Your guide to New York.

Divided into five boroughs: Manhattan, the Bronx, Staten Island, Brooklyn and Queens, the city sits on the country’s east coast at the mouth of the Hudson River. It’s in Manhattan that New York’s most famous attractions can be found, from Times Square and Central Park to the iconic Empire State Building. Venture to Little Italy and Chinatown, see an award-winning show on Broadway or take a ferry to visit nearby Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty.

Exploring.

A few days are required to do New York justice. Central Park alone extends over 800 acres and fans of The Beatles may wish to visit Strawberry Fields, the tribute to John Lennon. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Solomon R Guggenheim Museum and the Museum of Modern Art (MoMa) are all worthy of a visit. The Empire State Building observatory offers spectacular city views, while the 9/11 Memorial is a poignant reminder of the events of that fateful September day. Both Ellis Island and The Statue of Liberty are accessible by ferry, while Times Square and the theatre district of Broadway can be found centrally in Midtown.

Eating and drinking.

No matter what type of cuisine appeals, you’re guaranteed to find it in New York. The city is home to some 18,000 unique restaurants, as well as street vendors offering a variety of portable snacks on the go. Pizza is in vast supply and a slice or two is usually sufficient to satisfy most appetites. Chinese and Italian is also heavily represented, most prominently in Chinatown and Little Italy, respectively. Greenwich Village and Hells Kitchen offer a number of independent eateries, the latter being a popular location for a pre-theater bite. While Jewish Delis are a staple of the city and the place to grab a hallowed New York Bagel.

Shopping.

Not without reason, New York has emerged as one of the world’s foremost shopping capitals and, like its culinary offer, shopping in the city varies from district to district. Macy’s, Bloomingdales and SAKS Fifth Avenue are popular department stores, and a one-stop shop for fashion and beauty buys. Fifth Avenue is New York’s most famous shopping street, with many flagship designer stores. Madison Avenue also offers its share of luxury labels and is where Barneys is based, while Williamsburg, Soho and Greenwich cater to quirky boutiques and smaller, independent, brands. Shops in New York typically stay open late and it’s not unusual for tills to ring past 8pm.

Beyond New York City.

Despite plenty to keep you occupied in New York City, the wider New York State has an equal share of impressive attractions to tempt visitors. Long Island, in the southeast, is home to some of the state’s best beaches and Montauk Lighthouse, which dates back to the 1700s. Upscale, The Hamptons are a favorite summertime getaway of New York’s elite, while Brotherhood, America’s oldest winery is located in Washingtonville. A visit to Cold Springs provides an opportunity to explore Hudson Fjord, a rare sight in this part of the U.S and fans of Washington Irving’s Sleepy Hollow can visit the author’s grave, as well as spend time in this charming waterfront village, just 20 miles outside of New York City.