Being a twenty four hour city, a visitor may find that seven days in New York just isn’t enough time to take in everything it has to offer. Of course the first port of call should really be the Empire State Building, especially a trip to the eighty sixth floor. Of course, many people prefer the view form the Rockefeller Center which is a little higher, but it can be difficult to see anything when there is bad weather. The Statue of Liberty is best seen from a tour boat although these can be extremely busy and since 9/11, the delays can be long so it is best to go ashore at Ellis Island; which is the former immigration center but is also fascinating.

Thankfully, the Staten Island ferry is free and provides some great views of the Lower Manhattan skyline and the Statue of Liberty; the island is also worth a look and the terminal is a favorite spot for street performers, some are of a professional standard. Of course almost everyone who spends seven days in New York City will, at some pint, make their way to the site of where the Twin Towers once stood. The area where they stood is surprisingly large plus the emptiness feels strange and if you like taking photographs, you may be disappointed here because it just doesn’t feel right. World famous stores are plentiful in New York with names like Tiffany’s to the many discount stores along Broadway.

Then there is Maceys, where there is always a sale so don’t forget to get your 11 per cent tourist discount card; and you can look but don’t touch at Bloomingdales. Unfortunately, the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum will be closed until late 2008; this attraction is highly recommended and worth putting on your list of places to visit. There is a great deal there with the focus on the USS Intrepid, a Second World War aircraft carrier but Concorde is also there and many other interesting vessels, including a submarine. If you have the time the New York City Police Museum is also worth a look and although it’s free to enter, a five dollar donation per visitor is advised; many TV viewers have grown up with the cop shows set in New York and a large amount of memorabilia is housed here.

After that why not visit the Lower East Side Tenement Museum as it’s a time capsule of migrant New York built in 1864 and was a grim home for waves of immigrants; it’s what made America great (and appalling for a time). On Central Park is the fascinating Museum of the City of New York with millions of objects for researchers but for tourists, an ever-changing program of exhibitions showing the past, present and future of the Big Apple. The venue is also free but relies on donations and souvenirs to survive; generally visitors provide a donation of approximately 9 dollars. There is so much to see that it will be difficult fitting everything in on a seven day trip to New York and you will have to return some other time!