The 5 Best Places to Exchange Money in New York

When it comes to exchanging money in New York, there are only two words to sum it up: Convenient and effective.

In fact, people can easily buy US dollars in their home country since this powerful currency is one of the most accessible in the world. But for the best exchange rates, it could only be in America.

And while being in America, New York visitors get the biggest deals. It is simply because no other USA cities’ change offices can offer you the better rates than those in New York, the biggest financial center in the world, can do.

Another great thing of exchanging currency in the Big Apple is that you can convert currency of any country into US dollar, including non-major currencies like FJD, EGP, VND, HNL, IMP, ARS, and TTD.

Getting local notes in New York is simple. All you need to do is choosing between these two options: Withdrawing currency from ATM machines or converting your cash at money changers in one of the popular areas recommended below.

The Manhattan area that houses Empire State Building and Madison Square Garden is home to a large number of currency exchange offices. Among those, UNO Foreign Exchange and A&S Foreign Exchange are the two most preferred forex shops in the area.

Fans of movie and sport may find it a double reason to visit this part of the city: Buying US dollars and enjoying the attractions. Yes, you might want to soak up the atmosphere at The Empire State Building, a New York iconic building appearing in An Affair to Remember and Sleepless in Seattle movies, or at Madison Square Garden, a sport mecca.

Best rates for
– EUR
– GBP
– JPY
– CAD
– CHF
– DKK
– HKD
– NOK
– SEK
– SGD

Recommended money changers
1. UNO Foreign Exchange
– Provides currency exchange and money transfer services for more than 10 years
– It is just 2 minutes away from the Empire State Building
– Address: 43 West 33rd Street, New York, NY 10001, USA
– Phone: +1 212-279-6150
– Opening hours: Mon to Fri 08:30 – 19:00; Sat 10:00 – 17:00; Sun 12:00 – 17:00

2. A & S Foreign Exchange
– Accepts traveler’s cheques
– This change office is near Madison Square Garden, which is less than 10 minutes away from the Empire State Building
– Address: 357 7th Ave, New York, NY 10001, USA
– Phone: +1 646-473-1222
– Opening hours: Monday to Friday 09:30 – 19:00; Saturday 11:00 – 18:00
– Daily rates

3. Best Value Currency
– More than 10 years experience in the currency exchange business
– It is just a short walk from Madison Square Garden and 34 Street Penn Station
– Address: 423 7th Ave, New York, NY 10120, USA
– Phone: +1 646-727-8458
– Opening hours: Monday to Saturday 08:30 – 20:00; Sunday 09:00 – 19:00

4. Choice Forex
– Provides currency exchange services since 1955
– Accepts traveler’s cheques
– Address: Empire State Building, 350 5th Ave, New York, NY 10118, USA
– Phone: +1 212-268-4525/ +1 800 258 0456
– Opening hours: Monday to Saturday 08:00 – 18:00

5. Currency Exchange International – Penn Station branch
– Foreign exchange company with over 18 years of experience
– Offers currency exchange and money transfer services
– Accepts traveler’s cheques
– Its location is between the Empire State Building and Penn Station
– Address: Apple Bank ATM Lobby, 371 7th Ave, New York, NY 10001, USA
– Phone: +1 212-695-1599
– Opening hours: Mon to Fri 08:30 – 21:00; Sat 09:00 – 21:00; Sun 11:00 – 20:00

How to get there
– By subway: Nearest subway stations are 34 Street – Herald Sq Station, 34 Street Penn Station, and 28 St Station
– By bus: Nearest bus stops are 5 Av/w 33 St, W 32 St/Av of the Americas, Av of the Americas/w 31 St, and W 34 St/7 Av

The Grand Central Terminal is a historical landmark in New York City that practically functions as a major transport hub and a tourist attraction.

Surrounding this landmark is an array of money changers, most of them provide currency exchange service daily.

If you want to head straight to the best, then make your way to Peoples Foreign Exchange at One Grand Central Place. This highly rated change office is praised for its good rates and friendly service.

Best rates for
– EUR
– GBP
– JPY
– HKD
– SGD
– CHF
– CNY
– KRW
– TWD
– SAR

Recommended money changers
1. Peoples Foreign Exchange
– Provides currency exchange service since 1987
– Its location is across the Grand Central Terminal
– Address: Lobby Store #16, One Grand Central Place, 60 E 42nd St, New York, NY 10165, USA
– Phone: +1 212-883-0550
– Opening hours: Mon to Fri 09:00 – 18:00; Sat & Sun 10:00 – 16:00
– Daily rates

2. Currency Exchange International – Grand Central branch
– Foreign exchange company with over 18 years of experience
– Offers currency exchange and money transfer services
– Accepts traveler’s cheques
– It is located across Grand Hyatt New York, and near the Chrysler Building
– Address: Chanin Building, 122 E 42nd St, New York, NY 10168, USA
– Phone: +1 212-972-6800
– Opening hours: Mon to Fri 08:30 – 21:00; Sat 09:00 – 21:00; Sun 11:00 – 20:00

3. AFEX
– Provides currency exchange service since 1979
– Accepts traveler’s cheques
– This is just 3 minutes away from Waldorf Astoria, and a 10 minutes walk from the Grand Central Terminal
– Address: 805 3rd Ave #1210, New York, NY 10022, USA
– Phone: +1 800-346-3924
– Opening hours: Monday to Friday 11:00 – 16:00

4. Change Group
– Offers currency exchange service since 1992
– This office is about a 3 minute walk from Grand Central Terminal
– Address: 315 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10017, USA
– Phone: +1 212 883 0210
– Opening hours: Daily 07:00 – 19:00

5. World Currency Exchange
– Offers currency exchange and money transfer services for more than 35 years
– Accepts traveler’s cheques
– It is located near Waldorf Astoria New York, which is about 10 minutes away from the Grand Central Terminal
– Address: 569 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10022, USA
– Phone: +1 212-765-2323
– Opening hours: Daily 09:00 – 19:00
– Note: They don’t provide rates over the phone

How to get there
– By subway: Nearest subway stations are 5 Av (7 Line) and 51 St (4/6 Line)
– By bus: Nearest bus stops are E 42 St/Madison Av, E 42 St/Lexington Av, and 3 Av/E 50 St

If you are going to visit Times Square like 50 million people who do it annually, then you can conveniently squeeze both sightseeing and money exchanging into your trip to the area.

The majority of money changers that are situated near Times Square and Broadway Theatre are open daily until late evening.

 Best rates for
– EUR
– GBP
– JPY
– AUD
– MXP
– SGD
– MYR
– CHF
– HKD
– CAD

Recommended money changers
1. New York City Experts – Foreign Currency Exchange
– Offers tourist services including currency exchange
– Accepts traveler’s cheques
– Address: 8F Marriott Marquis Hotel, 1535 Broadway, New York, NY 10036, USA
– Phone: +1 212-235-5275
– Opening hours: Daily 08:00 – 19:00

2. Travel Money USA
– Offers currency exchange and money transfer services
– This change office is across Broadway Theatre
– Address: 1691 Broadway, New York, NY 10019, USA
– Phone: +1 855-959-7064
– Opening hours: Mon to Fri 08:00 – 20:00; Sat & Sun 11:00 – 18:00

3. Travelex – Times Square branch
– International currency exchange chain founded in 1976
– Address: One Times Square, 1578 Broadway, New York, NY 10036, USA
– Phone: +1 212-265-6063
– Opening hours: Daily 09:00 – 22:00

4. World Currency Exchange
– Offers currency exchange and money transfer services for more than 35 years
– Accepts traveler’s cheques
– It is right across the exit of 7th subway station
– Address: 826 7th Ave, New York, NY 10019, USA
– Phone: +1 212-765-2323
– Opening hours: Daily 08:00 – 20:00

5. Altour
– Travel agency that also offers currency exchange service
– It is at the same building with Radio City Music Hall, and about 8 minute walk from Times Square
– Address: 15F 1270 6th Ave, New York, NY 10020, USA
– Phone: +1 212-722-5959
– Opening hours: Mon to Fri 09:00 – 20:00; Sat & Sun 10:00 – 20:00

How to get there
– By subway: Nearest subway stations are Times Sq – 42 St (1/2/3,7, N/Q/R/W Line), 49 St (N/Q/R/W Line), and 50 St (1/2 Line)
– By bus: Nearest bus stops are W 41 St/8 Av, 8 Av/w 46 St, W 50 St/7 Av, and 7 Av/West 55 St

Central Park in New York is perhaps the most famous park in the world. If this park is in your bucket list, then you can easily include money exchanging in your trip to the area.

You can find many forex shops clustering around the southern part of the park, called Central Park South. Most of them provide customers with currency exchange and money transfer services every day of the week.

Best rates for
– EUR
– GBP
– JPY
– AUD
– MXP
– THB
– PHP
– IDR
– NZD

Recommended money changers
1. Currency Exchange International – Avenue of the Americas branch
– Foreign exchange company with over 18 years of experience
– Offers currency exchange and money transfer services
– Accepts traveler’s cheques
– It is just a short walk from the Museum of Modern Art
– Address: 1330 6th Ave., New York, NY 10019, USA
– Phone: +1 212-956-2400
– Opening hours: Mon to Fri 08:30 – 20:00; Sat 09:00 – 20:00; Sun 11:00 – 19:00

2. AFEX
– Provides currency exchange service since 1979
– Accepts traveler’s cheques
– This change office is near Carnegie Hall
– Address: The Park Central Hotel, 870 7th Ave, New York, NY 10019, USA
– Phone: +1 800-346-3924/ +1 212 757 9280
– Opening hours: Mon to Wed 09:00 – 20:00; Thu to Sat 09:00 – 21:00; Sun 09:00 – 19:00

3. Currency Exchange International – Lexington Avenue branch
– Foreign exchange company with over 18 years of experience
– Offers currency exchange and money transfer services
– Accepts traveler’s cheques
– It is just a few steps away from Lexington Ave./63rd subway exit, and about a 10 minutes walk from Central Park South-East
– Address: Apple Bank ATM Lobby, 812 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
– Phone: +1 212-421-2220
– Opening hours: Mon to Fri 08:00 – 19:00; Sat 09:00 – 17:00; Sun 10:00 – 16:00

4. Travelex – The Plaza Hotel branch
– International currency exchange chain founded in 1976
– Address: The Plaza Hotel, 768 5th Ave, Cellar Level – Food Hall, New York, NY 10019, USA
– Phone: +1 212-644-8264
– Opening hours: Monday to Saturday 10:00 – 20:00; Sunday 10:00 – 18:00

How to get there
– By subway: Nearest subway stations are Lexington Av/59 St (4/5/6 & N/R/W Line), Lexington Av/63 St. (F/N/Q Line), 57 St – 7 Av (N/Q/R/W Line), and 57 St (F Line)
– By bus: Nearest bus stops are E 60 St/Lexington Av, 5 Av/w 58 St, and 7 Av/w 57 St

New Yorkers simply say Wall Street when referring to the financial district in Downtown Manhattan. This is where you can find the New York Stock Exchange, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, and headquarters of major financial institutions.

Most of the money changers in Lower Manhattan are located within walking distance from the Washington Square Park.

Best rates for
– EUR
– GBP
– CHF
– CAD
– JPY
– AUD
– AED
– MXP

Recommended money changers
1. Currency Exchange International – Union Square branch
– Foreign exchange company with over 18 years of experience
– Offers currency exchange and money transfer services
– Accepts traveler’s cheques
– It is less than 5 minutes away from Union Square Park
– Address: 4 Irving Pl, New York, NY 10003, USA
– Phone: +1 212-533-0003
– Opening hours: Mon to Fri 08:30 – 20:00; Sat 09:00 – 20:00; Sun 11:00 – 19:00

2. Travel Money USA
– Offers currency exchange and money transfer services
– This forex shop is a 5 minute walk from Union Square
– Address: 25 W 14th St, New York, NY 10011, USA
– Phone: +1 855-959-6968
– Opening hours: Mon to Fri 10:00 – 19:00; Sat & Sun 11:00 – 16:00

3. Choice Forex
– Provides currency exchange services since 1955
– Accepts traveler’s cheques
– This is located at Soho district
– Address: 401 W Broadway, New York, NY 10012, USA
– Phone: +1 212-966-7080
– Opening hours: Mon to Thu 09:00 – 18:00; Fri & Sat 08:00 – 20:00; Sun 10:00 – 17:00

4. Travelex
– International currency exchange chain founded in 1976
– Its location is near the 9/11 Memorial
– Address: 30 Vesey St, Freedom Tower Area, New York, NY 10007, USA
– Phone: +1 212-227-8156
– Opening hours: Daily 09:00 – 19:00

How to get there
– By subway: Nearest subway stations are 14 Street Union Square Station, Prince St Station, and World Trade Center
– By bus: Nearest bus stops are E 14 St/Union Sq W, Prince St Station, and Church St/Park Pl