Harlem.

Over the past several years, the press has heralded Harlem's Second Renaissance, this one with more of an economic emphasis. With all kinds of development projects underway, Central Harlem--from about 110th Street to 155th Street, between St. Nicholas and Fifth avenues--is dispelling its reputation as a symbol of declining urban America.

Now Europeans and New Yorkers who head up on weekends to its music clubs, something few would've even considered just a few years ago. Still, since distances between Harlem's attractions are long and there are some unsafe areas between them, it can be a good idea to join a group tour, especially if it's your first time in New York.

Apart from a couple of times when I walked all over NYC sightseeing, the last time I was there we took a Grayline Tour this lasted from about 08:30.am until 6:00.pm. finishing on top of The Empire State Building with a glass of champagne, looking at the magnificent views of all the Five Boroughs and be-yond, the full day was very good and worth it, but only on the freedom of walking around and doing your own thing is restricted. but all in all it was fine.

Little Italy, just as ethnic if not quite so vibrant, and compelling for its own culinary treats. Traditionally the area east of Broadway between Houston and Canal streets, the community is shrinking today, due to the encroachment of thriving Chinatown. It's now limited mainly to Mulberry Street, where you'll find most restaurants, and just a few offshoots. To reach Little Italy, your best bet is to walk up Mulberry Street from the Grand Street Station, or east from the Spring Street station on the no. 6 line. September, when Mulberry Street comes alive during the Feast of San Gennaro, is a great time to visit.
It is also possible to take a Guided Walking Tour of NYC or there is a group of native New Yorkers who will take you on a Free Walking Tour of The Big Apple. As this is a voluntary service to give travelers an insight into the real NYC. Also another way of getting around NYC is by the Subway, there is always one or two Tourist Company's in The Big Apple waiting to get you around.

Lower East Side.

Of all the successive waves of immigrants and refugees who passed through this densely populated tenement neighborhood from the mid-19th century to the 1920s, the Eastern European Jews left the most lasting impression here. Drugs and crime ultimately supplanted the Jewish communities, which first popped up between Houston and Canal streets, east of the Bowery, dragging the Lower East Side into the gutter--until recently, that is. The neighborhood has experienced quite a renaissance over the last few years; lots of hip Generation Y-targeted bars, clubs, and boutiques have sprung up, prompting complaints from old-time residents who seem to have preferred the desolation and crime of the old days. Still, the area can be dicey in spots--not to mention more than a tad grungy--and should be explored with caution after dark.

Upper West Side.

North of 59th Street and encompassing everything west of Central Park, the Upper West Side contains Lincoln Center, arguably the world's premier performing arts venue; the American Museum of Natural History, whose renovated Dinosaur Halls garner justifiably rave reviews; and a number of mid priced hotels whose larger-than-Midtown rooms and nice residential location make them some of the best values in the entire city. Unlike the more stratified Upper East Side, the Upper West Side is home to an egalitarian mix of middle-class yuppiedom, laid-back wealth (lots of celebs and monied media types call the grand apartments along Central Park West, Home), and ethnic families who were here before the gentrification.
Hotel prices are pretty sky high in The Big Apple you will have to work out your price range before you start making bookings.

Lower Manhattan: South Street and the Financial District.

At one time, this was New York. Originally established by the Dutch in 1625 (hence the city's original name, Nieuw Amsterdam), the first settlements sprung up here, on the southern tip of Manhattan island, and everything uptown was farm country and wilderness. While all that's changed, this is still the best place in the city to search for the past.

Tree-lined streets crisscross and wind, following ancient streams and cow paths. Each block reveals yet another row of Greek Revival town houses, a well-preserved Federal-style house, or a peaceful courtyard or square. This is "the Village," from Broadway west to the Hudson River, bordered by Houston Street to the south and 14th Street to the north. It defies Manhattan's orderly grid system with streets that predate it, virtually every one choc-a-block with activity, and unless you live here, it may be impossible to master the lay of the land--so be sure to take a map along as you explore.

Chinatown.

Don't expect to find the purchase of a lifetime on Chinatown's streets, but there's some fun browsing to be had. The fish markets along Canal, Mott, Mulberry, and Elizabeth streets are fun to browse for their bustle and exotica. Dispersed among them (especially along Canal), you'll find a mind-boggling collection of knock-offs: sunglasses, designer bags, and watches. Mott Street, between Pell Street and Chatham Square, boasts the most interesting of Chinatown's off-Canal shopping, with an antiques shop or two dispersed among the tiny storefronts selling blue-and-white Chinese dinnerware.