New York City is a copiously packed mass of humankind with its inhabitants from various nations and cultures, who speak more than 75 languages. The city has around 20,000 eclectic restaurants, 150 museums and thousands of stores crammed with brand names, as though there is something for almost everyone in New York. Far from turmoil of the urban settings, New York also possesses the country serenity of Central Park. However, the epicenter of New York City is the Manhattan Island situated in the middle of the Hudson River where most of business and commercial center are located.

Area: 785 sq km
Country: United States of America
Currency: American Dollar
Time Zone: GMT/UTC -5 (Eastern Time)
Language: English

When to go

The best time to visit New York City is spring and fall. The environment is outstanding around Christmas and the New Year.

Arts and Events

International Food Fair (May Mid), JVC Jazz Festival, NY Shakespeare Festival (June), Harlem Week (August), Caribbean Day, New York Film Festival (September), Macy's Thanksgiving Parade (November).

Major Attractions

Most of the recognizable attractions of the city are located in Manhattan. Statue of Liberty, located on a small island in the southern tip of Manhattan, symbolizes Freedom and Democracy. World Trade Center's twin towers on Manhattan's southern reaches, which were once the main attractions of the Island, immersed in flame on September 11, 2001 when two passenger aircrafts commanded by terrorist hijackers hit them.

Chinatown also located in south of Manhattan is great for food and shopping. North to Chinatown is Soho, which is famous for its art galleries, plazas and café/bar culture. Continuing to the north is traditional Greenwich Village. Farther towards north is Chelsea, known for its gay scene and art galleries.

The Empire State Building, standing 449 m high is located in Murray hill. Broadway and Times Square in Manhattan are famous for their theatres. Central Park, the serene and composed part of Manhattan, provides the New Yorkers and tourists an opportunity to relax and enjoy the landscape. The northern part of Manhattan comprises many well-known museums and art galleries like the American Museum of Natural History (most famous for its dinosaur halls) the Metropolitan Museum of Art (it displays over three million different objects), Museum of Television and Radio and the Museum of Modern Art.

Bronx Zoo and Coney Island beach are the chief attractions of the Bronx borough and Atlantic shore of Brooklyn respectively.

Getting There and Away

There are three major airports near New York City: John F Kennedy (on Long Island about 12 miles east of Manhattan), La Guardia Airport (located in Queens) and Newark Airport (in New Jersey). Instant access is obtainable from each airport via taxi or bus. Commuter trains also run from nearby communities and neighboring states to New York.

Getting Around

Public transportation comprising of buses, subway trains and taxis is convenient and inexpensive. Apart from them, Staten Island Ferry takes you on a 30-minute voyage across New York harbor between Manhattan and Staten Island.