The best thing is that there are many free things to also do in NYC. The city can be expensive especially if you paid for other attractions, transportation, and hotels. Here are a couple of free things you could do in the city!
Definitely make sure to check out Times Square but- warning it will be crowded and there are a lot of tourist traps!
- Ride the Staten Island Ferry- This ferry is a great way to see the Statue of Liberty without a pricey ticket. You also get a beautiful view of the skyline from the water! ( View the video at the bottom of this page! )
- Go to the Citys public beaches- Take a trip to one of the city’s close beaches such as Coney Island and even enjoy some of the amusement park if you wish!
- Bird watching in Central Park- You can either walk around or sit and enjoy Central Park. If you enjoy bird watching there are over 210 different bird species that are found in Central Park.
- Shakespeare in the park- Each year the public theater hosts free Shakespeare in the park so you don’t have to pay a ton of money to see great theater performed!
- Kayak at Brooklyn Bridge Park- You are able to Kayak at this park on Wednesdays, Thursdays, or Saturdays during the summer. You Get to Kayak for 20 minutes for free but reservations are required!
- Visit the Floating Art Installation- This is a public park on stilts set in the Hudson River. It is open from 6 am-9 pm and during the summer you can come across live music, comedy, and theater on the island.
- During the Summer- Watch a Movie at Bryant Park- Lay outside and enjoy the fresh air while watching a movie in the park. It does get crowded so get there early and bring your snacks! The lawn opens at 5 pm and the movie starts around 8 pm!
- During the Holidays: See the Lights & Rockefeller tree- Lastly, during the holiday, storefronts, buildings, and the Rockefeller tree is all lit up. You can walk around and enjoy all of these lights for free. If you are there for Thanksgiving you could wake up early and enjoy the Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade also!
Riding the Staten Island Ferry:
Information provided from: https://www.travelandleisure.com/trip-ideas/city-vacations/free-activities-nyc