New York City offers many free attractions, including iconic spots like walking the Brooklyn Bridge, riding the Staten Island Ferry for Statue of Liberty views, exploring Central Park (The Mall, Bethesda Terrace), wandering the elevated High Line park, visiting world-class museums like the National Museum of the American Indian and the Bronx Museum, and soaking in the sights at Times Square, Grand Central Terminal, and the 9/11 Memorial.
You can find many free things to do in York, including walking the historic city walls, exploring the National Railway Museum, wandering through the charming Shambles, relaxing in Museum Gardens or Rowntree Park, discovering hidden gems on a free walking tour or cat trail, and enjoying street performers and markets like Shambles Market. Don't forget to see York Minster from the outside and explore other historic churches and parks like Dean's Park.
Queens Museum: Arts museum and education center located in Flushing, admission is always free. The Bronx Museum: Contemporary arts museum in the Bronx, admission is always free. National Museum of the American Indian: A Smithsonian museum with a counterpart in Washington DC (where most museums are free!)
1. Times Square. Considered the epicenter of the city, it's one of the favorite areas in New York for tourists. It is the most visited placed in the USA (45 million visitors a year).
The 50 | 30 | 20 rule breaks down as follows: 50% of your income goes to needs and essentials. 30% of your income goes to wants and extras. 20% of your income goes to savings and paying down debt.
So average you would be spending around $25, we're talking about average food here, average meal. But when you go to more luxury, I can tell you I've eaten in $125 per person, there is some things like that also. So it's a range.
The "20-hour rule NY" refers to New York's Paid Prenatal Leave Law, effective January 1, 2025, requiring private-sector employers to provide all employees (part-time or full-time) 20 hours of paid leave annually for prenatal healthcare appointments, separate from existing sick leave, covering fertility treatments, pregnancy monitoring, and end-of-pregnancy care for the person receiving care. This benefit is a new, standalone entitlement, not accrued, and applies to all private employers in the state, ensuring access to necessary care during pregnancy.
There are ways to get free food quickly – get groceries from a food pantry, or a cooked meal from a community kitchen. Use the Food Help NYC map or call 311 to find your closest food pantry and community kitchen. Everyone is eligible for food assistance, regardless of immigration status or how much money you have.
General admission prices are a suggested contribution; pay what you can! Ticketed exhibitions require a separate ticket at a set price (includes general admission). See the tickets page for more information on admission and ticket types. Members enjoy free, untimed entry to the Museum, including ticketed exhibitions.
What is the most beautiful month to visit New York?
Spring in New York is absolutely beautiful and a great time to visit. As long as you come during actual spring: early April through early June. March is still very much winter temperatures here. Yes, New York has cherry blossoms, and they tend to bloom at the end of March or the beginning of April.
In total, we spent $1,235 per person for 4 days including flights and hotel. If we exclude flights, each day costs about $190 per person – of which more than half goes to the hotel. Otherwise, daily expenses are really only $80 per person.
How Much Spending Money Do I Need for New York? A mid-range budget in New York City (at the time of writing) will usually run around $200-300 per day. This covers accommodation, food, entrance fees, and some transport. However, expenses can vary widely depending on where you stay and eat.
Some people use the 40x rule since many landlords require that your annual gross income be at least 40 times your monthly rent. To calculate, simply divide your annual gross income by 40 - if you make $120,000 a year, you can spend $3,000 on rent.
Prospect Mountain above Lake George Village reveals spectacular views, and West Point's Trophy Point is ideal for highland vistas. Waterfalls and high peaks await in the Catskill Forest Preserve, while autumn colors dazzle along the 17-mile gorge at Letchworth State Park.
