Carrie Bradshaw did it in heels, we prefer flip flops – welcome to the city that never sleeps!
With a breathtaking skyline and city scape recognized the world over, New York is easily one of the most famous cities in the world. As such, millions of tourists descend on America’s east coast of America each year to experience the Big Apple first-hand.
However, with so much to see and do, the expenses can soon pile up during any visit to New York. In addition to renowned attractions like the Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty and Times Square, most tourists will be keen to explore notable boroughs such as Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island.
Even so, there are numerous ways to save money on sightseeing, eating, drinking and places to stay.
Getting to NYC
The Big Apple is around 7 hours from the UK, with flights all year. Make sure you book in-advance to get the best deals, helping you to save dollars for Bloomingdales!
There are many options for your trip, with large UK/European/worldwide airports offering direct flights, and smaller offering indirect. A lot of the cheapest flights depart from Amsterdam, but if you book ahead of time you can get some great deals all year round.
To find the best prices search flights to New York on Skyscanner.
Where to Stay
Finding somewhere good to stay in New York isn’t always easy. What’s more it tends to be fairly expensive. Nevertheless, you can find some affordable hostels and hotels in New York and alternative accommodation outside of Manhattan is always an option too.
Firstly, use a comparison site like Booking.com or hotels you really like the look of and sign up to their mailing lists. This way you might receive some special offers, such as free nights or discounted rates for off-peak times of the year.
Alternatively, you may need to compromise on the type of accommodation, location, space or private bathrooms. The standard of some hostels is better than you might think.
If you are really on a budget the couch surfing website is an option, and also can be an amazing experience if you get a nice host. This really differs from the normal accommodation route, but can save you a fortune.
Best Free Tourist Attractions in New York
Every American rom-com features the famous skyline, yet this exciting city is made up of five boroughs. The most of famous is Manhattan Island, containing the most iconic landmarks. The rest are The Bronx, Staten Island, Brooklyn and Queens, all famous in their own right.
If you’re trying to pinch those pennies and enjoy everything on offer in one of the world’s most famous cities, we’ve got a fantastic list of things for you to get up to, and they’re all completely free!
These are our tips for the best places to check out in NYC without breaking the bank.
1. Staten Island Ferry
For thousands of New Yorkers, the completely free Staten Island Ferry is their way of getting from the suburbs to the skyscrapers.
It takes an amazing route through the city’s famous harbour, from the southern tip of Manhattan, past the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, and into New York’s quietest Borough.
The view back is spectacular, and there’s plenty of sleepy sand beaches on the island’s coast for you to chill out.
2. The High Line
Once rocked by railway lines, this 1-and-a-half-mile elevated walk through Manhattan’s west side gives a unique view of the city.
Whether you’re looking up at the towering skyscrapers or peering down on New Yorkers filling the streets below, you’re bound to enjoy a stroll in this unique setting.
3. Grand Central Terminal
Is there a station in the world more famous than this one?
You don’t have to get the train to visit Grand Central Terminal, but make sure you walk up from Park Avenue to get that famous view of the Roman God Mercury atop the massive clock, towering over three long windows that stretch from ceiling to floor.
When you’re inside, you have to look up at the incredible map of the constellations and the characters they get their names from. Make sure you stay out the way of the busy commuters that come from far and wide to pass through the station every day!
4. Times Square
Times Square in Manhattan is where it happens, from shopping, clubbing and museums, to catching a show on Broadway, all decorated with neon lights and huge video billboards.
This is one of the most visited tourist attraction in the world, and probably one of the brightest! You can see Times Square from blocks away because of the intensely lit up adverts that plaster every part of every building!
Head for the Red Steps on the square’s north side for the best selfie opportunity, and don’t forget to mark your visit by catching a photo of the ball and year at the top of the appropriately named One Times Square.
5. Central Park
For relaxation, head to Central Park – paradise in a booming city. Decorated with sculptures, fountains, and enough rolling grassland for more than your average picnic, Central Park also boasts ice skating in winter.
Sat in the middle of Manhattan’s concrete jungle is a peaceful piece of sprawling greenery. Central Park runs from 59th to 110th Street and feels nothing like the busy avenues that surround it.
Purpose built to give New Yorkers somewhere away from the sprawl, the park does just that with its endless fields and flourishing forests. Walk through the Pond and Hallett Nature Sanctuary, grab a selfie at the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir or just lie on the grass and let the world go by.
6. Walk the Brooklyn Bridge
Looking to get that iconic New York skyline photo? Or just experience one of the most photographed places in NYC? Head to the Brooklyn Bridge and slowly make your way across watching the famous yellow taxis drive underneath. You’ll get great photos, see buskers and also see New Yorkers exercising.
7. People Watch in Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village is one of the best suburbs of Manhattan, home to many famous celebrities, musicians and movie stars, and it is also to some of the best bars, restaurants and shops in the whole of New York. Grab yourself something to eat and head to the iconic Washington Square Park to see the world go by. You’ll see street performers, people relaxing, skateboarders and maybe if your lucky the odd celeb.
8. Bryant Park
This is something definitely for summer, Bryant Park is an oasis in the concrete jungle, a small park located close to Times Square where you can relax, have a picnic, or just take in the noise and sounds of NYC. In summer you can also enjoy free entertainment like live music, films and performances.
If you big fans of hanging out in parks, here are some more places to consider:
• Horse and Buggy Ride in Central Park – overpriced, but still popular ($50)
• Battery Park – excellent views of Financial District skyscrapers, Statue of Liberty and East Side bridges
• Pier A in Hoboken – Not technically in Manhattan, but incredible views of the Hudson River and NYC
• Union Square – people watching & sometimes street entertainment
9. Museums
New York is home to some of the best and most famous museums and art galleries in the world.
For culture vultures, this city certainly delivers. Museum Mile features famous institutions such as The Met, Guggenheim, Museum of Modern Art and American Museum of Natural History. The National September 11 Memorial & Museum at the World Trade Centre is a sombre dedication to those that lost their lives in the atrocities of 9/11.
Although normal entry prices can be steep, most offer free admission days where you don’t have to pay anything!
Here are some of the most popular museums with tourists and when you can enter without paying anything:
• The MoMA, first Friday of every month
• The Bronx Museum of the Arts, everyday they’re open
• Brooklyn Museum, first Saturday of every month
• Noguchi Museum, first Friday of every month
• Queens County Farm Museum, everyday
• Neue Galerie, first Friday of every month
• National Museum of the American Indian, everyday they’re open
• The Rubin Museum of Art, every Friday
• The Morgan Library & Museum, every Friday
10. Get Lost
New York City really is one of the greatest places on the planet and although it isn’t the biggest city in the world, you could spend weeks and months exploring and still not see everything.
Ditch the map and wander the streets of Manhattan taking in all the street atmosphere, people, noise and everything which makes unique.
Every neighbourhood is different, and there is something new around every corner. You will likely also be able to find local street vendors selling the best foods to try in NYC.
Coney Island is another serene day in the city, with beachfront amusements and a seaside vibe. This is only a subway fare ride away from Manhattan – so another cheap day out.
How to Save Money on Sightseeing
Visiting the biggest, best tourist traps is understandable: returning home without photos of you next to New York’s most popular sights is somewhat that can’t be done. However, as we have highlights above there are several free and cheap attractions that you shouldn’t miss and will allow you to capture what this magical city is all about.
You may also want to look into purchasing the New York Pass – a sightseeing gold ticket where you pay an upfront price and gain access to attractions for no extra cost. This pass gives you access to more than 70 different attractions over a period of one, two, three or seven days.
Fun Activities & Entertainment
Need more inspiration? Consider the following:
• Watch a Broadway Show – seek TKTS discount booths
• Ride a bike on the West Side – bike path for scenic views and excellent parks near Battery Park
• Rent a bike in Central Park
• Visit a Bar in Hoboken – home of Frank Sinatra, baseball, and tons of bars with best views of NYC, take a ferry or subway
• South Street Seaport – street entertainment, shopping, bars and great views
• Williamsburg Brooklyn (Bedford Ave) – art, food and bars, a young artistic vibe
• Get tickets to a Late Night Talk Show – sometimes difficult to get
• Madison Square Garden – get tickets for a sporting event
• Comedy Club – possibly bump into your favourite comedian
Tours
• Gray Line Bus tours – they may be cheesy, but many are informative and will take you all the way up to Harlem
• Statue Cruises to Statue of Liberty – An all day affair to visit the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island
• Circle Line Cruises – offering various cruises around Manhattan
• NYC Pizza Tour
• NYC Street Food Tour
Shopping
New York is famous for shopping, these are areas and shops to check out:
• Canal Street – flea market type shopping and black market brands
• Madison Avenue
• Fifth Avenue
• Macy’s
• Times Square
• FAO Schwarz
• Time Warner Center
Grabbing a Cheap Bite to Eat (and Drink!)
Apparently there are enough restaurants in New York for one person to eat out every night for 54 years and never visit the same place twice. To put it another way, even if you’re on a budget you’ll still have more than plenty of options when it comes to eating out.
In recent years, the food truck scene has exploded, with mobile eateries making their way round the most populous boroughs throughout the week. This is one of the cheapest ways to eat tasty food without the restaurant prices.
Alternatively, take a trip to one of the numerous delis dotted all over the city for a mouth-watering and quintessential New York sandwich stuffed with cured pastrami and mammoth cuts of corned beef.
Some recommended places to eat include:
• Brunch at The Boat House in Central Park – best in summer/spring
• Pizza, almost anywhere minus Sbarro’s
• Grimaldi’s Pizza in Brooklyn
• Becco NYC – My favorite Italian restaurant
• Street Food – falafel, hot dog, roasted nuts, kabobs, pretzels, dumplings, the list is endless
• Meat Packing District – fine dinning and posh night clubs (if you want to treat yourself)
• Time Warner Center – for fine dinning and cocktails
Plan a Trip to NYC
If you would like to travel to the USA, don’t let money put you off as you need to visit New York City. There’s plenty for you to do in this incredible city, it really is amazing, but it isn’t cheap.
There are hundreds of amazing free things to do in New York but hopefully our article has given you suggestions for some of the attractions to add to your itinerary. For more recommendations in this incredible city view this New York backpacker travel guide which is packed full of tips.
Also although New York is one of the most expensive cities in the world, there are lots of cheap hostels in New York which can help save you money on the expensive hotel fees. If after reading this article you are keen to travel to America view ideas for taking a gap year in the USA.
Also if you have more to add to our list geared towards the NYC first time tourist, please leave your suggestions in the comments below.