🗽 New York · printable plan
Budget NYC: Free & Cheap Eats
By TopVacay @topvacay. Prices last checked 2026-10-27. Totals are estimates: $3,243 for 3 travelers.
Recomputed from the price lines stored on each trip. No live hotel, ticket, or airfare feed is connected.
Day by day
Day 1
Staten Island Ferry is free and the view is great.
- Morning · 7-Day Unlimited Subway (OMNY)
- Morning · Staten Island Ferry
- Afternoon · Joe's Pizza
- Evening · Comedy Cellar
- Overnight · Pod Times Square
Day 2
Chelsea Market lunch for under $15.
- Morning · High Line Walk
- Afternoon · Chelsea Market Food Crawl
- Evening · Katz's Delicatessen
- Overnight · Pod Times Square
Day 3
Pizza count: 6 slices.
- Morning · Brooklyn Bridge Walk & DUMBO
- Afternoon · Central Park Picnic & Sheep Meadow
- Evening · Joe's Pizza
- Overnight · Pod Times Square
Day 4
Kayaking was free! Bring a towel.
- Morning · Hudson River Kayaking
- Afternoon · Levain Bakery
- Evening · 230 Fifth Rooftop Bar
- Overnight · Pod Times Square
Day 5
Blue Note late set is cheaper.
- Morning · Central Park Bike Tour
- Afternoon · Russ & Daughters Café
- Evening · Blue Note Jazz Club
Packing
- Comfortable walking shoesThe plan is on foot more than in a car.
- Day bagA small bag holds the water, the layer, and the tickets.
- Light layerMuseums and evenings run cooler than the street.
- Compact umbrellaA short rain should not cancel the afternoon.
Reserve ahead
- American 1021day 1 once you set dates · Hold the seats before the fare you estimated moves.
- Delta 1183day 5 once you set dates · Hold the seats before the fare you estimated moves.
- Pod Times Squareday 1 once you set dates · This is the room for that night. Reserve it before you count on the rate.
- Pod Times Squareday 2 once you set dates · This is the room for that night. Reserve it before you count on the rate.
- Pod Times Squareday 3 once you set dates · This is the room for that night. Reserve it before you count on the rate.
- Pod Times Squareday 4 once you set dates · This is the room for that night. Reserve it before you count on the rate.
- Central Park Bike Tourday 5 once you set dates · Buy the ticket for this day so the morning is not spent in a ticket line.