”I wanna wake up in the city that doesn’t sleep” said Frank Sinatra and, honestly, #same. So! You’re thinking about moving to Manhattan with your family, aren’t you? That’s why you’re reading this.

If you have the means, it’s not a surprising decision. At least 95% of the people (invented statistics) have thought, at least once in their life, that they want to live in Manhattan, too. Continue reading to find out all the tips, tricks, ideas, and advice that might come in handy when you’re facing a non-imaginary move to Manhattan.

Moving to Manhattan – the basic info

If you’re a young family with a kid or two, most people will say you’re crazy when you tell them about your plans for relocation to Manhattan. It’s simply because they instantly imagine the hustle and the bustle of the big city, thinking it’s not the right place to raise kids, and that you should opt for a suburb or a small town instead. Don’t listen to them!

Manhattan *is* a crowded, fast place. But, if it’s really so bad, why are there so many people? Because it’s exciting, full of opportunities, great schools, good jobs, and much, much more. If you need some more time to decide, read about the pros and cons of big city living.

Finding a home

The majority of Manhattan people live in rented apartments. Depending on your budget, you might too, but this isn’t a nightmare. It’s great if you plan on moving again in the future, or changing a place of residence. The trick is to find exactly what you’re looking for. This means that you should take into account your family’s lifestyle and needs, specifically the vicinity of schools, the traffic, your jobs, and so on. The quality of life depends greatly on the location itself, so check out the best neighborhoods in NYC for families.

When you’ve found the perfect place, it’s time to go. Packing and moving is a nightmare, which is why you’ll need all the help you can get. Nowadays it’s a smart move to hire professionals if planning a smooth relocation. This way you’ll have a lot less to worry about.

Kids are wonderful, but it’s a fact that they’re an enormous responsibility, and parents usually put their needs before anything else. When you’re moving to Manhattan, it might be a problem to juggle everyday life chores and dynamics with the additional work. To make matters worse, if this is your first time changing a place, you might think you’re losing it. Read some moving tips for beginners to make your life easier.

Job search or relocation

There are various reasons why people move, and some of them are certainly jobs. If that’s your major reason for moving to Manhattan, congrats! However, if you’re about to start job searching, don’t be scared. Join social media communities, but more importantly, meet people in person. It’s a way to acquire a new friend group, as well as meet potential clients or employers.

When you’re working from home, it might be a smart idea to have a nook, or a home office, if possible. If you’ll work in an office, it would be ideal to find one near your new home. That way you won’t lose much time in transport, and you’ll be able to spend more quality time with your family.

Getting around in the City

Once you’ve finished with moving to Manhattan, it’s the beginning of a new chapter. As exciting as it is, it’s certainly challenging too. New York, including Manhattan, is said to have the best public transportation system in the world. We’re talking fantastic subway lines, taxi and Uber services, and buses. If you own a car, you might want to consider selling it – it’s extra dough, and you won’t be using it anyway. The parking spots are impossible to find, and even if you do, they’re super expensive. Plus, time is essential, and you’ll be losing a lot of it dealing with parking issues.

As wonderful as it is, the City, as the locals call it, is a noisy, crowded place with a lot of pushing everywhere. Pushing in the streets, pushing in the metro, pushing in line for coffee. You and your family moving to Manhattan means all of you will have to learn to go with the flow and, well, push. These situations can be potentially dangerous, especially with kids involved, so be extra careful.

Everyday life

As always, a new home means new habits and some necessary changes in lifestyle. Moving to Manhattan, forget about stacking your fridge for a week’s worth of groceries. All that talk about crowds and transportations means you’ll have to carry the bags in your hands from the store. Add a kid or two, and you see the issue here. That’s why Manhattanites opt for the local corner shops, several times a week. Lifehack!

The beginning of a new adventure

When you’ve finished getting used to the new surroundings and acquiring new routines, then it’s time to go out and explore. Living in Manhattan is pretty much as exciting as it gets. It’s namely the capital of art, culture, entertainment, cuisine, but also fun in general. Here are some things to check out:

• Central Park. Duh! Probably the most famous park in the world, it offers weeks’ worth of exploring – cycling, walking, or carriage riding.
• Empire State Building. The former tallest building in the world, it offers magnificent views of the city.
• For less tourist-like adventures, go around your neighborhood and check out the bakeries, coffee shops, libraries. Find your favorites!
• Make sure to visit the local theaters and catch some of the latest performances.
• Movie nights in your new favorite cinema.
• Eat your way through your area. Generally, living in Manhattan means you don’t have to cook.

There you have it. In short, changing a place of residence is never simple or easy. But moving to Manhattan with your family opens numerous doors for a great life, filled with adventures and wonderful memories.