Compiled by FatPassport's travel experts

Mention New York City to someone who has never been there, and a look of envy with flash across their face. Regarded as one of the most popular cities in the world, it is also one of the most exciting. It’s here that you’ll find places you've heard of all your life: the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, the Brooklyn Bridge, Wall Street, and tragically, Ground Zero. If travelers are not coming for the sights, then they will come for theater, jazz clubs, museums, nightlife, shopping, and fantastic food.

Allow at least four days to explore the city as there are so many places to see and things to do. Museums exist not only in Manhattan, but also in the nearby boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens. A trip to NYC is not complete without the boat trip to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, or taking the Circle Island tour. The Metropolitan Museum of Art is world-renowned, and depending on your level of interest in art, can take from a few hours to a day or more. The Cloisters is located up in the Bronx and perfect for those interested in medieval art, and the view of the Hudson River is fantastic. There are so many different kinds of museums in NYC that even the locals have not seen them all. Museum junkies can easily spend a week or two exploring, and there are guides that will direct you to each of them.

New York City is wonderful for adults and families alike. Kids will enjoy seeing the major landmarks that they've heard about or seen on TV, can take advantage of the good zoos, and will love a visit to famed toy store FAO Schwarz.

New York is generally quite expensive for hotels and meals, but if you're willing to search for smaller hotels in fringe areas and look for the neighborhood diners for value meals, then visitors of all budgets can make it work. If you are looking for luxury then this is your place.

Public transportation is easy and affordable ($2 per ride with free transfer between bus and subway lines at this time). Buses are clean and are a good way to “see” the city, but subways are faster. Note that subways mostly travel from north to south while buses travel north, south, east, and west.

The people of New York are on-the-go, but most are friendly enough and will try to help a traveler if you can slow them down.

The summer months can be very uncomfortable because of the heat and humidity. Most places are air conditioned, but walking around outside in the heat can be miserable. In the winter months, the opposite is true when temperatures are freezing and strong winds can make it seem colder. The best months to visit are May and October, though the city is also wonderfully atmospheric around Christmas.

Like most large cities, NYC has some rough areas, but the areas in which travelers are primarily interested are safe. Keep watch over your valuables, stay near the beaten path, and avoid wandering around alone at night.