USA East Coast: New York, Boston & Newport
Manhattan's museums, parks and Broadway, Boston's Freedom Trail and Harvard, and the Gilded Age mansions and sailing harbour of Newport, Rhode Island, with Washington DC or Niagara Falls as easy extensions.
- Best time to go
- Late September to October for autumn colours and comfortable sightseeing; May and June are also excellent. Winters are cold; December is festive in New York.
- Flying from India
- Non-stop flights from Delhi and Mumbai to New York take about 15 to 16 hours. Fly home from Boston via Europe or the Gulf, or return via New York.
- Visa for Indian passports
- Indian passport holders need a US B1/B2 visitor visa, with an interview at a US embassy or consulate in India. Appointment waits can be long, so apply several months before travel; an existing valid visa can be used.
- Currency
- US dollar (USD). Cards and tap-to-pay are used everywhere; tipping of 18 to 20% is expected in restaurants.
USA East Coast at a glance
New York deserves at least three days: Central Park and the Met, Fifth Avenue and Times Square, a Broadway show, the High Line and Chelsea, and downtown for the 9/11 Memorial, Wall Street and a ferry past the Statue of Liberty. Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge for the skyline view.
Boston, about four hours away by train, is the cradle of American independence: follow the Freedom Trail past 16 historic sites, wander Beacon Hill's gas-lit streets, and cross the river to Harvard and MIT in Cambridge. End in Newport, Rhode Island, where the summer 'cottages' of the Vanderbilts and their peers line the Cliff Walk above the Atlantic and the harbour is full of yachts.
Must-see
- Central Park and the Metropolitan Museum of Art
- A Broadway show
- The 9/11 Memorial and the Statue of Liberty
- Boston's Freedom Trail
- Newport's mansions and Cliff Walk
Food to try
- New York bagels and pizza
- Indian food in Jackson Heights and Murray Hill
- New England clam chowder
- Lobster rolls
- Boston cream pie
Where to shop
- Fifth Avenue and Madison Avenue
- SoHo boutiques
- Newbury Street, Boston
- Outlets near New York
- Bellevue Avenue galleries, Newport
Where to Stay
Areas and styles of stay we book most often. We shortlist specific hotels once we know your dates and budget.
Manhattan, Midtown and Central Park South
City hotels near the park
Hotels around Central Park South, Fifth Avenue and the Upper East Side, within walking distance of the park, the museums and Broadway.
Boston, Back Bay and Beacon Hill
Historic neighbourhood hotels
Hotels among the brownstones of Back Bay and Beacon Hill, close to the Public Garden, Newbury Street and the start of the Freedom Trail.
Newport, the harbour and Bellevue Avenue
Waterfront inns and mansion hotels
Inns and hotels by the harbour or among the mansions of Bellevue Avenue, close to the Cliff Walk and Ocean Drive.
Signature Experiences
Moments we build USA East Coast journeys around
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Five thousand years of art on Fifth Avenue, from the Temple of Dendur to Van Gogh, with a guide to make the most of a vast museum.
A Broadway show
Premium seats for a musical or play in the Theater District, with pre-theatre dinner nearby.
Harvard and Cambridge
A student-led walk through Harvard Yard and the university's museums, then MIT and lunch in Harvard Square.
Newport's Gilded Age mansions
Tour The Breakers, the Vanderbilts' 70-room summer home completed in 1895, and walk the 5.6 km Cliff Walk past other great estates.
Washington DC extension
Three hours from New York by train: the National Mall, the Lincoln Memorial, the Capitol and the free Smithsonian museums.
Niagara Falls extension
A short flight from New York to Buffalo, then the Maid of the Mist boat into the spray of the Horseshoe Falls.
Planning Your Journey
Timing, routing and what our specialists tell every USA East Coast traveller
When to visit
April to June
Spring blossom and comfortable temperatures; ideal for walking.
July and August
Hot and humid in the cities; Newport's sailing season is at its peak.
September to December
Autumn colours, crisp days, then holiday lights and window displays in New York.
Getting there and around
International
Non-stop to New York from Delhi or Mumbai; home from Boston or New York.
Between stops
New York to Boston about 4 hours by train (Acela is quicker), Boston to Newport about 1½ hours by road.
Insider notes
Apply for the visa first
US visa interview waits in India can be long. Check appointment availability before fixing dates.
Pre-book the big sights
The Statue of Liberty pedestal and crown, the 9/11 Museum, popular Broadway shows and The Breakers tours sell out in peak seasons.
Skip the car in the cities
Walk, use the subway or taxis in New York and Boston, and take the train between them. A car or driver is useful only in Newport.
Peak foliage
New England's autumn colours usually peak in early to mid-October. Hotels fill early, so book ahead.
USA East Coast: Common Questions
At least three full days; four or five lets you add Brooklyn, more museums and a slower pace.
Plan your USA East Coast journey
Speak to a specialist.
Share a few details and one of our USA East Coast specialists will get in touch, usually within a working day.
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