Citibike in NYC offers a convenient way to explore the city without having to worry about long lines at bike rental shops, locking up your bike, or anything complicated. With over 1,700 bike stations and millions of yearly riders, it's one of the most enjoyable ways to explore the city, specifically Central Park!

While Citibike has unfortunately raised its prices, it can still be a somewhat affordable option if you plan on shorter rides.

In this article, we'll cover how much Citibike costs, how to use it, and tips for safely riding around New York City.

Let's do it. 👇

How Much Does Citibike Cost?

NOTE: If you don't have a US phone number, you either need a US esim, OR you must use the payment kiosks at the Citibike stations.

When it comes to Citibike, there are four main options:

1. Pay per ride (more info below)
2. Day pass (more info below)
3. Citibike membership $219/year (almost never worth it)
4. Lyft pink memberships $199/year (worth it if you use Lyft frequently or your travel credit card gives you a discount/perk for this)

Pay per Ride Cost

• $4.99 to unlock (or use our referral link to waive your first unlock)
• First 30 minutes on a standard bike are free, then $0.38/minute
• eBike costs $0.38/minute

Use our referral link (you can't ever have had a Lyft account) and get a free bike unlock!

For example, a 2-hour bike rental from a rental company starts around $18 but likely ends up costing a bit more due to fees. This is possibly a better option, depending on your plans.

Bike Rental:

• 1 hour - $8 + fees
• 2 hours - $18 + fees
• 3 hours - $25 + fees
• 4 hours - $30 + fees

On busy times/days/holidays, you will probably wait in line to get your bike!

Day Pass Cost

• $25 for 24 hours of unlimited 30-minute standard bike rides, then $0.38/minute
• eBike costs $0.38/minute

How to Unlock a Citibike

• Use the Citibike or Lyft app
• Buy a day pass or unlock code via their website
• Buy a day pass at the station kiosk

Pre-Ride Check

• Check brakes
• Adjust seat before unlocking
• Verify there is a strap if you are gonna need it
• If night, verify the light turns on once you unlock

Tips for Safe Biking in NYC

• Opt for bike lanes when possible
• Ride with traffic direction
• Central Park and West Side Highway are the safest bike areas in Manhattan
• Over use your bell, people are often unaware of bikes.. Don’t expect people to stop
• Just cause someone else on a bike is going at a light doesn’t you mean should be
• Gloves and a beanie, you’re always colder on a bike than when walking

This Episode's You'll Have to Check It Out Segment - Electric Shuffle

• $25 per person for 90 minutes of tabletop shuffle board
• Unlimited food/drink options on weekends and evenings at around $60-$85
• Great drinks, fun vibe, and usually a live DJ on weekends
• Check out Electric Shuffle here

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This episode will give you all the spots you need to check out in the popular Financial District of New York City!

Where is the Financial District in NYC?

While most neighborhoods in NYC do a bit of blurring together, the Financial District technically covers most of the southernmost tip of Manhattan.

It runs from the West Side Highway on the west to the Brooklyn Bridge and East River on the east. This neighborhood runs from the north, starting at Chambers Street and City Hall and running south until The Battery.

Battery Park and Battery Park City are not technically a part of the Financial District, but we will include them as part of our guide to the lowest part of Manhattan.

Things to Do in Financial District NYC

• The Oculus--transportation hub, shopping mall, lots of restaurants
• One World Trade Center+Observation Deck
• 9/11 Museum
• Charging bull
• Wall St.
• Museum of Jewish heritage
• The Battery (+ Battery Park City)
• Brookfield Place Mall (mostly for the view and yachts and park nearby but also a high end mall)
• Ferry to Staten Island for Statue of Liberty view
• Pier 17- lots of concerts here
• Brooklyn Bridge
• City hall
• Elevated Acre - Park space with lawn, boardwalk and seasonal beer garden
• Woolworth building
• Stone street (cobblestone, no cars)
• South street seaport
• South Street Seaport Museum
• St. Paul's Chapel - originally built in 1766 and is the oldest surviving church building in Manhattan
• Trinity Church - Burial place for the likes of Alexander Hamilton, Robert Fulton, Francis Lewis, Angelica Church, and other prominent figures in the early period of the United States

• 
  

NYC Financial District's Best Bars

• Dead Rabbit - Rated best bar in the world in 2016
• Fraunces Tavern
• Overstory - 64th floor deck with panoramic views
• WarrenPeace - Dimly lit cocktail bar with friendly staff
• White Horse Tavern - NYC's 2nd-oldest bar, circa 1880, with a storied history and watering hole for Dylan Thomas, Jack Kerouac, and James Baldwin
• Carragher's - Soccer-themed sports pub
• Brickyard Craft Kitchen & Bar
• Stout NYC
• O'Hara's Restaurant and Pub - Classic Irish Pub

This Episode's You'll Have to Check It Out Segment - Pisillo Italian Panini

Bread is sourced from a bakery in Brooklyn and is fresh daily. All ingredients are imported from Italy and these are massive AND delicious sandwiches! Check it out here.

Coffee Shops in the Financial District

• Hungry Ghost Coffee
• Black Fox Coffee
• 787 Coffee
• La Colombe Coffee Workshop
• Birch Coffee
• Laughing Man Cafe-technically Tribeca, owned by Hugh Jackman

Restaurants in FiDi NYC

• Fraunces Tavern
• Joe's Pizza
• Delmonico's
• Manhatta - 60th floor, high-end New American cuisine
• Siena Pizza
• Eataly
• El Vez and Burrito Bar
• Pick A Bagel
• Los Tacos #1
• Smorgasburg WTC
• Multiple spots in Pier 17, including The Fulton by Jean-Georges
• JR Sushi (technically Tribeca)
• Nish Nush (technically Tribeca)

Download the full NYC Navigation & Transportation Guide here + join our newsletter here: ⁠https://rebrand.ly/nyc-navigation-guide⁠

Get the NYC Basic Tips & Etiquette book here: ⁠https://amzn.to/4fo5TRj

Trying to find a fun bar in NYC isn’t difficult, but a lot of it comes down to your definition of “fun.”

Some people have fun in a quiet bar where they can catch up with friends.

You might think of a fun bar as one that has the cheapest drinks (valid point). Others are looking for bars with games and activities when they think of a “fun bar.”

In this episode, we’ll show you 7 bars where fun activities and games dominate the experience AND offer some great drinks to go along with it.

Here are the NYC bars with games we'll cover:

1- Barcade 2- Jake’s Dilemma/The Stumble Inn/3 Sheets Saloon 3- Swingers Crazy Golf 4- The Royal Palms Shuffleboard Club 5- e’s Bar 6- Pioneers Bar 7- Gebhard's Beer Culture

See the full article here.

Check out this Episode's You'll Have to Check It Out: Briciola in Hell's Kitchen here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/q1Jqjf5oJqCUQsty9

Download the full NYC Navigation & Transportation Guide here: ⁠https://rebrand.ly/nyc-navigation-guide⁠

Get the NYC Basic Tips & Etiquette book here: ⁠https://amzn.to/4fo5TRj

Navigating New York City can feel daunting and overwhelming, but you can get around easily with the right tools and tips!

In this episode, we'll break down three Google Maps hacks that will save you loads of time and effort when mapping your route to your next must-see spot in NYC.

Not everyone uses Google Maps to navigate, but we've found it to be the most efficient and accurate during our travels across the globe, specifically in New York. These tips and tricks will be similar to those of other platforms like Apple Maps or Citymapper.

We'll cover:

1. Live View
2. Future Train/Route Times
3. Route Filtering

1- Live View

New York's streets can be confusing, especially when you pop up from the subway and aren’t exactly sure which cross street you’re on… enter Live View!

When using transit (or walking) directions within Google Maps, you will see an option for Live View for the walking section. Click Live View and then pan your camera around slowly so the camera can capture where you are.

Once you do this, Google Maps will tell you exactly where to walk to your destination.

Here are photos and a video showcasing how to accomplish this in Google Maps.

Step 1- Put your destination in and click “Directions,” and choose the walking option

Step 2- Click Live View

Step 3- Scan your surroundings

Step 4- An arrow will indicate which way to walk

2- Future Train/Route Times

If you punch in a location for directions, it will show you the current times. But if you’re trying to plan how you’ll get from a dinner to a Broadway show tomorrow, that won’t help.

So, change the time of travel. Here’s how:

1. Enter your destination and click ‘get directions’
2. Ensure your starting point is accurate
3. Choose the transit option (train icon)
4. Right under that, you will see text that says ‘depart at (the current time)’
5. Click that and update your preferences accordingly. I recommend choosing the “Arrive By” option

3- Route Filtering

Some people want to avoid buses and only take the subway, or vice versa. And
you can do that in Google Maps!

When you choose the transit option for directions, you will find an “Options” menu on the right side of the top menu.

Once in the options menu, you can choose to prioritize specific modes of transportation!

You can also filter routes based on specific criteria like:

• Best route
• Fewest transfers
• Least walking
• Avoid stairs and escalators

Recap & Next Steps

Istanbul Kebab House - This Episode's You'll Have to Check It Out Segment, check it out here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/euY87RtJZ6G6CjKs7

Download the full NYC Navigation & Transportation Guide here: https://rebrand.ly/nyc-navigation-guide

Get the NYC Basic Tips & Etiquette book here: https://amzn.to/4fo5TRj