New York City is a world icon. Superb architecture, the world's greatest theatre district, some of the most renowned galleries and museums anywhere, eclectic neighborhoods, cultural events and fantastic restaurants'New York City has it all. Fans of the theater can attend a myriad of shows, from Broadway to off-Broadway in addition to events at the wealth of nightclubs and other cultural venues. Greenwich Village is known as the old haunt of Bob Dylan and many other prominent folk music singers. To experience the outdoors in the heart of the city, visit Central Park. It would take a lifetime to experience everything New York offers, but for a good, general introduction, be sure to visit the observation tower at the top of the Empire State Building, take in a performance at Lincoln Center, browse the Guggenheim Museum and see the United Nations Building. Take a trip out to see the Statue of Liberty and don't miss historic Ellis Island.
Five distinct boroughs (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, and the Bronx) make up New York City, but Manhattan remains the Big Apple’s vibrant core, with its scores of museums and performing arts venues, one-of-a-kind shopping, restaurant, and nightlife scenes, and that classic steel cityscape unlike any other on the planet.
Midtown The epicenter of Manhattan’s bustle and buzz, this is also its largest neighborhood, and the setting for many attractions, restaurants, hotels, and retail businesses of interest to visitors.
The Village Defying Manhattan's grid with its zig-zag of historic streets and buildings, Greenwich Village and the West Village offer stellar shopping and dining. Edgier, funkier East Village has great music clubs and quirky bars and shops.
SoHo/TriBeCa When SoHo – a downtown quarter of cast-iron 19th-century buildings bursting with art galleries, restaurants, and boutiques – became too expensive for starving artists, they claimed now-trendy TriBeCa, converting warehouses into apartments and galleries.
Upper East Side The highlight here is Museum Mile, home to nine major cultural institutions including the Met and Guggenheim museums. Otherwise, the elegant town house-lined neighborhood is mostly residential.
Upper West Side Bordering Central Park’s western edge, this largely residential neighborhood is sprinkled with attractions like the American Museum of Natural History and the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.
Lower Manhattan Check out Wall Street (New York’s financial headquarters), visit the Federal Hall National Memorial, pay your respects at Ground Zero, and ferry over to the Statue of Liberty.
Chinatown/Little Italy/Lower East Side Colorfully diverse, these traditionally ethnic enclaves combine international sights, tastes, and sounds. Funky bars and nightclubs line the Lower East Side’s Ludlow Street.
Harlem Saunter by historic brownstones, sample savory soul food, or experience legendary music venues and spirited Sunday gospel in the place that inspired novelists like Langston Hughes.
Chelsea/Meatpacking District Long known for gay culture and nightlife, Chelsea also encompasses the city's highest concentration of art galleries. The adjacent Meatpacking District is a trés trendy enclave of big-name designer boutiques and hip hotels.
It’s impossible to cover all of New York’s sights in a single trip. You’ll need at least three days – and a good dose of stamina – to hit up the major highlights, but don’t get overwhelmed when you can’t cover all the bases – not even lifelong Manhattanites can stake that claim!
Brooklyn Bridge Crossing the late 19th-century, Gothic-inspired bridge affords phenomenal views of Manhattan. It’s best enjoyed if you start your walk on the Brooklyn side (just hop the subway one stop over the river). Brooklyn/Lower Manhattan
family | architecture | outdoors | view
Dairy Visitor Center This 843-acre urban oasis – "the lungs of New York City" – is full of treasures like the Central Park Zoo, lakeside Bethesda Fountain, and Loeb Boat House, where rowboats and bicycles are available for rent. Upper West Side; mid-park at 65th St.; 212-794-6564; www.centralparknyc.org
family | outdoors | zoo
Empire State Building Take in Manhattan from the heights of the 102-floor Empire State Building – its observatory is open for spectacular views day and night. Midtown; 350 Fifth Ave., btwn 33rd & 34th Sts.; 212-736-3100; www.esbnyc.com
family | architecture | view
Museum of Modern Art One of America’s most visited museums, MoMa’s 150,000-work collection includes films, paintings, prints, and architectural models. Friday afternoons are free. Midtown; 11 West 53 St.; 212-708-9400; www.moma.org
culture | museum | art
New Museum of Contemporary Art New York's iconic New Museum of Contemporary Art reopened on newly gentrified Bowery in a brand-new building by Japanese firm Sanaa. The museum's mission to showcase the newest art, with work by artists like John Bock, Sarah Lucas and Tomma Abts. Closed Monday and Tuesday. Lower East Side; 235 Bowery; 212-219-1222; www.newmuseum.org
culture | museum | art | contemporary
Rockefeller Center This Art Deco masterpiece is home to Radio City Music Hall, NBC studios, and the Top of the Rock observation deck – great for panoramic city views. Come winter, the ice rink and Christmas tree in the flag-lined plaza take center stage. Midtown; 5th Avenue, btwn. 47th and 50th Sts.; 212-332-6868; www.rockefellercenter.com
family | culture | outdoors | view
See Manhattan by Helicopter Get a rare bird’s eye view of The Empire State Building during an exclusive four-person "Romance over Manhattan" helicopter tour. The 20-minute flight circles around New York’s most famous sites, including Central Park, the United Nations building, and the Statue of Liberty. Just be sure to show up 30 minutes early, and wear a smile for the complimentary photograph. Midtown West; Liberty Helicopter Sightseeing Tours, West 30th St. and 12th Ave.; 212-967-6464; www.libertyhelicopters.com
romantic | tour | smart splurge | helicopter
St. Patrick's Cathedral This is the largest Gothic-style Catholic cathedral in the United States. The inside is decorated with soaring stained glass windows and wood and marble sculptures. Midtown; 5th Avenue and 51st St.; 212-753-2261; www.saintpatrickscathedral.org
family | architecture | culture | history
Statue of Liberty Catch the ferry from Battery Park – the fare includes a stop at the iconic statue, as well as at Ellis Island, where between 1892 and 1954, 12 million immigrants passed through New York Harbor. Lower Manhattan, New York Harbor, Ellis Island; 212-363-3200; www.nps.gov/stli
family | culture | history
The Cloisters A satellite of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Cloisters holds a permanent collection of art and architecture from medieval Europe. Made from elements of five French cloisters from monastic sites in southern France and on four acres overlooking the Hudson River, it’s a perfect spot to take in art and then enjoy a picnic. Northern tip of Manhattan; 99 Margaret Corbin Drive, Fort Tryon Park; 212-923-3700; www.metmuseum.org
culture | museum | art
The Metropolitan Museum of Art Called “The Met,” this star New York museum’s two-million+ collection spans from 75,000 B.C. through the 20th century. It also regularly hosts special exhibitions. Upper East Side; 1000 Fifth Ave. at E. 82nd St.; 212-535-7710; www.metmuseum.org
family | architecture | culture | history | art
Times Square This over-the-top sensory experience clusters chain shops, restaurants, and tawdry attractions under sparkling neon lights – steer clear of the tourist traps and just spend some time ogling the spectacle. Midtown; 42nd St. and Broadway; www.timessquare.com
family | performing arts | outdoors
West Chelsea Gallery District West Chelsea is to the contemporary art world what Broadway is to the theater world. Currently, there are more than 200 galleries in the area, including heavy hitters like Gagosian, Matthew Marks Gallery, and Andrea Rosen Gallery. We recommend taking one of the Chelsea Art Galleries tours. Chelsea; west of Tenth Ave., from 17th St. to 29th St.; www.chelseaartgalleries.com
culture | gallery | art
Shoppers, rev up your credit cards, because you're in the big leagues now. From high-priced designer fashion to discount chic, electronics to rare books, it's all in New York – a dizzying array of choices from the trendy boutiques of SoHo and Madison Avenue to the jewelers and department stores of Fifth Avenue.
ABC Carpet & Home This shopping emporium boasts multiple floors of exotic housewares ranging from knickknacks like ornate doorknobs to hand-carved furniture imported from India. East Village; 888 & 881 Broadway; 212-473 3000; www.abchome.com
expensive | home
Bloomingdale's The much beloved "Bloomie's" is an upscale department store that garners good reviews from New Yorkers for its service and selection. Midtown East; 1000 Third Ave. btwn 59th & 60th Sts.; 212-705-2000; www.bloomingdales.com
expensive | designer | department store
Canal Street If you like designer looks (but not the price tags that go along with them), this street, stretching from SoHo to Chinatown, is for you – find knock-off bags, watches, shades, and other accessories. TriBeCa; TriBeCa, Chinatown
budget
Century 21 New York's premier discount department store for designer clothes and products touts discounts of up to 70-percent off. Note: weekends are especially mobbed. Lower Manhattan; 22 Cortlandt St. btwn Broadway and Church St.; 212-227-9092; www.c21stores.com
budget
FAO Schwarz If you have little ones in tow, be sure to hit this elaborate flagship toy store – a true fantasyland for any youngster. They even have an ice cream parlor inside! Midtown East; 767 Fifth Ave. at 58th St.; 212-644-9400; www.faoschwarz.com
family | moderate
Fifth Avenue Nothing exemplifies upper-crust New York quite like this fabulous strip – the most elegant drag, from 49th to 59th Street, is marked by glamorous department stores like Saks, upscale boutiques, and moderately priced chain brands like Sephora. Midtown East; Midtown East
expensive | designer
Macy's Make your way to 34th Street for a visit to this legendary 11-floor mega-store, self-billed as the world's largest department store. Midtown; 151 West 34th St. btwn Seventh Ave. & Broadway; 212-695-4400; www.macys.com
moderate | department store
Personal Shopping Rivaling Paris, Milan, and London as a high-end shopper’s Shangri La, New York’s scene can be both exhilarating and overwhelming. After an hour-long meeting to determine the your needs and budget, let a personal shopper help you find a wardrobe that blends signature designer pieces with classic basics that are picked to compliment your personality, lifestyle, and future goals. Upper East Side; New York City Image Consultant, 351 East 84th St. #11A; 212-879-5790; www.newyorkimageconsultant.com
smart splurge | expensive | designer
SoHo Touting such designer outposts as Betsey Johnson, Dolce & Gabbana, Marc Jacobs, and Prada, as well as the high-tech haven Apple Store, big-name boutiques mix here with one-of-a-kind shops, high-end street peddlers, and art galleries. SoHo; SoHo
gallery | designer