Manhattan is one of the five districts of New York and has the main points of interest in the city. If you want to see everything in a short time, consider an organized bus tour.

American Museum of Natural History and Hayden Planetarium

- One of the most important museums of natural history. It has over 40 rooms. The most spectacular themes are: technology shows about the Earth and Space, African mammals, biodiversity and the dinosaurs.

Battery Park City

- Park dominated by the buildings of American Express, Merrill Lynch and of the World Financial Center which is the center of the Dow Jones. Visit the Winter Garden.

* Brooklyn Bridge

- Is the oldest bridge on the East River (1883) and the first steel-wire suspension bridge. Wonderful stroll. Walking across takes 40 minutes to an hour or more depending if you stop and read the informative plaques along the way. The plaques give the bridge's history and also describe sights seen from the bridge as it would have looked to pedestrians in back in 1883 when the bridge opened.

* Brooklyn Museum

- One of the premier art institutions in the world, its permanent collection includes more than one-and-a-half million objects, from ancient Egyptian masterpieces to contemporary art, and the art of many other cultures.

* Brooklyn Botanic Garden

- 52 acre garden includes a cherry tree esplanade, rose garden, Japanese hill and pond garden, fragrance garden for the blind, several conservatories, rock garden, native flora garden, bonsai tree collection, and children's gardens and discovery exhibits.

*** Central Park

(843 acres) Get a map at the Dairy Visitor's Center. Visit the lake, Bethesda fountain, the Hans Christian Andersen statue, the Woolman Skating Rink restored by the tycoon Donald J. Trump, the zoo, Belvedere Castle, and finally Strawberry Fields, the most visited part of the park. John Lennon lived in a neighboring building overlooking the park and his widow Yoko Ono transformed the area into a peaceful garden, to honor his memory. Started in 1859, 20,000 people worked towards the making of Central Park, the heart of New York. For your security it is highly recommended not to visit the park after dark.

Wollman Rink - Trump Ice Skating Rink
New York's outdoor ice skating facility.
Best entrance from Central Park South (59th Street) an d6th Avenue. Wollman Rink is two minute walk into Central Park from this entrance. Follow the footpath into the park. Open every day - Call 212 439 6900 for hours of operation.

* Chinatown

- A population of more than 150,000 residents, shops, restaurants, Buddhist temple, museum. Celebration of the Chinese New Year with colorful parades.

* Chrysler Building

- Undoubtedly the most beautiful building (1931) in Manhattan.

** Cloister

- Is an extension of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The museum is dedicated to medieval art.

* Coney Island

Was before the Second World War a first class amusement park with a beautiful beach. Since then, the park lost some of its' charm but the beach is still nice.

* City Hall

- New York City Hall.

* Ellis Island and Immigration Museum

Between 1892 and 1954, over 12 million immigrants (of which the von Trapp family, that inspired the film the "Sound of Music") entered the United States by way of Ellis Island. Only about two percent were denied admission to the U.S. and sent back to their countries of origin for reasons such as chronic disease, criminal background, or insanity. a little island situated in the port of New York. The American Immigration Museum is located in the immigration historic offices.

*** Empire State Building

Built in 1931, the Empire State Building was the highest skyscraper in the world for nearly fifty years. Only one year and 5 days were necessary to construct this office building. After the Wall Street financial crash of 1929 its offices became difficult to rent. The building became quickly a popular tourist attraction, which saved it from bankruptcy. The view of the city from the observation terraces of the 86th and 102nd floors are exceptional.

*** Fifth Avenue

- Superb avenue bordered by luxurious shops, prestigious buildings, the New York Library and Rockefeller Center.

*** Frick Collection

Magnificent collection of European paintings and sculptures accommodated in the superb residence of Henry Clay Frick (1849-1919), an important coal and steel businessman.

* Greenwich Village

- Residential quarter which is the center of Washington Square. The biggest nocturnal Halloween parade is held here every year.

* Manhattan Buildings

- AT&T Tower with its' controversial post-modern architecture, Citicorp Center with its' superb roofs.

* Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts

- Complex that is home to the Avery Fisher Hall (New York Philharmonic Orchestra), New York State Theatre, New York City Ballet and the Metropolitan Opera House, one of the most famous operas in the world.

*** Metropolitan Museum of Art

- One of the most beautiful museums in the world.

** Museum of Modern Art (MoMa)

- Modern and contemporary art museum.

** Museum of the American Indian

- Exceptional collections on the history of American Indians.

** New York Botanic Garden

- One of the oldest and largest botanical gardens (240 acres) in the world. Situated in the Bronx, it presents 48 specialized gardens and plants collections, wetlands, 40 acres virgin woodlands which represent the last stretch of the original forest which covered all of New York City before the arrival of European settlers in the 17th century, and the spectacular Enid A. Haupt Conservatory the biggest greenhouse in the country.

** Public Library

- Situated on 5th Avenue and 42nd Street. Climb up to the last floor to admire the magnificent reading rooms and their ceilings.

* Rockefeller Center

Located 30 Rockefeller Plaza, on 5th Avenue, between 49th and 50th Streets. The main building is the 71-floor GE Building, centered behind the sunken plaza famous for its' skating ring in the winter and the bronze statue representing Prometheus. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. first opened the Observation Deck atop 30 Rockefeller Plaza more than 70 years ago, to give something back to New Yorkers and their guests from around the world — a place to appreciate and celebrate the city.

Spectacular view of New York City from the newly renovated TOP OF THE ROCK'S? Observation Deck on the 70th floor of 30 Rockefeller Plaza: Panels of fully transparent safety glass — the only thing between our visitors and the city — are crystal clear for unobstructed, open-air viewing. It includes a panorama of Central Park and the northern half of Manhattan that can't be found anywhere else. New York's other landmarks are visible as well, including the Chrysler Building, Times Square, the Hudson River, the East River, the Brooklyn Bridge, and the Statue of Liberty.

John D. Rockefeller, Jr. first opened the Observation Deck atop 30 Rockefeller Plaza more than 70 years ago, to give something back to New Yorkers and their guests from around the world — a place to appreciate and celebrate the city.

Open 8:30 a.m. to midnight, 365 days a year. Last elevator goes up at 11 p.m.

Skating Rink at Rockefeller Center: Spin on the ice from from beginning of November to beginning of April

** Soho

- Artist's district. It was initially a district of factories and warehouses. It was discovered in the seventies by artists that transformed the buildings into galleries, shops, restaurants and bars.

*Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum

- Modern and contemporary art museum that is known for its' collection as well as the architecture of the building.

* South Street Seaport Museum

- It was formerly the center of the harbor activity in New York and is now a museum in front of which several historic boats are anchored.

* Statue of Liberty

- Liberty Enlightening the World (151 feet - 46 m), is a statue given to the United States by France on the occasion of the one hundredth anniversary of the United States, celebrated in 1876. The metallic structure was conceived by Gustave Eiffel and is covered by plates of copper. The statue represents the goddess of liberty, wearing a diadem and stepping on the chains of slavery. She holds in her left hand the Declaration of Independence engraved with the historic date "July 4th 1776". The Statue of Liberty was for million of immigrants that came to the USA by ship, the first view they had of the New World. Things to do: Climbing of the 354 steps that lead to the crown of the statue, view of New York. You can also visit Ellis Island and the museum dedicated to the history of American immigration.

** Saint John the Divine Cathedral

- The largest gothic cathedral in the world. The first stone was laid in 1892 and the building is still only two thirds constructed.

* St Patrick's Cathedral

- The seat of the archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York. Built between 1858 and 1888.

* New York Stock Exchange

- Interesting visit of the world's most famous stock exchange center.

* Time Square

- District center of Broadway's shows. It progressively became a district with a bad reputation until the mayor of New York, Rudi Giuliani, implemented new security measures in the city. Today because of an important group of investors like Virgin and Disney, Time Square has become a safe tourism site during the day.

* United Nations Headquarters

- You will immediately notice the numerous flags that float above the building of the United Nations (UN). Today it counts 180 members contrary to 51 when it was first created in1945. The complex is an international institution with the Security Council being the most powerful authority.

** Withney Museum of American Art

Museum dedicated to 20th century American art, with an exhibition of over 2000 paintings, drawings and prints. Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney founded the museum in 1931 with approximately 700 works of art from her own estate. The present building was planed and built 1963 - 1966 by Marcel Breuer and Hamilton P. Smith after moving twice. It is impressive with its staircase fa?ade made from granite stones and its external upside-down windows. The museum displays paintings, drawings, prints, sculptures and photography.

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