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The best way to see New York is on foot with a knowledgeable guide. Top leaders include: Big Onion Walking Tours (history oriented), Joyce Gold History Tours, and the 92nd Street Y (Jewish oriented).

The Municipal Art Society, dedicated to preservation and excellence in urban design, offers enlightening “Discover New York" tours highlighting the city’s buildings and neighborhoods, led by architectural historians.

Circle Line offers two- or three-hour cruises around Manhattan, as well as Harbor Lights evening cruises and one-hour sails from South Street Seaport. New York Waterways has 90-minute harbor trips.

Gray Line offers two-to ten-hour double-decker and motorcoach Manhattan sightseeing trips with multilingual guides, plus Brooklyn tours and Harlem gospel tours. An all-day tour costs $60 including a bonus Statue of Liberty boat ticket and one-day subway/bus pass

Among the insider’s offerings are Lincoln Center (see Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts), the Metropolitan Opera, Radio City Music Hall, NBC Studios, Carnegie Hall, Madison Square Garden, Grand Central Terminal, Gracie Mansion (see Gracie Mansion and Carl Schurz Park), and the New York Public Library.

See the glories of Central Park with Urban Park Rangers or volunteer guides from the Park Conservancy. Free programs are held most weekends and some Wednesdays.

A leisurely, two-hour spin around Central Park takes in all the important sights, with a break for refreshments. Tours cost $35 with bike rental.

The New York Botanical Garden (718 817 8700) holds various tours.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art offers 20 different guided tours daily in several languages, covering the highlights of the museum as well as specific galleries; tours are included with the price of admission. The Guggenheim Museum (see Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum) offers family tours of museum highlights, also free with the price of admission.

Horse-drawn cabs take passengers on a short, old-fashioned ride through Central Park. Rides cost $34–54