New York City is one of the most expensive cities I’ve visited, but it’s also full of FREE activities! During the five days my husband and I visited NYC, we only participated in two paid activities and spent the rest of our days doing a ton of free activities throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn. Check out everything we got up to while staying in Brooklyn here!
There are a ton of free and historical activities in Lower Manhattan (or Downtown Manhattan) and Chelsea. In Chelsea, you’ll find the huge Chelsea Market full of a wide variety of shops and food stalls, and the High Line, an old elevated train track turned into a unique urban park. Check out my itinerary below for a busy day full of free activities in Chelsea and Lower Manhattan! **Disclaimer: This includes a very active, full day with some commuting, but it will have you enjoying NYC, while seeing many of it’s most famous landmarks!**
The High Line is a fantastic way to start your day on a beautiful morning. There are several entry/exit points along the 1.45 mile long park, which makes it perfect to pair with the neighboring Chelsea Market for some yummy lunch! Very Fresh Noodles in Chelsea Market is a great place to grab some delicious ramen, where all the food, including hand-stretched noodles, are prepared right in front of you at the bar!
After lunch, I’d recommend venturing downtown to the 9/11 Memorial and Museum and the One World Trade Center. There is a charge to enter the museum, but it’s free to visit the grounds containing the reflecting pools and WTC. I don’t exactly know how to describe being here other than to say it’s a very moving experience…Manhattan is such a bustling metro area, but it’s so calm and peaceful once you get to the fountains where the Twin Towers once stood.
The Oculus, the WTC transportation hub, is also a cool place to check out. It’s right next to the 9/11 site and some say it resembles a dove with it’s wings spread, a very fitting symbol for the rebuilt WTC area.
Next, take the subway down to the Staten Island Ferry, the free ferry that runs between Manhattan and Staten Island. The 30 minute ride is totally free and features great views of the Statue of Liberty! The ferry docks at Battery Park, a historical city park over 200 years old, so make sure to stop there when you return from your trip!
TRAVEL TIP: Watch out for scammers outside the terminal selling ferry tickets! THE FERRY IS COMPLETELY FREE, AND NO TICKET IS REQUIRED! When you arrive at the Staten Island Terminal, you may have to hustle to catch the ferry back to Manhattan. The ferry is usually arriving around the same time as another is departing, so make sure not to miss it!
BONUS BUDGET ACTIVITY: Hop on over to the neighboring eclectic East Village for dinner and then catch an improv show at UCB at Subculture. UCB, or Upright Citizens’ Brigade, has several venues around NYC, where they feature improv, stand-up, and other comedy shows, and best of all, all the shows are super budget friendly. I think the max you can pay for a ticket is around $14, and it was one of the best nights we had in the city!
What’s your favorite thing to do in Manhattan?? Or what would you love to do here when you visit?? Let me know in the comments below!
Down the Highway My Way 