Heading to New York? When you go to visit the ‘City That Never Sleeps’ it can be a bit intimidating- especially if you’re not used to big cities. And you may wonder ‘what should I bring?’ This post will cover the pros and cons of types of bags to carry, what to pack in your bag, and some extra tips on visiting.
First, before we go into this ultimate guide, know this: you will never be fully prepared for New York City. There are just way too many different things to do and the weather is crazy! So focus on these next tips, and really think about what season you plan on going in and what you are planning on doing there.
Backpack, Purse, or Fanny Pack?
Yes, I said a fanny pack. (Hey they are becoming popular!)But really though, this is a serious question that is wondered:
‘Should I wear a regular purse, a backpack, or a fanny pack when traveling around New York City? ‘
Continue reading to see which is the best option for you!
FANNY PACK
If you’re worried about safety, then a fanny pack is going to be your best option. They sit right on your hips and no one will be taking anything out of it.
One thing about having a fanny pack is that they are small! So if you are one who brings lots of things-then a fanny pack is not for you.
I have used fanny packs before-but I just have too much stuff! So personally fanny packs don’t work for me.
BACKPACKS
I love carrying around a backpack! If you purchase anything- it will most likely fit in your backpack.
If you are considering safety,(which frankly, I doubt you will have a problem with safety in New York, unless you wander to an area that seems sketchy or in a rare event)then I would suggest a backpack that you can zip, not just a string tie. That way no one can slip their hand in and grab something.
I love using a backpack around New York City. It holds everything I need- including my camera I take with me.
Below you will see the backpacks have zippers, not just an opening.
A leather backpack like this one would be a great option for men.
Here is a nice backpack for the sporty style men.
SHOULDER PURSE
A shoulder purse is a great option as well. A crossbody purse is even better though! With a crossbody, everything is easily accessible, your metro card, money, and your phone.
If you are a shoulder bag type person, a tote is a good option too. (Just make sure it zips shut, you don’t want someone reaching in a pulling something out!)
You will be in areas that are literally jam-packed with people shoulder to shoulder-so you don’t want something coming up missing in your purse!
Items to Pack in Your Purse/Bag
These items are all optional of course, just a couple of things to give you an idea of what you could bring.
- CAMERA + LENS |If you love taking pictures, then I would suggest bringing your camera. I use a Canon T7i and a 16-300mm lens. I love the quality and features of this camera + lens.(And don’t worry about looking like a tourist-there are so many people who carry around cameras for non-touristy reasons)
- PHONE CHARGING STICK |Bringing a charging stick and your cord is very helpful to charge your phone if it’s going dead. You will be using your phone often, so I would suggest purchasing one just in case. (Just don’t forget your cord!)
- GERM-X |Walking around New York you end up touchingso manythings! You will be very glad you brought a hand sanitizer with you!
- CHAPSTICK |It seems like I always need chapstick, so this is a staple item for me. I would definitely suggest bringing some!
- SUNGLASSES | It’s an item I never leave the house without. You always need a nice pair of sunglasses while traveling through the city.
- REUSABLE WATER BOTTLE | This can be refilled for free and when you need a drink you don’t have to stop and buy one. These are my FAVE
- REUSABLE BAG | You never know when you are going to find something you can’t live without and end up buying it. Something like this one on Amazon
- CARDIGAN / RAINCOAT | Weather can be unpredictable so it is best to be prepared!
Packing Your Bag
PLAN |First, you will need to have an idea of what you are planning on doing. So, do five minutes of research on a couple of things to do in the area and make a list of the things that sound interesting to you. There are all kinds of things from the city to beaches and mountains and just too much. Pick the items that sound the most interesting to you.
For my personal trip to New York, I needed to wear a different dress for 3 days out of the week. After that, I just needed a couple of cute outfits for going to the Metropolitan Museum and walking around the city.
- Pro Tip:Try to lay out each day on paper and what you plan on doing. (I use my planner) This way it can help you to see what type of outfit you should pack. (and whether or not you will be seeing the same people!)
As a side note, the way I decide what I am going to wear is I go through my entire closet and pull out everything that I would even consider a possibility. Then, it is the process of elimination.‘Would I rather wear this instead of this..’ It may take some time but it works for me.
PACKLIGHT |You may be limited on weight and space in your luggage, so it isveryimportant to pack light.
- Pro Tip:Try wearing one sweater alone one day, and the next wear it with a vest. Or wear a dress one day and the next add a shirt over it.
PACKING CUBES |These make a ginormous difference!Packing cubesare about the best thing I have found for trips! They help you organize your suitcase, keep your clothes together, and they can help prevent your clothes from wrinkling! (If packed right.)
I can’t believe I have gone this long without packing cubes! My words can’t even describe how I feel about how much I love them. They have really helped keep all of my items neatly organized in my suitcase. I didn’t know how much I needed them until I bought some!
- Pro Tip:Roll your clothes to keep them from wrinkling, and when packing your cubes, put your clothes to one side and zip as you go to get the most out of the room. Also, hold your finger inside of the zipper as you zip the packing cube up to keep your clothes from being caught on the zipper.
NY in Spring / Summer
DRESSES | JUMPSUITS | ROMPERS
A dress is an item that you can’t really go wrong with spring and summer, just pair a jacket and some booties with it in the spring and a pair of sandals with it in the summer.
Jumpsuits and rompers are a super easy item to style and very stylish!
JEANS | PANTS | SHORTS
Whether it is spring or summer you will want to wear a pair of jeans. You can pair them with a pair of tennis shoes, loafers, or sandals. During the summer a pair of shorts will be needed, or you could wear a pair of thin pants that can be dressed up or down.
LIGHT JACKET | CARDIGAN
Even though it can get pretty hot in the summer, spring is still quite chilly, so having a light jacket or cardigan with you is perfect even for later in the day when it gets colder.
THIN SWEATER | T-SHIRT
A thin sweater is a great option in the springtime and t-shirts are perfect in the summer!
HATS | THIN SCARVES | POP OF COLOR
I would always suggest having a pop of color! Whether it is earring, hats, or hair ties-they add so much to your outfit.
SHOES
Make sure that whatever shoes you decide to bring are COMFORTABLE. The last thing you want is to be stuck in uncomfortable shoes walking around New York City. You can easily walk 10 miles in NY.
NY in Fall / Winter
JACKET | OVERCOAT
During winter, you will need one heavy overcoat. It does get COLD! However in the fall, even though it’s still chilly, you don’t necessarily need a giant coat, you can go with a thinner coat.
JEANS | PANTS | DRESSES
In fall you can wear a sweater dress with either over the knee boots or with a pair of loafers depending on the weather – I love fall styles! The winter is more jean, boot, and sweater. (+scarf +hat +gloves-basically just stay warm)
SWEATERS
Sweaters are a must! Turtle necks or mock necks are my favorites! On extra cold days, I would suggest wearing a thermal shirt underneath to stay warm.
HATS | SCARVES | STOCKINGS
Wearing a hat is the perfect thing to stay warm! I love berets and beanies, but during the fall you can really pull off a velvet Panama hat. (wide brim hat) Scarves are a great addition to your outfit and to help keep you warm!
I would highly suggest wearing a pair of thermal leggings underneath your jeans or pants to keep you warm. That cold air will slice right through your pants!
SHOES
During the fall you can wear loafers and ankle booties, but during the winter you will want a pair of tall boots!
Now to Travel!
You are going to love New York, no matter what time of year you go. It is an atmosphere unlike any other. You want to be at least a little prepared for your New York trip. You can check out my NYC Amazon Store to make sure you don’t forget anything!
Check out my Amazon Store for all your New York shopping!
