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Introduction to New York

New York sits at the top of a natural harbour, where the Hudson River and East River meet, with Long Island stretching off to its east. It is made up of five boroughs – Brooklyn, The Bronx, Manhattan, Queens and Staten Island, each with their own character.

Much of what you imagine of New York – the skyscrapers, Central Park, Broadway – is on Manhattan. But the surrounding boroughs have their own attractions and are continuing to emerge as go-to places for visitors, whether to sample their food or witness their character, buildings and history.

All north-south roads are ‘avenues’, and increase from east to west. So the easternmost, alongside the East River, is First Avenue, while the westernmost, alongside the Hudson River, is 12^th Avenue.

Some roads, like Broadway and Fifth Avenue, do not conform to the grid pattern, while others like Madisson Ave sneak in amongst the numbers. Also note that in Alphabet City, the streets are named Avenue A, B, C, D and E.

Brooklyn

Brooklyn is the borough located at the western end of Long Island, directly across from Lower Manhattan. It is directly connected via the famous Brooklyn Bridge, as well as tunnels and other bridges.

Here over 2 million people live in this largely residential zone of the city. It was for many years seen as a less desirable neighbourhood, but in the past decade has become one of the go-to places thanks to its popularity among start-ups, technical firms, and the ever-present hipsters. Its housing has seen a dramatic shift in value as people flock to move there.

The Bronx

Situated off the northern shore of Manhattan, and bordering Queens, The Bronx is known for its mix of migrant populations who traditional settled there after arriving in America. Thus, it is a mix of ethnicities and cultures today, and one of the more affordable parts of the city to live in.

The Bronx is home to some of New York’s most famous sights, like Yankee Stadium and Bronx Zoo.

Queens

Queens is the largest of New York’s boroughs and stretches across much of western Long Island, surrounding Brooklyn and across the East River from northern Manhattan. It is home to both LaGuardia and JFK airports.

The highlights of Queens include Flushing Meadows Park, Citi Field where the Mets baseball team play, and the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center where the US Open is held.

Staten Island

The most remote borough of New York is Staten Island, to the south west of the city at the entrance to New York Harbor. It is closely linked to New Jersey, and the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge famously links it to Brooklyn. The Staten Island Ferry sails back and forth all day and night, linking it with Lower Manhattan.

Less frequented by visitors to New York, Staten Island is actually a lovely haven and the least densely populated of the city’s boroughs. It has many parks and historic buildings to explore, like the 25-acre Richmond Town where 15 buildings have been restored as a living museum. Staten Island Zoo is a popular family attraction, and the many museums occupying historic mansions and other buildings hark back to a lost way of life in New York.

History of New York

Moving south the concentration of hotels is not as dense, but in Lower Manhattan and surrounding areas you’ll find some excellent hotels like the Four Seasons, The Greenwich Hotel and The Bowery.

Other boroughs should not be forgotten as they each have notable hotels. Their drawback is not being as close to Manhattan’s attractions, but don’t let this put you off great luxury and boutique stays in Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island.

New York offers many boutique hotels, nestled away in quiet corners or even in convenient places close to the big attractions. The Refinery Hotel on 38^th St has a family feel and rooftop bar, while the Crosby Street Hotel in SoHo is a unique, class, apartment-like space with a designer interior. Duane Street Hotel in Tribeca has European style and a perfect restaurant, while The Whitby is like an art gallery, with individually decorated rooms and two upscale restaurants.

As an alternative to hotels, New York offers numerous serviced and private apartment giving you city loft living spaces or traditional brownstone house accommodation with plenty of room to make your own when staying in the city. These can be found in all districts of the city.

To the north you’ll find the expansive Central Park – one of the world’s largest city parks, stretching 2.5 miles from 59^th St to 110^th St. Bordered all around by luxury apartments and hotels, inside the park it is an oasis of calm in this exhilarating city. You’ll also find some of New York’s best museums alongside Central Park.

Lower Manhattan also has plenty of places to visit. Greenwich Village is a bohemian residential area with quirky cafes, restaurants and bars, while Little Italy and Chinatown offer some of the best ethnic food in the city.

Further south the financial district emerges, but it’s not all business. The new One World Trade Center is a majestic skyscraper built alongside the footprints of the Twin Towers lost in 2001, where people gather to remember the tragedy and visit the 9/11 Museum.

At the southern short is Battery Park with glittering views of the skyscrapers behind, and the chance to take a boat over to the Statue of Liberty just off shore, or the free Staten Island Ferry to see the quiet district of New York with its heritage buildings.

On the eastern shore the Brooklyn Bridge is a masterpiece of design and links Manhattan with the reformed downtown of Brooklyn. There are parks, great views of Manhattan, hipster cafes and boutique hotels.

In Central Park there’s so much to explore. It’s great to hire a bicycle or horse-drawn carriage and tour its pathways, lake, the Belvedere Castle, Strawberry Fields, and then end with a visit to its zoo.

Some of New York’s quirkier attractions include the High Line – a former elevated railway line running along the west side of Manhattan. It is an oasis of greenery and walking trails with great views of the city.

For the best elevated views, observation decks at the top of One World Trade Center, the Empire State Building and Rockefeller Center literally top them all. The best (and busiest) time of day to visit is sunset to wath the city’s lights turn on below.

The area around the tip of Lower Manhattan has sights such as Batter Park and is where you can take a trip across to the Statue of Liberty and the former immigration centre (now a museum) on Ellis Island.

Meanwhile, the South Street Seaport and Pier 17 on the East River is the hub of activity for river cruises and helicopter tours around the city. While there, be sure to visit the great bars, cafes and small shops along Front St, Fulton St and Beekman St.

Shopping in New York is a dream experience. Aside from landmark department stores like Macy’s and Bloomingdales, the main shopping districts are along Fifth Avenue in Midtown where the likes of Tiffany & Co, Louis Vuitton, Armani, Prada and Gucci can be found. Other notable shopping districts include Union Square, SoHo, Greenwich Village, and the Brookfield Place shopping mall near One World Trade Center.

Most of New York’s most famous sights are located on Manhattan Island. Venturing further afield, attractions include both the Bronx Zoo and Staten Island Zoo, both larger than the one in Central Park. Sports fans should take in a Mets baseball game at Citi Field in Queens, or a Yankees game at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx.

Also in Staten Island, various museums rekindle life in the 19^th century set in original houses and buildings from the period, like The Seguine Mansion, the National Lighthouse Museum or the Richmond Town living museum.

When night draws in, New York turns into a city of entertainment. The Broadway theater district occupies the area around Times Square with its big musical productions. Off- and Off-off-Broadway theatres put on more independent shows in other parts of the city.

No visit is complete without an authentic New York-style pizza. Usually thin-crust and sold in slices, it traditionally has a simple cheese-and-tomato topping, but many others can be found. The most famous place to eat a slice is Di Fara Pizza in Brooklyn or celeb-favourite Lucali in Carroll Gardens.

The same can be said of a New York Hot Dog. While every street cart sells these handy snacks, the truly perfect version must be eaten at Gray’s Papaya on 8^th Ave or 72^nd St, where the dogs are crispy on the outside and topped with delicious onions. The place where an outdoor hot dog is essential is on the boardwalk near Coney Island.

The New York Cheesecake is another food institution. You’ve probably eaten its imitations all over the world, but here, in institutions like Junior’s near Times Square, it tastes like no other and has a mouthwatering array of flavours to choose from.

Grand Central Station has one of the world’s classiest food courts in its basement. But while here you should visit the Oyster Bar which serves many varieties – none finer than the Blue Point from Long Island Sound.

When it comes to fine dining, New York has no shortage of some of the world’s best restaurants. Highly recommended are Le Bernardin on 51^st St, Raoul’s in SoHo, Loring Place on 8^th St, Sushi Nakazawa on Commerce St, or 3 Michelin starred Eleven Madison Park which serves up to ten courses per meal.

Travel to and from New York’s airports is not as simple, with none on the subway network. JFK has the AirTrain rail service which links with the subway at either Howard Beach or Sutphin Boulevard – Archer Avenue. LaGuardia’s nearest subway station is Astoria Blvd, which connects with local bus services.

Most passengers using JFK and LaGuardia take rapid bus services direct to Grand Central Station, or various hotels, which save awkward transfers. Newark Liberty International has an easier rail connection direct from Penn Station to the terminal.

One of the most famous transport options in New York is the Staten Island Ferry. The large yellow boats operate 24 hours a day, covering the 5 mile journey in 25 minutes from Whitehall Terminal in Lower Manhattan to St George Terminal on Staten Island. It is a free service and passes close to the Statue of Liberty.

There are many options for private transport in New York, including limousines and private taxis. The streets can be crowded with traffic at times, and sometimes a confusing mix of one-way systems, so it’s always preferable to have someone else do the driving and navigating.

Each season in New York brings its own special events, parades, celebrations and fun. From the parades of Summer to the Fall leaves in Central Park, Halloween and Thanksgiving Parades, and one of the world’s biggest New Year parties in Times Square.

Around Central Park take a horse and carriage ride, followed by visiting the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Guggenheim Museum and the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum.

South Street Seaport is the place to take a helicopter tour of the city. See the top of the skyscrapers close up, and buzz the Statue of Liberty, in this exhilarating experience.

End the day with dinner at a fine restaurant like Eleven Madison Park or Little Owl (if you can get a reservation), followed by drinks on a rooftop bar like Surrey’s Private Roof Garden (or Bemelmans Bar if it’s cold outside).

For evening entertainment, try to get hold of tickets to see the Broadway musical Hamilton, which is still the hottest ticket in town.

Meanwhile, upper parts of Manhattan are known to be more laid back. The dominance of Central Park means people love to be outdoors enjoying walking, running or cycling.

Like the rest of America, the primary religion in New York is Christianity, with smaller sections of Jewish and other religions among most communities.

Weather in New York

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