A couple of months ago, I got a chance to visit New York for work purposes. I had been there a couple of times before so I knew that everything was expensive. And, naturally, like how I do in every city I visit, I did my best to tour the city on a budget. Thanks to google and recommendations from friends, I was able to partake in a good amount of activities for relatively cheap.
Here are 10 free (or very cheap) things I did in New York:
1. I walked around Times Square at night.
One of the goals I had while in New York was to get at least 20-30k steps in. I had a rental car provided by my company, but I did not want to deal with the astronomical parking costs and traffic. And one of the most memorable experiences I had while walking around all over Manhattan was at Times Square where the city comes alive at every night.
Bright neon lights on all of the tall buildings lit up the area and people filled the streets. Food trucks popped in. Street vendors appeared. It was as if NY was hosting a city festival, except that’s just how it is all the time.
Disclaimer – Don’t get me wrong: not everything was pretty. There were those who got super drunk and acted sloppy on the streets. There were random fights that erupted as well.
Nevertheless. Memorable. Ha!
2. I walked around Central Park
I grew up hearing about and seeing the park in various movies. I’ve always wanted to visit it, but I didn’t realize how extremely large it was until I got there. I walked around for a couple of hours and realized that I could’ve made the touring of Central Park a whole day thing. I had other things planned though that day so I only got to explore a portion of the park.
In the future, I’d like to go back and hang out at the park all day – roam around the entire park, lie out on the grass, read a book, throw a frisbee, etc.
3. I hung out at cafes in Koreatown
There are several cafes in Koreatown but my favorite is Cafe Bene. They have good coffee and desserts, and I loved studying and reading books there.
You can buy a cup of coffee and stay there for hours!
4. I took the Staten Island Ferry (free) and took pictures of the Statue of Liberty
There are tours you can pay for that’ll take you right up to the Statue of Liberty. However, there is a free ferry that allows you to get pretty dang close to it!
Get to the southern tip of Manhattan and take the Staten Island ferry to Staten Island. En route, you’ll pass by the Statue of Liberty so make sure you have your cameras ready.
Pro tip: when you initially get on the ferry, go straight to the back (which is eventually going to be the front) of the ferry. You’ll have the best view of the Statue of Liberty and you’ll be the first one out of the ferry when you arrive on Staten Island. Then, you can hurry out and get on the next ferry back to Manhattan.
5. I visited various museums and historical sites –
There are many museums and historical sites you can visit for free or cheap. Here are a few of the places I visited-
The 9/11 Memorial Museum- this museum is free on Tuesdays. Right outside the museum, you can see where the infamous twin towers used to stand tall. It’s very sobering to see that the twin towers are gone and replaced by monuments with names of all those who died on 9/11.
The FIT Museum- this museum is also free. You can see some great artwork and design by FIT.
The Tenement Museum – this museum highlights what life was like for immigrants when they first landed in NY. They have various tours which take you to the apartments that these immigrants used to live in and, although they charge a fee, it is totally worth it. You can also watch a documentary in the theatre for free!
6. I walked across the High Line
The High Line is an elevated freight line turned park that extends from the southwest side of Manhattan to the northwest side.
It feels like you’re walking on railroad tracks with flowers and other decorations all around you.
When getting from A to B in Manhattan, travel through the High Line, if possible. It’ll be an enjoyable, scenic walk for sure!
7. I walked along the Hudson River
Go for a jog or a bike ride along the Hudson River at night. It’s super scenic and serene. Even at night, many people exercise along the river and enjoy the view of NY and NJ skylines.
8. I bought cheap souvenirs on the street from street vendors
Street vendors are everywhere in New York. I currently own a duplex where I rent spare bedrooms on Airbnb. I needed to decorate one of those rooms, so I bought a beautiful painting for 5 bucks that I eventually framed and hung up on the wall.
9. I walked across the Brooklyn Bridge
This is a must! The vintage Brooklyn Bridge is definitely worth walking across. Take lots of pictures and enjoy the scenery.
The Manhattan Bridge is very close by. Try to walk across both if you have time!
10. I took advantage of happy hours, food trucks and street festivals
Food trucks are super awesome and cheap. There are food trucks everywhere and most of them are unique and delicious. My absolute go to is the (original) Halal Guys.
There are also many pizza joints that serve cheap, delicious pizza. The famous one is called One Dollar Pizza. But there are others too! Just do simple google and yelp searches to find one near you.
Do your research beforehand on what happy hours are worth going to. People blog about it all the time. To be honest, I went into random restaurants that had a happy hour menu simply to eat a relatively cheap meal, but if plan it right, you can get some quality food and drinks in many locations.
I also took advantage of street festival food. Some dishes are dirt cheap. For example, there was a thai vendor that sold Pad Thai for 3 dollars a plate. I didn’t get to try it this time but will definitely next time!
General Pro tips:
– Carry your own water bottle and refill at places you eat or at public places where there is a drinking fountain.
– Use the restroom whenever you can. Not all public places have restrooms.
I hope this helps especially for those looking to travel to NY on a budget!
Happy travels!
Isn't Gee So Lovely 