Menu
New York is a city which needs no introduction; you already know about its famous skyline, Central Park, Wall Street, Broadway and inhabitants from every walk of life and corner of the world. Not so much a ‘melting pot’, but a ‘salad bowl’ of cultures, colours and sounds. There’s no other city like this in America, or the world.
NYC has a humid subtropical climate. Winters are cold and damp with rain and /or snow while summers are typically warm and humid. The hottest month of the year is July while the coldest is January.
Currency: $ (US Dollars)
Avoid carrying large amounts of money, EC New York recommends to all of these students to get a bank account for the duration of their time at the school.
2024 Public holidays on a weekday
1 Jan, 15 Jan, 19 Feb, 27 May, 19 Jun, 4 Jul, 2 Sept, 14 Oct, 11 Nov, 28 Nov, 29 Nov, 25 Dec,
31 Dec
Check out the Monthly Activities Calendar
+1
Tap water is safe unless there’s a sign to the contrary.
If you are not at school and are in an emergency you can call 911 for ambulance, fire department or police department from any telephone or call the school’s emergency number +1 347-567-3843.
If you need to see a doctor when the school is closed, the following clinics are open and close to EC New York:
You do not need to make an appointment and they have locations all over New York.
You do not need to make an appointment. They are open Mon- Thur 8am-8pm, Fri 9am-7pm, Sat 9am-3pm and Sun 9am-2pm.
Make sure that the doctor you are visiting accepts your insurance. If the doctor has any questions about your insurance protection, ask him or her to call the insurance company directly. We do not recommend going to the emergency room unless it is a major emergency. Emergency Room visits are extremely expensive in the United States.
Subway /Metro and Bus
A one-way ride on the subway or local bus costs $2.75. The fare for an express bus ride is $6.75. Subway and bus maps can be found at each station and are given to students during orientation. One way for students to save money and explore the city to the fullest extent is by buying unlimited MetroCards. Each of these cards are valid for unlimited subway and local bus rides.
There are many ways to travel from NYC to various cities located on the East coast, including Washington DC, Philadelphia, and Boston. Travelling by bus to these cities can be very inexpensive. Some notable bus services offered are the BoltBus, MegaBus, Fung Wah, Lucky Star, and Greyhound. Many of these buses leave from Penn Station and/or the Port Authority.
An easy way to explore the outskirts of New York City is to travel by train. Students can explore Long Island by using the Long Island Railroad (LIRR) or visit New Jersey via NJ Transit.
You can walk out of any building at any time and find a yellow taxi-cab. This is a quick way to travel through New York, but may be expensive depending on how far you need to go. New York City is a city full of taxis.
OMNY is our contactless payment system. You don’t have to sign up or download an app to use OMNY — simply use your contactless credit or debit card, smartphone, or wearable device to tap and go. You’ll pay the same base fare — $2.75 — and still get free transfers. After 12 paid trips during one week it automatically switches to the 7-Day unlimited pass => no need to buy it upfront.
The legal driving age in New York City is 18. Most rental companies require that you be at least 25 years old, have an international driving license, a second form of identity and a major credit card.
Legal age for purchasing or consuming alcohol in the US is 21 and many places will ask for identification.
Smoking indoors is illegal. To buy cigarettes, you must be 18 years of age or older and must show identification.
All EC students must be covered by health insurance for the entire length of their stay in the U.S.
For Visa information please visit our Visa Requirements page
Coffee/Cappuccino (Starbucks)
$3.00-$3.50
Bottle of water / soda (0.33 litre)
$1.50
Fast-Food combo meal
$5.00-$10.00
Meal, inexpensive restaurant
$15.00-$20.00
Fitness club (monthly, 1 adult)
$90.00-$100.00
Public transport (single ride)
Public transport (weekly pass)
$2.75 (one-way)
$33
Public transport (monthly pass)
Metro single ride
Express Bus ride
$127.00
$2.75
$6.75
