Welcome to the 1st of our 4-part series of videos New York Habitat will be posting in the coming weeks dedicated to showing you tons of things you can do in New York City for FREE.

Click above to watch this video on Free Views of New York (2:40)

Of course, if you’re goal is to spend a lot of money, New York City is certainly a place to do just that.  But what if you want to come to New York without breaking the bank?  We’ve got good news for you; there are lots of things you can do in this city that are absolutely free.

You can start saving money even before you arrive by renting a New York fully furnished apartment through our company.  With hundreds of apartments that are cheaper than hotels in the city, a vacation rental in New York makes  sense for the budget-minded traveler.  In a future video we’ll talk more about this.  Just keep in mind that, dollar-for-dollar, you’ll get more and pay less.

The Staten Island Ferry:
Once you’ve settled into your apartment, it’s time to do some free stuff.  One of the most well known free activities in New York City is the Staten Island Ferry.  Known as “One of the world’s greatest (and shortest) water voyages”, the Staten Island Ferry provides service to around 60,000 passengers a day not including weekends).  The Ferry runs between St. George on Staten Island and Whitehall Street in lower Manhattan… and it’s completely free!

With its majestic views of Lower Manhattan, New York Harbor and the Statue of Liberty, this boat ride is completely free.

Free Ikea water taxi:
Another fun (and free) boat ride is the Ikea water taxi.  It runs shoppers back and forth between Ikea in Brooklyn and Pier 11 in the Financial District.  You’ll have some great views along the way.

Battery Park:
Another great place to check out is the southern most tip of Manhattan.  There you’ll find Battery Park – a 25 acre green space with great views of the Statue of Liberty.  This is also where you can catch the ferry to go see lady liberty up close.  But for that, my friends, you’ll have to pay…

If you’d like to make lower Manhattan your base of operations during your trip to New York, consider this Bed and Breakfast in Soho (NY-9572).  It’s located in SoHo,  a neighborhood with lots of nice apartments and plenty of galleries, boutiques, restaurants, bars and coffee shops.

If you need more room, this 2-bedroom Accommodation in Tribeca (NY-12877) will keep you in the heart of the action.

The Tram at Roosevelt Island: (59th St and 2nd Ave)
Of course, if you’re starting to get sea sick from the free boat rides, why not take to the sky? The Roosevelt Island Tram is ALMOST free.  You’ll pay the same price as a subway ride.  It spans the East River and connects Roosevelt Island to Manhattan.

Brooklyn Promenade:
Everyone knows that the Empire State building offers one of the best views of New York, but where can you get some more great, and free, views of the city?

Hop on the subway and head to Brooklyn, a borough with plenty of original and cozy accommodations.

Just south of the Brooklyn Bridge you’ll find the Brooklyn Promenade, which is a 1/3-mile long walkway that provides a fantastic place to stroll along with some of the most stunning views of the Manhattan skyline.

So as you can see, for a few dollars in subway and tram fares, you’ve got a few days worth of cool things to do – all for free.  Be sure to check out other videos where we’ll show you even more things to do for free in this great city.  If you know of other free and fun things to do in New York, please share them in the comments sections below.

In our next article we will discuss more Free things to do in New York, and we will focus on Museums and Music.