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Manhattan’s grid layout and accessible transportation make getting around quite manageable. Resist the urge to cram as many sights as possible into a short trip, since New York is as much about its atmosphere as it is about specific sights and museums. A weekend in New York will allow you to gain a striking impression of the city’s myriad personalities; you’ll have time to take in a view or two from one of the many skyscrapers and to enjoy a stroll through one of the Downtown neighbourhoods. Be sure to sample the city’s restaurant scene and non-stop nightlife and to gain a glimpse of the surrounding boroughs from New York’s harbour. Kick off any New York visit with a strong coffee and a visit to Lower Manhattan. Get there early, before the crowds turn up, and take the free Staten Island Ferry over and back for astounding views of the city, the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. If you’re feeling energetic, walk through Chinatown on the way to a leisurely brunch at Café Lebowitz or Café Gitane. Afterwards, stroll the streets of Greenwich Village , browse the galleries in SoHo , rummage through Chelsea flea market to find some interesting bric-a-brac or enjoy great views of the Hudson River from the roof of the Dia Center for the Arts. Then, head northeast to be awed by the dizzying skyscrapers of Midtown. Check out the Chrysler Building , probably the most stunning example of art deco in the city, and Grand Central Terminal , where you may have time to sneak a drink in the Campbell Apartment bar. The shops of Fifth Avenue are temptingly close but save some cash for a sunset drink Downtown, in the rooftop Rise bar at the Ritz-Carlton. After dinner at Pfiff , pay a brief visit to Times Square , either to catch a Broadway show or just to ogle at all those neon lights and pandemonium. You can sip a fancy cocktail as you people watch at the Blue Fin bar or peer down on the crowds from the sophisticated surroundings of the Ava Lounge. Late night head to Bungalow 8 for some classy clubbing. Get up early on Sunday, if possible, when hardly a soul is awake, and stroll up to Central Park , for an exploration of New York's favourite garden. The museums along the east side make a welcome change from hectic Midtown, but choose just one if you’re short on time. The Metropolitan Museum of Art is worthy of several hours, but the nearby Frick Collection , Guggenheim Museum and Whitney Museum are each possible on their own in an hour or two. Stop at Serafina’s for a late Italian lunch or indulge in coffee and cakes at the lovely Viennese Café Sabarsky inside the Neue Galerie. Later on, take in a comedy show, such as the Upright Citizens’ Brigade , or hear some jazz in Harlem or Greenwich Village.
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