To see the best (and worst) times to visit, please read our reviews of our recommended places to stay
To search flights across all airlines, we recommend using Skyscanner
From the UK: carriers include Continental, British Airways, Norweigan, Virgin Atlantic, Delta, Iberia, Finnair and United.
Within Europe: try Continental, Delta, American Airlines and Virgin Atlantic.
FROM THE AIRPORT: From JFK, it is worth getting a yellow cab; journey time is usually 30-45 minutes. Alternatively, try the New York Airport Service Express Bus into Penn Stn, Grand Central Stn and Port Authority; or use a shuttle minibus like Go Airlink or Super Shuttle which will drop you at your hotel for only a little more than the bus. From Newark, there is a fast train (30 mins) to Penn Station, operated by NJ Transit. Otherwise try the Olympia bus into Penn Stn, Grand Central Stn and Port Authority. From La Guardia, there are taxis, shuttles and buses.
BY TAXI: New York's streets crawl with yellow cabs; to find out fares in advance, visit this great farefinder website.
BY SUBWAY: New York's underground is the most reliable form of public transport.
BY BUS: You'll need exact change - or a Metro card. Metro cards cover you on all bus and subway routes, and are available for a day, week or month.
BY BOAT: The Staten Island Ferry serves commuters between Manhattan and Staten Island, but also offer tourists a free glimpse of the Statue of Liberty. The New York Water Taxi has several routes, including a weekend hop-on hop-off around Downtown-Midtown. You can board a schooner, book a Happy Hour Cruise or kayak up the Hudson River for free thanks to Downtown Boathouse.
ON FOOT: To find your own New York, you have to hit the streets. If you want company, Big Onion run lively, themed walking tours.
BY BIKE: Cycling the streets is only for the brave, but Central Park Bicycle Tours offer leafier, more leisurely routes through the park or to top celeb haunts.