If you’re traveling on a budget in one of the world’s largest cities, you want to find the best places to stay and the best places to see at the lowest cost. In today’s economy, this is especially important, but are there really any free things left to do in New York City? Here’s ten things to do that won’t cost a dime.
Out-of-towners might not realize that the Staten Island Ferry is free, taking commuters from Battery Park to Staten Island; it’s not a luxurious way to travel, but it’s a chance to have some of New York’s best views, including Lower Manhattan, Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty, and New York Harbor. A walk through Central Park costs nothing either, and if the weather is great, there’s nothing better than to take in the 843 acres of open spaces, including gardens, water and paths. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the city, then Central Park is a great way to go.
Much of the architecture of the city is free to take in, including Grand Central Terminal , a national historic landmark since October 1st in 1998, the New York Public Library, which, in 1911, was the biggest marble building in the United States. You may take a tour, too, of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, where you can find out just what the Federal Reserve is and what it does , and a chance to see the gold vault. There are guided tours of the Federal Reserve, but you have to make a reservation in advance to take advantage of them.
At night, you might like to stroll through Times Square. If you’re truly on a no-frills budget, you might not take in a show, but you can soak up the atmosphere of the lights and people.
At Rockefeller Center, you can also take in the Art Deco atmosphere. Built mostly during the Great Depression, the construction of this building brought in a good deal of employment, and today its art and architecture is well worth a look. Another Art Deco triumph is the Chrysler Building. While the building doesn’t have an observation deck, the ceiling mural alone should make it a destination spot.
The biggest decorated Gothic-style Cathedral in the U.S. should be on your lis, toot: St. Patrick’s Cathedral took over 20 years to build and opened to the public in the Spring of 1879. It seats 2,200 people, so there should be room for someone who wants to rest a moment. The biggest Gothic Cathedral in the world, though, is in Morningside Heights, the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. Here you can see not only the cathedral, but the Biblical Garden and the Peace Fountain.
After all the money you’ve saved, and all the walking you’ve done, you should be able to afford a nice dinner with an abundance of calories, such as America’s first pizzeria, Lombardi’s, established in 1905.
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