New York, New York

“New York, New York …” – every time I pronounce the name of The City, I can almost hear Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett or Liza Minelli singing this song.
No doubt, New York City has inspired many artists, songs, movies, plays and shows over the last decades.

The Big Apple – Overcrowded, Yet Always Surprising

One of the largest cities in the world, The Big Apple – as it was nicknamed by the famous sports writer John J. Fitz Gerald – is also the most populous city in the USA (the metropolitan area of New York is home to more than 19 million people) and annually attracts millions of tourists. Therefore, you souldn’t be surprised if, besides the excitement of visiting the most popular city of all, you will also have something to be dissatisfied with: the frequent traffic jams and the overcrowded streets, subways, commercial centers, parks, etc. can be really exhausting, especially for New-York- first-timers.
If you want to spend a few days in New York you should know that the city is divided into five areas: Staten Island, Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan and Queens. Each of them has its own charm and specific attractions, but wherever you will go, you will find that there are few places where you can escape the crowds and noise.
However, if you manage to not take into account this inconvenience, you will find that a visit to New York will worth every effort – take my word for it!

The Best Way To Discover Manhattan

The heart of New York is Manhattan – one of the largest financial centers of the world: here are the headquarters of major U.S. and multinational companies, the New York Stock Exchange (located on the famous Wall Street), United Nations headquarters and more.
The oldest borough of New York City impresses with its numerous skyscrapers, wide boulevards and luxury shopping centers. But Manhattan is also an important cultural center where tourists can visit museums like The Metropolitan Museum Of Art (hosting over two million works), The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum (where you can see masterpieces by Picasso, van Gogh or Chagall) and The American Museum of Natural History (if you get there, be sure not to miss The Hayden Planetarium).

One other travel tip you might find useful: if you want to go through downtown you should get a taxi. It may prove to be a little expensive, and the traffic jams can be annoying, but is the most efficient means of surface transport. Also, it allows you to identify the major tourist attractions of Manhattan, so you can visit them later.

Make sure you read my next article on one of the true symbols of New York and America: the Statue of Liberty.