In all honesty, it's not all that surprising. Because you can find anything and everything here. From the newest boutique hotels to incredible shopping; from great clubs to unforgettable bars; from the greatest steak you've ever tasted, to the finest fast food known to man, NY has the lot.

And then there are all the hidden treasures tucked away in this, the most densely populated American city. Because, to experience the real New York City, you need to forget about the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building (it's too cold to visit them at this time of year anyway!)

As a true traveller, rather than a regular tourist, where do you start to plan your trip to New York City? You can buy numerous travel guidebooks and spend hours online trying to discover hidden treasures, but only a true local can give you the inside tips for experiencing the real New York.

That's why, for its new find the real there" campaign, British Airways sought the suggestions of local people to give its customers insider knowledge about various destinations.

New York's no exception. Log on to ba.com and you'll see for yourself. Tip number one, for example, must be its recommendation for the finest peanut butter sandwich in the city (the ‘Elvis' at Peanut Butter & Co., 240 Sulivan Street, Greenwich Village.

"Ingredients: 2 slices of deep fried buttered bread, peanut butter, bacon, banana, honey. Then have a lie down."! Another great tip: Which elevator ride to take for a rush! (It's the Hilton Hotel, Times Square.)

Where to stay

Decision number 1 for any visit to NYC is where to stay. As a traveller on a voyage of discovery, you'll probably want to avoid the fancy chain hotels in favour of something a little more, well, real.

Among New York's best-kept secrets are its authentic, urban-chic boutique hotels. It helps that they're also easy on the wallet!

Starting with Hotel 17, furnished in kitsch, shabby-chic décor (think mismatched floral wallpaper and 1970s wooden furniture), it was once called the Warhol factory in the 1990s and a pre-fame Madonna lived in the building.

If the whole retro feel is not for you, then the futuristic Pod hotel, all slick and ultra-modern might be more your thing. Here, petite rooms have iPod docks, free WiFi and LCD-screen TVs — all squeezed into a slick, streamlined space. On the other hand, if you're looking for something with faded rock-star appeal, then the cult Chelsea Hotel might be more appropriate.

In the heart of bohemian Chelsea, it has played host to Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix and Sid Vicious over the years. Each of the rooms at the Chelsea has a belle époque, hedonistic air.

Where to go for icecapades

New York is a year round city and there's always something going on. During the winter season and in keeping with the city's Dutch heritage, New Yorkers love to ice-skate. There are rinks all over town. Rockefeller Center might be the most famous, but it can get a little overcrowded. Rather head over to the Trump Ice Rink in Central Park. As any New Yorker will tell you, this is the place to go for icecapades.

So, you're settled into your hotel and you've gotten some exercise. Now it's time for some serious shopping. One of the coolest places to start is in SoHo (between Houston Street in the north, Canal Street in the south, Lafayette Street in the east and Sixth Avenue in the west). Here you'll find everything from the chic boutiques of fresh designers just starting out, to the more established Sao, TSE and John Varvatos, as well as vintage shops such as the Chelsea Girl, Patina and What Goes Around Comes Around.

If designers are more your thing (but like a true New Yorker you've got a good eye for a great deal) then Filene's Basement, Designer Sample Sale in SoHo and Century 21 (Financial district) are the places to go. If you really just want to shop for top-notch labels and Jimmy Choo shoes, then pay a visit to Zoe in Brooklyn.

Best pizza in New York?

With shopping out of the way, it's time to sample some of that great New York food you've been hearing about. And what better way to start than... Pizza! New Yorkers are very proud of their pizza, and there's a long-running feud between NYC and Chicago as to whose is better. So join in the debate and grab a slice. Many claim that the best pizza in NY is to be found at John's of Bleeker Street. It really is good, and it's certainly worth the wait to get a booth — even in the cold!

If you like a good steak, then stop by Peter Luger's Steak House in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. It's a basic place but the steaks are so good that it's become a favourite haunt for NY's celebs.

Of course, you're not a New Yorker until you've experienced a diner or delicatessen, so head over to Coney Island to get a famous coney dog at Nathan's, and then try Katz's Deli in the Lower East Side for brunch, for the best, most mouth watering pastrami sandwich you'll ever taste!

This place gained fame from the film 'When Harry Met Sally', and it kept it with its top quality sandwiches. Check out the pictures on the wall and you'll see how many celebs have dined here.

Great soups are another aspect of New York that many aren't aware of. Yes, you did read that right — soups! Fashion Soup on west 41st St (between Sixth Ave and Broadway) is a tiny shop in the Fashion District, but it has an extensive list of soups, while the Soup Man on Fifth Ave and 42nd St was created by Al Yeganeh, the guy who inspired the legendary 'Soup Nazi' episode of Seinfeld.

Trust a local and make New York your city this winter.