Free things to do, exclusive student deals, and tried-and-tested budget travel hacks for the Big Apple.
NYC is on everyone’s bucket list, and for good reason. The city is amazing - Broadway shows every night, state-of-the-art museums, and mouth-watering good food at every turn. There’s plenty to do in this dream city, but it can also be expensive. For student travelers on a budget, navigating the Big Apple can be tough.
So, here’s our tried-and-tested guide to NYC, where we seek out the best ways to experience the city on a budget and help you to save some $$ while having fun.
Getting Around
NYC is big, consisting of five boroughs: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island. While most sights are in Manhattan and are walkable, the easiest way to get around would be the NYC subway. For our trip in NYC, we got a 7-day pass for USD$35 and used it to get everywhere in the city. The subway runs 24/7, so you don’t have to worry if you are out experiencing the city’s vibrant nightlife. You can purchase the pass on-site in any station, and it can be used for unlimited rides on both buses and trains. Pair the extensive NYC subway system with your trusty Google maps, and you can get anywhere without an Uber.
Tip: The NYC subway can be confusing, as some platforms do not link to others underground. Use the correct subway entrance (there are multiple entrances to each station), by taking note of the signboard before you head down the stairs. The signs state what trains are available at this entrance, and which direction the trains are going.
Where to Stay
Although many of NYC’s top sights are in Manhattan, staying there can be expensive. If you are tight on your budget and don’t mind traveling a little more, try staying in the other boroughs, such as Brooklyn. Connected by subway and ferry, Manhattan is still easily accessible and you can explore the charms of the other boroughs too!
Things to Do
1. Visit Free Attractions
NYC is full of attractions, and most of them require an entrance fee. Yikes! But fret not, we’ve discovered some hidden gems that you can visit for free.
Midtown
In Midtown, visit the Grand Central Terminal to admire the Beaux-Arts style architecture, and remember to look up!
Grand Central Terminal | 89 E 42nd St, New York, NY 10017, United States
Just a short walk away is another famous Beaux-Arts building, the New York Public Library. Admire the beautiful marble walls and visit the free exhibitions at this flagship location. This article by The Knickerbocker serves as a great guide to the library!
New York Public Library - Stephen A. Schwarzman Building | 476 5th Ave, New York, NY 10018, United States
Central Park is also a great place to have a picnic and escape the city noise. There are plenty of activities ongoing in the park all year round, so keep a lookout for any that falls within your budget.
On the west side of Manhattan, visit the High Line Park at sunset for beautiful views the streets of NYC. The end towards uptown leads to the Vessel at Hudson Yards, another architectural beauty.
In the evening, visit Times Square and be surrounded by brightly lit billboards and advertisements. Stand in the center of the world's entertainment industry and snap a photo or two!
Times Square | Manhattan, NY 10036, United States
Tip: There will be people dressed up as cartoon characters along Times Square offering to take pictures with you. They will often expect a monetary tip after, so politely decline if you are not interested.
Lower Manhattan
If you are in lower Manhattan, visit the famous Wall Street Charging Bull and stop by the 9/11 Memorial in the World Trade Center. Next to the memorial, visit the Oculus Center to admire the architectural beauty.
Oculus Center | 185 Greenwich St LL3110, New York, NY 10006, United States
A visit to the Big Apple is not complete until you’ve seen the Statue of Liberty. While there are paid ferries that will take you straight to Liberty Island, the free Staten Island Ferry does pass by the statue, giving you a good view at no cost. The ferry takes you to Staten Island where NYC’s only outlet mall is located and you can view the ferry schedule here. See the picture below for the view!
Tip: When taking the ferry towards Staten Island, stay on the right side of the ferry for a good view. When leaving Staten Island, stay on the left side of the ferry instead for another chance to see the statue!
Brooklyn
Connecting Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn is the famous Brooklyn Bridge. It is free to cross and offers a gorgeous view of the NYC skyline. We recommend you take the subway from Manhattan to Brooklyn, give the neighborhood of Dumbo a little exploring, before crossing the bridge back to Manhattan at sunset for the best views of NYC.
Brooklyn Bridge | Prospect St, Brooklyn, NY 11201, United States
When you are in Dumbo, don’t forget to check out the Manhattan Bridge View. It’s one of the best photo spots in Brooklyn!
Dumbo Manhattan Bridge View | 39-21 Washington St, Brooklyn, NY 11201, United States
2. Admire Public Art on the Subway
When you are taking the subway, try stopping at these subway stations for some hidden public art that is bound to spice up your Instagram!
The 28th Street Station platform has beautiful flower-themed mosaic art by artist Nancy Blum, making up a very Instagrammable photo spot.
Stop by the 81st Street–Museum of Natural History Station as well for dinosaur fossils (81st street) and ocean-themed tile art (79th street) along the walls of the station.
3. Museums, Museums, Museums
NYC is full of museums with world famous exhibits. See Van Gogh’s Starry Night at MoMa, Monet’s water lilies at The MET, the 94-feet long blue whale at the Museum of Natural History and many more in NYC. Students can enjoy discounted student tickets to NYC’s popular museums, so make good use of the perk and see it all!
Museum of Natural History | 200 Central Park West, New York, NY 10024, United States
Some museums even have free entry days, such as free admission on Fridays 5-7pm to The Morgan Library & Museum, reservations required. The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum also has pay-as-you-wish entry on Saturdays, 6-8pm. The Museum at FIT, showcasing fashion history and collections, is always free so don’t miss it!
4. Go on a Walking Tour
One of our favorite activities from the trip was a pay-as-you-wish walking tour in Harlem, a neighborhood home to soul food, jazz, and famous babies. Lady Altovise, our tour guide from Free Tours By Foot was knowledgeable yet entertaining, and made our tour experience comparable (even better we would say!) to higher priced tours we’ve been on.
Harlem Street Art | 200 Central Park West, New York, NY 10024, United States
Free Tours By Foot offers walking tours of other neighborhoods in NYC as well, and is a great way to learn about the rich history of the city without spending too much money. Find out more about their NYC tours here.
5. Watch a Broadway show (or two!)
Watching a Broadway show on Broadway itself should be on everyone’s bucket list. Every evening, world famous musicals and plays make audiences laugh and cry in sold out theaters. It was our first-time watching a Broadway musical and we loved it so much, we went for another the very next day.
Now here’s a hack to get those expensive Broadway tickets for up to 50% off. TKTS offers discounted tickets for Broadway (and off Broadway) shows playing that very day. The tickets are hugely discounted, and can often be a very good seat. Think second row from the stage!
There are two TKTS booths in NYC, one in Times Square and another in Lincoln Center. The booth at Lincoln Center is less crowded, but we recommend reaching before opening hours to join the queue early at both locations. If you bought a ticket from TKTS previously, there is also a fast lane for you to buy the discounted tickets on a different day, so keep those tickets and watch multiple Broadway shows while you are in NYC!
Ticket availability is updated daily, and you can view them on the TKTS website.
What to Eat
Not only does NYC have amazing attractions, its food scene is equally, if not more, show-stopping. From pizza joints to Michelin restaurants, there is good food at every corner. To avoid spending too much on food, eat like a local. Try the food trucks that attract long queues from the working crowd at lunch, late-night dim sum in Chinatown and have the classic New York-style pizza on the roadside for only USD$1.50.
Check out our recommendations for cheap eats in NYC for tried-and-tested mouthwatering good food that only costs USD$10 and under!
New York might be one of the most expensive cities to live in, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the city of dreams on a budget. Where do you dream of visiting the most in NYC? Share your thoughts with us below.
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