Subway etiquette
- Let people off the train before you get on — standing in the doorway blocking the exit is the single most locally-irritating thing a visitor can do.
- Stand to the side of the doors while waiting, not directly in front of them.
- Move to the center of the car, don't cluster by the doors if the car is empty further in.
- Keep the pole and handholds accessible — don't lean your full body against a pole others need to hold.
Walking pace
New York sidewalks move fast, especially in Midtown during business hours. If you need to stop — to check a map, take a photo, or regroup with your group — step out of the main flow of foot traffic first. Stopping dead in the middle of a busy sidewalk is a fast way to feel very unwelcome, very quickly.
Tipping
18–20% at sit-down restaurants is standard, not optional, and is how service workers' base pay is legally structured in the US. Counter service and coffee shops often have a tip screen for smaller amounts (couple of dollars is fine) — not obligatory the way restaurant tipping is, but appreciated.
General tone
New Yorkers have a reputation for bluntness that's more about efficiency than rudeness — a short, direct answer to a question is normal, not a brush-off. Being clear and quick with what you need (an order, a question, directions) tends to go over better than a long, apologetic preamble.