I don’t know about you, but New York has always been an enigma to me. I’ve heard it dubbed the ‘greatest city in the world’ many times, and when something is repeated enough you start to believe that it’s true. I live only a state away in Pennsylvania, so NYC has always felt so close yet so far. I hadn’t visited since I was a child and lemme tell you, visiting the Big Apple as an adult is a very different experience. A few of my friends are living in NYC for the summer, so I figured now was the time to check this place out for myself as a fully formed adult. I spent a long weekend scouring the best low cost things to do, and honestly it was a bit overwhelming. New York is hectic and wacky and exciting, and I am ready to share about how I made the most out of my time there without spending hundreds of dollars.

Travel Tips

My direct flight from Pittsburgh –> New York (LaGuardia airport) was ~$200 and I booked three weeks in advance. I went the end of July from Thursday afternoon to Sunday night. Pretty standard.

Follow this guide to take the Q70 bus + subway from LaGuardia to Manhattan (or wherever you’re staying) for a cost of one subway ticket, $2.75, instead of taking a $60 Uber. It only took me around 45 minutes to get from LaGuardia to where I stayed at Hudson Yards. Saved sooo much $$$! Keep in mind that this was in the afternoon so I felt safe taking the subway alone … if it was nighttime I probably wouldn’t have done this.

I stayed with a friend so I did not have any living expense which I know is a game changer. Even if you don’t know anyone well enough to stay with them in New York, my advice is to reach out to people you know live in NYC and make a plan to get brunch or a coffee or something like that. I hung out with a family friend one morning and a fellow intern who goes to NYU another afternoon. Knowing people in the city enriched my experience a thousand percent. Most people who live in New York love it, so their knowledge of the city and crazy stories make for great conversation. Plus, they can show you local spots off the beaten path!

Walking is the best form of transportation in New York. I walked a half marathon the first full day I was there, and I saw so much! If something is more than a 45 minute walk, then take the subway. I used GoogleMaps to navigate and found it super easy and accurate. I felt comfortable riding the subway alone, just keep to yourself and no one will bother you. Look for a route that only uses one subway stop because switching stops can be confusing.

If you’re out at night and don’t want to take the subway, use the Curb Taxi app. It finds a taxi in record time and the prices are comparable, if not lower, then Uber and Lyft. I liked the idea of hopping into a yellow taxi on the streets of New York, but that’s just me being a tourist lol 🙂 Of course, you can always use Uber and Lyft too, just remember to check both and see which one is cheaper at the moment because it is constantly fluctuating.

Activity Tips

This is gonna be a long list, let’s just say that I was a little ambitious on my long weekend in NYC. None of these activities cost more than $5, and most of them are free!

Find the High Line entrance closet to your location and walk it to the Chelsea Market. The High Line is a free, public high rise park that runs along the west side of Manhattan. There’s sculptures, lookout points, places to sit and people-watch, and lots of greenery to admire as you walk through the gorgeous New York skyline to get to your destination. It took me ~30 minutes to walk from Hudson Yards to the Chelsea Market, and that was at a leisurely pace. Beware, the High Line gets super busy at lunchtime and as people get off work, so try to go on off-hours so you won’t get stuck behind a slow group of people.

As mentioned, walk through the Chelsea Market! The Chelsea Market is an eclectic space complete with diverse cuisines, huge open market spaces, shopping, and more restaurants than you know what to do with. I found myself enthralled by the first bookstore I walked into (I spent 30 minutes grazing the detailed shelves and unique selection of inventory and completely lost track of time). The design space is stunning too. I went at 3 pm it wasn’t too busy.

Go to the Little Island at Pier 55. I randomly stumbled on this mammoth, illustrious park that seems to float above the water when I was at Chelsea Market and decided to head over and check it out. I got serious Dr. Seuss vibes from this place, and the architecture is insanely cool to look at. This place was absolutely popping, and I soon discovered that is is a free park just recently approved for public visitation. They have free concerts, dance, poetry, and art. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get in because I didn’t reserve a time, so make sure you do that beforehand (it’s free … have I mentioned that?!)

Go to Washington Square Park and SoHo area. We saw a flash mob of colorful dancers on roller skates, going all out and having the time of their life dancing to music pumping from speakers throughout the park. It was so much fun! SoHo has a million cool stores and is a great strip to spend time shopping and observing.

Go to the 9/11 memorial and financial district. The 9/11 memorial was powerful and a must-see. Walking through the financial district is what I thought all of New York would be like. Men in suits power-walking to work, hot dog stands, the World Trade Center bursting through the pavement. There’s a nice river walk and tons of outdoor restaurants around here too.

Walk through Little Italy and Chinatown. They are right next to each other and it is a cool experience. I didn’t have time to eat here unfortunately, but I enjoyed walking through the open food markets and seeing all the decorations and restaurant aesthetics (it is also a short walk from the Brooklyn Bridge).

Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge. It’s free! Yes I know this is touristy but it has super cool views of the city and it is an iconic thing to do at least once when you’re in New York. I went at 1 pm on a hot day (do not recommend) and it was hot and crowded, but I still had a nice time. You can also ride a Citi Bike along it which I would prefer to do if I do this again.

Speaking of biking in New York, you must use the ride share app Citi Bikes at least once or twice. We biked along the west side highway all the way to Central Park using these bikes, and it cost less than $5. There are thousands of stations where you can drop the bike off after you’re done using it. Super convenient and a fun way to see more of the city!

Take the tram to Roosevelt Island if you have a few hours to spare. It cost the price of a subway ticket, $2.75, and you get super cool aerial views of Manhattan on your 10 minute ride to Roosevelt Island. There’s not much to do on the one mile stretch of land, but me and my friends took Citi Bikes along the river and had a nice bike ride and view of NYC.

Food & Drink Tips

Now, this is where you’ll spend all your money. My eyes bugged out of my head when I saw that most cocktails cost at least $20 (with tip) and a simple pasta dish well over $30. It depends where you dine, but the cost of food and drinks in New York is exponentially higher than most everywhere else I’ve been in my life. Still, most all the food I had was delicious, and I have a few good recommendations of fun nightlife too.

Try Los Tacos No. 1 in the Chelsea Market. Authentic carne asada and pollo asada tacos. I got one of each for $9.50. Don’t be intimidated by the long line — it goes very quickly. If you walk outside there should be a great outdoor dining area where I sat and ate my delicious tacos and people-watched.

Also in the Chelsea neighborhood is Asuka Sushi. Me and a few friends randomly stumbled into this place and had bomb sushi. I got a yummy mojito, miso soup, and the samurai roll for $30. Super filling and every single thing was above average. Definitely recommend if you’re in the area.

I had to get bagels while I was in New York and Finn’s Bagels did not disappoint. I got an everything bagel with vegetable schmear for $5. Delightful and kept me full for hours.

Go to the French coffee & bakery & cafe Maman. There are lots of locations around NYC and I was so charmed by its aesthetic. Warm, inviting, just a lovely place to have a chat with a good friend. I had the iced coffee for $4.

If you’re looking for a more low expensive, healthy lunch check out Fresh&Co. It’s a chain in New York but I’d never had it until then. It’s like sweetgreen but even a little cheaper. I got the kale caesar for $9. If you need a bit of a break from eating heavy meals (like I eventually did), then try this place out.

Get Van Leeuwen ice cream. They have normal and vegan options, and my strawberry shortcake was sooooo creamy and delicious. It was a bit pricey, $6 for a small scoop, but it was really fricken good so I would still recommend it as a little treat and pick-me-up.

Next up is Sola pasta bar. Cannot rave about this place enough. I felt so swanky while dining, and it’s definitely more high end than anything else on this list. You need a reservation beforehand. A cool touch is that the kitchen is in the middle of the restaurant so you can watch your food being prepared! I got a moscow mule and Ragu pasta for $40. I also tried the Cacio e Pepe and squid ink pasta and all three were top notch. The owners and waiters are all from Italy and you can tell by the way this food tastes. Also, we randomly saw Lorde outside this restaurant so all around a 10/10 experience.

We went to the Bowery Electric bar and it was fun for a drink or two and then it became super crowded so we left. There is tons of dancing which was fun, so if you’re into that then go here. More of a younger crowd.

I know every true New Yorker rolls their eyes when people talk about the speakeasy above Five Guys in the West Village, but we still went there and I had a fun time. It was super packed but the atmosphere was good. We met fun people and had great conversations.

I had brunch at Jack’s Wife Freda and was pleasantly surprised by the Rosewater waffle. My friend got the poached eggs with Haloumi and I’d recommend that too. DEFINITELY on the pricier side, so beware. The waffle was $15 and I also got a $6 coffee. The interior of the restaurant is adorable.

If you’re near Central Park try out The Smith. The restaurant is massive with tons of indoor and outdoor seating. Definitely overpriced with my $19 chicken sandwich, but it was really good. The thin cut fries that came with the sandwich were also excellent.

We randomly found this Mediterranean restaurant called Extra Virgin while waiting for our friend in the West Village, and it turned out to be just what we needed at the moment. A few friends and I went at 9 pm and found a table deep in the corner which was super intimate and lovely. It felt like a true New York dining experience. The turkey burger’s porcini aioli was literally incredible, and the truffle mac and cheese and cauliflower sides were also good. I also got a raspberry mojito and spent ~$30 when split between friends. The service was kinda slow but we still had a great time.

Wow, that was a mouthful. My advice is to go to some of these places if they speak to you, but also forge ahead and explore on your own. I promise that you’ll be sure to hit gold somewhere along the way. Don’t be afraid to take the subway by yourself, or try a new restaurant, or talk to interesting people at a bar. New York is absolute craziness, there’s so much going on. Take a deep breathe and take it all in. There really is no place like it in the world.

xx Gracie

If you liked this article, check out my other ones:

Gracie’s Guide to Washington D.C. ( on a Budget )

Gracie’s Guide To A Day Trip In Sedona, Arizona ( On A Budget )

Gracie’s Guide to Phoenix, Arizona ( on a Budget )