The best time for your New York holiday depends on how you want to spend your time. The city is packed with visitors in summer, when people come to see Central Park in full bloom. Temperatures reach close to 30°C – this might sound pleasant on paper, but the humidity can make sightseeing uncomfortable.

Autumn is the season of parades, including New York's Village Halloween Parade and Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade. NYC is still warm and busy in early autumn, though, so you could avoid these dates if you’re not keen on crowds. Spring is also relatively quiet. It can be a bit rainy at this time of year, but temperatures rise to the mid-twenties in May.

New York winters are very cold, and you can expect snow, rain and near freezing temperatures. December is exceptionally busy, as the city turns into a glittering wonderland. If you want to see the famous Rockefeller Center Christmas tree and the festive lights along Fifth Avenue, you’ll need to brave the December rush. Alternatively, if you don’t mind wrapping up warm, New York is at its quietest in January and February, so you can see all the city’s biggest attractions without any long queues.

World-famous New York attractions, like the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building and Central Park will be on every first-time tourist’s hit list. Go up the Rockefeller Center, walk across Brooklyn Bridge and catch a show on Broadway. Spend a day shopping on Fifth Avenue, and then pile all your purchases into a yellow taxi. Grab a hot dog in Times Square, feast on pizza in Little Italy, and sip cocktails at the St Regis. You can tick off all the classics – but there are plenty of lesser-known things to do in New York, too.

For a fix of history, explore the only catacombs in New York underneath the Basilica of St. Patrick and visit the medieval monastery museum The Cloisters. Spend a morning at the African Burial Ground National Monument, then take the ferry to Ellis Island to learn more about New York’s immigration history.

Fancy escaping the concrete jungle for a day? Queens Country Farm, which has been a working farm since the 1600s, is well-worth the journey. Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, Jacob Riis Park and Rockaway Beach – where you can even surf – are within half an hour’s drive of Brooklyn, but you’ll feel a million miles away.

There’s so much excellent food in NYC, that you’ll need to double your meals to squeeze it all in. Manhattan’s Lower East Side is the capital of Jewish food. Try pastrami sandwiches and matzo ball soup at legendary Katz’s Deli, or savour a bagel with lox and schmear – salmon and cream cheese – at Russ & Daughters. Karaoke lovers should visit Koreatown, where you can sip soju, munch bibimbap or Korean barbecue, and rent a private booth for your sing-a-long session.

New York Pizza is legendary, and you’ll find some of the best at Paulie Gee’s, Una Pizza Napoletana, Scarr’s Pizza or Roberta’s. Ugly Baby, which serves its Thai dishes extra hot, is a spice-fiend’s paradise, while Veniero’s serves classic New York Cheesecake and fresh cannoli cakes. And if you’re craving a classic hot dog, head to Nathan’s Famous, Feltman’s Kitchen or Mile End Deli – just a few NYC institutions serving up this classic morsel.

New York is a haven for theatre-lovers, as the world’s best musicals run every night on Broadway. You’ll also find exceptional off-Broadway shows and underground performances across the city, at places like the Cherry Lane Theatre, Ars Nova and Barrow Street Theatre.

The best jazz and soul music can be found in Harlem, the epicentre of New York’s African-American culture. Squeeze into Apollo if you can, or check out Village Vanguard in West Village. There are plenty of cool bars and speakeasies to dip into across the city, from the internationally flavoured cocktails of Mace, to live-music institution Sunny’s.

New York’s drag culture is legendary, and spots like Lucky Cheng’s, historic Stonewall Inn and Broadway-inspired Don’t Tell Mama are some of the finest. If bars aren’t your thing, Queen’s Night Market is held regularly, and you can pick from more than 80 stalls as Bollywood dancers and live DJs perform.