Little City Trips

What to pack for New York City

Here we help you prepare what to pack for New York City based on our insider knowledge.

Clothes-wise, your New York packing list will depend on what time of year you are visiting. The seasons in New York are very distinct and so your ideas of how to dress in NYC in the summer will be very different from what to wear in New York winter.

Click here to read more about the different seasons in New York and the best time to visit New York.

We have more suggestions on packing for New York during the different seasons below.

Family packing list New York city

New York is a city best explored by foot, and so no matter what time of year you visit, it is a good idea to include comfortable walking shoes on your things to take to New York list.

New York is a busy city, and you will likely be traveling around by public transport, in particular, the New York Subway. Note that not all subway stations have elevator access. For this reason, if you are sightseeing in New York with a baby or younger toddler, another of our New York essentials is a baby carrier as well as a stroller.

You should still bring your stroller for days when you are just exploring by foot – and of course, it’s always useful for the airport.

Click here for more information about getting around New York.

NYC packing list

Some of our favourite items for your New York city break packing list are highlighted below. We have included links to Amazon to make your pre-travel shopping super easy and have all your travel essentials delivered to your door.

Also, don’t forget to leave room in your suitcase for shopping. New York is a shopping paradise and you are sure to want to buy lots of extra things to squeeze into your suitcase!

You can download a full printable packing list at the bottom of the page, with checkboxes to tick off all your New York travel essentials as you put them in your suitcase.

Travel accessories for New York

Baby Carrier

If you are visiting New York with a baby or small toddler then we definitely recommend bringing a baby carrier as well as a stroller for days when you plan to explore by subway.

Stroller

A stroller is definitely still good to have for your family trip to New York as the city easily navigable with a stroller, and obviously it is handy for the airport. Look for a lightweight stroller that is easy to fold, and also look for things like good storage and the ability to recline for naps.

Portable booster seat

You will probably find you use both the New York subway and New York taxis or Uber for most of your sightseeing. A portable booster seat is a great item to add to your what to pack for NYC list, to keep your little ones safe for airport transfers and uber or taxi rides around town.

Money belt

It is always s a good idea to take precautions to keep all your money and important documents safe when you travel. A money belt is a great option for this.


Daypack

Having a day pack is always a good idea for city trips with kids, so that you can carry all the wet wipes, snacks, tissues, sun cream etc and still keep your hands free to keep hold of the kids. Look for a lightweight backpack that can be easily packed in your suitcase when not needed.

Collapsible water bottle

Do your bit to save the environment and include your own refillable water bottles on your what to bring to New York list, instead of relying on buying plastic bottles of water. We love a collapsible water bottle that can easily be packed in the suitcase when not needed.

Umbrella

It can rain at any time of year in New York, so always be prepared by including an umbrella in your things to pack for your New York. Go for a compact umbrella that can easily be tucked into your daypack.

Travel gadgets

Multiple charger

When you are traveling as a family, it is inevitable that you will end up with multiple accessories needing charged: phones, tablets, cameras, kindles etc. Don’t ruin the holiday by fighting over the charger; opt for a multiple charging station instead.

Travel adaptor

The standard electrical voltage in New York is 100V, which is different from most of the rest of the world. Standard sockets are for a two-prong North American plug. Depending on what country you are travelling from, you may need to add a travel adapter to your NYC packing list.


Portable Charger Power Bank

Have you ever been caught out sightseeing with a low-battery phone and not been able to take photos? Or found your child’s iPad has run out of battery half way through a long haul flight? Don’t let it happen again! Go prepared with a portable charger power bank, a great item to include in your New York must haves.

Waterproof/shockproof camera

Of course you have to record all your happy holiday memories, and having an easy-to-use waterproof and shockproof camera means everybody in the family can share in the photo taking, without having to worry about the camera getting damaged.

Toiletries

Bug Spray

Mosquitos are common in New York during the summer months, including those carrying the West Nile and Zika viruses. Be sure to add bug spray to your what to take to New York list. Mosquito patches for the kids clothes are a good idea too.

Hand Sanitizer

It’s always good to have some hand sanitizer in your bag when you are travelling with kids for times when you can’t wash your hands before having a snack, or have been traveling on public transport.


Sun Cream

Be sure to include suncream when packing for NYC in the summer months. Even on a cloudy day the sun can be stronger than you realize, and you will probably be spending most of your days outdoors.

Tangle Teezer

Traveling is always difficult for keeping on top of kids long tangled hair. We love the Tangle Teezer, for taking away tears at hair brushing time!

Books and Games

New York Travel Guide Book

No matter how much research you do online before you travel, it can still be handy to have a travel guidebook in your bag.

Activity book

It’s always handy to have a few activity books in your bag for your kids, for airports, flights, or when they just need some downtime after a hard day of sightseeing.


Travel Games

The family that plays together stays together! Pack a few fun travel games for fun family evenings, rainy days or airport layovers.

What to wear in New York

New Yorkers are renowned for their fashion-forward dress sense, and visitors to the city often wonder how to dress in New York.

New York is such a diverse and progressive city that in reality, anything goes. Casual dress for sightseeing around New York is fine, although you may feel more comfortable including some nicer clothes for the evening in your things to bring to New York.

What to wear in New York Summer

If you are trying to work out what to pack for New York in June through August, just remember that the New York summer will be hot and humid. Focus on lightweight natural materials and light clothing, such as t-shirts, shorts and sundresses for your New York summer outfit.

There are always lots of fun festivals and concerts taking place in New York during the summer, so you will want to spend lots of time outdoors. Don’t forget your sunscreen!


We recommend including the following for your New York summer clothing:

  • Cotton t-shirts
  • Shorts or skirts
  • Sundresses
  • Comfortable walking shoes
  • Nicer clothes/shoes for more upmarket bars & restaurants
  • Sunhat
  • Sunglasses

What to wear in New York in Fall

When planning your Autumn outfit in New York, think layers. Autumn weather in New York benefits from light breezes and mild temperatures, but the temperatures can start to drop during this time.

A pair of jeans with a long-sleeved top, sweater, lightweight jacket and lightweight scarf would be ideal for sightseeing. Note that temperatures can drop substantially after dark at this time of year, so you should pack a warmer jacket for evenings.


We recommend including the following for your New York packing list in Autumn:

  • Long-sleeved tops/shirts/blouses
  • Lightweight cardigans and sweaters
  • Jeans
  • Comfortable walking shoes
  • Nicer clothes/shoes for more upmarket bars & restaurants
  • Lightweight scarf
  • Lightweight jacket
  • Warmer jacket for the evenings

What to wear in New York Winter

New York winters are usually crisp and clear, but unfortunately temperatures can be bitterly cold. Your New York winter clothing needs to reflect this, so this is the time to pack your heavy coats, boots, scarves, hats and gloves.

For really cold winter days it is worth including thermal underclothes on your New York winter packing list, especially for young children if you plan to spend a lot of time outdoors.


We recommend including the following when dressing for New York winter:

  • Jeans
  • Warm sweaters
  • Warm boots
  • Nicer clothes/shoes for more upmarket bars & restaurants
  • Warm scarf
  • Warm hat
  • Gloves
  • Winter coat
  • Thermal underclothes

What to wear in New York in the Spring

Spring is when New York starts gearing up for summer, with warmer temperatures and spring flowers in bloom. However, the weather can be fickle, so like autumn we recommend your rely on layers for your spring clothes in NYC.

The best option for spring clothes in New York is jeans with a lightweight shirt, with added layers such as a lightweight sweater and rain jacket. Evenings are definitely cooler, so it will be handy to have a lightweight scarf included in your suitcase.


We recommend including the following for your New York spring packing list:

  • Jeans
  • Long-sleeved tops and short-sleeved t-shirts
  • Lightweight cardigans and sweaters
  • Comfortable walking shoes
  • Nicer clothes/shoes for more upmarket bars & restaurants
  • Lightweight scarf
  • Lightweight jacket or rain jacket

Travel accessories for the plane

Multiple Passport holder

A multiple passport holder is invaluable for keeping all the family’s passports together in one place. Look for one that makes it easy to remove the passports, and that has space to store luggage tags, frequent flier cards etc.

Travel Pillow (neck)

We all know how uncomfortable it is trying to sleep on the plane. While we can’t promise you a good sleep, we can recommend using a travel neck pillow to help ease your aches and pains once you get to your destination.


Travel Pillow (leg support)

Travel leg rest pillows are fabulous for long haul flights with small kids. These inflatable pillows allow you to fill the leg gap between the seats, allowing small children to stretch out or even lie down flat. Note that some airlines have banned the use of these travel pillows, so check with your airline before you go to the airport.

Headphones

We highly recommend headphones for everyone in the family. Noise cancelling headphones for mums and dads are great for cutting out the ambient sound of the plane, while kid-sized headphones with volume limits will ensure kids can watch their iPads without disturbing others, and without damaging their eardrums.

Packing Accessories

Suitcase

If you’re looking for a new suitcase for your New York trip, we love the foldable luggage from Biaggi – these can be folded down into a small pouch for easy storage and saves you from having to step over your suitcases in your hotel room. We love the easy-glide spinner wheels on them too.

Packing Cubes

Packing cubes are so useful when you are traveling with kids. You can save so much time on searching through your suitcase by segregating clothes into their own cubes. Look for cubes with a peekaboo window so you can easily see what is inside.


Electronics Organiser

How many times have you found yourself rummaging around in your suitcase looking for a phone charger? An electronics organizer can save you plenty of time and frustration by keeping all your chargers, cables, memory cards, headphones and adapters in one handy pack.

Ziploc Bags

Ziploc bags are a parent’s secret weapon when traveling. You can use them to store snacks, dirty clothes, nappy changing kits, puzzle pieces, small toys, crayons and leaky shampoo bottles. Be sure to add a few to your case!

Take me back to the New York City Guide.

FREE DOWNLOAD!

Be super organized for your next city trip. Download our fully comprehensive printable packing list, with checkboxes to ensure you don’t forget anything.

Click here to download the packing list now.

Travelling to New York City? City travel experts Little City Trips talk you through all the most important items you need to pack for New York City. Print off our New York City packing list for your next city trip.

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