General Information on New York City

General Information on New York City

Plan your trip to New York once you have read about its history, cultural events, top sites, boroughs and neighborhoods. Find out fascinating facts about New york and make the most of your trip. 

General Information

Electricity, plugs and sockets

The power plug used in the States is Type A; an ungrounded plug with two flat parallel prongs. If the sockets are different in your country, you can buy an adapter in any hardware store before your visit or once in New York City.

The electric voltage in the U.S. is 120V. Currently, most appliances are compatible with up to 220V. However, we recommend checking the voltage of the appliance before plugging it in.

Current local time

The time zone in New York is EST (Eastern Standard Time) UTC/GMT -5 hours (in Summer GMT -4). In other words, New York is 3 hours ahead of San Francisco, 1 hour ahead of Chicago, 5 hours behind the United Kingdom, and 16 hours behind Sydney.   

Opening hours

Clothing stores are most commonly open from 10 am to 8 pm from Monday to Saturday. On Sundays, shops are normally open from 11 am to 5 pm.

Certain shops and supermarkets are open longer hours. You will also find delis open 24/7.

Helpful telephone numbers

  • Emergency number: 911.
  • Non-emergency municipal services: 311.
  • United States Country code: 1.
  • Manhattan Area code: 212.
  • Brooklyn, Queens and Bronx Area code: 718.

Boroughs of New York City

Manhattan

Manhattan is New York’s most famous borough. In fact, most people believe Manhattan to be a synonym of New York.

Brooklyn

Brooklyn, which is seperated from Manhattan by the East River, is probably the second most famous district of New York after Manhattan.

Queens

Although not the most famous, Queens is the largest and fastest evolving district of New York. Discover what to see in Queens and how to get there.

The Bronx

During the 20th century, the Bronx was synonymous with poverty and crime. In recent years, the borough has taken a 180º turn. Find out what to see in the Bronx.

Staten Island

Staten Island is located in the southernmost district of New York City and is the least-known to tourists. Discover what to see on Staten Island and how to get there.

Manhattan Neighborhoods

Chinatown

Situated in Lower Manhattan, Chinatown is a lively neighborhood home to the largest Chinese population in the Americas. Discover it.

Little Italy

Although it's getting smaller and smaller, Littly Italy was once the neighborhood where the first Italian immigrants settled in New York. What to see in Little Italy.

Lower East Side

The Lower East Side is the neighborhood founded by the first immigrants who came to New York. Discover what to see in Manhattan's most multicultural neighborhood.

SoHo

SoHo, acronym for South Houston, is one of the most popular neighborhoods of Manhattan and New York City. Discover SoHo’s top attractions.

TriBeCa

Scarlett Johansson, Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro are among the most famous inhabitants of TriBeCa, one of the trendiest neighborhoods in New York.