This section of the city reflects the pinnacle of American affluence, where immaculately uniformed doormen patrol the elegant apartment buildings.  The East Side is also home to the Guggenheim and the Met, exclusive Madison Avenue shopping, and Millionaire's Row, a stretch of architecturally interesting mansions adjacent to Central Park.

• The Morgan Library & Museum. The Morgan was the onetime private library of American financier J.P. Morgan.  Donated to the public by his son in 1924, the library is a treasure trove of rare artistic, literary, and musical works from ancient times through the Medieval and Renaissance periods up to the present day.
• United Nations Headquarters. Enjoy a behind-the-scenes glimpse of our eminent world leaders at work through a guided or self-administered tour (with audio assistance).   A UN visit is the only way to travel outside the country without a passport; the entire property is considered international territory.
• Central Park. Where New Yorkers come to escape, this lush 843-acre expanse is as much a symbol of life in Manhattan as the skyscrapers it keeps at bay.  In addition to horse-drawn carriage rides, rock climbing and boating on the Lake, Central Park hosts live concerts and theatre performances during the summer.
• Museum Mile. Travel along 5th Avenue, from the low 80s through 104th Street, to see this stretch of renowned museums – including the Met, the Guggenheim, the Modern, the Whitney, the American Natural History Museum, the Gagosian Gallery, the Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA), and the Rose Center for Earth & Space.  To get the most out of your visit, it’s a good idea to select one or two and table the rest for another time.
• Fifth Avenue / Madison Avenue Shopping. The definitive luxury shopping experience awaits on these twin boulevards of high style and fashion.  Spend the day perusing boutiques like Jimmy Choo, Prada, Bergdorf Goodman and Ralph Lauren, leaving time to join the “ladies who lunch” at Saks Fifth Avenue’s simple-but-chic Café SFA.
• Empire State Building. This Manhattan icon opened its doors on May 1, 1931 and has been a skyline centerpiece ever since.  Until you’ve seen the city from 1,250 feet above street level, you haven’t taken in the best views in New York City.
• FAO Schwarz. Treat the kids to an enchanting frolic through one of the most cherished toyshops in the world, established nearly 150 years ago by retailer Frederick August Otto Schwarz of Westphalia, Germany.  This is where Tom Hanks danced a duet across the giant piano in the 1988 film “Big.”

Despite the busy marquees of Broadway and Times Square, the West Side offers a number of quieter neighborhoods, each with their own personality.  It is also one of New York City’s easiest neighborhoods to reach, with access to every major subway line.

• Times Square. New York City in its neon brilliance, with Madame Tussauds Wax Museum, 38 movie screens, and megastores like M&M World, Hershey's, and Toys "R" Us welcoming visitors to the “Crossroads of the World.”  In addition to the shops and souvenir stands, Times Square is the headquarters for NASDAQ and The New York Times.
• Broadway. Travel to the heart of American theatre, where you’ll find famous plays and musicals performed day and night at over 40 venues.  You can find discounted same-day theatre tickets, at up to 50% off, at the TKTS Discount Booth in Times Square.  Just look for the massive red stairs; the booth sits right below them.
• Rockefeller Center. Tour the studios of NBC Nightly News and Saturday Night Live before taking in a 360-degree view of Manhattan from the 70th Floor “Top of the Rock” observation deck.  During the holidays, skaters glide across the famous ice rink beneath the sparkling lights of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree.
• Bryant Park. Enjoy lunch al-fresco in the New York Public Library’s backyard, a leafy eight-acre lawn encircled by food kiosks and merchant stands.  Relax and people watch from the rockers, swings, and Adirondack chairs on the Southwest Porch, or take part in a game of chess, checkers, backgammon, or ping pong.
• Saint Patrick’s Cathedral. Visit this classic French Gothic style cathedral, the largest in the United States and the 11th-largest church in the world.  Saint Patrick’s is one of New York City’s architectural wonders – with 330-foot spires, a 7,300-pipe organ and a capacity of 2,500.
• Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. This sixteen-acre performing arts complex is home to some of the finest theater, music, film, and dance programs in the world.  Take in a concert or a play, or enjoy a guided tour of Lincoln Center’s many impressive theaters, including Avery Fisher Hall, Alice Tully Hall, and the Metropolitan Opera House.

There are plenty of reasons to travel north of 125th Street – from the restaurants and clubs of Harlem to the elegant brownstone mansions of Sugar Hill and Striver's Row to the scenic Hudson River views from Fort Tryon Park.

• Harlem. Explore a neighborhood very much revitalized, whose rich historic, musical, and artistic stories can be experienced by visiting the Morris-Jumel Mansion, the Schomburg Center, the Studio Museum, and the Apollo Theater.  Harlem is also where you’ll find some of the finest global cuisine in the city.
• Cloisters Museum and Gardens. Experience medieval Europe on the Hudson at this tranquil museum, constructed from the parts of five 14th-century French cloistered abbeys that were disassembled and shipped across the Atlantic brick-by-brick.  Among the peaceful gardens and hushed colonnades, you might even forget you’re in New York.

In the shadows of jostling skyscrapers, the narrow, historic streets are busy with Wall Street traders dodging tourists on their way to work.  Downtown is also home to City Hall, the New York Stock Exchange, the Brooklyn Bridge, and the ferries to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty.

• SoHo. Note the historic cast-iron architecture defining this chic neighborhood – celebrated for its eclectic boutiques, high-design lofts, and artistic roots.  Destination shopping and fine dining make SoHo a magnet for the young, hip, and well-heeled.
• Meatpacking District. See how a 44-acre grid that once contained over 250 slaughterhouses became what New York Magazine called “New York’s Most Fashionable Neighborhood.”  Gansevoort Market, as it’s officially known, has managed to retain some of its blue-collar authenticity, with several wholesale meat companies still doing business from the local warehouses.
• Ground Zero. Connect with the people and places of the September 11, 2001 attacks, and witness the World Trade Center’s moving rebirth.  Learn about the history of the WTC complex, experience the events of September 11th as they occurred, and pay tribute to the stories of those determined to rebuild in its aftermath.
• Wall Street. Visit the home of the New York Stock Exchange, whose boom and bust cycles are symbolized by its dual architectural styles – a fascinating mix of historic buildings and modern skyscrapers living elbow to elbow.  Once eerily deserted whenever the stock exhange wasn’t in session, the Wall Street area is now a burgeoning residential, dining, and nightlife district.
• South Street Seaport. Head to the harbor, long ago the busiest port in America and now a thriving waterfront, alive with historic vessels and acclaimed restaurants, shops, galleries, and exhibitions.  In addition to waterfront dining and an emergent arts scene, South Street Seaport offers close-up views of the Brooklyn Bridge and Governors Island.