Sightseeing on a budget
If I visit a city, I really enjoy just walking around and taking in the scenery. In most cities, there is so much to see without paying a fortune towards the tourist attractions. Sightseeing on a budget is even possible in New York.
When my friend Katy did an internship with Christie’s auction house in New York City in 2014 and asked if I wanted to come over and visit, I didn’t have to think twice. As much as I love travelling alone, discovering a city with a friend is a lot of fun. This year, I was back for a couple of days, stopping-over on a work-related trip, and I was lucky enough to find the city entirely snowed-in. I have never been to New York in summer but just before and after Christmas, it’s a magical experience. A crispy cold day with temperatures around minus 14 degrees Celsius and lots of sunshine turned out to be the perfect condition to revisit some of my favourite spots in New York from my last visit, albeit sadly this time without Katy. Here is a list of my favourite activities in the city that never sleeps:
Walk from Battery Park along the Hudson River to the 9/11 memorial
The southernmost point of Manhattan is Battery Park with the South Ferry Terminal, shipping tourists and commuters over to the statue of liberty and Staten Island. From the mainland you can see “Lady Liberty” and enjoy a really nice walk along the Hudson River, facing the skyline of Jersey on the other side of the river. The Hudson River is one of my favourite spots in all of New York. Despite the freezing cold, some determined joggers crossed my path as I enjoyed the stroll along the scenic walkway. I got to the 9/11 memorial in a good twenty minutes. The sight of the devastating terror attacks now consists of two pools where the twin towers used to stand. The names of the victims are engraved into the marble wall surrounding both pools, which each feature a smaller, squared hole where the water vanishes out of sight. It’s an impressive monument, a silent memoir of the vast towers and all the people who died when they were destroyed.
Take a free ferry ride to Staten Island
A free way to get closer to the Statue of Liberty is the Staten Island ferry. This is a commuter ferry between Manhattan and Staten Island. During my first visit, I actually thought I’d read somewhere that the ferry goes to Liberty Island, home of Lady Liberty, so Katy and I boarded in anticipation to meet the lady face to face. We’d tired ourselves out walking through New York the whole day in the cold so we sat down with a beer, which we purchased on deck, waiting to get to Liberty Island. At first it looked like we were getting closer, but then the ferry started going away from it again. After the initial confusion, we got off at Staten Island asking if there was anything to be seen at this (late) hour of the day, but the woman at the ferry terminal declined and we were keen to make it back to the mainland with the last ferry, not to be stranded there. We couldn’t stop laughing at our mistake but had a great time and nice views of not only the monument but also the skyline of Manhattan. Another great viewpoint to the skyline is from Brooklyn.
See Brooklyn Bridge and the skyline of Manhattan from Brooklyn
The Brooklyn Bridge, completed in 1883 and crossing the East River, connects the borough of Brooklyn with Manhattan. It’s an architectural icon and a landmark of New York. I crossed Manhattan coming from the 9/11 memorial via Liberty Street and Maiden Lane to get a glimpse of this beautiful monument from the big apple. Brooklyn itself is with more than 2.5 million residents today the most populous borough in New York and it’s known for its quirky neighbourhoods. While Brooklyn used to be a rough spot in the eighties and early nineties, it’s now a bustling place for hipsters, entrepreneurs and creatives. A popular neighbourhood in Brooklyn itself is Williamsburg, featuring hip rooftop bars from which you can enjoy the view to the Manhattan skyline equipped with a nice cocktail.
Meander through Central Park
Central Park is an 843 acres (341 hectare) park in downtown New York. It’s the most visited urban park in the United States and one of the most filmed locations in the world. I recommend going there especially after an extended shopping experience on 5th Avenue, just to wind down a bit and stretch your legs. Shopping is always massively stressful for me in itself, let alone in New York – I only lasted a couple of hours when I visited Katy, after which I wanted to lock myself into a quiet room for the remainder of the day. But the park features several ponds, bridges and walkways and is the perfect place to unwind, in particular with all the snow New York had this winter.
Explore Midtown and get a sense of the city from the Top of the Rock
The one thing I did pay money for upon Katy’s recommendation was Top of the Rockefeller Centre, in short Top of the Rock. A standard ticket costs around 37 USD (27 GBP) but the views are incredible, stretching into all directions to the East River and Brooklyn, Hudson River and Central Park. Since both of my visits took place around Christmas time, I was also lucky enough to see the ice skating rink at the Rockefeller Centre and the huge Christmas tree. From the Rockefeller Centre, it’s just another short 10-minute walk to Times Square, the hub of the Broadway Theatre District and one of the world’s busiest pedestrian areas. Another 10 minutes to go and you’ll get to Grand Central Station, which opened in 1871 and, thanks to its beautiful interior, is one of the world’s most visited tourist attractions, with over 20 million visitors annually.
