THE LANDMARKS
Climb the Empire State Building for a King Kong view of the city, walk across BROOKLYN BRIDGE, and take a ferry to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty for all of the city's postcard images.

MODERN ART
Admire the world's most important modern art collection at the MoMA and stay for a meal at the fantastic restaurant overlooking the sculpture garden. Further uptown, the Guggenheim Museum's architecture and exhibitions are also not to be missed.
Also check out the former American Crafts Museum which became the Museum of Arts & Design when it reopened in late 2008 following a makeover of the building facing Columbus Circle and Central Park. The permanent collection focuses on contemporary crafts in glass, clay, cloth, wood, and metal.

CLASSIC ART
New York holds some of the world's top collections of classic art. There is the outstanding Metropolitan Museum (filled with Greek, Egyptian, Roman, and European treasures), the masterpieces of the Frick Collection, and the Morgan Library's extraordinary manuscripts, rare books, and prints.

STRIKING ARCHITECTURE
In a city that pretty much invented modern urban architecture, it is difficult to pick only a few standouts. One of the first modern gems was the CHRYSLER BUILDING, built in 1930 with a striking ornamentation at the top. But before that, the flamboyant Neo-Gothic WOOLWORTH BUILDING was already grabbing attention (and not just because it was the world's tallest structure for two decades), while more recent eye-catching additions to the skyline include Norman Foster's distinctive Hearst Tower and Frank Gehry's IAC Building.
Also check out the cutting-edge New Museum of Contemporary Art which looks like seven-storeys of piled-up silver boxes from outside, while indoors you'll find exhibitions focusing on emerging media.

ANCIENT SIGHTS:
Does such a relatively young city really have anything ancient? Yes it does, and it's ancient indeed -- stand under the dinosaurs in the enormous American Museum of Natural History and you'll be taken back to the Jurassic era (avoid the lines at the museum and get your Museum of Natural History tickets here). And despite being built in the 19th century, the beautiful St. Patrick's Cathedral would not have been out of place in medieval Europe.

CITY LIFE
It may be a tourist mecca, but a visit to historic South Street Seaport (with its shops, cafes, and restaurants) is a reminder of the city's past, surrounded by some of New York's oldest architecture (and the views of the city's bridges are not bad either).
But Manhattan is really all about life and walking around. A visit is not complete without a stroll through hip and trendy SOHO, passing by GREENWICH VILLAGE and BLEECKER STREET, eventually moving north to Chelsea's galleries, and finally ending in Midtown's shopping paradise of 5th and MADISON AVENUE.
After all that, rest in Central Park, the city's green oasis where everyone comes to play, or head to a restaurant or bar at the hip Meatpacking District.
And we'd actually tell you to stay away from tourist hell Times Square, but we know you won't resist. So reserve that for the evening, when you'll be hypnotized by all of the billboards' neon lights, and perhaps be tempted by a spectacular Broadway show.


TOURS & DAYTRIPS
Go on a tour of New York and see the city from the river, high up in a helicopter, or go all the way to Niagara Falls.




Get the New York CityPass, the tourist card that gets you free admission to New York's major attractions, including the Empire State Building, MoMA, the Guggenheim Museum, American Museum of Natural History, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.