of New York City’s most popular tourist attractions, such as Times Square, the Empire State Building, and Rockefeller Center.

Pros: Centrally located, many attractions are within walking distance, lots of hotel options.

Cons: Expensive, touristy, lacks the charm that you find in neighborhoods such as Chelsea and the Upper West Side

LUXURY: The Langham. Located between Byrant Park and the Empire State Building, this hotel features an onsite Michelin-starred restaurant, a spa, and a fitness center. You may never want to leave! Rooms are modern and can accommodate up to four people.

UPSCALE: CitizenM New York Times Square. Stay right in Times Square at this ultra-modern hotel. The rooms are small but have space-saving features and you can use a tablet to control the electronics in your room. Enjoy the view over Manhattan from the exclusive rooftop bar.

UPSCALE:  Merrion Row Hotel and Public House. This very highly rated hotel is located in Times Square. Rooms are beautifully decorated with an Irish theme. Some rooms can accommodate up to four people.

MIDRANGE: Hotel Scherman. This boutique hotel looks like it was plucked off of Bourbon Street in New Orleans and plopped down in Manhattan. Rooms are decorated with a French theme and can accommodate up to five people.

MIDRANGE:  EVEN Midtown East – Grand Central. EVEN hotels not only offer clean, comfortable rooms but they also offer a “wellness experience” with made to order smoothies, Peloton bikes, Woodway treadmills, and spa-like showers. Rooms can accommodate up to four people and some have fabulous city views.

BUDGET: Hotel St. James. This hotel is located in the heart of the theater district. Rooms can accommodate up to four people.

Best Hotels in Chelsea & Hudson Yards

Chelsea is home to hundreds of art galleries, the famous High Line, Chelsea Market, and one of the largest LGBTQ communities in New York. It’s hip, it’s trendy, and it’s a great neighborhood to pick if you want to be near the main sites but get more of a “local” experience while touring Manhattan.

Pros: Less touristy than Midtown, one of Manhattan’s trendiest spots, quick walk to The Edge, one of the most thrilling observation decks in Manhattan.

Cons: With just a few subway stations you may have longer metro rides and/or more transfers than other neighborhoods on this list.

UPSCALE: Equinox Hotel Hudson Yards. We stayed here on one of our most recent visits to Manhattan and this just might become our go-to hotel. The rooms are modernly decorated, clean and quiet. Rooms come stocked with healthy snacks, liquor and cocktail mixers, and yoga mats! The onsite gym is phenomenal and the customer service is impeccable. 

Equinox Hotel | Where to Stay in New York City

Equinox Hotel and Hudson Yards (from the Vessel)

UPSCALE: Maritime Hotel. Rooms are decorated with a nautical theme at this trendy hotel. Dine at La Sirena, the onsite gourmet Italian restaurant. This is one of the highest rated hotels in Chelsea.

MIDRANGE: Chelsea Pines Inn.This Bed & Breakfast is located within walking distance of Chelsea Market and it is right around the corner from the 14th Street subway station. Rooms can accommodate up to four people.

Best Hotels in Greenwich Village

Referred to simply as “the Village,” this is where you will find brownstone buildings, tree-lined streets, and Washington Square Park.

Pros: This area has some of the best nightlife in Manhattan, not to mention some of the best restaurants in town.

Cons: This area can be noisy at night.

UPSCALE: Walker Hotel Greenwich Village. This boutique hotel is located in a historic building in the heart of Greenwich Village. From here you are within walking distance of Washington Square and Chelsea Market.

BUDGET: The Jane. This historic hotel is located on the edge of Greenwich Village, very close to Chelsea. Rooms are decorated to look like the cabin of a ship. Some rooms have a shared bathroom.

Best Hotels on the Lower East Side

This is another trendy neighborhood in Manhattan. In the 19th century, most of the immigrants to New York City settled here, creating a mixing pot of Europeans. In the late 20th century, this area saw in influx of Asian immigrants. Recent gentrification has turned the Lower East Side into one of Manhattan’s best spots to go for dining and nightlife.

Pros: The place to go for nightlife and for some of New York’s best restaurants.

Cons: Can be noisy at night and there are not many subway stations so it can be more difficult to get around New York City from here. However, the hotels on this list are conveniently located near subway stations.

UPSCALE: The Ludlow Hotel.This boutique hotel looks absolutely amazing. Rooms are tastefully decorated and some rooms offer jaw-dropping views across Manhattan and the East River bridges. Check out the Skybox Loft…what a view!

MIDRANGE: Hotel Indigo Lower East Side. Almost right around the corner from the Ludlow Hotel is Hotel Indigo. This hotel is a great value for the money. You can also get gorgeous views of Manhattan at a lower cost than the Ludlow.

BUDGET: Orchard Street Hotel. Rooms are basic but they are clean and comfortable. There is a rooftop lounge that has a nice view over Manhattan.

The view of the Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan from Brooklyn.

Best Hotels in the Financial District

Located on the southern tip of Manhattan, this is where you will find Wall Street, the 9/11 Memorial, and One World Trade Center. From here, you have easy access to the Staten Island Ferry and the ferry to the Statue of Liberty. Because this district is so far from the rest of Manhattan, this does not make a great choice for most tourists. However, there are some very cool properties to check out and they just may be worth the extra time on the subway.

Pros: Walking distance to Battery Park and One World Trade Center. There are some very great hotel options in this area if you don’t mind the extra commuting time on the subway.

Cons: Expect long subway rides to most sites in New York City.

LUXURY: The Beekman, a Thompson Hotel. This very highly rated property offers gorgeous rooms in a 100+ year old building. It is conveniently located near several subway lines and just a short walk from Brooklyn Bridge. For some people, it may be worth the splurge and the extra time on the subway to stay here.

UPSCALE:  Mint House at 70 Pine. This hotel is located in a historic building within walking distance of Battery Park. Every apartment has a fully equipped kitchen and some apartments have 2 bedrooms that can accommodate up to 6 people, making this a great choice for families. 

MIDRANGE: Hilton Garden Inn NYC Financial Center. This may not be the most exciting property, but this Hilton is a good pick if you want to stay in a highly rated property that is a good value for the money.

Inside the Oculus in the Financial District.

Best Hotels on the Upper West Side

This quiet, residential neighborhood has a much different feel to it than downtown Manhattan. There is not a whole lot to do here as far as sightseeing goes, but that’s part of the charm of the Upper West Side. If you want to feel like a local, consider a stay here. We have stayed on the Upper West Side on numerous trips to Manhattan and always enjoy it here. From here, you can walk to Riverside Park and Central Park as well as the Museum of Natural History.

Pros: Quiet, not touristy, less expensive

Cons: You will need to take the bus, taxi, or subway to get pretty much anywhere else in New York City

UPSCALE: Hotel Beacon. With great subway access and a wide range of hotel rooms to choose from, this makes a great pick for families. Rooms can accommodate up to six people and some even have a kitchenette.

UPSCALE: Hotel Lucerne. This hotel is located on 79th Street and a 5-minute walk from the Museum of Natural History. Onsite is a French restaurant, Nice Matin, and a gym. Double rooms are able to accommodate up to four people.

BUDGET: HI NYC Hostel. This is one of the highest rates hostels in New York City. All rooms are dormitory style rooms with shared bathrooms. It is a 10-minute walk to the 103rd Street subway station.

Best Hotels on the Upper East Side

This is another residential neighborhood in Manhattan, although this one is more upscale than the Upper West Side. The big sites here include the Guggenheim Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and Madison Avenue.

Pros: Perfect if you want to stay in an upscale neighborhood near Manhattan’s best museums and luxury shopping areas.

Cons: Can be expensive and expect longer rides on the subway to get to most tourist attractions.

LUXURY: The Pierre, A Taj Hotel. This luxury hotel is located near the boutique shops of Madison and Fifth Avenues. Some rooms offer amazing views over Central Park.

UPSCALE: The Loews Regency New York Hotel. This family friendly hotel is located near the southeast corner of Central Park so it’s easy to get to the museums of the Upper East Side as well as the touristy sites of Midtown.

Best Hotels in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

If you like the idea of staying outside of Manhattan, Williamsburg makes a nice choice. This is yet another one of New York City’s trendy neighborhoods, with lots of great restaurants and bars.

Pros: Trendy neighborhood, less expensive than staying in Manhattan. Some hotels offer stunning views of the Manhattan skyline.

Cons: You will spend a lot more time using public transportation to get around.

DUMBO in Brooklyn

UPSCALE: The William Vale. Staying outside of Manhattan has its advantages! If you want stunning views of the Manhattan skyline, check out the William Vale. All rooms come with a private balcony and some rooms face Manhattan. There is even a rooftop swimming pool.

MIDRANGE: Wythe Hotel. This is a very cool hotel. A 100 year old factory has been converted into this trendy hotel. Rooms are large and nicely decorated and some rooms offer views of the Manhattan skyline.

Our Recommendations

Even with a narrowed list of where to stay in New York City, it can still be a lot to choose from. Here are our recommendations based on travel style and budget.

If you are a budget traveler, we recommend the Hotel St. James. It gets rave reviews and you can stay very close to the main attractions in Manhattan. Another good pick is HI NYC Hostel on the Upper West Side.

If you are a luxury traveler, consider The Langham (in Midtown), The Beekman (in the Financial District), or The Pierre (on the Upper East Side).

If you want to stay in a trendy, boutique-style hotel, consider the Equinox Hotel Hudson Yards, the Maritime Hotel (Chelsea), the Wythe Hotel (Brooklyn), or the Ludlow Hotel (Lower East Side).

For families, The Beacon on the Upper West Side and the Loews Regency Hotel on the Upper East Side are good choices. Mint House at 70 Pine is also a great choice with the extra living space and kitchen.

For the best view, stay at the Ludlow Hotel on the Lower East Side or the William Vale in Brooklyn.

If we did it again, Tim and I would love to stay at the Ludlow Hotel in the Skybox Loft if it were just the two of us. We will definitely stay at the Equinox Hotel again since we had such a great experience here. With Tyler and Kara, The Beacon looks like a great option. I also love the idea of staying in Brooklyn at The William Vale or the Wythe Hotel.

Are you planning a trip to New York City? Comment below if you have any questions.

More Information about New York City

BEST OF NEW YORK CITY: For a list of the top experiences in New York City, read our article Best Things to Do in New York City.

NYC ITINERARY: In our article 5 Days in New York City, we included detailed daily itineraries for exploring New York City. You can do all five days or follow just a day or two, if you have less time in the city.

NYC OBSERVATION DECKS: In our article Best Observation Decks in New York City, we rank all of the observation decks by price, height, and best view. We also have detailed guides on The Edge, SUMMIT One Vanderbilt, and One World Observatory.

BROOKLYN: If you have plans to visit Brooklyn, read our article How to Spend One Day in Brooklyn.

CHELSEA & HUDSON YARDS: In our article Best Things to Do in Chelsea and Hudson Yards, learn about the best things to do in the area, with suggestions on where to eat and where to stay.

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