Should you happen to wake up in the city that never sleeps — yip, I’m talking about the one that shares a name with a spherical fruit and Gwyneth Paltrow’s kid — you will be faced with the practical complexities of the space-time continuum.

The problem with this cultural and commercial hub is that there is simply too much to do. And, no doubt, too little time. While you indulge in back-to-back productions of ‘Rent’ and ‘Chicago’, you might miss the concert of a lifetime at Carnegie Hall. And, mesmerised by the hypnotic lights of Time Square, you may completely overlook a trip to the Empire State Building. A conundrum indeed.

So, lest you are completely overwhelmed by New York’s vast array of treasures, we have compiled an itinerary of must-see attractions in the city.

Lady Liberty (www.statueofliberty.org)

Between the years 1892 and 1924, 25 million immigrants were greeted by the comforting form of Lady Liberty. Given to the Americans as a gift of friendship by France in 1886, the Statue of Liberty has come to be a symbol not only for New York, but for America and the freedoms it promises.

Take a ferry to Liberty Island and explore the exhibit located on the second floor of the statue’s pedestal, or pop into the Ellis Island Immigration Museum, which tells the fascinating story of the immigrants who once passed through the building on their way into the land of promise.

Brooklyn Bridge

When it opened in 1883, the Brooklyn Bridge was the longest suspension bridge in the world at 486.2 metres. Because engineer John A Roebling designed the bridge so that it was six times stronger than he thought necessary, the bridge has continued to stand while others have collapsed.

This iconic bridge, which crosses New York’s lower East River connecting Manhattan and Brooklyn, offers spectacular views of lower Manhattan. The bridge has a pedestrian and bike path down its centre which is open 24 hours a day.

The Empire State Building (www.esbnyc.com)

For 42 years this 1931 limestone architectural masterpiece reigned as the tallest building in the world at 381 metres. No other building has held the title for such a long period of time. It took just one year and 45 days to build – or seven million man-hours – which is still a record for a skyscraper of its height.

On a clear day you can see the surrounding countryside for distances of up to 130 kilometres from the observatory on the 102nd floor. There is another observatory on the 86th floor which includes a glass-enclosed area and a spacious outdoor promenade. For a nominal fee you can use one of the high-powered pairs of binoculars.

Times Square (www.timesquarenyc.org)

A seedy spot infamous for its adult businesses and prostitution, Times Square was the symbol of New York’s decline and corruption from the 1960s to the 1990s. Following a major overhaul, it now joins Trafalgar and Tiananmen as one of the most famous squares in the world.

Situated at the junction of Broadway and Seventh Avenue, Times Square’s most defining feature is its plethora of massive digital advertising boards. Visit one of the megastores, catch an episode of TRL outside the MTV building or attend one of the many shows at one of the Broadway theatres.

Central Park (www.centralpark.com)

In the middle of the thriving metropolis that is New York is a lush 843 acre garden. In 1857, landscape architects Frederick Law Olmstead and Calvert Vaux began to transform an area of swamps into a ‘place where city dwellers could go and forget all about the city’.

These days, their park boasts 94 kilometres of tree-lined paths, a zoo, two winter skating rinks, sports fields, tennis courts and a lake. The park also offers a wide variety of open-air theatre and musical events.

Ground Zero (www.groundzeromuseumworkshop.com)

The events of 9/11 had a strong effect on the American, and more particularly New Yorker, psyche. A trip to Ground Zero – the site of the fallen towers – provides some insight into the tragedy of this day.

Although the actual site, which is now under construction, is not easily accessible, the Ground Zero Museum Workshop, situated opposite the site, offers information, personal stories and two-hour daily tours. Admission, which includes the tour, costs $25. The Ground Zero memorial, which was designed by architect Michael Arad and is currently under construction, is set to become the most expensive memorial in the world.

UN Headquarters (www.un.org/english)

Situated in the East Side of Manhattan, the United Nation Headquarters are not technically part of New York. The complex, which is regarded as ‘international’ land, has its own security force, fire department and postal system.

Take a guided tour to discover more about the work of the UN and its related organisations. On the tour you will get to see some of the main Council Chambers and the General Assembly Hall.

Cultural tour

New York has a rich array of art museums and performing art venues which are well worth checking out even if you are not an avid art fan.

• Lincoln Centre (www.lincolncenter.org)
  The Lincoln Centre for the Performing Arts is the largest performing arts institution in the world. Home to 12 distinct companies, it presents over 5000 annual events which include both classical works and modern productions.

  Take a tour of the complex which includes the Julliard School, The New York Philharmonic, The Metropolitan Opera and The New York City Ballet.

• Carnegie Hall (www.carnegiehall.org)
  Since 1891, Carnegie Hall has played host to some of the world’s greatest soloists, conductors and ensembles. Attend a concert; catch an insider’s glimpse of this revered theatre by taking a guided tour; or go to one of the 30 minute pre-concert talks given by the musicians.

• The Metropolitan Museum of Art (www.metmuseum.org)
  With a permanent collection of over two million works, the Met is rivalled only by the Louvre in France. The admission to the museum ($20) includes access to all special exhibits, gallery talks, lectures, guided tours and educational programmes. Tours, maps and information are also available in a number of different languages for international visitors.

• Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum (www.guggenheim.org)
  The architecture of the Guggenheim is almost as striking and spectacular as the art itself. Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, the building looks something like a continuous orange peel or a nautilus shell. Its unique design allows you to take an elevator to the top of the building and then spiral down through the exhibitions in a leisurely fashion instead of traipsing from one pokey room to the next. Works on display include those by Van Gogh, Picasso, Miro, Cezanne and Gauguin. On Friday evenings from 5.45pm to 7.15pm, the museum offers a special Pay What You Wish admission fee.

• Museum of Modern Art (www.moma.org)
  The Museum of Modern Art, founded in 1929, contains the world’s greatest collection of modern art. The collection includes over 150 000 paintings, sculptures, drawing, prints, photographs and architectural models as well as 22 000 media works. While admission is usually $20, it is free on Fridays between 4pm and 8pm.

And if you manage to fit that all into one short visit, you might want to consider chatting to Stephen Hawking or signing up at NASA.

For more information, visit http://www.iloveny.com.