Free isn\’t the first word that comes to mind when people think of Manhattan. I\’ll admit, it\’s tough to be a budget conscious tourist visiting Manhattan, but it\’s very possible. With so many things to do, there\’s bound to be a few free fun activities. Here\’s my short guide for budget conscious travelers visiting New York City for the first time.

View the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island

Normally, tourists take the ferry from the southern tip of Manhattan at Battery Park. This ferry takes you straight to Liberty Island, where you can walk up to the statue of Libertas. Unknown to many tourists, though, is the free Staten Island Ferry which has amazing views of the Statue of Liberty.

The Staten Island Ferry is a free commuter boat that transports about 60,000 commuters per day. But it\’s not just for commuters! Many tourists use it as a free way to coast along the New York Harbor. From the ferry\’s deck, you\’ll have a perfect view of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. The ferry ride should last about 25 minutes when going one way. Remember to take into account the time it takes to get back to Manhattan.

Watch the busy traffic along Times Square

Times Square was originally a forest area owned by John Scott, a general in the Revolutionary War. It quickly became a meeting spot for carriages in New Amsterdam. London also had a meeting spot for carriages, the English called it Long Acre. This hub was named after London\’s spot, becoming Longacre Square.

It wasn\’t until 1904, when the New York Times newspaper moved into Longacre Square. In honor of the corporation, or perhaps because of the new auto industry, Longacre Square was renamed to Times Square.

You won\’t find too many horse drawn carriages here anymore. But you will find taxi cabs, thousands of tourists, and huge electronic billboards. Times Square is actually a giant intersection right in the middle of the Broadway Theater District. Walk around, you\’ll find theaters advertising their shows everywhere.

Have a picnic in Central Park

Right in the middle of Manhattan, covering a huge 843 acres, is the world\’s largest urban public park. Whether your on a budget or you have a lot of spare cash, you\’ll still want to visit Central Park. It was built in 1857 after the city began to notice how cemeteries were getting crowded. Turns out, the population spike of Manhattan forced citizens to relax in cemeteries for a breath of fresh air.

Along Central Park is the Museum Mile. You\’ll find eight terrific museums, many of which have free days. Be sure to do some research, perhaps one of those free days will fall on your trip to Manhattan. Museum Mile includes the famous contemporary art museum, the Guggenheim, and one of the largest art museums in the world, the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Go for a free walking tour in Manhattan

Bustling along the streets of Manhattan are all sorts of tours, ranging from bicycle tours to double decker bus tours. There is, however, a free option for budget conscious travelers. Walking tours are available on a tip only basis. Simply do a quick internet search for free tours by foot. You\’ll usually need to reserve a spot before you show up.

These free walking tours cover most of Manhattan, including sites like Times Square, Bryant Park, Grand Central Terminal, Rockefeller Center, and the New York Public Library. Your tour guide will explain the significance and history of each location as you see them.

These were my top picks for free things to do in Manhattan. There are more options available, be sure to check out Manhattan for Free and What To Do in Manhattan for Free.

These were my top picks for free things to do in Manhattan. There are more options available, be sure to check out Manhattan for Free at http://ezinearticles.com/?Free-Things-To-Do-in-Manhattan&id=7553776 and What To Do in Manhattan for Free at http://www.articledashboard.com/Article/Free-Things-To-Do-in-Manhattan/2979368.

Author Bio: These were my top picks for free things to do in Manhattan. There are more options available, be sure to check out Manhattan for Free and What To Do in Manhattan for Free.

Category: Travel
Keywords: manhattan, new york, statue of liberty, ellis island, times square, central park, manhattan tour