I'm going for a week in May and have a lot to pack in - but as my first time I want to know what would be best to do, rather than trying to do everything. I'm asking for sights and museums rather than theatre as I'll be doing that (and eating in various places) anyway.

Thanks

go to statue of liberty, if open. even if not,go to battery park, vietnam memorial, wall street, trinity church.

Empire state bldg, metropolitan museum of art, macy's, bloomingdales, greenwich village.

-View from observation deck of Empire State Bldg
-walk across Brooklyn Bridge and back
-stroll through central park

I would add Chinatown, especially Canal Street between Mulberry & W. Broadway.

1. Walk along 5th Ave....start at 50 St. (Rockefeller Center, St. Patrick's, pick up Central Park at 59 St. and walk through it until you reach the Metropolitan Museum of Art at 82 St. and then spend a few hours there.

2. Catch a ballgame at Yankee Stadium

3. Empire St Building deck

1-As many museums as you can
2-Greenwich Village/Soho
3-The view from the Empire State Building or from the Circle Line boat.

Walk through Central Park, Chinatown, and across the Brooklyn Bridge.

I would imagine that you have been doing research and planning your trip. Why not tell us what you know you want to see and we will give our opinion as to whether or not we consider it a "must see". In one weeks time you shouldn't miss any of the major tourist sites.

1. Staten Island ferry - free
2. Walk the Brooklyn Bridge - free
3. Circle Line cruise. Circle Manhattan Island on a boat. not free but also not expensive.

Thanks - this is really useful - my plan was to do:
Central Park
MOMA
Metropolitan
Madison Square Garden?
Greenwich Village
Empire State
Statten Island Ferry.

One thing - does the High School for the performing arts actually exist? If so where - lifelong ambition to go there and dance on a canteen table.

Also - can I buy a week's subway pass?

And - is it better to book a Brodaway matinee in advance, over the net - or should I wait and wait for returns at a booth when I get there? What is 'hot' at the moment? Also, do people do standup comedy shows - where?

Sorry for all the questions - getting very excited now!

Annabel

No one has mentioned Ellis Island yet. I found it to be so interesting and worthwhile. Has it fallen from favor?

With a whole week in NYC, you'll have plenty of time to just walk and walk...and find things of interest as you go along. Have a great time.

1. The Circle Line cruise: a 3-hour boat ride around Manhattan island in which you'll see just about every 'must see' in the city - at least from a distance. Totally worth it.

2. Observation Deck at Empire State Building.

3. Ground Zero.

1) Look up the Yankees website and book tickets to a game. Then, later in the week (since I don't believe they do them on gameday) go back and get the tour of Yankee Stadium. If your into baseball, its a must-see.

2) Take a nice relaxing walk through Central Park - and don't forget to bring a blanket to relax/read a book on the Great Lawn.

3) World Yacht Dinner Cruises.

ENJOY!!

- Empire State Building
- Times Square (the theater)
- Metropolitan Museum of art

Walk down 5th ave, wander through the village and central park.
Have fun!

Did NYC in three days using a stopoff on a flight from England to Florida.
Did all the tourist bits named mostly by walking and underground Metro?
Unforgettable moment Up to the Rainbow Bar in the Radio city building near the Rockeffeller Centre. We sat there after dark with a cocktail and a hamburger and looked out over the lights of Manhatton. We could not afford the restaurant. Expensive but magic.
Do it!

Empire State Building observation deck (the view at night is especially amazing), Rockefeller Center, and a Broadway Show (get tickets cheaply at TKTS in Times Square). But, my best advice, is just to walk around and take NYC as it comes to you. That is the true NYC experience!

Take a midtown walking tour,covering Times Square, Rockefeller Center/Fifth Avenue,and 57th Street shops. Go to Central Park and dine there or go for a skate or a caleche ride. Visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art and if time allows, the Museum of Natural History.

Some other possibilities: visit Chinatown, Greenwich Village, Statue of Liberty, Circle Line boat trip.

Don't forget the Tenement Museum!

The High School for Perfoming Arts still exists, but not the way it was in Fame. It merged with the High School of Music and Art, so now it's called LaGuardia HS and it's in a different building. And I wouldn't recommend waltzing into a New York City high school and dancing on a table, sorry. (The truth: the kids don't dance on the tables either).

But you could go to Central Park and leap up on a boulder and dance.

You can get a weekly subway pass that lets you hop on as many NYC subways and busses as you like.

If you're willing to try your luck with theater, you can get discount tickets day of show at the TKTS booth in midtown.

Unless you want to see a particular performance or sports event, Madison Square Garden is just a big ol' boring ugly arena like any other city arena. Skip it.

Museums to consider that might not immediately come to mind are the Folk Art Museum, which is right near MoMA and the Whitney, its rival for modern art. Also, if you're into contemporary art, check out the New Museum in Soho, the DIA art foundation and galleries in Chelsea and P.S. 1 in Queens. There's a whole clump of art sites in that part of Queens, and there's a free shuttle bus that takes you from one spot to another.

For some reflection on 9/11, you can check out the Fire Museum on Spring Street in Soho.

Best bet for entertainment, especially if you're interested in comedy clubs, is to buy that week's Time Out New York. Otherwise, pick up the Village Voice or the New York Press-- they're free weeklies with lots of listings.

Tall order so you research and decide

MET, ellis Island, Moma modern Art, Guggenheim, Frick are my faves cloisters if it is fall and if you have not been to Europe. I also love the Asia Society and would look up the Japan society if you have an interest in this part of the world.