Sustainable New York City Guide Overview
Planning a trip to New York City? Want to do so in a sustainable way? If so, then this Sustainable New York City Guide is for you!
New York City might be one of the most famous cities in the world. Whether or not you have been there, you have probably heard of the iconic New York City sites and things to do. These popular sites such as the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty, and Time Square don’t even begin to scratch the surface of what New York City has to offer. This city is a vibrant, diverse, loud, and busy city full of many different types of opportunities and things to do. If you’re looking for something, New York City most likely has it.
For people who love sustainability, New York City has a lot to offer and is definitely a leader in the sustainability movement. There are a bunch of different sustainable activities or places to go in this city. This city is also a leading city in its public transportation. Although it is not the nicest or cleanest public transportation in the world, it is easy to use and you can get around the entire city by subway.
This blog will discuss what to do in New York City, what makes it sustainable, sustainable accommodation options, sustainable food options, sustainable transportation options, other things that make New York City sustainable, and lastly, I will rate how sustainable I think NYC is based off of these categories.
About New York City
New York City is a city located in the southern part of New York State. This city is made up of five boroughs including Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, and the Bronx. New York City is also the most densely populated city in the United States. This is a city full of diversity, opportunity, and energy.
Additionally, NYC is known for its financial district, its Broadway shows, whatever new and exciting park is popping up, and of course the food (shout out to NY bagels and pizza).
10 Must Do’s in New York City
There is so much to do in New York City, and there is something for anyone who visits there. As someone who grew up outside of New York City and spent a lot of her time there, I have done a lot in the city and these are based off of my personal preferences and experiences. Here is a guide to my top 10 things to do on your next trip to NYC!
1. Visit the High Line
The High Line in New York City is a park on the west side of the city. This park was previously an abandoned railroad track that was transformed into a unique elevated park. This 1.45 mile long park is a nice escape from the urban environment and makes this area even more walkable. You can find food carts, artists, and other vendors on the High Line as well.
Additionally, besides being a great escape from the city, this park is a must visit in New York City because it focuses on sustainable efforts. All the plants used along the High Line are native to New York City, which is inherently more sustainable. Native plants also create habitats for native wildlife and native pollinators. The High Line itself is repurposed which makes it sustainable as well.
2. Visit Little Island Park
The Little Island park in New York City is a new 2.4 acres public park that opened in 2021. By creating a unique park that feels like you stepped out of the city, you can immerse yourself in nature. This park features a windy path surrounded by tall grasses and other plants, which creates a nice barrier from the skyscrapers in the background, an amphitheater, and a a lawn space. There are two access points into the park, and since the park sits in the water on tulip shaped concrete structures, it allows for a great view of the Hudson River.
The idea of this park, besides creating an escape-like space from the big city, is also to create a new contrast to flat piers by creating topography and ‘hills’. Parks and green spaces, especially in major cities, are sustainable aspects to cities. Parks, like this one, create a space for more biodiversity in an otherwise concrete jungle by attracting wildlife such as birds and pollinators. Besides this, this park helps with storm water management and also praises itself on its sustainable efforts.
3. Go to Hudson Yards
Hudson Yards is a newer neighborhood in New York City located on the Hudson River. You can actually walk from Little Island to Hudson Yards on the High Line and check off all three must do’s at once. This area is more commonly known for the Vessel [linked], which is a tourist attraction that was designed to create more views of the city and the Hudson River. However, after opening in March 2019 for visitors to walk up to the top of, the Vessel closed in 2021 due to public safety reasons. You can still walk around the Vessel as well as on the bottom floor inside it.
There are other tourist attractions by Hudson Yards like going to the Edge Observation Deck [linked], which is one of the highest outdoor sky decks in the world and has amazing views of the city and river. Additionally, you can do the City Climb [linked] here where you are harnessed in and scale the side of the skyscraper.
Other things to do by Hudson Yards is to go to the Shed [linked] which is a cultural center where you can enjoy visual arts, performance arts, and other events. There is also a mall with lots of shops and restaurants in this area.
4. Go to SoHo
SoHo (South of Houston Street) is a neighborhood in lower Manhattan know for being a top area for shopping. Here you can find different types of places to shop such as boutiques, designer stores, chain stores, sustainable clothing stores, and thrift stores. You will also find art galleries and restaurants in this neighborhood.
Most shopping is not a sustainable hobby or activity to do while traveling. However, people love to shop, so it is good practice to start shopping at sustainable or second hand stores instead. Since SoHo has a variety of stores, there are a multitude of sustainable and second hand/thrift stores. So check out SoHo to find where you can shop in a sustainable way!
5. Visit the Many Parks
New York City is commonly known for Central Park, one of the most famous parks in the world. This park is located between the upper eat and West sides of New York City. It is about 843 acres, and is the most visited urban park in the United States. Besides Central Park, there is a vast variety of parks. Some of the more popular ones include Bryant Park, Washington Square Park, Prospect Park, and Battery Park. These parks don’t even begin to scratch the surface of urban parks in NYC.
Urban parks are more than just parks or green spaces. They create an oasis from the city life while also benefiting the environment. They help reduce temperatures in urban settings, help to clean the air, encourage biodiversity, and bring more natural elements into otherwise built environments.
6. Essex Market
Essex Market is one of the many food halls and markets in New York City. This market is located on the Lower East Side of Manhattan at the intersection of Essex and Delancey Street. There is a wide variety of different food you can get here from pizza, bagels, smoothies, Asian food, French pastries, and there are also multiple grocery stores. Additionally, there are some sustainable and local options here as well!
There are vegan and vegetable forward vendors as well as a fair trade store that supports the local community. In addition, there is a vendor called Project EATS which creates community gardens and farms on rooftops. This stand in Essex Market allows you to shop produce sustainably and locally! There is also Mille Nonne, a sustainable Italian vendor committed to getting rid of food waste by cooking small batches daily.
7. Chelsea Market
Chelsea Market is another food hall located in the Meatpacking District. There is a wide variety of vendors here so there is something for everyone! And aside from many different food vendors, there are also other retail stores. Whether you want Asian food, Indian food, Mexican food, Italian food, or whatever it may be, chances are you will find it here!
And of course there are plant-based and vegan options here such as Seed + Mill which is centered around most people’s favorite seed, the sesame seed, specifically tahini. There is also a sustainable bagel shop, Black Seed Bagels, that commits itself to using sustainable practices and reducing food waste. They brew beer from local hops as well as old shredded bagels, they donate day old bagels, they give their bagels a new life by turning them into flour then used in cookies, and they also recycle the fat from their bacon into biodiesel fuel. And of course they have vegan and plant-based options here as well!
8. NoMad Area
NoMad, also known as “North of Madison Square Park”, is an up and coming trendy neighborhood in New York City. This area is home to many different types of restaurants and shops, and is known for some of the more famous places such as the Flatiron Building [linked], which has become a symbol of NYC, and Eataly [linked], which is a giant Italian market where you can find homemade pasta and pizza, fresh produce, and a huge variety of cheeses!
Besides these places there is also Madison Square Park, many museums here and the Chelsea Flee Market. You will also be able to find plenty of vegan and plant-based options when visiting this area. Definitely a neighborhood to put on your itinerary next time you are in NYC!
9. Go to Dumbo, Brooklyn
Dumbo is an up and coming, trendy, industrial, charming neighborhood in Brooklyn right over the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridge from Manhattan. It is called Dumbo meaning “Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass”. Walking over the bridges is a great way to see New York City and is a sustainable alternative to get to Brooklyn. Here you can find restaurants, parks, breweries, food halls, and other shops. Check out my blog “A Sustainable Guide to Dumbo, Brooklyn” to find out what else there is to do here!
10. Check Out Museums
It is no surprise to anyone that there are a lot of museums in New York City and some are obviously more famous and well known than others. The Metropolitan Museum of Art [linked] also known as the Met, The Guggenheim Museum [linked], and the Museum of Modern Art [linked] also know as the MoMA are among the most famous museums in NYC.
Other museums to add to your list include: The Museum of Sex [linked] and the 9/11 Memorial & Museum [linked]. The Museum of Sex is a fun, interactive museum located on the corner of 5th Avenue and 27th Street. the 9/11 Memorial & Museum is located at the World Trade Center where the Twin Towers once stood and it is a beautiful memorial to remember the victims of 9/11.
Are There Sustainable Accommodations in
New York City?
New York City is definitely a leader when it comes to sustainability, so it is no surprise that there are many sustainable hotel and accommodation options here. Here are a list of 3 great eco-friendly hotels for you to check out next time you are in NYC.
For travelers that love sustainably and luxury, 1 Hotel Central Park [linked] is known for their sustainable efforts such as being LEED certified, helps to offset CO2, and works with charity events and organizations. The Knicker Bocker [linked] is also an eco-friendly luxury hotel in Times Square. This hotel has multiple sustainability certifications. The ModernHaus SoHo [linked] is a modern, sustainable hotel. This hotel offers sustainable dining options such as a restaurant that only serves seasonal local food.
When looking for a sustainable place to stay while traveling, look if they have any sustainable certifications which it will usually say so on the bottom of the website, look if they have a page talking about their sustainable efforts, or you can always contact them to ask what they do that is sustainable if you can’t find it on the website!
How to Eat Sustainably in
New York City?
New York City is one of the best cities in the world to go to if you eat a vegan or plant-based diet. There are also a lot of restaurants that source their food locally and use sustainable techniques.
It might be impossible to list every delicious, vegan friendly restaurant in NYC, but next time you are in the city, make sure to check out these places:
- Van Leeuwen Ice Cream, which is a vegan friendly ice cream chain around New York City [and now there are other locations in other states as well]
- Jajaja Mexicana which is a plant based Mexican restaurant in NYC
- Levain Bakery, which is famous for their delicious, huge chocolate chip walnut cookies, and now they have a vegan gluten free option as well! And it is just as delicious, if not more delicious, than the original cookies.
- 12 Chairs Cafe is an Israeli Restaurant in NYC with plenty of vegan and plant-based options!
- Most bagel shops in NYC offer a variety of vegan tofu based cream cheeses, and one of my personal favorite bagel shops is Ess-a-bagels.
- PLANTA Queen is a must go to for the best vegan food. This one is located in NoMad area in NYC but there are locations all over the U.S.
- For those that love Chinese food and want to join in on a dumpling tour in China Town, Joe’s Ginger, Shanghai Restaurant has a variety of plant-based options.
- Sweet Green is located all over NYC, and there are many locations all over the U.S. however, it is a great option when you need a quick, plant-based lunch. Even though they are a chain restaurant, they are committed to sustainability efforts. They are committed to becoming carbon neutral by 2027 and use compostable take out containers.
Can You Travel Around
New York City Sustainably?
New York City’s public transportation is infamous. Subways are the main transportation throughout New York City and is usually a reliable and easy way to explore the city. This is a sustainable alternative to get around a city versus taking the famous yellow taxis or a car service. To use the subway you will need to purchase a MetroCard, which you can refill when needed. A single ride for the metro card is $3.25, however these ones are not refillable, so make sure to get a Pay-Per-Ride MetroCard which is $2.90 per swipe. The Pay-Per-Ride card does have a minimum for new cards of $5.80. To learn more about the costs and where to get your MetroCard check out the Metropolitan Transportation Authority [linked] website.
In addition to subways, New York City is a super walkable city and is easy to get around on foot. This is a great way to explore the city and find new areas and places. It is also relatively safe to walk around the city since there are always a lot of people out and about.
There are also citi bikes located all around the city where you can rent a bike to get to and from a place. Citi Bikes are a great alternative to cars, taxis, and even walking. Check out the Citi Bike [linked] website to learn more about how the system to rent a bike works. There are multiple different plans to rent the bikes such as single ride plans, day passes, and annual passes. The costs vary from $4.49 for a 30 minute ride to $205 per year for the annual passes. If you are just visiting the city for a short period of time the single ride plan or day pass would be a great option for you!
As someone who grew up outside of NYC, I took the train into the city a majority of the time. There are two big train stations in New York City: Penn Station and Grand Central Station. This makes the city more accessible from surrounding areas and helps to reduce the number of cars driving to the city. If you are staying outside of the city but want to go explore NYC for a day trip, this is a great way to get there! Again, check out the Metropolitan Transportation Authority [linked] website for more information!
Overall, these alternative transportation options make it easier to explore New York City in a sustainable way.
Other Things That Make
New York City
Sustainable or Unsustainable
New York City does a lot of other stuff that is considered sustainable. The city focuses on sustainable efforts such as lowering its heat island effect and temperatures, lowering its carbon footprint, and supporting the use of urban gardens such as green roofs. There are also a lot of sustainable companies, brands, and shops located in New York City that allow residents or visitors to shop in a sustainable manner. The city also continues to design and build more parks creating more green space, biodiversity, and helping to lower temperatures.
However, despite the sustainable efforts New York City does, this city is a pretty trashy and polluted city. There is usually trash on the sidewalks and the excess trash then ends up in the river and other waterways. The waste runoff can have serious impacts on the rivers ecosystem and create unsafe, polluted waters.
Summary: So, is New York City a Sustainable City?
As a leading city in many different ways, New York City is one of the leaders of the sustainability movement. New York City is a sustainable city, not only due to its sustainable efforts, but also because of how easily it is to explore in a sustainable way, how easy it is to eat sustainably, and because of it’s commitment to green spaces. Based on this guide, New York City would get a 5/5 on the sustainability chart.
