Cheap Sites: New York City

For some odd reason, uneducated tourists tend to treat New York like a playground, where money is no object and they don't need to think about how much they spend. They end up leaving the city penniless, effectively having emptied their entire wallet's contents into Times Square. But, before you take that carriage ride through Central Park, hop on the Sex and the City bus tour, or pay full price for a Broadway show, check out our tips. There are plenty of things to do in New York that give the full experience and won't leave you bankrupt.

Outdoors
Take a walk through Central Park or window shop on Fifth Avenue. New York is the perfect city for wandering, which gives you the opportunity you see the real New York, where people live and work. Create your own guided walking tour, or just go where the wind takes you.

Museums
Take advantage of free days, and if you are a student, by all means bring your ID. There are plenty of discounts or free times to visit. Some notable ones are the Museum of Modern Art's free Friday evenings, the Guggenheim "pay what you wish" on Friday evenings, as well, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art's entrance fee is flexible, as it is pay what you can afford.

Theater
It's not difficult to get a discounted ticket to a show, you just need a little planning. You've probably seen the discount tkts lines in Times Square, but deals can be found elsewhere. NewYorkology highlights a great $20 ticket deal for Off-Broadway shows that is going on now.

Want more ideas? Check out Club Free Time NYC for more ideas for free events around the city and leave your favorite free or inexpensive activities in the comments.