WONDERFUL! This book of maps makes all of NYC yours!
582959
I've now been using this extraordinary book for more than a year, and it's  been an amazing gift! I've explored NY from end to end--from City Island,  the Bronx, to Tottenville, Staten Island, and all around Brooklyn and  Queens (besides my home borough of Manhattan). The maps are aesthetically  beautiful, wonderfully accurate, so easy to read, and full of useful  info--post offices, subway stops, and more. In this walker's town, having  the right map expands your horizons in every way. If you love the city and  dream of seeing it in all its glory, this is your true companion. It  belongs in the pocket or backpack of every New York resident, visitor, and  fan. It's also a spectacularly appreciated gift!
3105981
This is the book to buy if you want a comprehensive overview of the city, hitting all the high points.  If you want depth and detail, look elsewhere.  For that, there are at least four other Lonely Planet guides for NYC, all of them good.  Remember that the subtitle is "The Best of New York City," and that's exactly what it is.  Other reviews complain about the emphasis on Manhattan at the expense of the other boroughs, which is silly--how many tourists who might buy this book are looking for places to see in Queens or Staten Island? Nothing wrong with those boroughs, but tourist attractions they are not.

This guide begins with "New York City's Top Experiences" and then covers a suggested day-by-day itinerary, then a month-by-month calendar.  The rest of the book is divided into the city's areas -- Midtown, Upper East Side, and so on, with page edges color coded for easy access to each section.  It's all well organized.

Maps are plentiful and clearly marked, and "Don't Miss" sidebars, about a page each, cover such must-sees as Grand Central, Union Square, Chinatown, the Guggenheim, and so on.  Photos are many, colorful, and up to date, such as coverage of the 9/11 memorial area downtown. A decent fold-out map is included. An unrecognizable photo of the Flatiron Building (p. 150) is a mystery, however.

One complaint is the multiple indexes.  I much prefer everything in one index.
415433
Everything I was looking for in a map. This a comprehensive map for the center area of Budapest. A lot of these reviews talk about small writing, but I found it quite typical of any other physical map I've used. I found the map easy to use and it had just about everything I w anted. I wish it had an extra tourist site or two labeled, but this had places like "sculpture with a view" labeled, has markers for scenic photo spots, tram/trains lines/stops, as well as World Heritage Borders. I mean, seriously, I will definitely buy from this brand again when I travel. This map even lists were the stairs are! A total win in my book.
1789575
Wonderful quality of paper - even comes with a fold out map.  Breaks down Seattle by neighborhood and gives you the best 10 of everything in each area.  At this point everything that somebody has suggested to me has been in this book.  I LOVE it - will be with me on my trip.
2692122
This book is truly phenomenal! The photographs, the content, the history all come together to tell a beautiful story and paint a vivid picture of synagogues throughout the five boroughs of New York City! It's evident that this book is a labor of love and will be an amazing reference for generations to come!
4804695
this is the first book I've purchased for my Kindle. The history of Manhattan as well as some areas of Upstate New York is interesting. The maps and illustrations are fantastic.
4079240
While planning my second trip to NYC, and remembering the frustration of relying on that "free" subway map which was completely tattered and torn by the end of my first day in the city, I researched several laminated options with seemingly the most comprehensive information and went with this one. I was not disappointed. It stored nicely in my interior coat pocket, and I used it several times as a convenient bookmark for my travel guide book. Most importantly, the information contained on the map is quite easy to read considering the overall size of this product.
You can purchase numerous city maps with subway overlays, but this one had (in my opinion) the most useful information. If I had to pick just one map to take along, this would be it.

One slight disadvantage of this map is that to have all the subway trains from the Bronx to outer Queens represented, it's simply not possible to include a city street grid along with the subway lines and still have it readable. So, it is helpful to also have a second city street map for reference purposes while using this product. This is the only way to determine, for instance, specifically how many blocks one might need to walk to a particular station. To me this was not a problem, however, because my travel guide had any number of maps I needed for this purpose, so they complimented one another and worked together well. My friends ended up relying on me to be our group navigator because this method turned out to be the most efficient system for determining where we needed to go and exactly HOW to do it.

I think the most important and helpful feature of this map is that EVERY train stop along all subway lines is included along with which SPECIFIC trains actually stop at each station. The most confusing aspect of the NYC metro rail is knowing which trains are "express" or "local". You sometimes have a number of train options to take from one location to the next, but it is possible to jump on a train which might travel through the particular station you want without stopping during certain hours. Most other maps include only the station information and what number/letter trains go through, but NOT which lines are express or local. You avoid using a third reference source to get this information by using the Streetwise map. It's all right there! You can quickly glance down and see if the train approaching will stop at the destination you're seeking, making it possible to adjust your itinerary on the fly instead of sticking to one you and your friends just plotted out at the restaurant (which took ten minutes to do as everyone argued about the "best" way to get from point A to B!) This info lets you save time by glancing quickly at the map to see if the train just arriving (not necessarily the one you planned to take) might also take you to the same destination, reducing wait times and averting the need to tediously plan out each and every move with no flexibility. I liked being able to use the map in this way because we seemed much less like tourists. A quick glance, and we were on our way as the map slipped rick back in my pocket. I giggled a few times at some other tourists who were juggling the five maps they needed to get the same information, and thought they should have bought the Streetwise.

A very wise investment of a few bucks. The map is durable and I will be using mine again and again. The best part is that with my new familiarity of how to use this particular product in the most efficient way, getting around my next trip will be a snap! Buy this map...you won't regret it!
1775309
I can't travel without this map! Good quality and incredible light!  Goes in my poket,  with love and happiness! NYC here we go always!!!!
4146364
Our first New York city vacation. With this map, we found our way around easily. Excellent!
859637
NYC is probably the last place you'd want to stand on a street corner with a huge fold-out map of the subway grid... It screams TOURIST!!! This little book is the best alternative to that scenario. You're still able to get the information you need without the rest of the world knowing you have no idea where you are. It's loaded with every possible map you could need in The Big Apple, including Brooklyn, The Bronx, and Queens. And for those of you with a REAL sense of adventure, it even shows you how to get out of Manhattan and into Staten Island, Jersey or the rest of New York State. Not that you'd want to go there... : )
3955712
As noted in another review, this is not the most comprehensive of guidebooks, but that can be an advantage when carrying it in your backpack while touring the city!  It has very good maps of Manhattan and pretty much just covers what most tourists will want to see.  I found it to be very useful.
916355
When we decided to take my daughter to New York for graduation, I immediately ordered several different guidebooks and maps. I have been there once 20 years ago and the only thing I really remember is how big and overwhelming the city is. I am a planner by nature so I couldn't wait to sit down with all my books and map out the trip. The others were not nearly as useful. In addition to many 'tourist' sites, we booked discount off broadway tickets, went to an improv comedy show for $10/ person, went to cool local markets- one for artists and a farmers market. Rode the Roosevelt tram for $2/person which was great, and used our metro card to get a sightseeing trip through queens on the #7 train.  None of the other books mentioned these off beat things. This book is the best of everything- tourist sites, local sites, and cool offbeat experiences. Our trip would have looked very different without it.
4567359
Profusely illustrated, filled with informative and fascinating text, and sporting great sidebars on key points of NYC history and architecture, this volume will aid and bedazzle tourists, students, and history buffs -- perhaps even getting the most jaded of New Yorkers to see their neighborhoods in new light!
1748252
The new edition of Joyce Mendelsohn's book on the Lower East Side is substantially enlarged and updated.  A leading historian of this fascinating era, Mendelsohn writes with extraordinary insight about the social and economic conditions of the city's immigrants, especially the Jews who "built a unique community ... which formed the heart of the American Jewish experience."  Her writing is clear and a pleasure to read.  Her five walking tours, which include a new tour of the Bowery, are excellent, with all the significant buildings carefully described and documented.  I wholeheartedly recommend this book for all who want to deepen their knowledge of New York City.

Sarah Bradford Landau
2930986
This is the map book that NYC taxi drivers carry around with them when they need to look up some street they don't quite know where it is located. Sometimes it is used as an excuse when they are taking you on the 'scenic route' around town before charging you triple what is supposed to cost to go from destination A to B, but I digress. This atlas is excellent, and shows every street in every borough of New York; Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island. There is little in the way of tourist
 attractions, and landmarks, so tourists may not find this atlas too useful, except as an accurate road map around town. There are several versions of this excellent atlas. The spiral bound pocket version is the smallest, and smaller does not mean tinier maps; it means the full-sized maps are cut smaller to fit into this book resulting in more pages to scroll through. Pages are laminated so you can simply wipe pages clean should you spill coffee on them. rkchin. more map reviews at [...]
892498
NYC can be overwhelming even for the repeat visitor.  Be prepared, and use Fodor's.  What I loved about the guide is that it breaks the city down into neighborhoods.  You can pick the ones you want to visit, and wander through a different one each day.  I originally tried to visit NYC with a map highlighted with the sights I wanted to see.  It was a wild goose chase!  The suggested itineraries in Fodor's made it easier, and I wasn't harried by running all over the city.
252570
Traveling in unfamiliar territory scares me, I admit it. I ordered this book because I actually was heading to NY just a couple months later.

It's a beautiful full color guide with clear and concise maps.

There are nine helpful categories in the book.

The Best of the Big Apple, which covers the noteworthy places.

New York City in Depth, which talks about the history of New York City.

New York City Neighborhoods, which explains what the names of the districts mean and give you a tour, including suggested itineraries.

Where to Stay, which is pretty self explanatory. Hotels, price ranges.

Where to Dine, also self explanatory. It talks about the best restaurants and delis.

Exploring New York City section which lists attractions with star ratings.

Shopping guide to find the department stores, souvenir stores, bookstores.

New York City After Dark talks about Broadway and off Broadway shows, concert halls, music, comedy, and bars.

Planning Your Trip to New York City is about getting in and out of the city and safety tips.

I absolutely love NYC. When I visited this summer, with only three full days, I barely scratched the surface. I'm excited to plan my next trip with the help of this guide and see things I didn't get to see, go places I didn't get to go. It's very comprehensive. If you're planning a trip to NYC, I highly recommend it.