I would like to visit New York City just for sightseeing, shopping and dining. Thing is, after hearing rumors about the crime rate, I am wondering if it is wise to go by myself.
Is it better to go with a group? How can i not look like a tourist in NYC?
Never been to NYC, but I lived in Chicago for a few years, and basically the key to not looking like a tourist is 1) look like you know where you’re going, and 2) don’t visibly carry a camera. Those two things scream “tourist” IMHO.
That being said, I personally wouldn’t have a problem traveling and touring on my own in New York. Maybe I’m being naive or foolish, but it just wouldn’t occur to me not to go for fear of crime.
Get one of those T-Shirts that say
I
New York
You’ll fit right in.
Crime in NYC is way, way down from the days of Midnight Cowboy and the Velvet Underground. It is not at all scary. Daytime shopping, whether at Macy’s or along Fifth Avenue, has a certain amusement-park character to it these days. I walked around Central Park quite a bit in my last visit, and having led to believe by Law & Order that the park was teeming with dead bodies, I was disappointed. Even walking around at night is fine in many places, particularly around tourist-heavy Times Square.
Absolutely do not let fear deter you.
Don’t be Asian.
Seriously. When I went to NYC, I stayed with a friend who happens to be Vietnamese. When he took me to do all the tourist-y things, I had a video camera, a digital camera, and a Polaroid camera all hanging from my neck. Not one single street hawker/bum/vendor tried to get my attention, but every single one of them stopped my friend and tried to harangue him.
New York City has had the lowest crime rate of any large city in the US for years.
How not to look like a tourist:
[ol]
[li]When walking on the sidewalk:[/li][list=1]
[li]Do not go slowly,[/li][li]Do not wander aimlessly, looking at the tops of tall buildings,[/li][li]Do not walk several people abreast, making it impossible for anyone to pass you,[/li][li]Always remember that someone wants to move faster than you, that person is more important than you, he has to do something more important than what you are doing, and you should get out of his way.[/li][/ol]
[li]When using the subway:[/li][ol]
[li]Do not descend an escalator or staircase and then stop to look around, causing everyone behind you to crash into your lame ass,[/li][li]Do not stand in front of the turnstile while you fish out your MetroCard, get it out before you reach the turnstile or stand over to the side until you have it[/li][li]Get an unlimited-ride MetroCard, so you can ride the subway as much as you want without paying a lot of money. Remember that unlimited ride cards can not be shared, but pay-per-ride cards can be. [/li][li]Get a subway map from the token booths in the station, and consult the maps hanging on station walls and the platforms. [/li][li]Ask strangers for directions, but:[/li][list=1]
[li]Don’t ask stupid questions, e.g. “how do I get to that place with that thing?”[/li][li]Do ask specific questions, e.g. “does this train stop at 14th Street?”[/li][li]Look at the schedules of trains you may be taking. Not all trains run 24/7.[/li][/ol]
[li]Hold onto the poles, or you will fall.[/li][/list]
[li]When using taxis:[/li][ol]
[li]Pay attention to the “duty lights” on the cab’s roof. If they’re off, the cab is off duty or carrying a passenger. Hailing it will be futile.[/li][li]Hail cabs by standing on the sidewalk (preferably one of the north/south Avenues which carry more traffic) and sticking your hand up and out over the street.[/li][li]Tip the cabbie unless he is a jerk.[/li][/ol]
[/list]
Do. not. stroll.
What friedo said, highlighting 1.3 and 2.2. I would also add:
2.7. Escalators are walk-left, stand-right.
Really it’s not that you don’t want to look like a tourist, you just don’t want to look like a fool who has never been in a city before. But, if you would like to blend in with the natives, note that New Yorkers tend to dress up a notch more than in other parts of the country. In Chicago you might see people head out to the movies or shopping in shorts and a T-shirt, in NY (esp. Manhattan) not so much. Wintertime you’ll see more wool coats and fewer ski jackets, that sort of thing.
Get out of my fucking way.
Christ, if New Yorkers actually followed these rules then I would be a happy camper.
friedo’s list is pretty good. I spent a summer on the streets as a messenger when I graduated from high school. The top things on my list are:
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Don’t look at the tall buildings and point. 95% of New Yorkers never even noticed King Kong on the top of the Empire State Building.
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Walk fast.
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Don’t stop in the middle of the street and look at a map. In midtown, you can see where you are at the next intersection anyway. There is no place I’ve ever been easier to get around by foot than Manhattan. All you need to do is remember the names of a few north south avenues (Lexington, Park, Madison) and realize that Broadway runs at an angle, and you’re set;
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Don’t gawk. if something weird goes by, check it out but don’t make it obvious. I saw a llama riding in a horse drawn carriage one day, and no one looked twice at it.
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If a panhandler or some other unsavory type comes up to you, act like he doesn’t exist. Looking like you’re slightly crazy seems to work for me also.
From what I read in the Times, it is okay to be disoriented coming out of subway stations. They are supposedly putting some directions on the sidewalk to help. If you are, head for the nearest intersection, and you’ll soon find out if you went the right way, or pay attention to the building numbers to turn yourself around faster.
As for crime, besides the lower crime rate, you’ll probably always be in crowds. Know where your wallet is, and you’ll be fine.
If you can help it avoid being out and about between 7-9am and 5-7 pm. Spend this time in bed, at breakfast or dinner, in a museum, etc. People here are generally pretty good about being forgiving to tourists as long as you aren’t disturbing them during rush hour.
There will be teenagers on the train selling candy to raise money for basketball camp or some such thing. Don’t buy the candy. There is no basketball camp, these kids are learning to hustle and if they make enough money doing this they will eventually move on to hawking stolen goods. Also keep in mind that if you see someone selling watches/clothes/dvds/etc out of a shopping cart they are either fake or stolen. Either way, please don’t buy those things. Don’t support crime in my city.
Enjoy seeing the sights but try to walk close to the buildings, especially when you are slowing down to look at a landmark of some kind or stopping to pull out your map and reorient yourself. This will prevent you from stopping traffic on the sidewalks.
Don’t worry about the crime rate you’ve heard about. New York is incredibly safe! I traveled here on my own several times and have lived here alone for more than a year and have never been a victim of any kind of crime. There is crime here, to be sure, but no more than any other city and the crime rate per capita is actually lower in NYC than many other major cities in the country. Just be smart and aware of what is going on around you and you will be fine.
Regardless of other outwards appearances, if you masturbate on the subway, I think it’s very unlikely that people will presume you to be a tourist.
God I miss New York… 
Get a pet tortoise, put it on a leash and use it to set your pace. People will think you’re one of those rich obnoxious weirdoes NYC is famous for. 
In fairness, there are parts of New York I would not recommend a tourist go. However, the most common locales for tourism - Manhattan, for the most part - are very nice. As a tourist it’s unlikely you’ll find yourself going into a crummary part of the Bronx.
My suggestion to the OP is not to worry about whether or not you look like a tourist. Just have a good time.
Wear dark solid colors. It worked for me, I had folks asking me for directions…
I would assume he is a native.
The way I spot tourists is that they are usually the ones that are amazed by things I long ago stopped caring about. They talk about the view from the subway window or how bumpy the ride is. They carry a subway map and don’t navigate trains using their intuition. They gawk at the tall buildings and bums. They usually stop in the middle of the street in order to plan where to go next.
To make everyone think you’re a native New Yorker I would learn to read the New York Times, on the subway, while drinking coffee with a doughnut. If you can do this standing then no one will believe you’re not from New York.
I could never get the hang of that. Eventually, I was forced to move 
Dress like a mugger. Or a pimp.