Characterized by its commercial, financial, retail, and theater districts, Midtown Manhattan (from roughly 14th to 59th Streets) is the bustling, beating heart of New York City. From the Empire State Building and Times Square to Radio City Music Hall and Rockefeller Center, Midtown is what most tourists think of as “The Big Apple.” Its office buildings, hotels, entertainment venues, shops, restaurants, and bars comprise the world’s largest commercial and business district.

While skyscrapers line Midtown’s broad central avenues, head east or west and you’ll find brownstones and mid-rise buildings on quiet residential streets. From gritty Hell’s Kitchen to affluent Sutton Place, Midtown rejects attempts at homogeneous definition, instead offering distinct lifestyles for every taste. Whether you’re looking for luxury shopping or ethnic food, Midtown has you covered. And getting out of town couldn’t be easier—Penn Station, Grand Central Terminal, and the Port Authority Bus Terminal are all in the neighborhood, not to mention the Lincoln and Queens Midtown Tunnels.