Take the Staten Island Ferry – its free!
↑ Statue of Liberty.
I’ve been to New York City thrice and no matter how well I plan my budget, I always end up overspending. It’s alright, I think, because there are large number of wonderful things to do in New York City that are free, or almost free.
↑ Ferry Entrance on Manhattan
Take the Staten island ferry for example. Funded by the tax payers of New Yorkers (thank you very much!), this ferry service connects the mostly residential Staten Island with mostly commercial downtown Manhattan island. Statue of Liberty, located on the Liberty island, is just next to the ferry route. Thus, you can get a close enough view of the statue for free.
↑ Passenger waiting area
In fact, I never had the interest in visiting the actual site of the Statue of Liberty at all. If you don’t want to climb up to the crown, I don’t think its worth going – how much can one possibly see from the ground without straining our necks?
↑ Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan Bridge
Directions: New York City’s subways couldn’t be more convenient. The South Ferry terminal station on Red line 1 is the closest, although Whitehall St. (South Ferry) on Yellow line N, R might be easier. Just look towards south and the entrance will be visible.
↑ Downtown Manhattan skyline
Have you taken the ferry before? Do tell me your experience. For more pictures of downtown Manhattan, checkout my NYC photo gallery.
↑ Ferry going back to Manhattan
Ha, I’ve been to NYC more times than I can perhaps remember and count, but I’ve never tried riding the Staten Island ferry. I did go and visit the Statue of Liberty Island, together with Ellis Island, but with a 6-month wait (back then) for tickets to climb up, I didn’t do that.
Nowadays, it’s Brooklyn that I am slowly discovering whenever I am around there.
Oh wow you went in her head? Neat! I haven’t discovered Brooklyn at all, but yeah, I’m starting to checkout the hoods around the busy Manhattan city now.
thats useful info!!
I’d love to take a ferry and see the city from the water, usually it’s the best way to see a city I think 🙂
Someone told me this tip the other day, two days AFTER I got back from NYC! Nevermind though, we didn’t bother with Lady Liberty – just checked her out from Battery Park. I think buying tickets for her is unjustifiably expensive, perhaps because I’m not American. I feel like for many Americans, it’s an absolute must to visit her because of her hugely important symbolism. I respect that, but personally don’t feel the need to spend all that money! If you’re gonna spend it, Ellis Island is pretty interesting and definitely more worth it. Thanks for this tip and the proof through photos, Priyank. 🙂
Hi Lindsay!
Nice to see your comment, welcome to my blog! I agree with the symbolism part and I would have considered going even if they let us climb to the top. But since that was closed, I didn’t see value in going. Well next time you could make a trip to Staten island! 🙂
I’ve been to New York city, for a family vacation and visited Liberty Island and Ellis Island, among other things. We went in the ferry, but didn’t climb up.
Hi Lakshmi! Thanks for stopping by, hope you had a good time!
Hey Priyank..
I hve been following yours and Zhu’s blog since a year now and I amazed to c how you guys take such beautiful photos wherever u go. I mainly follow the blog to look at the photography done by u n Zhu. May I ask here what kinda DSLR you are using to take such good pics. As m about to upgrade my self to a DSLR, most prbbly to Nikon D90 bt jst wanted make sure I m buying the right one by asking sme1 from my country.. 🙂
Hi Bhrugraj,
Thanks for stopping by! The pictures in this post were taken using an ordinary point and shoot. I do have a Nikon D5000 DSLR now, so you can see pictures on my newer posts from that camera.
Before buying, you must ask yourself why you want a DSLR for. If its just for taking “better” pictures, I must remind you what professional photographers say – 80% of the beauty of a photograph comes from the photographer’s knowledge. 😀
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Very, very helpful. I am visiting NYC for New Year´s Eve 2013 with my cousin (first time for him, third for me) but we are on a budget so I am trying to get him see as much of NY for free as possible and this is an extraordinary idea to see the Statue of Liberty without expending all that money. Thank you so much and if you have any other ideas, please share!!
Ellian
Mexico
Hope you had a good time in NYC Ellian! There are lots of free or very cheap places in NYC… for example most museums have few hours during which you can visit for free. Check their websites 🙂
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