I will be in NYC for 9 days in August - coming from Australia. I was wondering if anyone could recommend where I could buy detailed street maps of NYC online, so I can get an idea of where things are before I get there. My friend and I plan on winging it and walking/using subway for most things and don't want to get too lost - LOL!!

Thanking you in advance.

Lucky you - 9 days in NYC! I have always used a "Streetwise Manhattan" map; easy to carry around, and plenty of detail. You can order it online from Amazon or Barnes and Nobel. It's about $6 USD and well worth it! Have a great time.

My favorite is The New York Mapguide (Michael Middleditch) which is actually a booklet. The detail is terrific and the bus routes are included.

I really like the Red Maps guide series -- they're extremely detailed street maps, updated anually, that show every address, store, museum, etc. etc. See them at www.redmaps.com, and I believe they're also available at national chain bookstores.

When you get to New York, they give away free subway maps at the train stations and most tourist spots. The best Manhattan street map you can get is actually "free" too -- the one inside the front of the yellow pages of phone books.

If you want to buy a map just to orient yourself before you come to New York, any of the ones mentioned would be fine but as several people have mentioned, the free maps you can get here will work just as well. Most of Manhattan is on a grid making it very easy to navigate from one street to the next .

Definitely pick up a subway map when you're here --many of the subway guides on purchased maps or in guidebooks are likely to be somewhat or even very out of date. Also, be sure to ask for a Manhattan Bus Map
(also available at subway stations--just ask) which lists the actual streets, (more so than the subway map), and can double as a walking around map (escpcially in Midtown/ uptown Manhattan). Look at the bus and subway maps online at
http://www.mta.nyc.ny.us/nyct/maps/
You may be able to print out a reasonably good map that will suffice until you get here

As soon as you get to NYC, pick up a copy of TIME OUT NY. It will tell you all of the things that are happening everywhere in the city. I live here and get it delivered!

Check out www.sheckys.com
to pick out bars, lounges, clubs that suite you

(free map of NYC subways at any subway station - ask token clerk) or get map of city online at http://www.mta.nyc.ny.us/index.html )
Here is part of an itinerary that I made for someone...

DOWNTOWN MANHATTAN
Take the subway to the World Trade Center site. Cross Street. Spend no more than an hour to an hour and a half at "Century 21" (a huge discounted department store). Walk up Broadway to City Hall. Behind City Hall is Chambers Street. Very briefly, stop in the lobby of the Surrogate Court House on 31 Chambers Street - Beautiful! (it is the location of many film and magazine shoots) Continue on, up Centre Street, pass the Municipal Building on your right(also a famous landmark - always in the movies) Check out the NY Supreme and Federal Courthouses on your right. Very impressive. After you pass the Supreme Court at 60 Centre Street, get lost in Chinatown. Have lunch. Golden Unicorn or Dim Sum Go Go are good places and inexpensive ($30 for 2) (NYC standards) There are many others - check out the tea shops and other cool stuff. Make your way through the very very thick crowds to Canal Street. Stay on the South side of the Street. Head West. If you see a person selling yummy mini cakes cooked on a waffle iron, get a hot bag for $1.
Head uptown on Broadway to walk through SoHo. Tons of great people watching and amazing shopping or window shopping. Wander the side streets especially, Spring St and Prince St. Must Find West Broadway for excellent additional places. At Houston Street (pronounce the "House") walk up (North) into the Village. Wander around. This is NY University area.
MUST SEE MUSEUMS: go to a Museum on Central Park - The Museum of Natural History (West Side) and the Met East Side) are my favorites -

MUST HAVE FROZZEN HOT CHOCOLATE FOR DESSERT AT SERENDIPITIES.

CENTRAL PARK: spend an afternoon exploring the park if it is not raining. There is a map online. Don't eat at Taven on the Green - huge waste of money. Things to see in the park are the Boathouse, Belvedere Castle, the Great Lawn, the merry-go-round (Go for a ride). Everyone hangs out in Central Park on the weekends. Have fun! Email me if you need any more info
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You might try www.popoutmaps.com. They are pocket sized maps that fold out. I believe the NY one also has a subway map.

I've used several for various locations and like the fact that they are easy to carry, have fairly good cultural/sightseeing highlights, and are reasonably priced at $4.00 US.

If you can wait until you get to NY, the Hagstrom Map Store on 43rd St, between 5th and Ave. of the Americas carries them.

Sammiibris,

I'm assuming you live in Brisbane QLD(likewise). I have been to NYC a couple of times and the last time I purchased the Lonely Planet New York City map from Dymocks bookstore (about 9 bucks oz). It has subway and bus maps, street maps, cross referenced index to streets and attractions and other info.
You can also purchase Timeout magazine from Borders bookstore on Albert street(not sure how current it would be).
As mentioned, I would definitely purchase a map before you go and have some idea on what you plan to do and see. There are so many things to do and see in New York City, and if you can make it a little bit easier for yourself to get around by having some Idea on the citys layout and subway system, you may save yourself a bit of time here and there. The subway system can be a little bit confusing and I would suggest carrying out a search on this forum as there is some valuable information. Hope this helps and have a great trip!
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