The luxury Italian brand is well known in Europe for its extremely soft cashmere pieces. This is the first US flagship for the label, which uses the natural fibers of Mongolian goat wool to create its threads. Shop the line of skirts, blazers, jumpers and T-shirts, and take a peek at the store’s “cashmere museum,” which explores how Falconeri wool is sourced and features it in its raw state.

This chic, eco-conscious clothing brand has been a staple of the downtown shopping scene since launching in 2011. With this boutique, Reformation heads uptown—bringing along its signature slip dresses, cutesy prints and frocks made from sustainably sourced fabrics. The 3,000-square-foot space also houses the brand’s bridal line.

Fans of this men’s footwear brand include actor Ryan Reynolds and former NBA star Dwyane Wade (who is also an investor in the company). At this flagship, the first brick-and-mortar entry for the Utah-based brand, you’ll find stylish and affordable boots, handmade in Spain and Portugal. The inviting store features vintage and rugged furniture pieces meant to evoke a living room atmosphere.

This brand specializes in products for the design-conscious outdoorsman. Think handcrafted leather briefcases, clever camp gear, hunting knives and axes, and handmade sweaters. The location carries all the goods its Manhattan counterpart does, plus furniture from Soma. You’ll also find limited-edition specialty items. 

This NYC street wear brand, known for producing clothing in small quantities, has opened an outpost in Greenpoint. Similar to its Lower East Side location, the Brooklyn store sells made-in-the-USA jackets, sweatshirts, T-shirts and hats as well as collaborations and exclusive drops. The bright, airy space caters to the skateboarding community, holding special events and workshops.

The much-anticipated NYC Nordstrom flagship was worth the wait. The sprawling seven-floor space mixes high and low fashions alongside pieces from local designers, high-end shoes, accessories, makeup and fragrances. Kids’ gear and in-store shops from designers like Valentino, YSL and Burberry are also on hand. Other features include personal in-store styling, beauty services like brow waxing and facials, denim tailoring, express returns and the option to pick up online purchases in store. Wolf, in collaboration with chef Ethan Stowell, and Jeannie’s, in collaboration with chef Tom Douglas, highlight the seven food and beverage options. The curving glass facade allows in plenty of light. 

The Statue of Liberty was France's gift to America. Built in 1886, it remains a famous world symbol of freedom and one of the greatest American icons. It is one of the world's largest statues, standing just under 152 feet tall from the base to the torch, and weighing approximately 450,000 pounds.

You can see the statue from land, with particularly good views from Battery Park, on the southern tip of Manhattan. However, to truly appreciate the Statue of Liberty, the best thing to do is to take a short boat trip to Liberty Island and see it up close. You can walk around the base, enter the pedestal, or, with advance reservations, go right up to the crown.

On a tour to the Statue of Liberty, you have the option to stop at Ellis Island and explore the Immigration Museum. This fantastic museum is located in the historic immigration station complex, where thousands of immigrants were processed before entering the United States. Displays focus on the process, the experiences, and the stories of the people who came through here on their journey to the United States. You can even search the on-site computer database to see a record of immigrants who came through here.

Tickets to go inside the statue sell out. Pre-purchasing tickets is a must during the high season and a good idea at any time of year. The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Guided Tour is a four-hour trip that takes you to both the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. This tour allows early reserve line access to board the ferry, and includes access to the Pedestal Museum and the Museum at Ellis Island.

Note: Buying tickets at the ferry can be tricky, with hawkers claiming to be "official representatives" trying to sell you more expensive tickets before you can find the ticket booth.

A walk, peddle, or carriage ride through the crisscrossing pathways of Central Park is a must-do on anyone's New York City itinerary. In winter, you can even lace up your skates and glide across Wollman Rink. This huge park in the city center, a half-mile wide and 2.5 miles long, is one of the things that makes New York such a beautiful and livable city.

Besides being a great place to experience a little nature, Central Park has many attractions within its borders, and most of them are free, making it one of the few cheap things to do in NYC. Some of the most popular places to visit include the Belvedere Castle, Strawberry Fields, the Central Park Zoo, and the Lake. If you are exploring the park on your own, start by picking up a map at one of the visitor centers and plot your routing.

When it comes to New York attractions, Rockefeller Center is on almost all tourist's itineraries. This vast entertainment and shopping complex in the middle of Manhattan is home to NBC-TV and other media, but the centerpiece is the 70-story 30 Rockefeller Plaza, an Art Deco skyscraper that offers awesome views over Manhattan from the famous Top of the Rock Observation Deck.

The "deck," as it's known, includes three floors, located on the 67th, 69th, and 70th floors. Indoor and outdoor viewing spaces offer spectacular views by day or night. You can buy a Top of the Rock Observation Deck Ticket in advance. These tickets come with a flexible voucher redemption policy, so you can change the date if your plans change or the weather doesn't cooperate.

Skating on the outdoor skating rink at the base of the tower is one of the most popular things to do in winter in New York City and a fun activity for families and couples. The rink is typically open from October to April.

After Thanksgiving, a huge Christmas tree is erected in front of the skating rink, lighting up the complex for the holiday season. Many people visit New York in December just to see this site.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art, or the Met, as it is commonly known, was founded in 1870, and is one of the most famous museums in the United States. The permanent collection of The Met contains more than two million works of art, spanning a period of 5,000 years.

Although the museum has three sites, the centerpiece is The Met Fifth Avenue. Highlights of the collection include American decorative arts, arms and armor, costumes, Egyptian art, musical instruments, photographs, and much more. Exhibitions bring some of the world's most famous works to the public. If you are serious about your visit to the Met, consider a VIP: Empty Met Tour at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and see this incredible museum with just 25 people before it opens to the general public in the morning.

The Met Cloisters, located in Fort Tryon Park in northern Manhattan, is another extremely popular New York museum. This branch of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, housed in an outstanding structure, built around medieval cloisters, chapels, and halls, focuses on the medieval art and architecture of Europe.

Attending a Broadway show is one of the top things to do in New York City. Considered the pinnacle of American theater, this is the place to see the latest shows and the long-running classics. Broadway usually refers simply to Broadway theater, which encompasses a large number of theater venues in the Theater District and along the street of Broadway. For the most popular shows, tickets should be purchased well in advance.

Shubert Alley is a famous pedestrian-only alley in the Theater District and home to two well-known playhouses: the Shubert on 221 West 44th Street and the Booth at 22 West 45th Street. Historically, aspiring actors would frequent Shubert Alley looking for opportunities to perform in a play sponsored by theater baron, Sam S. Shubert.

A Chorus Line played at The Shubert for a record 6,137 shows. The musical Oklahoma debuted in 1941 at the St. James playhouse just down the street. Other legendary places include Sardi's restaurant, where many famous actors met, and the Music Box Theater, where Irving Berlin staged The Music Box Revue in 1921.

The World Trade Center's twin 110-story towers once dominated the Manhattan skyline but were destroyed by suicide-piloted jetliners on September 11, 2001, with a tragic loss of life. Where the two towers of the World Trade Center once stood, now stand two square reflecting pools, each one acre in size. Known as the National September 11 Memorial, the area is a moving tribute to the almost 3,000 people killed as a result of attacks on September 11, 2001 and also the six people killed in the earlier World Trade Center bombing in February, 1993.

Surrounded by trees and grass, the pools are recessed, with water cascading over the sides and flowing into a seemingly bottomless square. These are the largest manmade waterfalls in North America. Around the pools are bronze panels with the names of all those who were killed in the attacks.

The 9/11 Memorial Museum is located in an awesome, curving glass building, between the two pools. It features displays that include artifacts, photos, and videos, presenting the story of 9/11, as well as the aftermath and impacts. The building is constructed around the remnants of the World Trade Center and incorporates the old structures within the extraordinary new museum building.

Located at the top of Time Warner Center, this hotel is a 2-minute walk from Central Park. It features a 75-foot indoor pool and offers rooms with panoramic views of Manhattan.

Every room at Mandarin Oriental, New York features floor-to-ceiling windows. Guests can enjoy the 55-inch flat-screen TV. A mini-bar is included and a chocolate and bottle of water are provided each day.

The Mandarin Oriental, New York offers a full-service spa with a sauna and massage rooms. The spa features a Tea Lounge where guests can relax before or after treatment. The hotel also provides an on-site fitness center. New York City tourist information and ticket services are also available.

Restaurant Asiate, located on site, serves contemporary cuisine and has wall-to-wall views of Manhattan. The Aviary NYC bar from Chef Grant Achatz, provides an interactive journey for guests, where inventive cocktails and small food plates complement the experience. Adjacent to The Aviary NYC, The Office NYC, a speakeasy-style bar, offers classically-inspired food and cocktails.

The small scale, quiet, and personalized feeling makes it worth the lack of extras.

How did it strike you on arrival?

The Lowell is anything but flashy, tucked away on a quiet side street on the Upper East Side. And once inside, you'll find an art- and antique-filled oasis, with nooks perfect for sinking into plush sofas and chairs while having a glass of wine by the fireplace.

The smallest rooms here are still a spacious 400 square feet, and all are designed by President Obama's White House decorator Michael S. Smith. The color scheme is one of soft neutrals and pale blue, which complements the polished oak floors and wood burning fireplaces.

Featuring Baccarat crystals in every room, the Baccarat Hotel and Residences is located in New York. Guests can relish in the intricate architecture and design features while enjoying the indoor pool, fitness center and on-site French restaurant. Free WiFi access is available.

Each room at the hotel is furnished with contemporary Parisian décor and offers a flat-screen TV, sofa and desk. Private bathrooms include a hairdryer, free toiletries, slippers and a bathrobe. An iron, coffee machine and safety deposit box are also provided.

A 24-hour front desk welcomes guests to New York’s Baccarat Hotel and Residences, which provides a personal host with every reservation. Additional amenities offered at the hotel include a spa and wellness center, laundry and concierge services.

The hotel is 100 m from Museum of Modern Art, 200 m from St Patrick's Cathedral and 200 m from Radio City Music Hall. Newark Liberty International Airport is 12 mi away.

The thoroughly British Firmdale Hotels first crossed the pond in 2009 to open the Crosby Street Hotel in Soho (their second NYC hotel, The Whitby, opened in 2017). Almost a decade later, the hotel, which sits off Soho’s main shopping thoroughfare, still feels like a fresh face, thanks in part to Firmdale’s design director Kit Kemp and her never-boring mix of patterns and prints. Each of the 86 rooms has floor-to-ceiling windows letting in natural light, charming fabric-covered headboards and original artwork. 

Splurging for a deluxe one-bedroom suite on the upper floors will get you not just more space and more design elements to copy for your own home, but also jaw-dropping views of downtown. The Crosby Bar is a cosy place to take in a meal or afternoon tea (especially during the winter months) while the back patio during spring and summer is an idyllic respite from the city hustle.

The Park Hyatt New York, located in Midtown across from Carnegie Hall and a block from Central Park, wowed even the most jaded of hotel observers when it opened in 2014, largely because of its gorgeous rooms (designed by Yabu Pushelberg) and its distinctive ribbon facade architecture (envisioned by Christian doe Portzamparc.) Yet this being Park Hyatt, Hyatt’s top-tier luxury brand, the high-end touches don’t stop there. A personal attendant will greet guests at the entrance and whisk them up to the second floor lounge to do the check-in process.

The 210 guest rooms and suites start at a spacious 500sq ft, and have both rainfall showers and deep-soaking tubs as well Rivolta Carmignani linens, the use of iPad minis and Nespresso machines. A treatment room at the hotel’s Spa Nalai will most likely overlook Central Park while views of the Hudson River can be glimpsed from the spa’s reception area. Guests who opt to do laps in the large indoor swimming pool will be treated to music from Carnegie Hall via underwater speakers