How to spend a day in New York City for under $50

It can be hard to find cheap things to do in NYC. After all, those rumours are certainly true: New York City isn’t budget-friendly. In fact, the metropolis of 8.5 million people tied with Singapore as the most expensive city in 2022, according to a report by the Economist Intelligence Unit. Coupled with recent inflation and rising travel costs, visiting The City That Never Sleeps can feel unattainable when you start scanning prices.

But while a day out on the town can easily rack up charges on your credit card bill, it doesn’t have to if you’re intentional about your itinerary. In fact, most of NYC’s must-see sights are completely free, requiring little more than a comfortable pair of shoes to navigate. So, we’ve compiled our ideal, landmark-filled day in New York – which also includes tasting some of the city’s most iconic foods – promising to come under $50 in total, including transit costs. Come, explore, and leave with a savings account still intact. We promise it’s possible.

Below is our guide to a day of genuinely fabulous, cheap things to do in NYC.

10am: Start with coffee and Jewish treats from Orwashers Bakery ($10)

The perfect day in New York City begins with some caffeine – and there are few better places to get it, than at a Jewish cafe also known for fresh-baked treats like bagels, bialies, and rugelach. Orwashers’ Upper West Side location sits among the neighbourhood’s picture-perfect townhouses, and you'll get to pass the American Museum of Natural History as you make your way to Central Park.

10.15am: Stroll through Central Park (free)

Speaking of Central Park, a morning walk here is a must. With your coffee in hand (don’t forget your reusable cup!), you’ll be prepared to fully take in the scenery, explore the beautifully landscaped gardens, and get your fill of fresh air before venturing deep into the concrete jungle. Meander toward the park’s southeast corner, and you’ll pass most of the highlights, including The Lake, the Bethesda Fountain, Sheep Meadow, and the carousel, just in time for the next stop on your tour.

11am: Walk the famed Fifth Avenue to Grand Central Station (free)

The upscale shops on Fifth Avenue are best admired from outside, particularly if you’re on a budget. With ornate window displays and high towers, the busy street comes to life and gives you a taste of the buzz that makes NYC so addicting. Plus, it’s on the way to other landmarks – like Grand Central Station, a classic spot for photos (and conveniently connected to all the subway lines you’ll need.

11.30am: Ride the subway down to the 9/11 Memorial ($2.75)

After admiring Grand Central, pay the $2.75 fare to hop on the 4 or 5 train toward Brooklyn, riding it only a few stops to Fulton Street. When you arrive, look out for One World Trade – the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere – and follow it until you arrive at Ground Zero, a touching memorial to the Twin Towers that fell on September 11, 2001. It's a solemn and important sight, surrounded by the skyscrapers that today make up New York City’s noteworthy skyline.

12.30pm: View the Statue of Liberty from the Staten Island Ferry (free)

The Staten Island Ferry is one of the city’s greatest amenities, offering a fare-free, 25-minute ride across the river to Staten Island. It offers great views of Manhattan, but also of the Statue of Liberty (which otherwise costs a pretty penny to visit). Use some of the money you’ve saved to buy a cheap ‘ferry beer’ on board and sip while you ride. Once you arrive at the St. George Terminal on Staten Island, you can hop right back on and ride the ferry back, completing your hourlong river ‘cruise’ – this is indisputably one of the best cheap things to do in NYC.

1.30pm: Head to Chinatown for lunch ($10)

Back on land in Manhattan, you can take a scenic walk to Chinatown, making note to pass through Wall Street and the renowned New York Stock Exchange on the way. In Chinatown, you’ll have your pick of affordable Chinese bakeries, where you can pick up baked buns, egg tarts, and pastries – sometimes for less than $1 each. You can never go wrong with Fay Da, Golden Steamer, and Golden Fung Wong, all situated on Mott Street.

3pm: Cross the Brooklyn Bridge (free)

Once you’re nice and full, get a move on toward the historic Brooklyn Bridge that connects Lower Manhattan with Downtown Brooklyn. Walking across the 1.1-mile structure takes about a half-hour on its own, but accounting for the pictures you’ll take and views you’ll want to soak up, it’s safe to block off an hour for the experience.

4pm: Zip back into Manhattan ($2.75)

From the High Street-Brooklyn Bridge subway station, take a Manhattan-bound A or C train to the 14 St/8 Av station, which plops you on the border of Chelsea and Greenwich Village. Once you arrive, head directly toward the Hudson River.

4.30pm: Kick up your feet in the Little Island gardens (free)

Little Island is a newer park and one of the city's greatest architectural feats. Built atop concrete platforms that seemingly sprout from the Hudson River, Little Island is a beautifully landscaped green space with ample benches. Rest your feet and enjoy the breeze. The park sometimes hosts events at its outdoor amphitheatre, so cross your fingers to arrive on such a day.

5.15pm: Walk the High Line to Hudson Yards (free)

Shift from one elevated park to another as you exit Little Island, and climb up to the High Line, a suspended railroad track-turned-trendy walkway that connects the Chelsea Market to Hudson Yards. Take your time on the stroll, stopping for photos whenever possible and plopping on a seat whenever needed.

6pm: Enjoy a happy hour cocktail ($13)

Exit the High Line at W. 28th Street and catch the tail-end of happy hour at Porchlight, which runs from 3 to 7pm Monday through Saturday, and all-day Sunday. The drink menu includes $11 mint juleps, salty dogs, dirty vodka martinis, and daiquiris. Accounting for a $2 tip, the bill only racks up to $13, a decent price for the cool atmosphere and much-needed walking break. If you want to go cheaper, there are some $6 beers on offer and a $5 flask of spiked punch.

7.15pm: Grab a classic New York slice ($2)

With a little buzz going, it’s time for supper. And if you feel nervous at the thought of a $1 slice of pizza, trust us: it’s a quintessential NYC experience. Pick up a couple of slices at 99¢ Delicious Pizza on W. 35th Street and 7th Avenue – or any other lowkey dollar pizza joint you find along the way – and snarf it down as you stand in awe of the nearby Empire State Building. Then, begin walking north toward Times Square.

8pm: See Times Square as it lights up the night (free)

Cliché as it seems, Times Square is among the most significant landmarks in the world, providing all the flashing lights you could imagine in addition to street entertainers and shops. If you’ve never been, after dark is the best way to experience it, when the sun isn’t stealing any attention from the glowing billboards.

9pm: Top off the night with banana pudding at Rockefeller Center ($7)

At this point, you’ve seen almost all of the highlights, but no New York agenda is complete without a medium cup of banana pudding from Magnolia Bakery. You may have to wait in a line, depending on the day of the week, but once you’ve secured your dessert, you’ll be right next to Rockefeller Center, where you can roam a slightly less stimulating plaza and reflect on the sheer level of things you crammed into one single, 12-hour time period – for less than $50.