Lonely Planet Discover New York City 2019

Epicenter of the arts. Dining and shopping capital. Center of international commerce. Trendsetter in fashion and design. One of the worlds greatest cities, New York wears many crowns, and spreads an irresistible feast for all.

With its compact size and streets packed with eye candy of all sorts architectural treasures, Old World cafes, atmospheric booksellers NYC is a wanderers delight. Crossing continents is as easy as walking a few avenues in this jumbled city of 200-plus nationalities. You can lose yourself in the crowds of Chinatown amid bright Buddhist temples and steaming noodle shops, then stroll up to Nolita for enticing boutiques and coffee tasting. Every neighborhood offers a dramatically different version of the city, from the 100-year-old Jewish delis of the Upper West Side to the meandering cobblestone lanes of Greenwich Village. And the best way to experience it is to walk its streets.

But if you want to see the real New York, you need to head to Brooklyn. These days, the name is shorthand for artsy cool the world over, but theres far more here than hipster stereotypes. This sprawling borough (more than three times the size of Manhattan) is actually home to some of NYCs most interesting, historic and culturally diverse neighborhoods, with singularly fantastic dining, drinking, shopping and entertainment options not to mention some of the best river views in the five boroughs.

New Yorks event calendar is never empty, with numerous things on every month of the year music and arts festivals, holiday markets, festive parades, sports tournaments, cultural carnivals and more. Make sure to plan ahead for the bigger events.

The winter doldrums arrive following the build-up of Christmas and New Years Eve. Despite the long nights, New Yorkers take advantage of the frosty weather, with outdoor ice skating and weekend ski trips to the Catskills.

New Years Day Swim

Jan 1

What better way to greet the new year than with an icy dip in the Atlantic? Join the Coney Island Polar Bear Club for this annual brrrr fest (www.polarbearclub.org).

No Pants Subway Ride

Jan 12

On the second Sunday in January, some 4000 New Yorkers spice things up with a bit of leg nudity on public transit. Anyone can join in, and theres usually an after-party for the cheeky participants. Check www.improveverywhere.com for meeting times and details.