Manhattan is the urban core of New York City, a long, narrow island where the pace is fast and the energy is continuous. It is the most densely populated of the five boroughs, and its accommodation is correspondingly expensive: hotel rooms here can cost more than in almost any other major city, so where you base yourself matters as much as what you pay.
For a visitor, the island is easiest to understand in three broad sections. Downtown, or Lower Manhattan, covers everything south of 14th Street and holds the oldest part of the city, the tallest cluster of skyscrapers and some of its most interesting residential neighbourhoods. Midtown occupies the middle of the island between 14th Street and 59th Street, where Central Park begins. Uptown is everything north of 59th Street. This guide covers which of these areas to choose as a base, what each is like to stay in, and how the price bands work.
Best areas to stay in Manhattan
1. Midtown
Midtown sits between Lower Manhattan and Upper Manhattan, roughly from 14th Street up to 59th Street and Central Park. It is the most central base on the island, home to many skyscrapers and to a set of neighbourhoods that overlap and blur into one another. It suits first-time visitors who want to be within easy reach of the sights and who value convenience over quiet.
It is also the most practical area for short stays, since the major attractions and the main transport hubs are here or close by. Expect the widest choice of accommodation types, from budget rooms to full-service hotels, and expect to pay for the location.
2. Downtown (Lower Manhattan)
Downtown, or Lower Manhattan, is the oldest part of the city and is considered the financial capital of the country, if not the world. The tallest skyscrapers are mostly here, along with some of the most interesting residential neighbourhoods. It suits visitors who want to combine sightseeing in the historic core with staying in an area that has a genuine residential side.
This is the area to choose if you plan to spend your days around the southern end of the island. It is well connected to the rest of Manhattan, though it puts you at the far end of the island from Uptown attractions.
3. Uptown (Upper Manhattan)
Uptown covers the districts north of 59th Street, beyond Central Park. It is a broader, more residential part of the island, and it suits travellers who prefer a quieter base away from the busiest tourist concentrations, as well as those who want to be near the Upper West Side and the areas around it.
Hostels have opened in the Upper West Side and in the East Village, which makes Uptown and the areas around it worth considering if you are watching your budget. The trade-off is distance: you will spend more time travelling to the southern sights.
4. East Village
The East Village is named in the sources as one of the areas where hostels have opened in recent years, alongside the Upper West Side and Times Square. It suits budget-conscious travellers and those who want a neighbourhood base rather than a hotel district.
Staying here means trading some central convenience for a lower nightly rate, and you should check how your chosen base connects to the sights you plan to visit before booking.
5. Times Square
Times Square is one of the most-visited attractions in the world and is also named as an area with hostel accommodation. It suits visitors who want to be in the middle of the action and who prioritise being able to walk out of their door into the busiest part of Midtown.
As with the East Village and Upper West Side, the presence of hostels makes this a realistic option for budget travellers, though you should expect the area itself to be loud and busy at all hours.
Where to stay on a budget, mid-range or splurge
- Budget: a bed in a large dormitory in a hostel, or a double room with a shared bath. Many new hostels have opened, but some are conversions of single-room-occupancy buildings where renovated rooms sit alongside run-down ones, so research carefully before reserving.
- Mid-range: a double room with a private bath in a budget hotel, or a room in a mid-range hotel. Rates rise steeply from the budget band, and occupancy rates in the city are very high.
- Splurge: a room in a luxury hotel. This is the top of the Manhattan market, where rates exceed those of most other major world cities.
Best area for a first visit
Midtown is the best base for a first visit. It occupies the middle of the island, so it puts you between Lower Manhattan and Uptown rather than at either end, and it gives you the widest choice of accommodation at every price level. If you want to see as much of Manhattan as possible in a short trip, staying centrally will save you the most time.
Frequently asked questions
When should I book to get the best prices?
Occupancy rates in New York hotels are very high. If you are travelling during Thanksgiving week, in December or in May, it is best to book well in advance for the best prices.
Are short-term apartment rentals a good alternative to a hotel?
New York City implemented legal restrictions in 2023 that disincentivise short-term rentals. Stays of fewer than 30 days are limited to two guests, must be in locations with no internal door locks, and require the host to be physically present. Listings that obviously violate these restrictions are illegal and should be treated with caution.
Should I stay outside Manhattan to save money?
Hotels in the other boroughs or in New Jersey may be generally less expensive, but if spending a lot of time in Manhattan is important to you, check what the transport situation will be like before you decide.
Is it worth paying for a hotel with meals included?
Complimentary meals are usually a disadvantage in New York hotels, because with a few notable exceptions the better value in food tends to be found outside of hotels.
Compare live prices for your dates with the booking tools on this page before you commit to an area.