🗽 New York and Beyond – Two Weeks, Four Cities, Endless Adventures!
📅 August 8–22, 2026 | ✈️ Budapest – Amsterdam – New York
America, and especially New York! A city that hardly needs an introduction. We've all seen it in movies, TV shows and photographs, but standing among those incredible skyscrapers and seeing everything with your own eyes is a completely different experience.
As usual, I organized the entire trip myself. Originally, I was planning to travel alone, but then a friend of mine, who absolutely loves New York, said she'd love to join me. So, in the end, the two of us set off on our two-week American adventure.
The plan was simple: see as much as possible, explore, walk, enjoy the city and, since we were travelling so far, visit a few other American cities along the way.
🚐 New Jersey – Staying Just Outside Manhattan
We flew from Budapest to New York via Amsterdam.
Instead of staying in Manhattan, we booked a hotel in New Jersey, near Union City. It was a comfortable hotel with breakfast included, and it turned out to be a great choice for the price.
At first, staying in a different state might sound a little strange when you're visiting New York, but in reality, it wasn't a disadvantage at all.
Quite the opposite!
Near our hotel, we discovered a small, friendly shuttle service used mostly by locals. No need to check complicated timetables or wait around for ages. We simply waved down a minibus, and about 20–25 minutes later, after passing through the Lincoln Tunnel, we were already in Manhattan, close to Times Square.
For the return journey, we caught the shuttle near the Microsoft building, with minibuses arriving roughly every five minutes.
We honestly couldn't have asked for more convenient transport. If we missed one, another would appear almost immediately. No watching the clock, no complicated planning. We just went whenever we felt like it.
If you're planning a trip to New York, I'd definitely recommend checking out accommodation in New Jersey as well. You don't necessarily need to stay in Manhattan to enjoy being right in the heart of New York every day.
🌆 New York – A City You Can Never Get Tired Of
New York is simply phenomenal!
Full of life, energy, excitement, interesting people, enormous buildings and an atmosphere that's almost impossible to describe.
We explored pretty much every corner of Manhattan worth seeing, and we certainly wore out our shoes along the way! :)
We didn't always follow the usual tourist routes or stick to what the guidebooks recommended. Quite often, we'd just start walking, turn down a street that looked interesting and see where it took us.
The excitement of Times Square, the skyscrapers, the constant movement and the mix of different cultures – there's always something happening in this city.
And what I found especially interesting was that, despite all the noise and activity, we also discovered plenty of peaceful little spots where we could simply sit down, watch the world go by and enjoy the moment.
🌳 Central Park – A Peaceful Escape Among the Skyscrapers
One of my favorite experiences was our long walk through Central Park.
It's incredible that such a huge green space exists right in the middle of one of the busiest cities in the world.
We walked, explored, relaxed and simply enjoyed our surroundings. It's easy to forget that just a few streets away, you're back in the middle of a busy metropolis.
We didn't rush from one attraction to another. We had time to sit, watch people, enjoy the park and appreciate the contrast between nature and the surrounding city.
I loved this quieter side of New York just as much as its famous skyscrapers.
🏙️ New York from Above – Edge and Rockefeller Center
Of course, a visit to New York wouldn't be complete without seeing the city from above!
We visited two observation decks: Edge at Hudson Yards and Top of the Rock at Rockefeller Center.
Edge is modern and spectacular, especially with its glass walls and outdoor platform extending high above the city. Looking down at Manhattan from that height is quite an experience!
Top of the Rock offers a different kind of view. From here, you can admire Central Park and the Empire State Building.
We didn't just take a few quick photos and leave. We took our time, enjoyed a lovely coffee and admired the amazing views in comfort.
🌉 Brooklyn, DUMBO and a Completely Different Side of New York
Exploring Brooklyn was another must during our trip.
I particularly loved DUMBO, with its old industrial buildings, cobblestone streets and fantastic views of the Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan Bridge.
Of course, we also stopped at the famous photo spot where you can see the Manhattan Bridge framed between the buildings. :)
But Brooklyn has so much more to offer.
We also visited Coney Island, where New York shows a completely different side of itself. A beach, an amusement park, a long boardwalk and a little old-fashioned American seaside atmosphere.
From there, we explored Brighton Beach, often called Little Odessa.
This neighborhood is known for its large Russian-speaking and Ukrainian-speaking communities. The shops, restaurants, signs and everyday street life create an atmosphere completely different from downtown Manhattan.
And that's exactly what I love about travelling. Just a few subway stops away, and suddenly you feel as though you've entered another world.
🎬 New York Through Movies and TV Shows
When you're in New York, you simply have to visit a few famous filming locations!
And who doesn't know Friends?
Naturally, we had to see the famous building in Greenwich Village that was used for the exterior shots of Monica's apartment.
It's such a funny feeling standing in front of a building you've seen on television for years. It almost feels familiar, even though you've never actually been there before.
New York is full of famous filming locations. Quite often, while walking around, we'd recognize a street, building or square from a movie.
Sometimes it almost felt as if we were walking through one enormous movie set.
🥯 Eating in America – Our Slightly Different Approach
When people think of American food, huge hamburgers, fries, pizza and all kinds of fast food usually come to mind.
Well, we didn't actually eat much of that typical American food during our trip. :)
My friend is – how shall I put this? – a little particular about food. Just kidding! She's actually vegan and pays a lot of attention to healthy eating.
So, during our two weeks, we discovered plenty of places offering fresh, healthy food, often at surprisingly reasonable prices.
One of our favorites was Whole Foods Market, where we could choose from a huge variety of freshly prepared meals. Salads, vegetables and all kinds of dishes – there was something for everyone.
New York is fantastic in this respect. Whatever your dietary preferences, you're almost guaranteed to find something suitable.
Of course, there were a few exceptions.
For old times' sake, my friend insisted on having a Shake Shack burger, which brought back memories of her previous visits to New York. The meat-free version, naturally! :)
And since we were in America, a few bags of chips and other typical American snacks also found their way into our shopping basket – preferably the healthier versions, of course.
As for me, I finally tried a proper New York salmon bagel.
Absolutely amazing!
(And the two muffins? We got them for free with the bagel! More surprises like that, please! 😁)
A fresh bagel, cream cheese and smoked salmon – so simple, yet so delicious. Almost worth travelling all the way to New York just for that. Well, almost! :)
Overall, we found eating out much more varied and affordable than we'd expected.
🧱 Boston – Cobblestone Streets and Red-Brick Houses
Since we wanted to explore more than just New York, we also took a train trip to Boston.
Boston feels like a completely different world compared to New York.
It's quieter, more historic and, in many ways, has a European atmosphere. Alongside the modern buildings, you'll find beautiful old houses, cobblestone streets and charming neighborhoods.
One particularly lovely area is Beacon Hill, where the red-brick townhouses, old-fashioned street lamps and narrow streets almost take you back in time.
One of its most famous streets is Acorn Street, one of Boston's most photographed locations.
Another important part of Boston's history is the Freedom Trail, a walking route connecting several historic landmarks, including Boston Common and sites around the old city center.
What I especially liked about Boston was its more relaxed, human-scale atmosphere. Lovely streets, historic buildings, parks and a completely different American experience.
After the constant energy of New York, this quieter environment was particularly enjoyable.
🥊 Philadelphia – Following in Rocky's Footsteps
We travelled to Philadelphia by bus, another convenient way to discover a new city from New York.
Philadelphia is one of the most important cities in American history, but one of its most famous attractions is, of course, connected to Rocky! :)
The famous steps in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art are one of the most iconic locations from the Rocky movies.
Who doesn't remember Sylvester Stallone running up those steps and raising his arms triumphantly at the top?
Near the steps, you'll also find the famous Rocky statue, which has become a popular tourist attraction.
Another well-known part of Philadelphia is Old City, where several important landmarks from American history can be found.
These include Independence Hall and the famous Liberty Bell.
The city's historic streets, old brick buildings and modern downtown areas create an interesting mix.
Philadelphia was another pleasant surprise. It felt much quieter and less crowded than we'd expected.
🏛️ Washington, D.C. – A Weekend in the American Capital
We also travelled to Washington by train, but this time we decided to stay for an entire weekend so we could explore the city without rushing.
And what a good decision that was!
Washington has a completely different atmosphere from New York. Wide avenues, enormous parks, impressive buildings, monuments and plenty of green spaces.
Around the National Mall, you'll find some of the city's most famous landmarks, including the Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, the U.S. Capitol and several historic memorials.
We've all seen these places countless times in movies, on television and in photographs, but seeing them in person is something else entirely.
Naturally, we also wanted to get a closer look at the White House.
Unfortunately, that was a little disappointing.
During our visit, the surrounding area was heavily fenced off, so we could only see the White House from a distance, peeking through the railings.
Not quite the view you imagine when visiting Washington for the first time! :)
Still, I really liked the city.
With its enormous green spaces, wide streets and impressive buildings, it was almost hard to believe we were in the capital of the United States.
And strangely enough, we hardly encountered any crowds.
Maybe we were simply lucky with the timing, but we could walk around, take photos and explore Washington in a very relaxed atmosphere.
🍜 A Little Taste of Japan in Washington
Washington also gave me one particularly lovely food experience.
We found a fantastic Japanese restaurant, and of course, I couldn't resist!
Japan has a very special place in my heart, and I've been longing to return ever since my trip there. So this was the perfect opportunity for a little nostalgia and a way to satisfy my craving for Japanese food. :)
And what else could I possibly order but a big bowl of ramen?
That unforgettable Japanese ramen...
And naturally, we had to squeeze in a little sushi too! :-)
🚆 Four Cities, Four Different Atmospheres
One of the things I enjoyed most about this trip was experiencing four very different American cities.
New York is exciting, energetic and endlessly fascinating.
Boston is historic, charming and almost European in places.
Philadelphia offers an interesting mix of old and modern America.
Washington, D.C. is impressive, green and surprisingly peaceful.
One thing all three cities outside New York had in common was the lack of crowds.
For some reason, we'd expected much busier places, but almost everywhere we went, we could walk around, take photos and enjoy the sights without feeling rushed.
Maybe we were simply in the right places at the right time.
❤️ Two Weeks in America – Was It Worth It?
Absolutely!
In two weeks, we walked countless miles, travelled by train and bus, explored new places, ate, drank, enjoyed the sights and, of course, laughed a lot.
For me, New York is a city you simply can't discover in just a few days. And probably not even in two weeks.
There's always another street, an interesting neighborhood, a beautiful building or a hidden little place waiting to be discovered.
What I especially liked was that we didn't feel the need to plan every single minute of every day.
Of course, I'd organized the flights, accommodation and main activities in advance, but we also left plenty of room for spontaneous discoveries.
And I think that's one of the best ways to really get to know a city.
Not just by ticking off famous landmarks, but by experiencing a little of everyday life.
Although New York was the main destination, Boston, Philadelphia and Washington added just as much to our overall experience.
If you're planning to spend two weeks in New York, I'd definitely recommend including one or two nearby cities. Travelling by train or bus is a great way to discover different sides of America.
And me? I'd go back anytime.
You can simply never get enough of New York! 🗽❤️te the original article here.