New York - Facts before you leave
Here you will get some facts about New York. Good to know before you leave.
Inhabitants
Approx 8 millions
Visitors per year
Approx 40 millions
Currency
Dollar (see exchange rate at Forex - www.forex.se)
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Language
The official language is English but here is also a big mixture of different nationalities and these languages are for example: Spanish, Italian, Greek etc.
When should you travel?
You can visit New York when ever during the whole year. You only have to know
by yourself which weather you like the best. During the summer (Jul-Aug) it can get
really hot and winter/spring can be really cold. Even if you are looking at the
temperature in winter there are not many degrees below zero - but the wind between
the high skyscrapers will make the temperature significant colder.
Beside you have an approx scale over the temperatures in NYC per month.
|
| Month |
Avarage temp.
(lowest-highest) |
| January |
26-38F |
-03-03C |
| February |
27-40F |
-03-04C |
| March |
34-49F |
01-09C |
| April |
44-61F |
07-16C |
| May |
53-72F |
12-22C |
| June |
63-80F |
17-27C |
| July |
68-85F |
20-29C |
| August |
67-84F |
19-29C |
| September |
60-77F |
16-25C |
| October |
50-66F |
10-19C |
| November |
41-54F |
05-12C |
| December |
31-42F |
-01-06C |
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Public Holidays
During public holidays most banks, offices, some shops and a few museums are closed.
Presidents' Day (third Monday in Feb), Memorial Day (last Monday in May), Independence Day (July 4 - if it occurs at the weekend - following Monday), Labor Day (first Monday in Sept),
Columbus Day (second Monday in October), Veterans Day (Nov 11), Thanksgiving (third or last
Thursday in Nov), Christmas Day (Dec 25).
Time difference
Six hours after Sweden
Airports
JFK - John F Kennedy International Airport (Queens)
LaGuardia Airport - (Queens)
Newark Liberty International Airport - (New Jersey)
Bus / Train
Port Authority Bus Terminal - 625 8th Avenue, New York
Penn Station - Amtrak - 8th Ave 31st Street, New York
Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Emergency
To get to the Police, Fire department and Ambulance, call 911.
Swedish consulate
445 Park Avenue mellan 56th Street and 57th Street.
(tel ++1 212 888 3000 )
Website: www.swedenabroad.com
Swedish church
5 East 48th Street, 10017 NY New York (tel +1 212 832 8443)
Website: www.swedishchurch.net
Visitor Information Center
As all cities New York offers Visitor Information Centers where you can
get free brochures, discount coupons to attractions and theaters, maps and ask questions.
See addresses below:
Times Square: Times Square Information Center - Seventh Avenue (between 46th and 47th Streets). A really good place to start your visit in New York and collect information about what´s going on in town.
Website: Times Square Information Center
Midtown: New York City's Official Visitor Information Center - 810 Seventh Avenue (between 52nd & 53rd Streets)
Downtown: NYC Heritage Tourism Center - City Hall Park (south tip)
Chinatown: The Official Visitor Information Kiosk for Chinatown - in the street crossing Canal, Walker och Baxter Streets.
Financial District: Federal Hall Information Center- at Federal Hall National Memorial (26 Wall St.)
Harlem: Harlem Visitor Information Center - 253 W. 125th St (at the Apollo Theater)
Website: NYC & Company - NYCvisit.com
Tip
Is expected everywhere were it isnīt included as for example, restaurants and taxi,
approx 15% of the bill.
Electricity
110V AC - electrical outlet (with two flat straight outlets). Bring with you an electrical
adapter.
Internet
Most local library is offering Internet connection and there are a lot of Internet cafe's.
You will find a lot around Times Square as the easyInternetcafe (7th Avenue). Even some ordinary cafeīs is offering wireledd
Internet for your portable computer. The coffee chain Starbucks is offering this.
Since August 2006 you can access Free w-lan in some parks. The parks offers special areas in the park where you can connect to the Internet. Now you can get Free w-lan in Central Park, Riverside Park and Prospect Park (Brooklyn). More parks will be added.
More information: www.wifisalon.com
Alcohol
Age limit to buy and drink alcohol is 21 year. Beer can be bought in food shops but
alcohol can only be bought in special shops.
Public bathroom
There are not so many public bathroom in the city. The best thing is to visit some cafe
or restaurant. MC Donalds and Starbucks can also be found at several places.
Can be good to also buy something as a thanks for the visit.
Smoking
Smoking is forbidden at most public places and buses, in the subway, in a taxi,
office buildnings, shops, restaurants and bars. Check how it is were
you are located.
Some interesting information
Why is New York called "The Big Apple"?
 The first time you could see the word in printing was during 1930īs and then it
was written by John Fitzgerald in the newspaper the Morning Telegraph. He was a
sports journalist and had heard some stable workers talk about different horse track
in New York as "the Big Apple" - they liked to come to New York and they saw the city
as a place for a lot of money and loaded with opportunities - the Big Apple.
The biggest apple on the tree of fortunes. Later on the jazzmusicians used the name.
The district Bronx - how Swedish is it
?
The history says that Bronx have got itīs name from a Swedish sailor and settler Jonas
Bronck that arrived here around year 1639. People are speculating if this is true or
not, sometimes they are saying that Jonas is Danish and sometimes Dutch. If you search
on his name on google you will get a lot of different theories.
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