To understand so much of New York – how people dress and why everything seems so chic – begin your trip with an afternoon at the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA). Often called the most influential modern art museum in the world, its wide collection ranges from Monet’s “Water Lilies” to Van Gogh’s “Starry Night” to films and video games. Once you’ve had your fill, take the subway up to Columbus Circle and wind your way through The Ramble, a wild, forested section of Central Park overlooking the park’s lake complex; visit The Belvedere Castle, named for its expansive views; then visit the Shakespeare Garden before hitting the city’s most famous museum.
To avoid jostling with hoards of tourists at the Metropolitan Museum of Art to see priceless pieces of art and ancient history, including an entire temple that was donated to the city by the government of Egypt, head over in the early evening. Though it typically closes at 5:30 p.m., the museum remains open until 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday evenings. Give yourself a proper welcome to New York with a rooftop view of Manhattan from high atop Central Park. The Met opens its rooftop as a café and bar when the weather is good, and it’s one of the best spots in the city to watch the sunset. After you’ve gotten your fill of the view, head east of the museum into the Upper East Side -- a whirlwind of haute couture brands and fine dining -- for dinner in a small neighborhood bistro.
Begin your day with New York’s most iconic view: the Statue of Liberty. From Battery Park -- a restful park at the southern tip of Manhattan that frequently hosts sculpture expositions from internationally renowned artists -- a host of tour operators transport you to the statue. Since access to the statue itself is extremely limited, consider taking the free Staten Island ferry for an ideal view of the statue from the water. After your trip, walk along the East River to the South Street Seaport and pick up tickets for a Broadway show at a TKTS booth, which sells discounted same-day tickets. Though it’s less crowded than the Times Square booth, the best tickets go fast, so try to get there by the 11 a.m. opening. Turn back west and follow the shimmering monolith on the skyline to the Freedom Tower, the newly completed replacement for the World Trade Center.
Explore New York City’s historic immigrant neighborhoods, Little Italy and Chinatown, which may have blended over the decades but still offer a chance to sample freshly made cannolis in bakeries and chicken skewers from street vendors. If you’re up for it, walk across the iconic Brooklyn Bridge. Otherwise, make your way further north, through the ample boutique shopping in Soho to relax in Washington Square Park, one of the city’s most iconic squares. Grab dinner in the Theater District or Times Square before your show. After the curtain, walk through Rockefeller Center down to the Empire State Building, which remains open until 2 a.m. for those in the know. The view of New York City from the observation deck is most spectacular in the evening when the city is aglow with the full spectrum of neon lights.
