5 Cheaper (or Free) Alternatives to NYC Tourist Attractions

Visiting and exploring New York City can get expensive, especially when you want to see all the standard tourist spots!

In this article, we’ll look at five familiar tourist attractions and offer alternatives for traveling on a budget. Here’s what we’ll cover:

1. Observation Deck Alternatives
2. Statue of Liberty Alternatives
3. Pedicab or Horse-Drawn Carriage in Central Park Alternatives
4. Broadway Show Alternatives
5. Museum Alternatives

And read to the end because we’re throwing in a bonus alternative you won’t find on other recommendation lists.

Let’s do it. 👇

Note: This article was written by a real human who lives in NYC, not artificial intelligence. 🥸

NYC Tourist Attraction Alternatives Podcast Episode

Want to hear more podcasts like this? Head here.

1- Free NYC Observation Deck Alternatives (or Cheaper)

While we are huge fans of the observation decks in NYC, most cost around $40 or more. There are options if you’re looking for a cheap or even free place to see the city!

Here are some of the best free observation buildings and tall viewing areas in NYC:

• The public library rooftop at Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library (100% free) on the corner of 5th Avenue and 40th Street (close to flagship NYPL location)
• Whitney Museum has beautiful rooftop views of Chelsea and lower Manhattan. There is a cost to get into the museum, but you get views on top of an amazing art experience.
• Pier 57 rooftop or Little Island (both free) have great views of downtown Manhattan
• Roof of the Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met). Again, it costs money to get into the MET, but you’re getting views + art. Be sure to verify the rooftop is open before you go this route!
• Brooklyn Bridge Park (100% free) has phenomenal views of the lower Manhattan skyline.
• Central Park (100% free) has surprisingly amazing views of Manhattan’s skyline, especially the Midtown buildings including Billionare’s Row. Here are some of the best spots to see the skyline in Central Park:
  • Woolman Rink
  • Reservoir
  • Great Lawn

Instead, take the money you’d spend on an observation deck and go to a bar with a view. While you’ll probably spend $20-$30+ on a cocktail (including tax & tip), you’re getting two experiences for the cost of one!

• Manhatta
• Overstory
• Nubeluz
• 230 5th ($15 cover)
• Darling on 59th Street has unbelievable Central Park views

2- Statue of Liberty Free Alternatives

While there are plenty of options for going to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, it takes much more time than you’d think and costs money.

Luckily, you can get top-notch views of the Statue of Liberty via two free options:

1. View it from the Battery Park area (free)
2. Staten Island Ferry (free)

The Staten Island Ferry gets you pretty close to the statue, allowing you to get some great pics, and it’s 100% free.

Be sure to avoid the common NYC tourist trap of swindlers and con artists in Battery Park!

This Episode’s You’ll Have to Check It Out Segment – Super Burrito

We accidentally stumbled into Super Burrito on Bleecker Street and couldn’t have been happier it happened! Here’s what we loved about Super Burrito:

• Multiple locations in Brooklyn and a spot on Bleecker Street
• Phenomenal margaritas with fresh-squeezed lime juice + a happy hour til 7
• A very cozy vibe and friendly staff
• There’s a live DJ, at least on the weekend
• We didn’t get a burrito, but they looked (and smelled) amazing

Check out Super Burrito on Bleecker Street here.

PS- If you join our newsletter, you get a handy Google Maps list of ALL our You’ll Have to Check It Out segments + loads more map lists for exploring the city. 🫡

3- Pedicab or Horse-Drawn Carriage in Central Park Alternatives

We’ve talked about this ad nauseam, but don’t patronize these two attractions in Central Park. You can learn more about why in our article about tourist traps.

Simply put, the horses aren’t treated well.

As for the pedicabs, they constantly price gouge tourists and aren’t safe drivers.

Instead, here’s how you can explore Central Park:

• Central Park audio guide (100% free)
• Take the subway close to specific spots ($2.90 per swipe)
  • Conservatory water
  • Strawberry fields
  • The Pond, Woolman Rink, and Gapstow Bridge
  • Reservoir
  • Conservatory Garden
• Use a Citi Bike to get around. Learn more about the pricing on Citi Bikes & all the best ways to get around Central Park here.
• Rent bikes or electric scooters

If I had to choose one, I’d probably rent a bike and use the free Central Park audio guide. 🙌

4- Broadway Show Alternatives

While Broadway shows can be expensive, you are truly getting the best experience possible. The talent is world-class, the theaters are impeccable, and you’ll have a fantastic time!

While we have a complete guide (article + podcast + video) to getting cheaper Broadway tickets, here’s an overview of Broadway alternatives and ways to get lower-cost tickets:

• Rush tickets
• Lottery tickets
• Off-broadway
• Smaller theater performance groups
• College performances like Juilliard, Columbia, NYU, and Fordham (in rare instances, free)

If you’re going to buy Broadway tickets, we prefer TodayTix (great prices and good rewards over time) or Vivid Seats (since you can earn free tickets)!

5- NYC Museum Alternatives

The museums in New York City are world-class. While the cost to get in is usually around $25+, it’s certainly worth it for the more prominent museums.

You can spend an entire day at iconic museums like the MET, Museum of Natural History, Guggenheim, or MoMA. They are HUGE spots!

If we were to recommend only one, it would be the MET (Metropolitan Museum of Art) on the Upper East Side. You’ll see the most variety out of all the museums, and the sheer number of exhibits and pieces will blow your mind!

If you want cheap or free alternatives to museums, you have a few options:

• Make friends with a local who will get you in via Pay As You Wish, which gets NY, NJ & CT residents into many museums at low cost. You have to show ID, so don’t try to skirt the system.
• Art galleries, especially in Chelsea (free, usually) and Soho.
  • Use the free See Saw app (only on iOS) to find galleries to visit
• Explore this list of free NYC museums, including some paid museums that offer discounted or free events at certain times
  • One of note that’s technically not a museum is the New York Public Library on 5th Ave – It has such a rich history and amazing exhibits! Learn more and see 20 other free NYC date ideas here.

Bonus Idea: Live Pro Sports Events Alternatives

While going to MSG to see the Knicks or Rangers can’t be beaten, watching at a supporter’s bar is a close second!

New York City has hundreds of sports teams’ supporter groups and associated bars. For example, if you love Tottenham Hotspur (COYS!), you can go to Flannery’s for a match.

If you love the Bills, you can go to Pennsylvania 6 to watch a game.

Alternatively, if you want a glimpse of the NY sports experience but don’t want to pay top dollar, head to any of the bars around MSG or Yankee Stadium to cheer on the local team with like-minded fans!

We have a lengthy list of NYC sports supporter bars, including all NFL & Premier League teams.

Again, if you buy tickets for sporting events in NYC, we recommend Vivid Seats since you’ll earn free tickets with their rewards program! 🙌

Free Alternatives to NYC Tourist Attractions Recap

New York City’s tourist attractions are often worth the money, but if you’re hoping to travel on a budget there are great alternatives!

Hopefully this article has given you some ideas for how to best experience NYC for free, or at least cheaper than full price.

Before you leave, join our NYC newsletter! We email once a week with jam-packed emails covering:

• How to get around NYC efficiently
• The best restaurants and bars
• Upcoming events and activities
• At least 1 GIF you’ll love 😜

Plus, when you join the newsletter, you get 100% free access to the Ultimate NYC Navigation Guide AND our collection of curated Google Maps lists. Don’t miss it. 👇