The tiny Tenement Museum in New York's Lower East Side is often overlooked by tourists in favour of the more 'glitzy' and well known museums such as the Natural History Museum or the Met. But in my opinion this beats them all hands down.

97 Orchard Street is a wonderful slice of NY history and it really helps you see past Macys and Banana Republic to the real New York - the urban working class immigrant families who built the city to the one we know today. The building itself was home to scores of families through the ages - each of whom lived in tiny cramped apartments. And it's these apartments you can visit, restored to how they would have looked in different eras.

The restorers have been really clever, and researched specific families to get an authentic version of their life, and there are real belongings and photos within the apartments. You can walk through the 1870s, 1890s, the 1930s and so on. And you really feel that you get to know the specific families, and can imagine how difficult it was to build a family and survive in such a tiny space.

It's absolutely magical, and worth every cent of the $17 it costs for the guided tour. In my opinion, this is a must-see venue in NYC, and it might take your mind off trying to find the ultimate cheap designer jeans. Suddenly shopping seems terribly unimportant in the face of such real poverty.

Once visited, this museum will leave an indelible mark on you, and you'll be recommending it to all your friends.

97 Orchard Street, Lower East Side, NYC. www.tenement.org/

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MoMA has the finest and largest holding of 20th and 21st century modern art in the world.

To save $20 admission go after 4pm (up to 8pm) on Fridays when it's free - although it gets busy, it's a great way of seeing some of the best displays of modern art you can ever see.

11W 53rd Street; nearest subway: Fifth-53rd Street
www.moma.org/

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Brilliant place. Small and manageable, amazing collection, friendly guides, good special exhibitions. Make sure you see Alexander Calder's Circus. Beat the crowds at MoMA!

Museum Mile, Upper East Side
www.whitney.org/
Tel: (212) 570 3676

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Head to the Metropolitan Museum of Art just before it closes and go straight up to the rooftop; when we went there was a bar on the rooftop and we had a glass of wine and watched the sun go down over the city - the views are amazing.

Metropolitan Museum of Art in Central Park

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Visit this museum after Ellis Island and continue in the steps of the immigrants after finally making it onto American soil. The museum is an unrestored tenement building with authentic furnishings and the guided tour gives a fascinating glimpse of the life and hardships faced by the first immigrants. A real treasure of a place.

97 Orchard Street (Delancy Street) www.tenement.org/

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Despite the recent reopening of Moma in all its splendour, the Met still wins out. Like any huge museum of this kind - it is has seven major, permanent collections - you won't see it all. If you have the stamina put aside a day, go early, take a break and go back for more. If not then it makes sense to focus on what piece of candy in this particularly huge store you want and then try not to binge.

1000 Fifth Avenue at 82nd Street; Tel: 212-535-7710; www.metmuseum.org/

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The younger, hipper sister gallery of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), PS1 showcases the best of cutting-edge contemporary art. Even if you don't "get it", you're bound to find something entertaining in this old school building. A recent exhibition included a video of a family kitted out in back-to-front Bernie Clifton-style ostrich outfits played backwards, & a mouse-eye view of a toy train ride through the bowels of houses & offices. Guaranteed to wind up Daily Mail readers & Jack Vettriano lovers, which is never a bad thing. Entry is free with a MoMA ticket.

It's on Long Island. Take the E or V train to 23 St/Ely Ave. Exit onto 44th to Jackson Ave. Walk two blocks south on Jackson to 46th Ave.

www.ps1.org

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A weird and wonderful collection (the Henry Darger collection is extensive), beautifully displayed in a great new museum just down the street from MOMA. Great temporary exhibits and friendly staff.

45 West 53rd Street

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Part of the Metropolitan Museum, high above the Hudson on the northernmost tip of Manhattan. If you want to escape from the craziness into some peace, visit this medieval monastery brought over from Europe. Contains "The Lady and the Unicorn" tapestries; a herb garden and wonderful views.

Contact Metropolitan museum website for details of transport. You can use you Met ticket here the same day too.

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