The Statue of Liberty, a gift from the people of France, was dedicated in 1886 on Liberty Island in New York Harbor. Designed by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi with an internal framework by Gustave Eiffel, the copper statue stands 93 metres from ground to torch. It became a symbol of freedom for immigrants arriving by sea and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Ellis Island in New York Harbor was the main gateway for over 12 million immigrants entering the United States between 1892 and 1954. Its restored main building now houses the National Museum of Immigration, where visitors can explore exhibits and search passenger records. Ferries from Battery Park stop here after the Statue of Liberty.

The National September 11 Memorial honours the nearly 3,000 people killed in the attacks of 2001 and 1993. Two huge reflecting pools sit in the footprints of the original Twin Towers, with the victims' names inscribed in bronze around them. The adjoining museum tells the story of the day through artefacts and personal accounts.

One World Trade Center is the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere at a symbolic 1,776 feet (541 m), completed in 2014 on the site of the former Twin Towers. The One World Observatory near the top offers panoramic views. Next to it, the National September 11 Memorial and Museum honours the victims of the 2001 attacks.

The High Line is a 2.3 km elevated park built on a disused freight rail line on Manhattan's West Side. Opened in stages from 2009, it features gardens, art installations and city views, running from the Meatpacking District to Hudson Yards. It inspired similar urban rail-to-park projects around the world.

Central Park covers 341 hectares in the middle of Manhattan and is the most visited urban park in the United States. Designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux in the 1850s, it features Bethesda Terrace, Bow Bridge, the Reservoir, Strawberry Fields and Sheep Meadow. It offers boating, cycling, concerts and ice skating in winter.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art, known as the Met, is the largest art museum in the United States, founded in 1870. Its Fifth Avenue building on the edge of Central Park holds more than two million works spanning 5,000 years, including the Temple of Dendur, European masterpieces, armour and American art.

The American Museum of Natural History, founded in 1869, is one of the largest natural history museums in the world. Located opposite Central Park, it is famous for its dinosaur fossils, the life-size blue whale model and dioramas of animals. The Rose Center for Earth and Space houses the Hayden Planetarium.

Grand Central Terminal opened in 1913 and is one of the world's most famous railway stations. Its Beaux-Arts Main Concourse features a celestial ceiling painted with constellations and an iconic four-faced opal clock above the information booth. Below are restaurants including the historic Grand Central Oyster Bar.

Rockefeller Center is a complex of 19 Art Deco buildings in Midtown Manhattan, built in the 1930s by the Rockefeller family. It is famous for its winter ice rink and giant Christmas tree, the golden Prometheus statue and the Top of the Rock observation deck on the 70th floor, which offers sweeping views of Central Park and the Empire State Building.

The Museum of Modern Art in Midtown Manhattan opened in 1929 and holds one of the world's finest collections of modern and contemporary art. Highlights include Van Gogh's The Starry Night, Monet's Water Lilies and works by Picasso, Warhol and Frida Kahlo. Its sculpture garden is a peaceful city retreat.

Fifth Avenue is one of the most famous shopping streets in the world, running through the heart of Manhattan. Its Midtown stretch is lined with flagship stores and landmarks such as St. Patrick's Cathedral, Rockefeller Center and the New York Public Library. Further north it becomes Museum Mile alongside Central Park.

Times Square, at the junction of Broadway and Seventh Avenue, is famous for its giant illuminated billboards and around-the-clock energy. It is the heart of the Broadway Theater District, and its New Year's Eve ball drop draws huge crowds. Pedestrian plazas let visitors take in the lights, street performers and flagship stores.

The Empire State Building is a 102-storey Art Deco skyscraper completed in 1931 in just over a year. It was the world's tallest building for nearly 40 years. Its observation decks on the 86th and 102nd floors offer sweeping views across Manhattan, and its tower lights change colour for holidays and events.

Opened in 1883, the Brooklyn Bridge was the world's first steel-wire suspension bridge and the longest suspension bridge of its time. Its Gothic-arched granite towers and web of cables link Manhattan with Brooklyn across the East River. An elevated pedestrian promenade offers some of the best skyline views in New York.

DUMBO, short for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass, is a Brooklyn neighbourhood of cobblestone streets and converted warehouses. The view of the Manhattan Bridge framed between buildings on Washington Street is one of New York's most photographed spots. Brooklyn Bridge Park and Jane's Carousel lie along the waterfront.

Coney Island is a beachside neighbourhood in Brooklyn known for its classic amusement parks and boardwalk. Highlights include the historic Wonder Wheel from 1920, the Cyclone wooden roller coaster from 1927 and Luna Park. Its sandy beach, aquarium and the famous Nathan's hot dogs make it a summer favourite.