WELCOME BIENVENUE BIENVENIDOS WELKOM BENVENITO

New York is a city of countless attractions 24/7.

This is New York – the city that never sleeps, the city, which is the exact reflection of the World, with the variety of lifestyles and striking diversity. Even the real New Yorkers admit that the city always has something unexpected to offer. The “unique experience” attracts record high number of visitors from around the world each year. No other city in the world but New York offers the visitors such a wealth of cultural diversity, shopping or dining opportunities and sightseeing experiences. Find out for yourself just what New York, the proud, welcoming Big Apple, has to offer you.

NY TIMELINE

The first recorded discovery of the of New York Harbor dates back to 1524, when Italian explorer of North America, Giovanni Verrazano was making his voyage across Atlantic. The river, however, was named after English  Sea Explorer sailing for the Dutch East India Company, who began explorations of the river in 1609.

In 1624, first permanent European settlement in New Netherland started with the foundation of a  Dutch  fur trading on Governors Island. Fort Amsterdam on Manhattan Island, later called New Amsterdam ( Nieuw Amsterdam ), was chosen as the site of  Fort Amsterdam , a citadel for the protection of the new arrivals; its 1625 establishment was recognized as the birth date of New York City. In 1626,  Peter Minuit  bought Manhattan from native people in exchange for trade goods, often said to be worth $24.

In a couple of years in 1647,  Peter Stuyvesant  was assigned as the last Dutch Director General of the colony, which later on became independent and New Amsterdam was officially granted the status of a city on  February 2 ,  1653 . Under the British dominance the city was renamed "New York" after the English Duke of York and Albany. 

Stuyvesant and his council negotiated 24 articles of provisional transfer with the British, which sought to guarantee New Netherlanders liberties, including  freedom of religion , under British rule.

In 1784, New York became the first capital of newly born country under the enacted Constitution of the United States and four years later George Washington was inaugurated the first President of the U.S. In 1780s, the population of the capital was around 33.000 people, though only Manhattan was considered New York at that time. The City of Greater New York was formed in 1898, with Manhattan and the Bronx were established as two individual  boroughs .

The Capital of the World [NY from the helicopter]

It is world known fact that New York is a capital of the world. At the beginning of the 20 th century, New York topped the list of the tallest cities in the world. The higher the new buildings were the more one would realize that New York is indeed center of the world. First of all the city is the financial center of the world as well cultural, art, fashion and most of all center of tourism. It was widely agreed to select New York as home to the United Nations.

People of all nations come to New York in search of better life and wishing to make their dreams come true. Millions of people managed to find their relatives and ancestors in this City.

Millions more come to this amazing city in order to make their dreams come true.

New York is truly the city that never sleeps. Everyone who lives, breaths and experiences it knows that the energy that runs through this place is unlike any other place on earth. You have to be ready for every challenge that comes your way and the words of Frank Sinatra ring true “If you make if here, you'll make it anywhere” .

New York is famous of its luxury department stores to the arrays of flea markets, from exclusive boutiques to massive discount stores, there is no better place to experience miles of shopping for every taste and budget…

THE NEW YORKERS

Residents of this dynamic city are both shark of Wall Street and girls from “Sex and the City”. The artists and musician s of the Village, aspiring actors on Broadway in a nutshell New York is a home to talents of all sort, including thousands of New Yorkers who the city running: from subway workers to policemen and firefighters to the guy who sells the best falafels in town.

New York is home to 8 million people and most of them are immigrants from over 180 countries who help make it a powerful, dynamic and colorful place that it is. New York is also the only place in the world where various nationalities and religions coexist under one roof.

BOROS & MANHATTAN NEIGHBORHOODS PROFILES

Great New York consists of five districts Manhattan, Brooklyn, Staten Island, Queens and Bronx. Each of them is worth visiting as they have as fascinating history as Manhattan.

Midtown is the parts if Manhattan that stretches between 34 th and 59 th streets including such famous tourist sights such as Empire Sate Building, Rockefeller Center, Chrysler Building and Times Square with all its lights and Broadway theatres, among dozens of skyscrapers.

SoHo is abbreviation for South Houston. This neighborhood is one of the hippest and fashionable in Manhattan, filled with exclusive boutiques, art galleries and famous restaurants.

China Town is home to hundreds of shop lines in the street, where you can find anything from variety of souvenirs, discounted electronics and designer knock offs. If you like authentic Chinese Cuisine and don't want to travel to China to get it- travel to China Town in New York.

Little Italy is full of little street cafes. This charming neighborhood will offer you the best cappuccinos and espressos in the town, not to mention the most delicious Italian desserts.

Chelsea Around 7 th Avenue a.k.a. Fashion Avenue one will find the “Sewing Heaven” whose streets are filled with specialty sewing stores where one can purchase a variety of textiles, knits, buttons and upholsteries.

Upper East Side is located between 59 th and 97 th streets, along 5 th and Madison Avenues. Luxurious designer stores and most elegant boutiques and restaurants are here. This is one of the most expensive areas of Manhattan which houses part of Central Park and the Museum Mile . [link to museum mile para]

Upper West Side begins on the border of Central Park West and stretches to the banks of Hudson river. The famous Lincoln Center and Metropolitan Opera are located here. Columbia University and American Museum of Natural History add to the appeal of this charming neighborhood.

Harlem is the Northern part of Upper Manhattan, which is center for black culture and business. For much of the 20 th century it was associated with black culture, as well as crime and poverty, it now is experiencing a social and economic renaissance.

TriBeCa is a syllabic abbreviation of “TRiangle BElow CAnal Street”. It runs roughly from Canal Street south to Park Place and from the Hudson River east to Broadway. Once an industrial district mostly occupied by warehouses, the area has undergone a major revitalization. Warehouses are now being converted into luxurious lofts and new businesses emerge.

Greenwich Village got its name after Greenwich in East London; however the New Yorkers call it simply “the Village”. This neighborhood is the reminiscent of Old European cities, residential area on the west side of Downtown (southern Manhattan, is how home to mostly student, artists and young celebrities. This artsy neighborhood isn't short of galleries; restaurant as well as dozens of cute clothing and jewelry shops.

THINGS NOT TO MISS

When you walk around the city you'd get a feeling that you are in a different city every couple of block, don't be surprise - this is what makes New York amazing. Here are several sights that you must see/ visit while you are in New York.

The Museum Mile New York is famous for its Art scene, and most of its famous Museums are located on the “Museum Mile” around Central Park on the 5 th Avenue from 84 th to 104 th street.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art is referred by many as “the Met” is one of the world's largest and renowned art museums. It is located on the eastern edge of Central Park, also known as the Museum Mile. In 1986 it was named as National Historic Landmark. Met permanently houses over two million works of art, classical antiquity and pieces of Ancient Egypt and Modern Art. The Met is also home to large collection of African, Asian and Islamic Arts as well as to volumes of encyclopedic collections which include musical instruments, costumes, accessories, antique weapons and armory from around the world. No wonder the Metropolitan Museum is New York City's number one tourist attraction where one can spend endless days wandering the Museum's halls, travelling through continents and times.

Guggenheim Museum has one of the world's finest collections of 20 th century arts and a masterpiece of modern architecture in itself. The interior of the museum features a grand ramp that curves from the ground to the dome while displaying the current exhibitions. Permanent masterpieces at the Museum include such artists as Chagall, Kandinsky, Picasso and Can Gogh.

Broadway Theatres are scattered around 40 th and 50 th streets from 8 th Avenue to Broadway. Here are the popular musicals that ran for years and years, some even for a couple of decades. There are 3 types of theatres in New York: “Broadway”. “Off Broadway” and “Off Off Broadway”. It is easy to guess that the categories define the theatres' locations and “Off Off Broadway” theatres can e found throughout the city. The ticket price range anywhere from $50 -$250.00, however one might get a bargain of purchase on the day of performance. Among popular shows are”The Phantom of the Opera”, “Mamma Mia”, Chicago and “Les Misérables”.

The Parks of the Big Apple are essential. New York is considered to be one of the Greenest American cities. 26% of the area is covered by water and trees. The total number of parks is around 1700 and over 750 species of animals and birds inhabit the parks.

Statue of Liberty is one of the recognizable symbols of the United States, the famous sculpture of “Lady Liberty” welcomes everyone to its soil with inscription “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free…”

Ellis Island is the memorial site located at the mouth of the Hudson River, the island that at one time in the history was the main entry facility for over 17 million immigrants who entered the United States from January 1892 until November 1954. The Immigration Museum is now located there.

New York Stock Exchange is nicknamed the “Big Board”. NYSE is the largest tock exchange in the world by dollar volume. Built in 1792, the Colonial Architecture resembles a cathedral rather than the heart of the Global Financial Market.

Brooklyn Bridge is still considered to be on the most beautiful bridges in the world and connects the boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn. Since its opening in 1883, it has become an iconic part of the NYC skyline. In 1964 it was named a National Historic Landmark.

Empire State Building is 102-story Art Deco skyscraper on the intersection of the 5 th Avenue and West 34 th Street, is definitely New York's most popular attraction and is one the Seven Wonders of the World. Derived from the nickname for the State of New York, Empire State Building is also the New York's tallest building. The Observatory of the building is definitely the New York's most popular attraction. It soars a quarter of a mile above the City's skyline. Day or night come and see and listen to the sights and sounds of our majestic city! It is indeed the experience of a lifetime.

Rockefeller Center is the architectural ensemble built by the Rockefeller family. It encompasses 19 buildings, 14 of which were built between 1931 and 1940. Spanning between 5 th Avenue and 7 th Avenue, the Rockefeller Centers on the largest privately owned complexes of its kind in the world, and an international symbol of modernist architectural design. In 1987 it was named a National Historic Landmark.

Times Square is a major intersection in Manhattan, at the junction of Broadway and 7 th Avenue, stretching from West 42 nd Street to West 47 th Street. It was named after Times Building, the former offices of The New York Times . The Times Square has achieved the status of an iconic world landmark and is definitely one of the major Symbols of the Big Apple. The enormous animated and digital advertisings that surround Time Square make this truly a spectacular sight to behold.

No doubt the best way to see amazing skyline is form the amazing dinner cruise or see the city from the birds' eye view with thrilling helicopter tour.

ESSENTIAL NEW YORK

Statue of Liberty National Monument, Battery Park, The Empire State Building, Rockefeller Center, Lincoln Center, Times Square, Wall Street, Union Square Park, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Frick Museum, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, American Museum of Natural History, Museum of Primitive Art, National Museum of the American Indian , Madam Tussaud's New York Museum, Broadway, Brooklyn Bridge, Greenwich Village & SoHo, Carnegie Hall, Chrysler Building, Cathedral St. John The Divine, Central Park, United Nations Building, Museum of Modern Art, New York Public Library, Jewish Museum, The Children's Museum of the Arts, Nicholas Roerich Museum, New York Botanical Garden, New York City Fire Museum.

This city never sleeps.

New York should be seen not once, but many, many times. To discover all the history and excitement from this city and to absorb new York 's unique energy, you should become a part of this city for a while. You can visit our museums and galleries, see Broadway shows, enjoy Off-Broadway Theaters, and go on countless New York tours. You can take a bus tour, helicopter tour, cruise tour or walking tour. Shopping in our endless designer fashion boutiques can hardly be compared to anything. We have more than 17,000 restaurants that will surely give you the unique opportunity to taste cuisine from all over the world. With so many Trade Shows, Festivals, Parties and Events held in New York , everyone is bound to find what they're looking for.

Here are just a few of the of the main New York highlights you will enjoy!