14 Free Ways to Make the Most of New York City
Pay Your Respects at the 9/11 Memorial
The National September 11 Memorial and Museum sits on 8 of the 16 acres that was formerly the World Trade Center. The memorial and museum honor those who died in the terrorist attacks that occurred here in 1993 and 2001.
The museum has an entrance fee ($26 for adults), but admission is free for survivors of the 9/11 attacks and their families. The outdoor memorial is always free for everyone. The memorial features two reflecting pools with bronze parapets surrounding them that list the names of every person who died in both the 1993 and 2001 attacks.
Walk Across the Brooklyn Bridge and Relax at Brooklyn Bridge Park
Walking across the Brooklyn Bridge, which connects Manhattan and Brooklyn, is a favorite activity among visitors especially those who are looking for cheap things to do in NYC. There’s a pedestrian walkway elevated above the car traffic which makes the trip safe for walking and the walk offers great views of the Manhattan skyline.
The Best View
If you are only going to walk one direction, we’d recommend taking the subway to the Brooklyn side and walking toward Manhattan as this direction offers the best skyline views, but walking either direction is nice. You can alternatively walk halfway one direction and then turn around to experience both views.
How to Access the Walkway
On the Brooklyn side, you can access the Brooklyn Bridge Pedestrian Walkway at the intersection of Boerum Place and Tillary Street, or by using the underpass on Washington Street which leads to a stairway up to the walkway. On the Manhattan side, the entrance is just across from City Hall Park’s northeast corner.
How Long to Give Yourself
We’d suggest setting aside about an hour to walk the Brooklyn Bridge if you want to move at a relaxed pace, enjoy the skyline and take photos. If you’d like to make the trip a bit quicker, there’s also a dedicated bike lane.
Visit Brooklyn Bridge Park
Before or after you walk across the bridge, enjoy a relaxing picnic in or stroll around the Brooklyn Bridge Park, which is also free. The park occupies 85 acres on the Brooklyn banks of the East River and includes several historic buildings, the Fulton Ferry Landing, and a variety of unique plantings and cultural installations. There are frequently family-friendly activities happening, many of which are free. The park is also a great place to snap a fantastic photo of the bridge itself.
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Window Shop on Fifth Avenue
If you are traveling on a budget, you most likely won’t be doing much actual shopping in the flagship stores along Fifth Avenue. However, window shopping doesn’t cost a penny and browsing the shop-fronts along Fifth is a uniquely New York experience.
You’ll find the best shops between 29th and 60th Street in the middle of Manhattan. The shops range from the top designer labels down to more approachable stores such as H&M or the perennial children’s favorite, the World of Disney Store.
