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Nowhere in the world will you find a more thrilling collection of performing arts venues than this extraordinary complex of theaters and concert halls on Manhattan's Upper West Side. With its impressive roster of resident arts organizations — among them the New York Philharmonic, the New York City Ballet and the New York Metropolitan Opera — plus a year-round program of touring acts, festivals and special events, Lincoln Center ranks among New York City's greatest cultural treasures.

While much of the focus at Lincoln Center is on classical music, opera and ballet, the facility also hosts world-class jazz, theater, modern dance, film, children's programs and art exhibitions. The summer months bring a series of popular outdoor events, including jazz and world music concerts and swing dance parties on the center's Josie Robertson Plaza. Guided tours give visitors a peek behind the scenes at the three major venues — the Metropolitan Opera House, the New York State Theater and Avery Fisher Hall — with the possibility of seeing rehearsals in progress.

The Lincoln Center website (www.lincolncenter.org) hosts a searchable calendar of performances for all resident organizations and visiting artists, with links to the websites of the various performance groups. Ticket sales policies vary for the different organizations, with some tickets sold online via the Lincoln Center box office and others available directly from the sponsoring organizations. Same-day tickets for some Lincoln Center performances may be available at the TKTS discount booths at Times Square and South Street Seaport (see www.tdf.org/tkts for details). Budget travelers also should check out the program of free student recitals, dance performances and plays put on by the Julliard School (www.juilliard.edu).