Icons of New York

Take your first literal bite out of the Big Apple at breakfast. Head to a local diner (our Dossier will point you in the right direction) for your first taste of American-style pancakes before beginning your two-wheel tour of the city. By bike, you’ll speed past sights such as Central Park and Times Square, head across Herald Square (the setting of the famous Thanksgiving parade) and continue along the High Line. Reward your hard work with a pause at Battery Park, known for its views across the Hudson to the Statue of Liberty, and a smoothie at a nearby juice bar. Spend the rest of the day discovering Manhattan’s southern tip, which encompasses One World Trade Center, the 9/11 Memorial Museum and Tribeca, a trendy neighbourhood known for its cobblestone streets, boho boutiques and restaurants.

Now that you're hopefully fully adjusted to New York time, why not start the day with a leisurely run through East River Park? Reward your efforts with a bagel from Russ & Daughters, a family-owned bakery serving up smoked salmon and pastrami sandwiches in the neighbourhood since 1914. You may want to wait an hour or two after breakfast before taking on your first adventure of the day: a speedboat tour of the bay area. Cruise along the East and Hudson Rivers, passing under famous bridges and past infamous piers (here’s looking at your Pier 59) to Liberty Island. After lunch (we’ll leave our Dossier of best restaurants, cafes and bars to decide for you), it’s to the air for a bird's eye view of the city: a helicopter ride. Soar above the Empire State and Chrysler Buildings, spot landmarks like Ellis Island and Central Park, and out towards the city’s four other boroughs.

Come nightfall, it’s all about New York’s other spectacle: food. Head to celebrity favourites Via Carota and Carbone or find local favourites in Chinatown. We hear Hwa Yuan Sezhuan’s Peking Duck is out of this world…

Your bird's eye view tour continues today up Summit One Vanderbilt. Set atop the tallest commercial skyscraper in Midtown Manhattan (1,401ft), this sky-high observatory offers 360° views of the city with glass ledges, exterior glass-floor elevators and immersive art installations. Make sure to stay for lunch at the elevated restaurant and bar, Après, crafted by renowned restauranteur Danny Meyer. After an afternoon shopping on Fifth Avenue or walking the walk across the Brooklyn Bridge to DUMBO (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass), it’s onto Broadway, or just off-Broadway, for a play or musical of your choice.

Your last full day in this concrete jungle is dedicated to the city’s culture, starting at MOMA (the Museum of Modern Art). A Who’s Who of artistic heavyweights, from Van Gogh to Pollock and Picasso, it boasts more than 200,000 artworks, we’re sure it’ll impress even the most unartistic. But if you prefer your culture to be a little more immersive, you’ll be in for a treat with the early evening activity: a sports match. Depending on the season, you can snag seats at the legendary Yankee Stadium to watch them score home runs against the Boston Red Sox. Or sit courtside at Madison Square Garden for an exhilarating Knicks basketball game. The purchase of lagers and a couple of hotdogs is compulsory.