Destination guide: New York

Visiting New York for the first time?

Drink in the skyline: a visit to the top of the Empire State building is a classic, but you can also get fantastic views when you walk across the Brooklyn Bridge or visit Top of the Rock at the Rockefeller Center.

Enjoy a Broadway show: you don’t have to book in advance – if you don’t mind queuing, there are discount ticket booths in Times Square and in the Financial District.

Check out the culture: head to 5^th Avenue’s Museum Mile – the Metropolitan Museum of Artand the iconic Guggenheim are here. And don’t miss the contemporary art at MoMa.

Take the Staten Island Ferry:it’s is a great way to see the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island – plus, it’s free! And if you enjoy travelling like a local, be sure to take at least one trip on NYC’s subway. 

Eat, eat, eat: get a taste of Chinatown at the Nom Wah Tea Parlour, NYC’s oldest dim sum restaurant. Or feast on oysters under the glittering ceiling of the Grand Central Oyster Bar & Restaurant at Grand Central Terminal.

Looking for something different?

Stroll along the High Line: this former elevated railway line on the West Side has been transformed into a green space that stretches above the streets, with wildflowers, sculptures and benches.

Shop in Chelsea: browse for vintage and designer collectables in the indoor market and stop for a gourmet snack in one of the area’s many cafés and restaurants.

See something strange: visit the museum, dedicated to small objects, or make an appointment to explore the Museum of Trolls or The Elevator Historical Society.

Go suburban: visit Brooklyn and check out the green acres of Prospect Park, explore the PS1 Contemporary Art Centre in Queens or take a Hip Hop tour in the South Bronx.

Want to go further?

Long Island’s 400-mile coastline has some lovely white sand beaches, including those in the exclusive Hamptons area.

The Adirondack mountain range is a fantastic place for hiking, canoeing, fishing and all things outdoors.