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Tuesday, June 29, 2021
Thursday, June 24, 2021
The Best Language Learning App for Travelers
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Monday, June 21, 2021
The Best Wine Getaways in the United States
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Friday, June 18, 2021
15 Things To See & Do In NYC On A Budget (Plus Money-Saving Tips!)
New York is an amazing city to visit as a tourist. I’ve been a handful of times now, and always look forward to it. There’s so much to do! But it’s also expensive.
Today, my friend & travel author Matt Kepnes shares tips for things to do in New York City on a budget after living there for many years. Tips are his, photos are mine. Here’s Matt:
New York is one of my favorite cities. In fact, I love it so much I lived there for close to five years. I can never get enough of it!
To me, NYC is the center of the world, with people, foods, and cultures from everywhere. It has a wild nightlife scene, and there’s a never-ending list of things to see, do, and experience.
You can never be bored in NYC.
But, as awesome as it is, it can easily break the most hardened of budgets without proper planning.
Tourists often decry New York’s cost, but this is also place of starving artists and underpaid interns. To be a local is to know where the deals are.
Despite what most people think, it’s actually possible to have a fun, budget-friendly trip to the Big Apple without breaking the bank — if you know where to look.
So, if you want to take it in without spending a fortune, here are the best things to do in New York on a budget:
Table Of Contents
1: Take A Free Walking Tour
The first thing I do in a new destination is take a walking tour. They’re the best way to orient yourself, see the main sights, and interact with an expert local guide who can answer all your questions.
If you’re on a tight budget, I recommend Free Tours by Foot. Just make sure to tip your guide at the end!
For paid tours, go with Take Walks, which has specific ones that focus on art, food, and history; they are pretty affordable too (starting at $60 USD).
2: Wander Central Park
The heart of New York City, Central Park spans over 150 square blocks (840 acres). You can easily spend all day relaxing and wandering around. During the summer, there are often free concerts and theater productions (arrive early for tickets to Shakespeare in the Park).
From the late spring to the early fall, there also are free guided walks organized by the parks service on Saturdays. Central Park is the best place to escape the hustle and bustle of the city. Bring a book, pack a lunch, and come lounge the day away.
3: Walk The High Line
This is one of my favorite things to do in New York. Made from a converted elevated train track, the High Line is an urban walking park on the west side of town. The path stretches over twenty blocks (1.45 miles) and is extremely popular in the summer.
Lined with overlooks, gardens, public art, and food stalls, this linear park is one of the best things to do on a nice day. Just avoid the weekends, when it gets extra busy!
4: See The Statue Of Liberty
Visiting the Statue of Liberty up close will cost over $20 USD and involve waiting in a long line. If that doesn’t sound appealing, simply hop on the free Staten Island Ferry. It crosses the harbor and provides a decent view of both the Statue of Liberty and the Manhattan skyline. The ride takes about 25 minutes.
5: Visit Trinity Church
Built in 1698, Trinity was originally a small parish chapel constructed by the Church of England. When the British seized New York after George Washington’s retreat during the Revolutionary War, it was used as a British base of operations. In 1776, a massive fire swept through New York and consumed the original church (as well as 25% of the entire city). The new building was consecrated in 1790 and was regularly attended by George Washington and Alexander Hamilton.
The graveyard has many a famous American buried in it, such as Hamilton and his wife Elizabeth, Francis Lewis (a signatory of the Declaration of Independence), John Alsop (a Continental Congress delegate), Horatio Gates (a Continental Army general), and Lord Stirling (also a Continental Army general).
6: See The 9/11 Memorial
This memorial was built to commemorate the nearly 3,000 people who died in the terror attacks of September 11, 2001. There are two massive reflecting pools where the Twin Towers once stood, along with the names of all the victims.
There is a museum as well, with all kinds of multimedia exhibits about the attacks, including survivor stories and artifacts. While the memorial is free, admission to the museum is $26 USD.
7: Attend A Broadway Show For Cheap
You can’t go to Manhattan and not see a Broadway show, of which there is a wide variety, from modern musicals to Shakespeare to quirky, offbeat plays. There’s nothing better than live theater, as it’s such an integral part of life in New York.
If you’re on a budget, don’t settle for full-priced tickets. Instead, visit the TKTS booth in Times Square to get half-price tickets. You’ll need to wait in line, but you’ll save a ton!
8: Wander Times Square
As touristy as it is, no visit to NYC is complete without a stop at Times Square. No matter when you go, it will be packed with people (usually other tourists). If you aren’t shopping or eating or seeing a show, there isn’t much to do in the area (and no locals hang out there), but it’s still a neat place to people-watch and get a feel for just how vast and bustling the Big Apple is.
9: Visit The Museum Of Modern Art
The Museum of Modern Art is home to some beautiful (and weird) modern art. Personally, I dislike that style (call me old-fashioned, but I just don’t get it), but the MoMA also has Van Gogh’s “Starry Night” as well as other impressionist and post-impressionist art. So, even if you’re not a modern-art fan, it’s still worth a visit.
And if you do love contemporary and modern art, this is (apparently) one of the best places in the world to experience it. To keep your budget afloat, on Fridays after 4pm, the museum is free!
More Free Museums In NYC
New York City is full of some of the best museums in the world. In addition to MoMA, many offer pay-what-you-wish entry on certain days of the week.
- Whitney Museum of American Art (Thursdays)
- The Guggenheim (Saturday Afternoons)
- Cooper-Hewitt National Museum of Design (Saturday Nights)
10: Relax In Battery Park
Battery Park is where the Dutch built Fort Amsterdam in 1625 to defend their settlement. Located on the southern tip of Manhattan, the fort’s cannon battery (hence the name) wasn’t used until 1776, when American forces seized it after declaring independence.
The fort was destroyed during the Revolutionary War; however, the battery was expanded afterward. Today, there are over 20 monuments and plaques in the park, covering everything from the War of 1812 to the War of Independence to immigration and much more.
11: Visit The Bronx Zoo
Admission to the Bronx Zoo is free on Wednesdays at one of the oldest and biggest zoos in the United States. Opened in 1899 and now welcoming over 2 million visitors each year, it encompasses almost 300 acres and is home to over 650 different species, including gorillas, birds of prey, tigers, elephants, anacondas, bison, and much more! It’s a great place to visit, especially with kids.
12: Attend A TV Show Taping
If you’re planning your trip in advance, try getting tickets to a TV taping. Shows like Saturday Night Live, The View, Late Night with Stephen Colbert, The Daily Show, Last Week Tonight, and Late Night with Jimmy Fallon all offer free tickets.
But they need to be reserved in advance, as there is a limited number, so be sure to submit requests for multiple shows to increase your chances of securing one or more. See each show’s website for details and to make reservations.
13: See Federal Hall
Federal Hall is one of the most overlooked museums in town. Originally built in 1700, it is where George Washington took his oath of office (you can see the Bible he was sworn in on). It was also the site of the US Customs House in the late 1700s and was the first capitol building of the United States.
The original building was demolished in 1812; the current one dates to 1842. I especially love the old vaults. Best of all, admission is free!
14: Walk The Brooklyn Bridge
The Brooklyn Bridge is one of the world’s most iconic sights. It offers an easy 25-minute stroll into (or out of) Brooklyn, though expect to spend closer to 40 minutes if you stop to snap photos. You’ll get a wonderful panorama of Manhattan as you make your way across — especially if you go at night when the skyline is all lit up. (There are fewer crowds then too.)
15: Explore Grand Central Terminal
Aside from being a transit hub, Grand Central is also a landmark and an attraction unto itself. The main concourse is 88,000 square feet, which on sunny days is bathed in sunlight from its giant arching windows.
The terminal’s 12-story-high ceiling is painted with stars and gilded zodiac constellations. This station also has incredible food and drink options, including its famous oyster bar and The Campbell Bar (a cocktail bar).
Extra Money-Saving Tips For NYC
To help you save a few extra bucks during your visit to New York City, here are some money-saving tips to keep your budget under control:
- Get a MetroCard -You’ll be taking the subway a lot in New York, and fares can add up. Get an unlimited MetroCard and save yourself a bundle. A week’s pass pays for itself after 11 trips, which you can easily make, even if you are only visiting for a few days.
- Hit happy hours -NYC is awash in $1-2 oyster happy hours, $4 drink specials, bottomless brunches, and much, much more. Some of my favorite spots include: The Mermaid Inn, Jeffery’s Grocery, Carroll Place, Ofrenda, and The Frying Pan.
- Eat cheap – Between the food carts, dollar-a-slice pizza shops (literally $1 for a cheese slice), kebab joints, and ethnic eateries, you can eat really affordably in New York. Some of my favorites are The Dead Rabbit (cheap oyster happy hours), Percy’s Pizza ($1 slices), Noodle Q (Chinese food in big portions), and Gray’s Papaya (cheap hotdogs).
- Get a discount pass -If you’re planning on seeing a lot of the main attractions, get a discount pass. The CityPASS, the Explorer Pass, and the New York Pass all offer discounts to the main sights, such as the Empire State Building, Top of the Rock (the observatory at Rockefeller Center), the 9/11 Museum, the Met, and more. Passes start around $100 USD, so you’ll need to make sure you’re going to see a lot to get your money’s worth.
- Embrace the sharing economy -NYC has a huge Couchsurfing community. As long as you send your request well in advance, you shouldn’t have a problem finding someone to host you for a couple of days. This will drastically cut down on your accommodation costs. If staying with a stranger isn’t your cup of tea, there are also plenty of fun, cheap hostels too.
While it’s an expensive destination, there are tons of free and cheap things to do in New York that won’t blow your budget.
Follow the list of above, fill your days (and nights) with fun, and leave with memories…and not an empty wallet. ★
| Travel Planning Resources For New York |
|---|
| Packing Guide Check out my travel gear guide to help you start packing for your trip. Book Your Flight Ready to fly? Here’s how I find the cheapest airline flights. Rent A Car Discover Cars is a great site for comparing car prices to find a deal. Cheap Accommodation Learn how I save money booking hotels & vacation apartments. Protect Your Trip Don’t forget travel insurance! Protect yourself from possible injury & theft abroad. Read why you should always carry travel insurance. |
READ MORE UNITED STATES TRAVEL TIPS
I hope you enjoyed this guide on the best things to do in New York City! Hopefully you found it useful. Here are a few more wanderlust-inducing articles that I recommend you read next:
- Awesome New York City Helicopter Flight
- The Best Of Key West, Florida
- Canoeing Minnesota’s Boundary Waters
- My Asheville North Carolina Travel Guide
- Exploring Hawaii’s Grand Canyon
Have any questions about things to do in New York City? What about other suggestions? Drop me a message in the comments below!
This is a post from The Expert Vagabond adventure blog.
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Tuesday, June 15, 2021
The Ultimate 3-Day Seattle Itinerary
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Thursday, June 10, 2021
The Ultimate One-Week San Diego Itinerary
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Wednesday, June 9, 2021
Visiting The Famous Shipwreck Beach In Zakynthos, Greece
Navagio Beach (aka Shipwreck Cove) on the Greek Island of Zakynthos is arguably one of the most beautiful beaches in the world! Here’s how to see shipwreck beach for yourself.
The island of Zakynthos off the southwest coast of Greece is one of the country’s quieter islands. However it has one particularly incredible highlight called Navagio Beach (also known as Shipwreck Beach). A sandy little cove surrounded by towering limestone cliffs — plus the rusting remains of an old shipwreck.
This stunning Greek beach surrounded by brilliant blue ocean water is an Instagram favorite, and many travelers include Zakynthos on their itinerary specifically to visit this amazing beach in Greece.
We spent 3-days exploring Zakynthos with a rental car, including a few trips to Shipwreck Beach, and wanted to put together a little guide for you.
Shipwreck Beach Boat Tour
Board a glass-bottom speedboat to visit the famous Navagio Shipwreck beach, plus the scenic Navagio cliff-top viewpoint.
Where Is Shipwreck Beach?
Shipwreck Beach, known locally as Navagio Beach, is located on the North West corner of Zakynthos Island. The island is about 250 km west of Athens in the Ionian Sea.
To reach Zakynthos, you can fly directly from Athens or take a ferry from Kyllini on the mainland. Ferries to Zakynthos run 7 times per day between 5:30am and 10:30pm and cost about €50 per person each way.
How To Get To Shipwreck Beach
Cliff Top Viewpoints
The most popular postcard photos of Shipwreck Beach come from the top of the 200 meter (650 ft) tall cliffs that overlook it, rather than on the beach itself. While the beach is awesome to visit in person, the views from the cliffs are much more spectacular.
However keep in mind that Navagio beach is located on another side of the island from the capital city of Zakynthos (same name as the island). So the best way to get out there is to either rent a car, like we did, or find a tour company that will take you out there in a van. It’s also possible to hire a taxi from the capital, but it will cost around €100 EURO round trip.
The drive from Zakynthos town out to Navagio Beach takes about 45 minutes. Once there, you’ll head down an entrance road to the parking area, where there are a few stalls selling food, ice cream, drinks, and souvenirs. Parking is free.
The Viewing Platform
There is an official viewing platform located right below the parking area. It’s safe, secure, and there’s usually a long line to get a photo.
However the photos you get from this platform are not that great! You don’t get a full view of the whole beach. Tourism officials really need to improve this platform if they want to avoid people from walking out on the side trail… where the view is much better.
The Cliff Walk
To reach the best place to get photos of Shipwreck Beach, you need to go for a little hike. Beside the viewing platform (to the right) there is a fenced off area, with a single entrance (and plenty of warning signs).
Walking out this way, you’ll find a rough path that leads away from the parking lot and tourist shops. The path is not really maintained, and probably isn’t safe for older people or super little kids. It’s a long walk over jagged rocks, in the hot sun, with no benches or shade nearby.
Visiting The Beach By Boat
To actually step foot on the beautiful secluded Greek beach at Shipwreck Cove, there’s only one way. By boat. There are multiple tour companies that offer affordable boat trips to this most famous beach in Greece.
Some of these boats leave from the nearby town of Agios Nikolaos (where you can even rent and captain your own boat, if you have experience), but others start directly in Zakynthos Town.
During the boat trip to Navagio Beach (Shipwreck Cove), you’ll also visit other beautiful places off the Zakynthos coast, like the Blue Caves and Xygia Sulfur Beach.
Keep in mind that Shipwreck Beach is the most popular tourist attraction on the island, so the beach gets pretty packed. And you won’t actually get to spend too much time on the beach itself (about 20 minutes), as they shuttle tourists in and out throughout the day.
To visit the beach with the fewest number of people, or to stay as long as possible, take the earliest tour you can — or even better, rent a private boat.
USEFUL TIP: Boat trips to Navagio Beach can sometimes be canceled or delayed due to strong waves or bad weather. So just keep that in mind when planning your trip.
History Of The Shipwreck
So, where did the shipwreck at Shipwreck Cove come from? On October 2nd, 1980 a 157 foot shipping vessel known as the MV Panagiotis ran aground here.
Apparently the ship was smuggling cigarettes from Turkey for the Italian mafia when the Greek Navy started chasing it in bad weather. The crew ditched the boat in Navagio cove to try and get away. Ever since the crash, its rusting hulk has been slowly falling apart.
It’s also why the beach is sometimes referred to as “Smuggler’s Cove” too.
While Navagio Beach was already beautiful on its own, the addition of the abandoned shipwreck adds an element of mystery and intrigue to the beach. Like right out of some kind of pirate tale!
Staying Safe On The Cliffs
Over the last few years there have been a few tragic tourist deaths from the 200 meter tall limestone cliffs above shipwreck cove. Like all popular tourist destinations, you’ll always get some people pushing the limits of what’s safe, or just not thinking at all.
There is a memorial bench that has been built out near the end of the trail, but contrary to popular belief, it’s NOT for someone who died falling from these cliffs. Dennis Arvanitakis was an Australian of Greek descent who died in Spain, and his family from the island built this monument because it was his favorite spot.
However the cliffs around Zakynthos could be treacherous if you get too close to the edge. Occasionally sections of rock crumble away into the ocean below due to geology and natural erosion. Winds can pick up suddenly, or people can simply lose their balance.
So if you do decide to hike out to the best viewpoint, just make sure to stay far enough away from the bleeding edge of the cliff. You can still get plenty of amazing photos from a safe distance! ★
Shipwreck Beach Boat Tour
Board a glass-bottom speedboat to visit the famous Navagio Shipwreck beach, plus the scenic Navagio cliff-top viewpoint.
Bonus Video: Base Jumping Shipwreck Beach!
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| Travel Planning Resources For Greece |
|---|
| Packing Guide Check out my travel gear guide to help you start packing for your trip. Book Your Flight Ready to fly? Here’s how I find the cheapest airline flights. Rent A Car Discover Cars is a great site for comparing car prices to find a deal. Cheap Accommodation Learn how I save money booking hotels & vacation apartments. Protect Your Trip Don’t forget travel insurance! Protect yourself from possible injury & theft abroad. Read why you should always carry travel insurance. |
READ MORE GREECE TRAVEL TIPS
I hope you enjoyed my guide on visiting Shipwreck Beach in Greece! Hopefully you found it useful. Here are a few more wanderlust-inducing articles that I recommend you read next:
- What To Do In Athens – A Travel Guide
- Tips For Renting Cars In Greece
- Saving Money On Flights With Mistake Fares
- Best Online Photography Courses
- How To Pick A Travel Rewards Credit Card
Is there anything else you want to know about Shipwreck Beach on Zakynthos? Drop me a message in the comments below!
This is a post from The Expert Vagabond adventure blog.
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Monday, June 7, 2021
The Ultimate 4-Day Los Angeles Itinerary
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Saturday, June 5, 2021
Tips for Visiting Disneyland with COVID-19 Restrictions
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Thursday, June 3, 2021
The Best Personal Training App for Frequent Travelers
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