I just want to let people who are coming to new york about a few things...If this post topic needs to be moved/condensed into another thread so be it...

1. Most of the major museums are FREE. Yes ladies and gentlemen FREE...Museums like the Metropolotian Museum of Art and the National History Museum among other public museums are free. Now you are probably saying to yourself "Well my friend went and paid 20 USD?" Unfortunately that is the case with many of the approximate 47-48 million visitors New York City receives each year. People have a tough time with things that are free, they feel there is a catch or that it can't be true. If you go to the MET and read the ticket information board carefully you will see in smaller print "These are suggested DONATIONS." This means that if you walked up and asked for a ticket and said that you want to give 1 usd or make no donation, they HAVE to give you a ticket. Now I am not advocating starving this fabulous and probably my favorite museum from money, but if money is tight and you are traveling on a tight budget in NYC, head up to the MET and get your ticket and understand that it is NOT 20USD if you cannot afford it. I have given as little as $2-3...I may go more than others do but that is perfectly acceptable.

2. On another note, the best FREE attractions in NYC on a clear day is taking the Staten Island Ferry. The ferry is free, sure it goes to Staten Island, but you get a fantastic view of lower manhattan and is easily the best free attraction in NYC.

The Met is free except for special exhibits.

The American Museum of Natural History CAN be free, unless you get snagged by their planetarium show or their special exhibitions. They're pretty good, actually. If you do get snagged, it will cost you up to thirty dollars.

For the most part, forget about the Guggenheim. I've been there three times in three years, and have been disapointed every single time.

MOMA costs 23 dollars, and can be worth it. The building is quite spectacular, and they even have movies running.

MOMA is free from 4 to 6 on Fridays. Get there early, the line can be long, and yes, Moma is definitely worth seeing for free, and in a more relaxed fashion for the money.

The best view of the Brooklyn bridge is from the Fulton Street Fish Market. Theres a pier you can see the bridge from that is free.

For more such tips, see "Cheap and Free in NYC"

I have this thing where I like to check out hotel lobbies. The last lobbey I walked around was in the Fairmont Copley Plaza in Boston. Is there a tour in New York for strange people like me?

JulieSteal wrote:I have this thing where I like to check out hotel lobbies. The last lobbey I walked around was in the Fairmont Copley Plaza in Boston. Is there a tour in New York for strange people like me?

I guess you can create your own tour. The Grand Lobbies of yesteryears are fast fading away.

MOMA is free on friday nights, and now i think it's 4 to 8pm BUT CHECK!

Why not hop on the subway to another amazing borough and visit Brooklyn? The Brooklyn Museum of Art is awesome, and the first Saturday of every month it is free and has a ton of really cool events and special things happening.

Also, I love the Brooklyn Promenade. You get really great views of Manhattan and from there it's only a hop, skip and a jump away from Dumbo, great views of the bridges and amazing pizza.

For some cool graffiti, check out Five Points in Long Island City. Just take the 7 train out of manhattan, towards queens, and you'll see a whole lot of cool graffiti just looking out the window!

If you continue on the just-mentioned #7 train to 111th St, you can go to the New York Hall of Science http://www.nyscience.org/, which is free on Fridays from 2-5, September to June. A short walk from there is one of NYC's more impressive landmarks, the Unisphere from the '63 World's Fair (not to mention the flying saucers from Men in Black.