Manhattan’s concrete stamp of urban vibrancy has provided tourists with an unmatchable holiday experience for decades. But is it really possible to take a more fruitful bite out of the Big Apple? Or is this destination just a citrusy concoction of holiday effervescence?

A city that has since gone from strength to strength after the attacks of 11th September, Manhattan has maintained its image as a world renowned top travel destination. Ten years on, the roads and avenues remain paved with a rich Harlem strands that are interwoven into the New York City’s contemporary urban fabric. And though the iconic skyline is missing two of its most prominent features, life after 9:11 goes on but is never forgotten.

New York:  a Concrete Jungle.

What really becomes apparent as you arrive in New York is that the city is a melting pot of man’s most astonishing engineering feats. With a subway system that branches out amongst the city’s underground and the city’s architecture piercing the New York City’s skyline, it makes for an overwhelming spectacle as visitors attempt to taken in the these metropolitan surroundings.

Today, the ease of discovering cheap international flights for Europeans means that the city’s tourism continues to rise.

And it is of little surprise too. With its hedonistic undertones, the western world has really embraced all that Manhattan has come to represent. It is because of this that there are three things most people do when they visit this top US destination – they eat, they drink and they shop.

Like a lot of things European’s notice when they venture stateside, America likes to play along to the fundamentals of bigger is better. And though on face value the more ‘elitist’ tourist among us will not agree, the fizzy blue and red sugar rush the states gives you cannot be matched. In fact, if the mood strikes, I myself concede that bigger is in fact better.

The truth is though America has inbred this romance with its most popular cities for years. Sleepless in Seattle, Sweet Home Alabama and Maid in Manhattan have all cultivated an unexplainable romance for these city’s, in spite many of us even visiting them. Hollywood’s glossy idealistic portrayal of its most popular cities is partly the reason why New York has maintained its popularity with the youth of today.

That is only a small contributor. Amongst the millions of people that visit the city every year, the number of those that are revisit again is staggering.

But the consumer driven landscape that inhibits our Westernised culture means New York becomes an attractive destination by essentially being a retail haven.

Times Square hosts the most expansive shopping experience you will most likely every have encountered. From high street brands such as Abercrombie and Fitch to more refined clothing like Fendi and Gucci, the list is endless.

More from the Big Apple

But it’s not just shopping that New York is famed for. There are a whole host of sporting events to experience. From their local NFL teams the Jets and the Giants, to NBA big players the Knicks, the atmosphere surrounding these sporting events is spectacular. Regardless of whether you are new to American sports on whole, the electricity that runs through the crowds is enthralling.

When the excitement is too much to bear, retire to the leafy surroundings of central park and even scale the city’s limits on horse drawn carriage. The sheer size of the park is astounding, providing a fundamental element of greenery for this vastly grey, concrete jungle.

All of this before you even see the Statue of Liberty… But Manhattan’s first lady is just the tip of the ice berg when it comes to visiting all of the city’s landmarks. New York’s Rockefeller centre provides astonishing views, as you stand on what feels New York’s index finger looking out on what the city holds in its palm.

After your eyes have feasted upon the city’s views, there are cafes surrounding the Rockefeller centre that will fill your stomach in much the same way.

All in all, it’s not just the cafes that will feed your hunger cravings, the Big Apple will quench your travel appetite too.