USA · On a budget · 2 days · 12 stops
New York on a budget: 2 days, mostly free
New York has a reputation for being expensive, yet many of its best experiences are free. On day one in Lower Manhattan you take the free ferry, a Smithsonian museum with no admission charge and the footpath across the Brooklyn Bridge, with lunch in Chinatown. On day two you walk Little Island and the High Line to Midtown for the library, Grand Central and Central Park.
In short
- Length
- 2 days, 12 stops
- Highlights
- 9/11 Memorial, Little Island, National Museum of the American Indian, Brooklyn Bridge, Brooklyn Bridge Park
- Where to stay
- Midtown, Lower East Side and the Village
- Getting around
- Manhattan is a grid of avenues and streets, and you can cover a lot on foot.
- Best time to go
- May to June and September to October are the most pleasant.
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Plan created with AI support – please check opening hours, prices and routes before you go. YesTrip editorial team · Updated: .
Day 1
Downtown and the Brooklyn Bridge
9/11 Memorial
The two pools bearing the victims' names are free to visit. Only the museum below charges admission.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): 9/11 Memorialabout 15 min on foot
National Museum of the American Indian
In the grand old Custom House on Bowling Green: art and history of the Native peoples of the Americas. A Smithsonian museum, so admission is free.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): National Museum of the American Indianabout 5 min on foot
Staten Island Ferry
The ferry costs nothing and is the cheapest way to see the Statue of Liberty from the water. Ride straight back.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Staten Island FerryWalk north through the Financial District, about 30 min – or take the J train from Broad St to Canal St.
Chinatown
Dumplings, noodle soups and bakeries with filled buns: some of the cheapest eating in Manhattan.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Chinatownabout 15 min on foot
Brooklyn Bridge
The footpath across the bridge is free and offers one of the best views in the city. About 30 min to Brooklyn.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Brooklyn Bridgeabout 15 min on foot
Brooklyn Bridge Park
Lawns and piers on the waterfront facing the skyline. Sit by the water and stay into the evening.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Brooklyn Bridge Park
Day 2
Hudson, High Line and Midtown
Little Island
The park on concrete stilts in the Hudson is free to enter. On busy summer days entry is sometimes managed – arriving early helps.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Little Islandabout 10 min on foot
High Line
The park on the old elevated railway charges no admission. Walk south to north to Hudson Yards, about an hour.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): High LineFrom Hudson Yards walk east to Fifth Avenue, about 25 min.
New York Public Library and Bryant Park
Free entry: the great reading room and changing exhibitions. Eat a packed lunch in Bryant Park behind it.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): New York Public Library and Bryant Parkabout 5 min on foot
Grand Central Terminal
The great hall with its starry ceiling costs nothing. Downstairs there are cheap places to eat as well.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Grand Central Terminalabout 10 min on foot
St Patrick's Cathedral
The cathedral on Fifth Avenue is free to enter. During Mass, please stay at the back.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): St Patrick's Cathedralabout 30 min on foot
Bethesda Terrace in Central Park
Walk up through the south of the park to the terrace by the lake. Buskers, rowers and lots of space – all free.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Bethesda Terrace in Central Park
Good to know
Subway: weekly fare cap
There is no day pass. If you always tap with the same card or phone on OMNY, rides become free after a set number within seven days.
Free on board
The Staten Island Ferry costs nothing. If you only want to see the Statue of Liberty and the skyline from the water, it replaces a paid boat tour.
Worth paying for
One observation deck and one big museum such as the Met or MoMA are worth the money. At the Met, pay-what-you-wish applies only to New York State residents and some students.
For the best time to go, public transport and where to stay, see the 3-day plan for New York.
Your plan
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New York on a budget: frequently asked questions
What can you do for free in New York?
The Staten Island Ferry, the 9/11 Memorial pools, the Brooklyn Bridge footpath, the High Line, Little Island, Central Park, the Public Library and Grand Central – plus the National Museum of the American Indian.
Where can you eat cheaply in New York?
In Chinatown, at food carts and at pizzerias that sell by the slice. A picnic in the park saves a lot too.
More plans for New York
- One dayOne day in New York: Midtown and Central ParkAbove the rooftops in the morning, Grand Central at lunch, Central Park in the afternoon, neon in the evening.
- WeekendA weekend in New York: Friday to SundayFriday views by night, Saturday Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn, Sunday the High Line and the Village before your flight.
- 3 days3 days in New York – a ready-made itineraryBrooklyn Bridge, Central Park and Times Square, plus the High Line and the old neighbourhoods of lower Manhattan.
- 5 days5 days in New York with Liberty and BeaconMidtown, museums by Central Park, the ferry to Liberty, the Whitney and the High Line – plus a day in the Hudson Valley.
- With kidsNew York with kids: 2 easy daysDinosaurs, a playground and the zoo in Central Park, then ferries, carousels and pizza in Brooklyn.
Plan created with AI support – please check opening hours, prices and routes before you go. Coordinates checked with Wikipedia and OpenStreetMap (Photon). Photo: Daniele Pieroni, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons. More in Sources & licences. YesTrip is a trip planner, not a travel agency – nothing is booked.
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