New York sells itself vertically — four observation decks at similar prices. Its best hours are spent at street level, and most of them cost nothing.
The free water
The Staten Island Ferry. Free, around the clock, 25 minutes each way, passing the Statue of Liberty on both legs. The best free view in New York by a wide margin.
Disembark at Staten Island and re-board for the return.
The Roosevelt Island tram, which is public transport on a MetroCard and crosses the East River at height.
The Brooklyn Bridge, walked from the Brooklyn side toward Manhattan so the skyline is ahead of you. Early morning avoids the crush.
The neighbourhoods
Greenwich Village and the West Village — the one part of Manhattan that escaped the grid, with irregular streets and low buildings.
The Lower East Side and Chinatown, adjacent and both dense.
Harlem — the Apollo, the brownstones, and Sunday gospel services which welcome respectful visitors.
Across the river, where the food is:
Williamsburg and Greenpoint in Brooklyn. Astoria in Queens for Greek food. Jackson Heights for South Asian and Latin American. Flushing for the best Chinese food in the city, better than Manhattan's Chinatown.
The museums
The Metropolitan Museum — pay-what-you-wish for New York State residents and students from neighbouring states, fixed price otherwise. The ticket covers The Cloisters uptown on the same day, which most visitors never realise.
MoMA, the Whitney, the Guggenheim in its Wright spiral.
The American Museum of Natural History.
The Tenement Museum on the Lower East Side — guided tours through restored immigrant apartments, and one of the best things in the city.
Several museums have free evening hours on specific days, which change — check current policy.
The parks
Central Park, larger than most visitors realise. Enter away from the southern corner — the Ramble, the Reservoir loop and the North Woods are the quiet parts.
The High Line, an elevated park on a disused freight line.
Prospect Park in Brooklyn, by the same designers as Central Park and, some argue, better.
Brooklyn Bridge Park and DUMBO for the classic skyline view.
The paid things worth it
Top of the Rock, if you want one deck — because it looks at the Empire State Building with Central Park behind it.
The 9/11 Museum — the memorial pools outside are free.
A Broadway show, with same-day discounts at TKTS or through the digital lotteries most shows run.
Practical
The subway runs 24 hours. Contactless tapping works and caps weekly.
Menu prices exclude tax, and tipping around 18–20% is expected.
Blocks are uneven — twenty north-south blocks is roughly a mile; crosstown blocks are much longer.