10 budget-friendly things to do in New York

Is New York an expensive city? It depends on what you’re doing and how you look at it. Although there are some must-see attractions that aren’t exactly cheap, there are plenty of alternative things to do in New York for very little money. Here are my top 10 suggestions: 

• Watch the sunset from Main Street Park in Brooklyn. Whilst a stroll through the DUMBO (Down Under Manhattan Bridge Overpass) area is already a brilliant idea, picking up a takeaway pizza and sharing it with whoever you like whilst enjoying the sunset over the Manhattan skyline is… the best of the best.

• Wave to the Statue of Liberty from the Staten Island ferry: if you’re on a tight budget, there’s no need to miss out on seeing Miss Liberty. This ferry is free and leaves every half hour from the Whitehall terminal in Manhattan. Not bad, is it?

• A date with Central Park: pack a picnic, take a frisbee, have a nap under a tree, sneak into a baseball match – you’ll feel just like a true New Yorker!

• Cross the bridges: New York’s bridges are iconic landmarks of the city. The Brooklyn Bridge is the best known, but what about the Williamsburg Bridge? You can cross it on foot too, and it’s much less crowded.

• Order takeaway food and enjoy it in a park: this way, you’ll avoid having to tip at the restaurant (which is practically compulsory). There are plenty of parks with tables and benches where you can sit for free. We’d suggest two perfect spots: Bryant Park or Union Park. They’re little oases in the city and, in summer, there are loads of free activities on offer too.

• Include the Williamsburg neighbourhood in your itinerary: on a first visit, walks around Brooklyn are usually limited to the DUMBO area. Plan your day well and head over to Williamsburg, an area full of second-hand shops, lovely cafés, street art worthy of the finest artists, and great views of Manhattan from East River State Park.

• Feel like a film star as you stroll past the locations of films and TV series shot in New York: if you’re a fan of *Sex and the City*, you can visit Carrie Bradshaw’s building and treat yourself to a cupcake at Magnolia Bakery. If you’re more of a Ghostbusters fan, there are buildings all over the city that will remind you of the film. And for fans of *The Godfather*, the cemetery where Corleone is buried is in Queens; it’s a vast place and offers some very unusual views of Manhattan. The list of recognisable film locations is endless.

• Take the ferry to Ikea: the best thing about Ikea being in a location poorly served by public transport is that there’s a ferry connecting to this part of Brooklyn, Red Hook, which is free at weekends. Views of the NYC skyline without spending a penny.

• Take home a fun souvenir: in many establishments across New York, it’s become fashionable to have a photo booth where customers can take as many photos as they like and take them home as a souvenir. You can enjoy a delicious smoothie and then have a bit of a laugh in front of the camera. Brilliant plan.

• Take a stroll along the High Line and finish off by relaxing in one of its hammocks: New York’s High Line is a public park built on the tracks of a railway line that used to run above the city. It stretches from the Meatpacking District to West 34th Street. As you wander through the park, you’ll come across artworks, sculptures, fountains to cool off in, food stalls and hammocks from which to watch the sunset.

And the best plan of all: just walking. Wander the streets of New York, admire its buildings, map out a route and follow it, even if people tell you there’s nothing to see there. The best thing about this great city is that every corner hides a spot that’s well worth a visit – and, as you can see, at a backpacker’s price.

Fancy visiting the Big Apple? Find your hostel in New York here .

By Carla Llamas, author of the blog La Maleta de Carla  

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