New York on a budget

Staten Island Ferry

Attraction | "A free trip encompassing some of New York's best sights"

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For all you budding photographers and tourists out there, you simply have to take the Staten Island ferry. The ferry encircles the Hudson, connecting Staten Island to Manhattan. What is great about this tour is that it is free and you will get to see famous sites, up close and personal.The ferry leaves from Whitehall and Water Street and leaves frequently. In fact you can get a ferry between the hours of 6am to midnight without having to wait more than half an hour. The subway stations to use the ferry in Manhattan areJ or Z to Broad Street; 1 or 9 to South Ferry; 4 or 5 to Bowling Green. In Staten Island, Staten Island Railway to St. George. An all day ticket for the subway costs $9 at pr...Read More

For all you budding photographers and tourists out there, you simply have to take the Staten Island ferry. The ferry encircles the Hudson, connecting Staten Island to Manhattan. What is great about this tour is that it is free and you will get to see famous sites, up close and personal.

The ferry leaves from Whitehall and Water Street and leaves frequently. In fact you can get a ferry between the hours of 6am to midnight without having to wait more than half an hour. The subway stations to use the ferry in Manhattan areJ or Z to Broad Street; 1 or 9 to South Ferry; 4 or 5 to Bowling Green. In Staten Island, Staten Island Railway to St. George. An all day ticket for the subway costs $9 at present.

If you come in at the Manhattan side take a quick look at Battery Park where you will see Liberty Island in the distance and theres a great atmosphere in the summer months, with street vendors, entertainers and tourists flocking. I went there on St Patrick's day and there was a great melting pot of people. I spent several minutes taking photos of the beautiful monuments in the Park, buying a real New York hot dog from a food vendor and constantly walking around the area, admiring the great views. Battery Park houses some large buildings at the end of the financial district of New York also.

The ferry offers a wonderful view of the harbor of New York. Among the sights to take in from either side of the vessel, are Governors Island, the Statue of Liberty, the Brooklyn Bridge, lower Manhattan and Wall Street's skyscrapers, Ellis Island, and the Verrazano Narrows Bridge connecting Staten Island to Brooklyn. You will get up close and personal to these sights, so bring your camera to take breathtaking photographs, especially of Liberty Island where i was able to get a nice full figure view of the statue. The Brooklyn bridge with the backdrop of Manhattan's skyscrapers on a sunset night is breathtaking. If you have a professional camera this would make a stunning picture.

The boat itself is nice, but can fill up very quickly and you may get stuck for space. I would recommend to make it to the back of the boat which is the open air part and get to one of the rails at the side. Take care to hang on because the boat gets very rocky on a windy day.

If you simply come for the photographs and views you will need to leave the ferry and reboard in order to make the return journey. However if you decide to explore Staten Island ensure you go to the Staten Island Yankees stadium.

All in all its a great trip, whats more its free. I gasped in awe at the amazing views of Manhattan and Brooklyn bridge in the backdrop. Also If youre interested in seeing the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island without paying the visiting fees you can get good photographs. Totally amazing tourist sites for free. Well recommended.

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Member Rating 4 out of 5 on October 13, 2025

Staten Island Ferry
Whitehall Ferry Terminal
New York, New York 10004
(718) 390-5253

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Central Park

Attraction | "Youve gotta take a while out to see Central Park"

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If your in NYC please make the effort to visit this landmark park. What can I say about this park? It's huge! Whats so amazing is that when youre in the park there is so much to do. You pass several street vendors selling ice creams, snacks, drinks and frequent entertainers such as clowns and face painters. I came here on a hot summer's day and I was amazed on how many people come here just to tan on the lawn. lol I mean there's no beach here but there were many people in a separate fenced area in their bathing suits. If youre hungry id recommend one of the corn dogs sold by the vendors in the Hot food vans and carts. They taste divine.You can stroll around the park with the kids and tak...Read More

If your in NYC please make the effort to visit this landmark park. What can I say about this park? It's huge! Whats so amazing is that when youre in the park there is so much to do. You pass several street vendors selling ice creams, snacks, drinks and frequent entertainers such as clowns and face painters. I came here on a hot summer's day and I was amazed on how many people come here just to tan on the lawn. lol I mean there's no beach here but there were many people in a separate fenced area in their bathing suits. If youre hungry id recommend one of the corn dogs sold by the vendors in the Hot food vans and carts. They taste divine.

You can stroll around the park with the kids and take them to the children's playground, take a boat trip, run, tan, relax, explore, watch magicians, watch striving musicians play music or even sit on the park bench to read. At Central Park they have 150 acres of lakes streams and 130 acres of woodlands, lots of beautiful and exotic plants and the gardeners keep a good upkeep of the park regularly introducing bulbs, shrubs, flowers and trees; maintain 9,000 benches, 26 ballfields and 21 playgrounds; preserve 55 sculptures and monuments, as well as 36 bridges.

The park is also very clean and dispite what i read or seen in the movies, relatively clean and safe. Police and park attendants regularly patrol the areas. Thats not to suggest i would come here at night, but through the day what an amazing experience. In my opinion you should take a guide to make sure that you cover what you want to see. When you stroll through the park its amazing to see the things that you watched in movies and you ll be saying "Oh thats out of that film".

As the park is so big and covers a large area, which encircles many of New York's own areas you will need to give yourself a few hours to see what you want to. Also there are several subway stations to choose from as the Park is divided up into zones. I used the 96th street station at Central Park west but it doesnt matter which one you choose as you will be sure not to come back to the same spot due to the long walk, just bring a map and hop on your nearest one wherever you are at the end.

One guided tour id thoroughly recommend is the "On Location Tours Featuring Central Park Movie Sites" which will cover the areas shown in just a number of famous movies that were shot here. It costs around 15 dollars and is a great enjoyable experience. You must bring your camera and a lot of film or memory card because trust me youre going to be snapping non stop. You can do a bit of searching at your hotel for special offers.

Wherever you are in the city buy a metrocard. I buy the $27 a week card even if im there for a few days as you save money and are entitled to use all transport for that week.
I think I basically covered the basics of this park, I can only imagine when it snows here. It's beautiful. Read Less

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on October 12, 2025

Central Park
59th To 110th Streets Between Fifth Avenue And Central Park West
New York 10023
(212) 310-6600

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Brooklyn Bridge

Attraction | "A fantastic bridge with great views of New York"

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I would describe the Brooklyn Bridge as the premier New York attraction and whats more its free to walk across and to see, so you cant really have any excuses its the ultimate thing to see when youre on a budget.This bridge was constructed in 1883. It was designed by the famous Roebling family and was the first steel wire suspension bridge to be designed and also the longest suspension bridge until 1903. This bridge was built because it was a direct link between Manhattan and Brooklyn. The bridge is majestic and historic, having featured in many great movies you will be missing out if you dont see this in New York.I would recommend first getting to the bridge by using New York...Read More

I would describe the Brooklyn Bridge as the premier New York attraction and whats more its free to walk across and to see, so you cant really have any excuses its the ultimate thing to see when youre on a budget.

This bridge was constructed in 1883. It was designed by the famous Roebling family and was the first steel wire suspension bridge to be designed and also the longest suspension bridge until 1903. This bridge was built because it was a direct link between Manhattan and Brooklyn. The bridge is majestic and historic, having featured in many great movies you will be missing out if you dont see this in New York.

I would recommend first getting to the bridge by using New York's fabulous subway system. Dont be put off by things you see in the movies about the subway involving gangs and vandalism, subway stations are nowadays well patrolled by police and security and is a relatively safe way to travel. Subways also have CCTV cameras and panic buttons installed in areas off the beaten track. Also the subway is cheap and economical and you will be able to travel around several attractions a lot quicker than a rich celebrity as you will be avoiding the traffic. A one day fun pass costs $8.25 and if youre staying in New York for more than 3 days buy a week pass at $27, you will save money this way. For the Brooklyn Bridge station several of the metro lines stop here which include 4,5,6, M or Z trains, among others.

When walking across the Brooklyn Bridge you get a great view of Manhattan, Brooklyn and lower NY Harbor including the Statue of Liberty. It is a historic and breathtaking view like being on top of a mountain Be aware on nice days it can get quite crowded with bikers, walkers and skateboarders, but hey if you want the real New York experience youre going to want to mingle with other people.

I cannot describe any words to think of to describe the experience when walking along the bridge and looking down at the Hudson and hearing the cars whizz past and the thundering of the underground trains. Please take some water with you because the walk is about 40 minutes and on a hot day you will be in need of a drink.

There are many fast food eateries or pizza slices at Brooklyn station. I would recommend eating in Brooklyn if you want something to eat because the food is a lot cheaper than in downtown Manhattan. I tend to eat a large pizza slice in New York because it tastes divine and is relatively cheap for lunch costing around $2.

Most of the subway stations have escalators or steps leading to the pedestrian pathway. Once on the bridge just follow the planked path that will lead to your journey at the other end. It is fantastic to look at Manhattan and its Skyscrapers at the other end. Once in Manhattan use the many subway stations to get back to your destination. A really cheap day out and an unbelievable experience. Dont forget your camera of course. I thoroughly recommend this. Read Less

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on October 10, 2025

Brooklyn Bridge
Access At Tillary Street And Boerum Place
Brooklyn, NY

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Empire State Building

Attraction | "One of the tallest buildings in New York"

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Most New York tourists will make their way to this attraction. If youre in Manhattan you will be able to travel to this attraction easily and economically with the subway or perhaps by foot. The Rockefeller Centre and the empire state buildings will be visible from practically anywhere in the city due to the massive size. This building has appeared in countless movies such as King Kong, however for those on a budget the entrance fees are going to shock you. Its the need to see value and landmarks such as this in any city are going to cost to see. The building will cost around $20 to see.Built in 1931 at the peak of the skyscraper craze, this 103-story limestone giant opened after a mere 13...Read More

Most New York tourists will make their way to this attraction. If youre in Manhattan you will be able to travel to this attraction easily and economically with the subway or perhaps by foot. The Rockefeller Centre and the empire state buildings will be visible from practically anywhere in the city due to the massive size. This building has appeared in countless movies such as King Kong, however for those on a budget the entrance fees are going to shock you. Its the need to see value and landmarks such as this in any city are going to cost to see. The building will cost around $20 to see.

Built in 1931 at the peak of the skyscraper craze, this 103-story limestone giant opened after a mere 13 months of construction. The framework rose at an astonishing rate of 4½ stories per week, making the Empire State Building the fastest-rising skyscraper ever built. The building is historic and has museum qualities, having a beautiful front lobby and numerous pictures and historic documents to look at.

A great tip is to book in advance on the internet ($2 extra), and by doing this you can speed your way to the observatory on the 86th floor. If this is your first visit, rent a headset with an audio tour. The 86th-floor observatory is outdoors.. This is the deck to go to to truly see the city. Don't worry about going outside into the wind or you'll miss half the experience. Bring quarters for the high-powered binoculars as the view is amazing you can view the city between the clouds and watch the rain travel sideways around the building from the shelter of the enclosed walkway. The advantage of paying the extra $15 to go to the indoor 102nd floor is that this observatory affords an easy and less-crowded circular walk-around from which to view the city. It also feels more removed and quieter.
A tip for the budget concious is to buy a new york pass which you can do at www.newyorkpass.com. It will allow you free entrance to see sights like this and other expensive entry fee sights. If you intend to visit a lot of places in New York sign up for the day or 2 day passes and save money.

I wouldnt bother eating at the Empire State Building youre in Manhattan and theres going to be lots of cheap delis and fast food eateries.

Overall i would recommend just for the stunning views of the city. If youre going to go just to see the building then i wouldnt pay the fee just walk around the base and take photos. Security as you can imagine is very tight.
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Member Rating 4 out of 5 on October 10, 2025

Empire State Building
350 Fifth Avenue at 34th Street
New York 10118
(212) 736-3100

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Top of the Rock

Attraction | "the biggest view ever for panaramic views come here."

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Cental Park is so huge you cannot even imagine the views you can see. If youre into seeing birds eye views of things and seeing the city sprawled out underneath you then come here. Forget the Empire State Building its too crowded and you ll wait ages to get up to their observation decks.Top of the rock is an observation centre right at the top of the Rockefeller centre. You can get here a short walk from TImes square. The Rockefeller centre is so big you ll be able to see it when youre up from a bit of a distance. I recommend however taking a subway to 50th street station and then you can enter the Rockefeller centre by 5th and 6th street.Once up to the viewing decks, the first...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on October 8, 2025

Top of the Rock
30 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, New York
(212) 698-2000

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Times Square

Attraction | "the centre sight of new york city"

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Times square is a truly amazing spectacle and centre base for touring New York. It is illuminated and shown on so many movies and films that when you actually get there it takes a bit of getting used to.Luckily in Times Square the subway trains use it as a hub and its quite convenient to get here by subway, buy an all day ticket for $9. The subway station is massive and also connects onto the New York Port Authority bus station where you able to get airport transportation and buses practically to everywhere in the Eastern United states.The area houses many restuarants, fast food outlets and souveneir shops, watch the fantastic billboards and sometimes you ll get the chance to get your pict...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on October 8, 2025

Times Square

New York, New York 10036

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Royal Park Hotel

Hotel | "An ok stay at a budget price"

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Basically i couldnt complain i managed to get a single room for $65 this is not the norm in New York as you could basically stay for 5 midweek days in a hotel in Vegas for the price you pay in New York for one night.I got this hotel by looking at hostelworld and then i went onto the hotels own website and got a cheaper price as they had a discount. I booked for 2 nights and was happy to get a cheap deal. This hotel is on 97th street by Broadway and it is a good enough base if youre not wanting luxury or to stay in your hotel all day.The hotel staff were nice and polite. It gears towards a younger crowd as it is a hostel as well as a hotel. I managed to get my own room on the ground floor a...Read More

Basically i couldnt complain i managed to get a single room for $65 this is not the norm in New York as you could basically stay for 5 midweek days in a hotel in Vegas for the price you pay in New York for one night.
I got this hotel by looking at hostelworld and then i went onto the hotels own website and got a cheaper price as they had a discount. I booked for 2 nights and was happy to get a cheap deal. This hotel is on 97th street by Broadway and it is a good enough base if youre not wanting luxury or to stay in your hotel all day.
The hotel staff were nice and polite. It gears towards a younger crowd as it is a hostel as well as a hotel. I managed to get my own room on the ground floor and was comfortable as it was a medium sized room unlike the rooms i heard about where you could barely move. It had its own television and a window, with a sink and a shared bathroom. it was in need of updating, however it was clean and comfortable.
The hotel is a good base for travelling with 96th street subway station only a block away, and you can actually get to Times Square in 10 minutes with only 2 stops.Please note use the red line 96th street station as the other 96th street station was a half hour walk away and i was very frustrated at getting out at the wrong station, when i phoned the hotel staff had no idea where i was and i spent an hour trying to find directions. Also i recommend buying an all day pass from the subway for $9.
On the positive side there are lots of cheap eateries and fastfood outlets on Broadway. I would recommend going to a diner as the diner at the corner i went to had a deal for $6 i got a main course of chicken 2 sides of potatoes and roast vegetables and pink lemonade or ice tea for an extra dollar. I honestly couldnt finish the meal the portion sizes were amazing.
I would probably not return to the hotel as when i opened my window which looked out to the back of the courtyard there were several litter black bags piled up, probably due to a refuse collection strike, but at night i heard large rustling and i saw rats scurrying. Even though i was on a first floor looking out at the back it gave me the shudders. However the back of the complex was entirely seperate to the hotel with no doors.
I would recommend in the fact that the price was amazing Read Less

Member Rating 2 out of 5 on October 8, 2025

Royal Park Hotel
258 West 97th Street
Manhattan, New York 10025
866-539-8117

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Coney Island Beach, Boardwalk, Amusement Parks

Attraction | "Come to Coney island one of NYCs hidden gems"

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I heard so much about coney island when i was armed with my all day subway travel ticket i got myself on a train and made my way to the Coney Island station. It is a long pleasant journey with great overhead views especially when you pass over the Brooklyn bridge, man i would have paid extra for that experience. An all day ticket is $9 and well worth it as you can use all the subway transport lines.Coney island reminds you of any typical day trip holiday resort and it is a 5 to 10 minute walk to make it to the boardwalk. When i went the amusement park was closed but it was a sunny day and beautiful to walk along the beach and stare at the atlantic ocean. To actually be in New York and by a beach...Read More

I heard so much about coney island when i was armed with my all day subway travel ticket i got myself on a train and made my way to the Coney Island station. It is a long pleasant journey with great overhead views especially when you pass over the Brooklyn bridge, man i would have paid extra for that experience. An all day ticket is $9 and well worth it as you can use all the subway transport lines.
Coney island reminds you of any typical day trip holiday resort and it is a 5 to 10 minute walk to make it to the boardwalk. When i went the amusement park was closed but it was a sunny day and beautiful to walk along the beach and stare at the atlantic ocean. To actually be in New York and by a beach is amazing. There are lots of snack vendors i tried some of the fish and fries they were nice but a bit overpriced at $8, You can also sip a cocktail at one of the open air bars. It was such a melting pot of people to behold and thoroughly enjoyable.
Please take your camera and get some photos of the wonderwheel featured in the movie "The Warriors", also take a walk under the boardwalk and along the main promenade. The people are generally friendly and theres a mix of tourists and Brooklyn locals. I would thoroughly recommend this trip to get a taste of the sea air on your mouth in New York, away from the city is amazing. My only regret was that i wasnt here when the summer was in full swing.
Another thing if you want something to eat i would recommend going back to the coney island station where there is a Dunkin Donuts and lots of fish restuarants at low prices. The subway station is new and amazing and the staff are helpful. There are so many routes back to various parts of the city but i always got to get off at Times Square and connect from there. Also by travelling by subway and not by some expensive tour bus youre going to have a quicker journey and also some extra dollars in your pocket.
Well recommended its one of New Yorks hidden treasures. Read Less

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on October 8, 2025

Coney Island Beach, Boardwalk, Amusement Parks
Surf Avenue
Brooklyn, New York 11224
(718) 372-0275

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Statue of Liberty

Attraction | "You must see this in New York"

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Having been to New York 2 times i was disappointed when i first went on a flying visit where i booked one of the bus tours for $50 and i sat stuck in Manhattan peak hour traffic without moving and i spent the whole day seeing what i could have seen on foot. I only ever got to see the statue away in the distance. Next time i came back to New York i knew it was essential to see the statue and i was going to do it on a budget.Dont trust what you see on old 70s movies about the New York underground. The Warriors arent going to burst on to a deserted train at night and rob or kill people. Since 9/11 these subway stations are heavily patrolled by police and i never encountered violent or threatening b...Read More

Having been to New York 2 times i was disappointed when i first went on a flying visit where i booked one of the bus tours for $50 and i sat stuck in Manhattan peak hour traffic without moving and i spent the whole day seeing what i could have seen on foot. I only ever got to see the statue away in the distance. Next time i came back to New York i knew it was essential to see the statue and i was going to do it on a budget.
Dont trust what you see on old 70s movies about the New York underground. The Warriors arent going to burst on to a deserted train at night and rob or kill people. Since 9/11 these subway stations are heavily patrolled by police and i never encountered violent or threatening behaviour. The subway is an excellent way to travel the city without being in traffic jams and being able to cover several destinations in such a short time just isnt possible. The subway tickets cost $9 for a day pass which gives 24 hours of travel, if youre staying for 3 days to a week the tickets cost the same. Please buy a pass rather than a single ticket.
I started my journey armed with an underground map which i studied and ensured i was on the right line to take me to there. South Ferry is the main subway stop to get you to Battery Park but there are also others like Bowling Green. South Ferry is a direct route on the 1 line so its so handy from Times Square station.
I arrived at Battery Park on a sunny st patricks day and i wanted to escape the madness of the i am irish pretenders and also to finally get to see the statue. I booked a tour on a ferry for $11.50. The ferry is a pleasant trip and well worth the money. You get a guided audio speech and are free to go outside to the open deck to look. It is amazing to see Liberty Island and Ellis Island and then arrive and walk round to the statue. I got a photo taken in front of the statue by a tiny japanese lady crouching on her knees to get the full shot in. I was amazed at the tallness of the statue and its splendour. Note get there early as the $11.50 allows you to see Ellis Island which i had no time for.
What did disappoint me was that i had no idea to go inside the statue you had to book online for. It also has several weeks wait in advance to go to the crown and the security is so tight. On return from Liberty island you are waiting in long queues and getting on a crowded boat back.
If youre hungry theres a cafe and welcome centre on libery island doing snacks, however its quite expensive. Best to get something on the boat or wait to return to Battery Park and buy a cheap hot dog from the vendors.
I would recommend this tour to anyone. Read Less

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on October 8, 2025

Statue of Liberty
Liberty Island
New York, New York 10004
(212) 363-3200

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