While Manhattan has the reputation as one of the most expensive cities to live in, there is plenty to do and see even if you're strapped for cash. You just have to know where to look - between public galleries, free museum hours and concerts with no cover charge, you can visit NYC with a low budget.
New York City | Free in New York City
- Belvedere Castle
- First, you see fragments of the carved grey tower reaching through the lush park toward the sun-filled sky. The roads wind in and out of shading trees, making it appear as though the path ceases to continue around the next bend.
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- Brooklyn Bridge
- Sauntering along in the middle of New York City traffic is usually not a good idea… unless you're crossing the Brooklyn Bridge.
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- Central Synagogue
- Walking along Lexington Avenue, the Central Synagogue stands alone amidst other buildings on the street.
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- Ellis Island Immigration Museum
- "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free…" This famous quote engraved on the Statue of Liberty has long welcomed immigrants to the U.S., but what else do we...
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- Forbes Galleries
- Looking through average collector's items – gum wrappers, pencils, bottle caps, you name it – isn't generally appealing.
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- Grand Central Station
- Tour the original artwork and sculpture. Examine the lofty Beaux Arts architecture and design. Dine at one of the 25 fine restaurants and casual eateries and browse the 50 specialty shops. But don't forget to catch your train.
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- High Line Park
- Lush gardens with high grasses and pink flowers line the walkway. Photographers are everywhere, capturing shots of the abundant greenery and the Hudson River. Tourists stroll along the path, or sit contently on park benches.
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- National Museum of the American Indian
- Separated from Battery Park by State Street, the National Museum of the American Indian is at once beautiful and mysterious. Set inside an elegant Beaux-Arts building with marble columns and intricate detailing, it beckons you from afar, inviting you inside.
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- New York Public Library
- A search for the New York Public Library reveals four research libraries and 87 branches in Manhattan, the Bronx, and Staten Island. During a short trip to the city, one could never explore the entire system, serving 15 million annually and expanding by 10,000 items weekly.
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- Sony Wonder Technology Lab
- Formerly the AT&T headquarters, 550 Madison Avenue now houses a different type of technology company.
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- St. Bart's
- St. Bartholomew's, commonly referred to as St. Bart's, is one of those unique places in Manhattan that attracts both tourists and locals on a daily basis.
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- St. Patrick's Cathedral
- With spires rising 330 feet and its foundation dominating half a block, 130-year-old St. Patrick's Cathedral rivals its midtown Manhattan neighbors in both dimension and beauty.
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- Staten Island Ferry
- The 25-minute boat ride between Manhattan and St. George on Staten Island has made cameos in popular television shows and Hollywood films such as Basketball Diaries, American Gangster, and Sex and the City.
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- Trump Tower
- It's tough to trump 58 stories of office, residential, and retail space in midtown Manhattan. Deck the interior with marble, brass, and mirrors galore and cover the building in gleaming tinted glass, and you've got yourself a moneymaking giant.
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