Julia
Paris
Any recommendations for things to do and see in NYC with a low budget?
You can enjoy all the fabulous voices and music on an opera at the Met - without the cost. Ask for a "limited" or "restricted" vision box seat. The sound is excellent, the vision is only restricted because you're on the far left or far right of stage, and the cost is generally below $30. You even have your own separate door to your box!
There are free museums, like the National Museum of the American Indian which is a beautiful building and tells the history of NYC. The Juilliard School offers free performances. There are many free walking tours. You could also just explore Grand Central Terminal, New York Public Library and Central Park as well as Washington Square Park where you can picnic & watch street performers. Hope this helps.
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The New York Philharmonic at Lincoln Center holds discounted rehearsals so you can get seats that would ordinarily be $60+ for $20! You just have to be willing to sit through some pieces more than once. Here's the link to the site: http://nyphil.org/concerts-tickets/explore/open-rehearsals
Almost every NYC museum has a free admission night. The Met is the only pay as you wish museum, as far as I know.
You might want to explore our outer boroughs too - beyond Manhattan. Red Hook Brooklyn (take the free IKEA boat from Pier 11 / Wall St.) is a great place to explore. There's even a winery - tastings are not free. There's also a great place for Bar-b-que, which you should try here since it doesn't really exist in France. I'm forgetting the name unfortunately.Many artist studios and shared exhibit space open to the public.
Take the 7 Subway to Flushing or Corona and you will feel like you're in China/Korea or Mexico/Latin America. Great ethnic food for a fraction of Manhattan prices. Jackson Heights for Indian; Astoria for Greek.
Just like Paris, there are a lot of outdoor cafes for people watching. You can't sit forever with 1 coffee though - these places are popular and they will want to turn the table if you're not spending $.
Then there's the High Line Park, which tourists love. A park sort of like Promenade Plantee, but more industrial looking. Instead of peering into Haussmann type buildings, you have a view into old lofts and new architectural marvels built around this developing area.
Brooklyn Brewery is really popular and the tour is free. This is in Williamsburg which most French tourists seem to know (judging by the crowds). In the spring, summer and fall, there's an excellent food venue here called Smorgasburg. In the winter, it is smaller inside Brooklyn Flea
If you are coming in the summer, there are a lot of free outdoor events - movies, concerts, other performances.
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There are plenty of places to visit in New York that are free to just site see such as Chinatown New York, Little Italy, Union Station, High Line Park, New York Public Library, Times Square, St. Patrick's Cathedral, Rockefeller Center, Brooklyn Bridge. I would say that Statue of Liberty Ellis Island is worth the tour $. 9/11 Memorial is worth a stop and the museum as well I thought was very moving. Don't forget to get a NY slice of pizza and bagel for breakfast while on the move.
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Take a free trip on the Staten Island Ferry for great views of the city
Wander around Central Park, Greenwich Village, Times Square
Many museums accept a donation don't worry about the suggested donation give what you want
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If you are exploring New York City, the first thing you need is a Metropass. You can get unlimited travel for 3 or 7 days and the pass includes buses and subways. It is fascinating to ride down Fifth Ave or Broadway, study the architecture and people.
One of my favorite free attractions is the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on Wall Street. Admission is free but you must book on line in advance. It is a beautiful building from the 1920s and you will see our gold reserve, a huge room full of gold bars.
The West Village is especially fun for walking.
When you are in Manhattan you can always take a bus; to get around the other boroughs you will probably need to fugure out subways.
Grocery stores with salad bars and good pizza is everywhere, so avoid restaurants.
If you get tired, stop into a nice hotel lobby, like the The Waldorf Astoria, New York Marriott Marquis, and thousands more. Or visit a beautiful church like St. Bartholomew's Church on Park Ave or Saint James on Fifth ave.
Always lots to see and do in NYC.
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Best kept secret. The Metropolitan Museum of Art can only cost you as low as $1.00. Pay as you wish.
Best kept secret. The Metropolitan Museum of Art can only cost you as low as $1.00. Pay as you wish.
Best kept secret. The Metropolitan Museum of Art can only cost you as low as $1.00. Pay as you wish.
Best kept secret. The Metropolitan Museum of Art can only cost you as low as $1.00. Pay as you wish.
Best kept secret. The Metropolitan Museum of Arts can only cost you as low as $1.00. Pay as you wish.
Best kept secret. The Metropolitan Museum of Arts can only cost you as low as $1.00. Pay as you wish.
Best kept secret. The Metropolitan Museum of Arts can only cost you as low as $1.00. Pay as you wish.
You can enjoy all the fabulous voices and music on an opera at the Met - without the cost. Ask for a "limited" or "restricted" vision box seat. The sound is excellent, the vision is only restricted because you're on the far left or far right of stage, and the cost is generally below $30. You even have your own separate door to your box seat!
You can enjoy all the fabulous voices and music on an opera at the Met - without the cost. Ask for a "limited" or "restricted" vision box seat. The sound is excellent, the vision is only restricted because you're on the far left or far right of stage, and the cost is generally below $30. You even have your own separate door to your box seat!
The New York Philharmonic at Lincoln Center holds discounted rehearsals so you can get seats that would ordinarily be $60+ for $20! You just have to be willing to sit through some pieces more than once. Here's the link to the site:
http://nyphil.org/concerts-tickets/explore/open-rehearsals
The New York Philharmonic at Lincoln Center holds discounted rehearsals so you can get seats that would ordinarily be $60+ for $20! You just have to be willing to sit through some pieces more than once. Here's the link to the site: http://nyphil.org/concerts-tickets/explore/open-rehearsals
The New York Philharmonic at Lincoln Center holds discounted rehearsals so you can get seats that would ordinarily be $60+ for $20! You just have to be willing to sit through some pieces more than once. Here's the link to the site: http://nyphil.org/concerts-tickets/explore/open-rehearsals
The New York Philharmonic at Lincoln Center holds discounted rehearsals so you can get seats that would ordinarily be $60+ for $20! You just have to be willing to sit through some pieces more than once. Here's the link to the site: http://nyphil.org/concerts-tickets/explore/open-rehearsals
Julia
