New York City weather can vary from day to day, and even morning to afternoon, but a guide to the seasons can help you plan your wardrobe. Spring (March–May) in New York City brings light winds and rain, with the season’s temperatures ranging from cool to very warm. Summer (June–August) is characterized by bright, sunny, hot days and later sunsets, sometimes accompanied by cool breezes in areas near the water. The fall season (September–November) is cool and crisp, so it’s wise to wear layers. The winter months (December–February) are cold and snowy with less daylight, though the weather is often clear.

New York City is in the Eastern Time Zone. Eastern Standard Time is Greenwich Mean Time minus five hours, and Eastern Daylight Time, from March through November, is Greenwich Mean Time minus four hours. Check here for the current date and time in NYC.

If you’re visiting New York City from outside the United States, you may need a visa to enter the country. For details, visit the US State Department’s visa information website.

Tipping Guidelines
• Hotel doorman: $1 for hailing a cab
• Porters and bellhops: $1–2 per bag
• Housekeeping: As much as $5 per day
• Waitstaff and bartenders: 15–20 percent of total bill
• Taxi drivers: 15–20 percent of total fare
• Tips for other service personnel, such as theater ushers, tour guides and coat-check staff, are always
appreciated.

New York City is committed to ensuring accessibility for everyone with special needs, and has equipped all buses with lifts for those in wheelchairs and those who have difficulty climbing stairs. In addition, many subway stations include elevators, ramps, visual display signs, accessible public telephones and tactile and audio features on vending machines. Subways also have automated voices indicating stops, and all buses and select subway stations are wheelchair accessible. Many street-hail taxicabs accommodate wheelchairs. To request a wheelchair accessible taxi, call the accessible dispatch center at +1.646.599.9999; book online; or download the free mobile app “Accessible Dispatch NYC” at the Apple or Android store.

Passengers with disabilities are eligible for reduced fares on most mass-transit trips. For more information about NYC accessibility, call +1.212.NEW.YORK (639.9675) from outside the City or 311 while in town; contact the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities (+1.212.788.2830, TTY: +1.212.504.4115, nyc.gov/mopd); or visit NYC & Company’s accessibility section.