New York in 7 Days: The City That Never Sleeps

We started with the essentials. The Empire State Building at sunrise (we arrived at 8 AM, no lines) offers breathtaking 360° views. From above, the city looks like a perfect model of silver buildings and Central Park greens.

Central Park is a world apart. We rented bikes ($15/3 hours) and covered the 4 km from Columbus Circle to Harlem Meer. Bethesda Fountain, Bow Bridge, Belvedere Castle... every corner is a postcard. Picnic by the lake with bagels from Ess-a-Bagel (the best in the city, no debate).

The High Line is a must: an elevated park on old train tracks that crosses Chelsea with unique views of buildings and the Hudson River. It connects perfectly with the Meatpacking District for dinner.

We walked across the Brooklyn Bridge at sunset. The 30-minute walk offers the best photos of the Manhattan skyline in golden light. We arrived at DUMBO just as the sun was hiding between the skyscrapers.

Williamsburg is the hipster neighborhood par excellence. Vintage shops, street art murals, specialty coffee shops, and restaurants from every cuisine in the world. We had breakfast at Devoción (exceptional Colombian coffee) and dinner pizza at Roberta's.

Prospect Park is Brooklyn's Central Park, but less crowded. The adjacent botanical garden has 52 acres of nature in the middle of the asphalt. On Sundays there's a farmer's market at Smorgasburg where we tried everything.

The MET is infinite. We dedicated an entire day and barely covered half. The Temple of Dendur, the Impressionism galleries, the Egyptian wing... It's overwhelming but essential. Tip: admission is "pay what you wish," although they suggest $30.

The MoMA is more manageable. Van Gogh's Starry Night, Picasso's Les Demoiselles d'Avignon, Warhol's Campbell's Soup Cans... all the modern art that matters is here. Fridays from 4 to 8 PM it's free.

The Museum of Natural History is perfect if you're traveling with kids (or if you want to feel like you're in 'Night at the Museum'). The Hayden Planetarium adds another dimension. And the Whitney, with its terrace over the High Line, offers contemporary American art in a spectacular building.

New York is where the world comes to eat. We started the day with brunch at Balthazar (SoHo), a French bistro that serves the best eggs benedict in the city.

Chinatown for authentic dim sum at Nom Wah Tea Parlor, the oldest restaurant in the neighborhood (since 1920). Little Italy is touristy, but Ferrara Bakery still makes cannoli like a century ago.

New York pizza deserves its own chapter. Joe's Pizza in the Village is quintessential: thin crust, crispy, perfect for folding and eating while walking. For something more elaborate, Lucali in Brooklyn is pure magic.

And you can't leave without trying a pastrami sandwich at Katz's Deli. Yes, it's where that scene from 'When Harry Met Sally' was filmed. Yes, there's a line. Yes, it's worth every second.

We booked a seat at a speakeasy hidden behind a phone booth at Crif Dogs (Please Don't Tell). Signature cocktails in a 1920s atmosphere, as if Prohibition never ended.

We saw a Broadway musical (we bought last-minute tickets at TKTS with 50% off). 'Wicked' left us speechless. Theater has a magic that Netflix will never replicate.

The free Staten Island ferry offers epic views of the Statue of Liberty and the skyline without paying a cent. Perfect at sunset.

And for the finale, the Edge observatory at Hudson Yards: the highest viewpoint in the Western Hemisphere, with a glass floor for the brave. New York at your feet, literally.