New York City is on all of our bucket lists. Whether you’re a lover of museums or the city’s streets there are so many sights to see. Whilst the city may be on all our lists, the cost of it all can be expensive. Are you planning a trip or have one booked? There are a number of things you can do for free!
With so much of the city to see, it can be overwhelming to plan and keep within your budget. However, don’t go searching any further, I have you covered! Here are my top 5 free things to do in New York City..
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1. Central Park
The iconic central park, how could this not be on my list? No matter how many movies you’ve watched with scenes in central park, nothing prepares you for the reality of physically being there. I have never seen such a beautiful public park and I was amazed to see how clean the park was kept considering how big it also is. It is the perfect place to head for some calmness when in the city. Paired with a stop for coffee in one of the little cafe’s and watching the world go by, central park is one of my favourite places in New York.
2. Staten Island Ferry
Surprisingly, the staten island ferry is a free service put on by the city of new york. The ferry passes by the statue of liberty so is the perfect way for a free boat ride to see lady liberty herself. This little trick can save you a lot of money if you only want to see this iconic landmark from a distance. You also get a wonderful view of the skyline as you sail away from Manhattan. You can find the ferry schedules here.
3. St Patricks Cathedral
Amongst the designer shops and sky scrapers of 5th avenue lies the beautiful St. Patricks Cathedral. It may just be me, but I love to visit churches and cathedrals when i’m somewhere new. When I visited the cathedral I was lucky enough to walk into a mass happening and got to listen to a choir singing and echoing throughout the cathedral. It was incredible.
4. The High Line
Raised above the bustling streets of new york city, the high line is an old rail road. It has since been turned into a green space that is a an outdoor oasis within Manhattan. The outdoor space and art installations dotted along the high line make a suprising change from the usual tourist attractions of manhattan.
Before heading to new york, I’d read many things about the high line. However, no article or blog post could depict the true beauty of the high line. Manhattan is so incredible but it is chaotic, especially if its your first time visiting. This is why the high line is so great, it gets you away from the chaos. A few steps above the city and you see it from a while different perspective.
5. Times Square
One of the most iconic New York City spots to visit is Times Square. Bright lights and billboards fill the area lighting it up all day long. Times Square is actually a boulevard formed by the junction of Broadway, 7th Avenue, and 42nd Street. The area is also home to so many theatres and broadway shows.
There you have it, my top 5 free things to do in New York City. There is so much to do but including some low cost activities can really help stretch the budget.
If you’re heading to New York soon or planning a trip there, take a look at all my recommendations here.
