New York City Breaks

Whether you know it as the "Big Apple" or the "City That Never Sleeps", New York City is America's capital of superlatives: New York is America's biggest city, arguably its most exciting and it is undoubtedly both the business and cultural capital of America. New York's cultural and ethnic flavour has been influenced by decades of immigrants whose first image of their new homeland was "Lady Liberty". New York is a vast city by global standards, but for all its residents - thought to number over eight million - New York remains a city of neighbourhoods, whether it's edgy, avant-garde Greenwich Village, bubbling and lively Harlem, ultra-sophisticated TriBeCa, or one of the ethnic enclaves such as Little Italy or Chinatown.

So who would want to visit New York for a short break? Well, who wouldn't? Seriously, it has to be on everyone's "To Do" list. As a city break destination the shopping, the sights, the shows, even the vibrant energy which is the very essence of The Big Apple itself are the things that bring visitors back time after time for just one more bite. Buildings that soar, streets like canyons, Central Park, the Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, Brooklyn Bridge, the sweeping Hudson River.

Choose a New York city break and shopping, eating and entertainment are on tap 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can catch the latest musical on Broadway, visit some of the world's great museums; shop till you drop at Macy's and Bloomingdales, eat your way round the world from Algiers to Zanzibar or coo over a cluster of Faberge eggs. The first timers list has to include the Empire State Building, Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty, winter skating at Rockefeller Center, the blazing neon of Times Square at night, and the Staten Island Ferry for the best views of the city. The villages of New York - Greenwich, SoHo, East Village, etc are great for their own individual eclectic mix of suburban and commercial. The bars and restaurants in "The Village" are plentiful and not always mainstream. Try Max Brenner - Chocolate by the Bald Man - in East Village, a theme restaurant for chocoholics.

When to Visit New York

Decided on a New York city break, but not sure when to visit? New York City is a great year-round destination for a short break or weekend getaway, but each season has its own attractions and quirks. Summertime is great if you want to take full advantage of outdoor attractions and free events in New York City, but be prepared for the heat that radiates from all that concrete. Autumn can be a magical, colourful time to visit New York City, but it can take careful planning and insider knowledge to get the right deal. Winter is great for visitors who want to experience the wonders of the holiday season and some unique outdoor attractions - like ice skating - in New York and don't mind the cold and wet weather. Spring is an excellent choice if you want to enjoy New York City outdoors with neither the crowds nor the heat of summer, but don't mind carrying an umbrella.

Top Tips - Our Favourite New York Activities

Getting Your Bearings

For first-timers, or repeat visitors travelling with New York novices we suggest stating with a New York sightseeing tour. Better than any guidebook, a guided tour of New York will always bring some new nugget of information to even the most season traveller and is a great orientation. Why not try a Circle Line Cruise to see the breath-taking New York skyline from the water, or one of the double-decker bus tours that make a figure-of-eight route through Manhattan and operate on a hop-on/ hop-off basis?

A Walk in the Park

Central Park is truly the jewel of New York and is beloved by both locals and tourists alike at any time of year. This green oasis in the middle of Manhattan performs so many diverse roles for New Yorkers - a place of tranquillity and calm for casual romantic strolls celebrating the first flush of spring, the multi-coloured splendour of autumn or a crisp winter's day; a playground for old and young alike with its historic Carousel, Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre, boating lakes, winter ice-skating rinks and zoo; an exercise junkie's paradise with a running track around the reservoir together with miles of paths used by runners, skateboarders, inline skaters and cyclists ( just imagine telling your work colleagues what you did on Saturday; "Yes, I started with a quick two-miler in Central Park"); A natural retreat with the Central Park Conservatory Garden, a wildlife sanctuary and a large area of natural woodland. Additionally there are many grassy areas, some of which are used for informal or team sports and some are set aside as quiet areas. And not forgetting Delacorte Theater, which hosts New York's famous "Shakespeare in the Park" summer festivals.

A Bite of the Apple

The New York foodie scene is, if we are perfectly honest, a little overwhelming; tastes of every culture, country and community crowd the restaurants, cafes, sidewalks and markets wherever you find yourself. Neighbourhoods transport the visitor from one country to another with their delicious offerings, but at the heart of it all you can never forget that you are in New York, perhaps the world's most complete cultural melting pot.

Our favourite tastes of New York? A hot dog from a street vendor with "the works" usually hits the spot, but try a "dawg" from one of the Gray's Papaya stores and you may never go anywhere else; Three locations in New York - 539 8th Ave at 37th St., 402 6th Ave at 8th St., and 2090 Broadway at 72nd St. and all three are open 24 hours a day. For the classic New York Deli experience try lunch at the famous Carnegie Deli at 7th Ave and 55th St for their signature "Broadway Danny Rose" and a slice of their famous cheesecake. Top Tip - don't make dinner reservations...you might not be hungry again for days.

Room with a View

Best rooftop bar in New York? Top of the Strand, (The Strand, 33 W. 37th St., nr. Sixth Ave.) Don't be put off by the office lobby - great views upstairs!

Lady Liberty

The Statue of Liberty is an iconic New York image. Standing guard majestically at the entrance to New York's harbour, she was for many countless immigrants the first sight of their new homeland. A trip out to see New York's Liberty Island can be a real treat, particularly if you want to do the climb to the top, but if you just want to see it from a great vantage point and take some pictures we suggest taking the FREE Staten Island Ferry.

Get Your Skates On

If you are visiting New York in the winter what better experience than to do what the locals do? Outdoor skating. You can give it a try at the Rockefeller Centre or in Central Park.

Museums

The amazing variety of things to see in New York - landmarks, buildings, monuments, museums - combined with the sheer breadth of diverse cultural influences that reveal themselves through the food, art and neighbourhoods is enough to make the eager traveller want to move there! Indeed it would be possible to spend an entire weekend doing nothing but the city's astounding museums should you be so inclined - from early morning to late evening there are enough museums and galleries to feed the most curious minds.

To mention but a few of New York's highlights - Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, the Guggenheim Museum (designed by Frank Lloyd Wright), the Frick Collection (housed in the Frick mansion), the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Museum of the City of New York, the Museum of Jewish Heritage-a Living Memorial to the Holocaust, the American Museum of Natural History, the Brooklyn Museum. Also the New York Public Library is the largest in the United States.

Theatre and the Arts in New York

New York has a well-established theatre, music and arts scene that rivals anywhere in the world, London included! From the 1880s the theatres that lined Broadway and 42nd Street began to feature a new, elaborate and lavish format of show that soon became known as the "Broadway Musical". Today the city's 39 largest theatres are collectively known as "Broadway," after the major thoroughfare that crosses the Times Square theatre district. The best shows from around the world are to be found on Broadway. Original productions and revivals, comedies and musicals, one-man shows and vast ensembles - you name it, it will be on Broadway.

But Broadway isn't the only place to be entertained in New York. Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts is home to 12 influential arts organizations, making it the largest performing arts complex in the United States. It includes "Jazz at Lincoln Center", the "Metropolitan Opera", "New York City Opera", "New York Philharmonic", "New York City Ballet", the "Vivian Beaumont Theatre", the "Juilliard School" and "Alice Tully Hall".

Central Park "SummerStage" presents performances of free plays and music in Central Park and more than a thousand free concerts, dance, and theatre events across all five New York boroughs in the summer.

Events

On Parade

You will be doing yourself a favour if you can plan your visit to coincide with one of New York's amazing parades. Halloween Parade in Greenwich Village, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, the St. Patrick's Day parade.

New York's Village Halloween Parade is a mile-long street pageant and takes place on the night of every Halloween in Greenwich Village. It's staggering fifty thousand costumed participants, dancers, artists and circus performers draw two million spectators. While not necessarily "indecent" it can be somewhat edgy and lewd, so comes with a health warning for families.

The Macy's Thanksgiving Parade takes place on Thanksgiving Day and starts at 9am. This New York parade dates back to 1924 and was made famous by the original movie of "Miracle on 34th Street". Nowadays it is a carnival of floats, vast balloon inflatables, marching bands and performances.

St. Patrick's Day in New York is "a big deal". The reason for this is that a large proportion of New Yorkers can claim Irish lineage. Some one hundred and fifty thousand marchers participate in the parade, including bands, firemen, military and police groups and social and cultural clubs, and up to two million spectators line the mile-and-a-half route for the five hour procession.

Best Free Attractions

Whether you're contemplating a first trip to New York or are a regular visitor, one truth holds good - the number of things to see and do in the Big Apple is huge! Of course there are the obvious 'must sees', the Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty, Rockefeller Center and Times Square. These are truly iconic and memorable no matter how many times you see them. On the flip side, there are loads of things that aren't always obvious and (here's the best part) are nearly, or completely, FREE. These are a few of our favourites over the years:

Best Free Attraction 1: The Staten Island Ferry

This is my insider's tip on THE best way to see the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. The Staten Island Ferry is a passenger service operated by the New York City Department of Transportation and runs between Manhattan and Staten Island. The ferry departs Manhattan from South Ferry, at the southernmost tip of the island near Battery Park. The five mile journey takes about 25 minutes. Fares were abolished in 1997, so it's entirely free of charge! You can opt to re-board the ferry straight away and head back to Manhattan OR spend some time in Staten Island. Venture beyond the ferry terminal and you'll find that Staten Island is home to dozens of spectacular beaches, an authentic Colonial village and affords breathtaking panoramic views of the Manhattan skyline and Verrazano Narrows Bridge. You won't be disappointed adding this to your itinerary and don't forget your camera!

Best Free Attraction 2: The Plaza Hotel

It was once said, "Nothing unimportant ever happens at The Plaza." One of America's most celebrated hotels, The Plaza opened its doors on October 1, 1907, amid a flurry of impressive reports describing it as the finest hotel in the world. Located at Fifth Avenue and Central Park South, the Plaza was constructed in the most fashionable residential section of New York City. Kings, presidents, ambassadors, stars of stage, screen and sports, as well as business executives and travellers from all parts of the globe have gathered and stayed here. After being closed for renovation, the Plaza reopened in 2008. Free tours are given several times a month, so don't worry if you opted to stay elsewhere - you can still catch a glimpse of this historic New York address.

Best Free Attraction 3: Metropolitan Museum of Art

With over two million works of art spanning 5,000 years of culture, New York City's most-visited attraction, the Met presents the best of human creativity from around the world. From the splendours of ancient Egypt, to the spectacular New American Wing, inspiring treasures from the Greek and Roman empires to beloved Impressionist paintings, a panoply of great works await you. Along with world-famous collections, the Metropolitan also hosts some 30 special exhibitions a year and an array of public guided tours - all free with Museum admission. Don't let the entrance "prices" mislead you, the Met operates a system of admission by donation - the prices you see are simply suggestions. They receive billions in grants each year, so don't feel guilty popping in and donating your pocket change.

Best Free Attraction 4: The Guggenheim Museum

An internationally renowned art museum and one of the most significant architectural icons of the 20th century, the Guggenheim Museum offers special exhibitions of modern and contemporary art, lectures by artists and critics, performances and film screenings, classes for teens and adults and daily tours of the galleries led by experienced docents. Founded on a collection of early modern masterpieces, the Guggenheim today is an ever-growing institution devoted to the art of the 20th century and beyond. Every Saturday evening from 5.45 - 7.45 pm admission is by donation only.

Best Free Attraction 5: The Jewish Museum

Located along New York's Museum Mile, The Jewish Museum illuminates the Jewish experience, both secular and religious, demonstrating the strength of the culture. Its unparalleled collection and unique exhibitions offer a wide range of opportunities for exploring the Jewish experience past and present. Admission on Saturday is completely free but on that day the children's and interactive exhibits are closed.

Best Free Attraction 6: Bronx Zoo

Lions, tigers and bears - oh my! The Bronx Zoo is the largest metropolitan zoo in the U.S and with heart tugging exhibits like four little bears - four orphaned cubs rescued and re-homed - it makes for a great day out for the whole family. And if you can make that day out on a Wednesday - admission is a "pay-what-you-wish" donation.

Best Free Attraction 7: Shakespeare in the Park

Shakespeare in the Park is one of New York City's most beloved summer traditions. New York natives and visitors alike have been enjoying free Shakespeare in Central Park since performances began in 1954. The typical season runs from the start of June through the beginning of August. A highlight of the 2010 season was Hollywood mega star Al Pacino's performance in The Merchant of Venice.

Best Free Attraction 8: Brooklyn Bridge

One of the most memorable NYC experiences you can have is completely free, not to mention good exercise too - walk the Brooklyn Bridge! It will take approximately 30 minutes depending on your pace. The ideal plan is to walk from Manhattan to Brooklyn, grab a slice of pizza at Grimaldi's then walk back over the bridge to Manhattan and enjoy the skyline from your 1,600 foot vantage point.

Best Free Attraction 9: Sony Wonder Technology Lab

Located in mid-town Manhattan, Sony's interactive lab is completely cool AND completely free 6 days a week. Explore exciting exhibits in a dynamic, state-of the art facility that brings technology and creativity together to make learning entertaining and fun.

Best Free Attraction 10: New York-based TV Shows

Fancy being a part of the studio audience for America's versions of 'Deal or No Deal' or 'Who Wants to be a Millionaire?' Or be a part of 'Good Morning America' or 'The Late Show with David Letterman' and many more. Admissions are free and cost only your time waiting in line for the tickets - it is always a fun day.

Best Free Attraction 11: The Chrysler Building

The Chrysler Building is a classic example of Art Deco construction and considered by many contemporary architects to be the finest building in New York City. Built in the 1930s as homage to the ever-expanding automotive industry, the Chrysler Building enshrines the New York of old. Standing 1,047 feet to the tip of its spire, it was the world's tallest building for 11 months before being surpassed by the Empire State Building in 1931. The building has no official tours, however, the lobby is open to visitors every day. Stand at the base of the Chrysler Building and gaze up at this design icon - a real New York moment.

Best Free Attraction 12: Julliard School

The Juilliard School located at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts trains about 800 undergraduate and graduate students in dance, drama and music. The school was founded in 1905 as the Institute of Musical Art on the premise that the United States did not have a premier music school and too many gifted youngsters were travelling to Europe to study music. Notable alumni include Barry Manilow, Kevin Spacey and Robin Williams. During term times, Julliard conducts many free student performances, so grab the chance to see tomorrow's up and coming stars.

Best Free Attraction 13: Grand Central Terminal

The world's largest railway station is free to visit and a MUST DO on your NYC itinerary. The station covers a massive 76 acres and nearly 500,000 travellers pass through each day. The building is beyond impressive and this is definitely one of the best people watching spots on the planet! Just try to avoid it at rush-hour...

Best Free Attraction 14: Lucille's Bar & Grill

Located in B. B. King's Blues Club, Lucille's offers free music nightly from 8pm. The performers vary each evening, but what doesn't change is the amazing atmosphere and incredible vibe. Also at Lucille's two of our most fun things to do are the Saturday 'Beatles Brunch' or on Sunday the 'Harlem Gospel Choir Brunch'. It isn't free, but it is a full 2 hours of great music and the best southern-cooked-all-you-can-eat buffet this side of the Mississippi!

Shopping

Shop 'til You Drop

Shopping isn't so much of a pastime in New York, rather a way of life. New York is home to such temples to retail therapy as Barney's, Bloomingdales, Bergdorf Goodman, Macy's, Saks Fifth Avenue, Tiffany and Co - need we say more? But there is SO much more. The designer brands that line Madison Ave and Fifth Avenue, the trendy boutiques of SoHo and Greenwich Village, authentic vintage and designer pieces in the garment district. Bargain electronics, Aladdin's cave-like book stores (Strand Books is fabulous) and one of the best toy stores in the world - FAO Schwartz. If you like 5th Avenue labels, but don't have the purse for it, Canal Street has just the designer spin offs you've been looking for. Woodbury Common located an hour north of the city offers superb outlet shopping and a transportation package can be arranged. We haven't even scratched the surface - you'll have to come back again!

Getting Around

Getting Around in New York

First things first: Unless you are planning to spend no time in the city at all, do not consider renting a car for your New York short break. If you do, keep in mind that traffic can be very heavy and parking is both very difficult and exorbitantly expensive. With that out of the way, let's look at the best ways of getting around. To walk in on your New York break can be a delight, especially in Manhattan, but it is always best to plan in advance; comfortable shoes are the first rule, advance route planning is the second. To work out how far between two places, calculate a mile being equivalent to 20 avenue blocks (north to south) or 10 street blocks (east to west). This would be beautifully simple if it could be applied to the whole of Manhattan, but of course there are exceptions - Greenwich Village and lower Manhattan where life and navigation can be a little more random.

During your New York break you should ride in one of the iconic yellow cabs at least once. Hailing one is straightforward - with some 12,000 roaming New York's streets all you have to do is look for the light on the roof, put your arm in the air and yell "taxi!". And that's where the similarity to London ends. You need to know where you want to go - precisely - including a street address with cross streets. Some cabbies know where they are going, but in our experience many do not. For example, jumping in an announcing "The Guggenheim, please" may not work - better to ask for "the Guggenheim at 1071, 5th Avenue at 88th Street. Cabs can be pretty expensive in New York, however, so consider using the Subway or buses.

Subway "Metro Cards" can be purchased at any subway station using cash or credit cards from either a manned booth or one of the vending machines. A single ride ticket costs $2.25, but an $8 "Unlimited" single day card gives, as the name suggests, unlimited rides on the Subway and buses for the whole day until 3am. If you are planning on using the subway and buses for more than 3 days, a $27 7-day card works out pretty good value. When using the subway in New York make sure you stand on the correct direction side of the platform and if you decide to use one of the "Express" trains, ensure you know where it stops.

Buses only accept correct change, tokens or MetroCards - no paper money. "Limited" services are just like "Express" subway trains with only limited stops on a given route.

New York Neighbourhoods - The Five Boroughs

New York City consists of five boroughs: the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island. In 1898 these five boroughs were merged into a single city but if they were still independent cities, four of the boroughs (Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, and the Bronx) would be among the ten most populous cities in the United States. Throughout the boroughs there are hundreds of distinct neighbourhoods, many with a definable history and character to call their own.

Manhattan
Manhattan is the central island of New York, and the part that most tourists consider to be the very heart of New York City. It is the most densely populated part of the city with some 1.6 m people calling Manhattan home. It is home to Central Park, most of the city's skyscrapers. Manhattan is loosely divided into Lower, Midtown, and Uptown regions. Uptown Manhattan is divided by Central Park into the Upper East Side and the Upper West Side, and above the park is Harlem.

Harlem is one of the most colourful and vibrant areas of New York. African Americans from the Deep South began to migrate to Harlem in the early 20th century, and in the 1940s large numbers of Puerto Ricans and other Hispanics began to settle in what is now known as Spanish Harlem.

The Upper West and Upper East Sides are renowned for museums and performing arts, together with high-end shopping on Madison Avenue. Central Park, dividing and defining the two, is an 843-acre oasis ideal for an early morning run, a romantic stroll or a spot of people watching.

Midtown spans 30th Street to 50th Street from river to river, and it is home to landmarks such as the United Nations, the New York Public Library and Madison Square Garden.

South of Midtown, Chelsea is home to art galleries and nightclubs, while the relatively low buildings of Greenwich Village (historic townhouses, shops and restaurants) make it one of the airiest neighbourhoods and easily and best explored on foot.

The Lower East Side retains some of the shops, delis and cultural institutions from its days as an hub for countless Jewish immigrants who fled central and eastern Europe. Soho's distinctive cast-iron building-fronts look down on throngs of shoppers and fashionable boutiques.

Famed for its restaurants and bustling markets, Chinatown remains a thriving and vibrant community - great for diverse food. The Financial District is Manhattan's original ethnic neighbourhood - historic sites and high finance sit side by side on the narrow streets that hark back to the first Dutch settlers.

The Bronx
The Bronx is New York City's northern borough. It is the location of the famed Yankee Stadium, home of the New York Yankees, site of the Bronx Zoo, the largest city zoo in the United States, which occupies some 265 acres and is home to over 6,000 animals. The Bronx is the birthplace of rap and hip hop culture.

Brooklyn
Brooklyn sits on the western tip of Long Island, and as home to a staggering 2.6m people is the city's most populous borough. Brooklyn is known for its cultural, social and ethnic diversity, a fiercely independent art scene and distinct ethnic neighbourhoods. The borough features a long beachfront - a surprise to most visitors - and Coney Island, established in the 1870s as one of the earliest amusement grounds in America.

Queens
Queens is geographically the largest of the five boroughs and is apparently the most ethnically diverse county in the United States. Queens was originally an amalgam of small towns and villages founded by the first Dutch settlers but nowadays the borough is mainly a middle class residential area. Queens is the home of the New York Mets, and annually hosts the U.S. Open tennis tournament at Flushing Meadow. Queens is also home to two of the three major airports serving the New York area, LaGuardia Airport and John F. Kennedy International Airport. (The third is Newark Liberty Airport in Newark, New Jersey.)

Staten Island
Staten Island is the most suburban of the five boroughs, and to the tourist feels the least like the urban stereotype of New York City. Staten Island is connected to Brooklyn by the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge and to Manhattan by the Staten Island Ferry. The Staten Island Ferry is one of the most popular tourist attractions in New York City as it provides breathtaking and unrivalled views of the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island and lower Manhattan. Greenbelt, located in central Staten Island and founded in 1984 to safeguard Long Island's natural heritage, is 2500 acres of walking trails and has one of the last undisturbed forests in the city.

Suggested Itineraries

New York First-Timers

Day One

Afternoon/ evening arrival into New York. If the weather is nice and you still have the energy why not grab a cab to the Empire State Building: The night-time queues tend to be much shorter and the views over an illuminated Manhattan skyline are a great way to kick off your New York Break.

Day Two

Morning: Introduce yourself to New York on a Circle Line cruise of New York harbour taking in the unparalleled views of the city from the water.
Lunch at the Carnegie Deli.
Visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art (the Met), the Museum of Modern Art (MoMa) or The Guggenheim.
In the evening take in a Broadway show (to see something specific pre-book it before leaving the UK).

Day Three

Morning visit to the Twin Towers memorial.
Greenwich Village to explore the boutiques followed by lunch in one of the pavement cafes.
Afternoon of shopping.
Enjoy an evening performance at Lincoln Center.
Late night visit to take in the views from The Top of the Rock at the Rockefeller Center.

Day Four

Check out of your hotel, leaving your luggage with the concierge.
Grab a deli lunch and head off for a picnic in Central Park.
Off to the airport for your evening flight home to the UK.