There's something instantly familiar about New York, rousing a strange sense of deja vu. With so many movies and TV shows set in its neighbourhoods - let alone its indelible influence in art, fashion, finance and popular culture - the city and its icons are firmly entrenched in people's imaginations. It's no wonder that walking around New York feels like you're moving through a movie set. The Empire State Building, NBC studios, the iconic Statue of Liberty, Times Square, Central Park, the Brooklyn Bridge, corner hot dogs stands, old-style diners; there are endless must-sees and New York experiences on every traveller's list.
A cultural melting pot that is home to 8.2 million people, New York is the US's most populous and densely-populated city. It can be confronting at first, with snarling traffic, notorious yellow cabs and streets overflowing with people - the city really does not sleep.
But it doesn't take long to succumb to New York's restless energy and irresistible charms.
After arriving on flights to New York, stretch your legs in the great urban refuge that is Central Park. Catch a Broadway musical or the latest off-Broadway hit or get a culture fix at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Indulge your shopping fantasies along Fifth Avenue and check out the boutiques, cafes and galleries of funky SoHo and the Meatpacking District.