Things to see in New York City

A magnificent city sanctuary situated in the centre of Manhattan. Designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, it opened in 1876 and now offers numerous recreational and cultural outlets. The Belvedere Castle (a stone castle built on Vista Rock in the middle of the park at the 79th Street Transverse) offers excellent views, while the Shakespeare Garden, just west of the castle, contains flowers and herbs mentioned in the Bard's plays. The Central Park Conservancy offers various free walking tours. There is also a theatre and sports facilities in addition to the celebrated Central Park Zoo.

Greenwich Village is one of the liveliest and trendiest districts of New York City. Originally a tobacco plantation located towards the tip of Manhattan Island, it was given its name by British naval commander, Sir Peter Warren who purchased a farm there in the early 18th century. It was not until New York's yellow fever outbreak in 1822 that people began to move here to escape the disease-ridden conditions of the city, and Greenwich quickly flourished, as banks and businesses sprang up alongside the elegant houses of their wealthy owners. By the turn of the last century, New York's richest residents had begun to move to more fashionable areas of town, such as Fifth Avenue. This exodus meant that the houses were populated by struggling artists and writers, who spent their time in the Village's many bars and coffee houses, discussing political ideals. Greenwich thus gained its reputation as New York's Bohemian, anti-establishment quarter, as well as a centre for women's liberation. The Village also gained a reputation as the focus of the gay rights movement after the infamous Stonewall Riots that followed the police raid on the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in Greenwich Village, in 1969. The area's reputation as a Bohemian melting pot has stuck, despite the fact that it has once again become home to the city's well-heeled professionals since the sharp rise in property prices during the 1980s economic boom forced writers and artists out. Christopher Street, which runs through the centre of the district, is the hub of New York's gay scene, whilst Greenwich Avenue is a good place to shop, with plenty of bookstores and second-hand clothes shops. Greenwich Village also has a thriving nightlife, with many of its lively cafés and bars staying open later than those elsewhere in Manhattan.

Founded by Abby Aldrich Rockefeller, John D Rockefeller II's wife, the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), houses the most important modern art collection in the USA, covering a variety of media from the late 19th and 20th centuries, with impressive touring exhibitions.

Some of the most prominent features include a lobby that connects 53rd and 54th streets; an atrium that soars 33.5m (110ft) above street level; and innovative glass curtain walls that provide views of the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Sculpture Garden and the vibrant midtown surroundings.

The Guggenheim Museum, a seven-storey conical building designed by US master architect Frank Lloyd Wright, is worth visiting for the building alone. Opened in 1959, its design represented a new way to view art and was a radical departure. Visitors ascend to the top floor via escalator and descend at their own pace on a continuous, circular ramp. The open rotunda makes it possible to see many levels and exhibits simultaneously. The Guggenheim's acclaimed collection consists of late 19th- and 20th-century art works, many of which came from the private collection of Solomon's niece, Peggy Guggenheim.

Originally inspired by the slick designs of the grand ocean liners, the Rockefeller Center's observation deck, which first opened in 1933, was renovated and reopened in 2005 following a 20-year closure. The deckchairs upon which New Yorkers once relaxed to escape the bustle below may be long gone, but the exceptional views remain. From the 70th floor, 260m (850ft) above street level, the unobstructed 360-degree vista takes in the best of the city's landmarks, including the Brooklyn Bridge, the Empire State Building, the Chrysler Building and Central Park. Hands-on exhibits keep visitors busy on the mezzanine floor.