New York free/cheap activities at Xmas

[Stellaellaella]

We are going pre Xmas with two teens, staying in Brooklyn just by the bridge. I’m aware we’ll be spending a ton of money on food and transport etc but wondered who has been at that time and recommend free/cheap things to do? We know about the Xmas lights at Dyker Heights, and obviously will want to see the lights in Manhattan in the stores etc. Any other budget ideas?
Also what is the cheapest way to eat?! We have breakfast included at hotel and have budgeted for a couple of nicer dinners. Are we best going to fast food places for other meals, or sandwiches/salads from supermarkets? Is that a thing?
Thanks for your help! None of us have been before.

Take the Staten Island Ferry - it's just public transport, and is either free, or on a subway ticket or similar low cost - but it goes as close to the statue of liberty as many of tour boats.

Ellen's Starlight Diner is a fun place to eat that is not too £! It's just off Broadway, and the waitstaff are all wanna-be show stars. They stop work to sing and dance from time to time, in case any talent spotters are in!

I was blown away by just how amazing the Hudson River cruise can be, it was by far the cheapest attraction but saw everything from the water.

Grand Central Station is worth a visit.

Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge (from Brooklyn to Manhattan gives a better view than the other way round)

Statten Island Ferry to see the Statue of Liberty

Central Park - watch the ice skaters / horses and carriages

Window shopping at Bloomingdale's / Macy's and other big stores

Times Square

Ride the Subway

Rockefeller Centre - big Christmas trees and ice rink

Mooch around Greenwich village / Chinatown / Little Italy

Thank you! This is brilliant! Taking notes.

If you're staying in Brooklyn you could eat at the TimeOut market in Dumbo. Probably not the cheapest but lots of choice in an indoor-market setting and you are in a great spot for views of Manhattan from under Brooklyn Bridge.

Also, the 9/11 Memorial Garden is free and I highly recommend it. You can then pop into the Occulus shopping centre - it's an amazing new building near the 9/11 site.

And you should walk the High Line - a wonderful converted disused railway line that connects to the Whitney Museum

We ate lots at the breakfast buffet, maybe just a pretzel from a cart etc if we were hungry mid day then got takeaway pizza on an evening (they are huge)

Get Lord Alli to pay for your accommodation, then you'll have plenty of spending money 😉

Went in August with 2 (hungry) teens.
Walk the highline and stop at Chelsea Market to eat. Loads of choices.
Time out market in Brooklyn has tons of options too. We had Grimaldi’s pizza in Brooklyn too.
We ate at Chick Fil A, pizza takeaways and Whole Foods salad bar and sushi when we wanted healthy options.

East river NYC ferry and Hudson NYC ferries both cheap and great experience/views. $27.50 for 10 ride tickets and a family can share the 10.

Other favourite was MoMA art museum (kids 16 and under go free).

Margaritaville in Times Square has a rooftop bar called 5o’clock somewhere. We took the kids up for a drink and a great view/photo’s for the cost of a few 7ups/beers. Can see the ball that drops on NYE.

Apple Store on Fifth Ave by Central Park was high on the kids list of sights too. It’s not far from Tiffany’s, Trump Towers, St Patrick’s, Plaza Hotel so a nice spot to look around.

There's ice skating and a Christmas market in Bryant Park behind New York Public Library.

Holiday Light Show at Saks Fifth Avenue.

The urbanspace food halls have good food selection and not too expensive.

Wrap up warm - New York can be really cold and windy.

The public library is free and is amazing. Has a treasures section to look at too for free. Next door is Bryant park which is free too lots of activities and fun to just look round and have a coffee. Washington square park was a great place to just sit and people watch. There is so much going on there and so many interesting characters.

subways are cheap and easy way to get round. If you want to see a show cheap they have rush tickets for sale on the day. You just have to he there early and line up.

make sure you fill up at breakfast. I would take an extra piece of fruit and muffin from breakfast with me to have for morning tea. Didn’t really have lunch just maybe an ice cream or something small and then have dinner early.

Thank you. These are all great tips! We’re staying in Brooklyn as the cost was the same as the Manhattan hotel we looked at but included breakfast buffet which has great reviews and I think with two hungry teen boys that will save us so much money!
Excited! I do think just soaking up the pre Xmas atmosphere and people watching will fill up a lot of our time.

We are used to the cold luckily. Thanks all!

I did the same thing except we stayed in queens. Included breaky is definitely a good idea.

also the fao Schwartz toy store at the Rockefeller centre is amazing. 3 floors and it’s got magicians and drones flying and all kind of stuff. If you are Harry Potter fans the Harry Potter store is awesome too all decorated really nice and so much cool stuff to look at.

just be aware (as I wasnt) weed is legal there now so manhattan in particular often smells quite strongly as people just walk down the street smoking. Might be worth letting your kids know.

also there is people everywhere selling counterfeit purses. If you are into that kind of thing, but make sure you haggle them down. I bought dsd a purse and they wanted $150 and I got it for $65.

Roosevelt island tram, which is a cable car! Goes from Manhattan to Roosevelt Island on the Hudson, and costs just less the 3 dollars for fab views