Bella's Log

Traveling can be expensive, especially in a big city.

What if I told you a secret? You can travel to New York City and explore local and national landmarks without breaking the bank. 

Here are ten places you can visit in Lower Manhattan for free or at a low cost.

1. The Battery

The Battery is a beautiful waterfront park located in the southernmost part of the island of Manhattan. The park is a hub for many historical landmarks. First, you can find Castle Clinton, which served as an immigration center before the establishment of Ellis Island. Not far from the castle, you will ind The American Merchant Mariners Memorial, which is based on a merchant ship attacked by a Nazi U-boat. The ship was photographed by the Germans as the sailors clung to their ship. A few steps ahead, The East Coast Memorial commemorates the services of all American soldiers who died in the Atlantic during WWII.

Next, you will find the Statue of Giovanni da Verrazzano, an Italian explorer who was the first European to set sight on New York. Last but not least, you will find the Netherland Monument. It memorializes the settlement of Manhattan by the Dutch. This settlement established what would later become New York City.

2. Ferry to Staten Island

From The Battery, you can take the 5 to 10-minute walk to the Staten Island Ferry Terminal. You can take the free, 25-minute ferry ride to Staten Island, pass very close to the Statue of Liberty, and take pictures from the boat. Note that this is an actual transportation method for Staten Island and Manhattan residents, so you will want to avoid taking the trip during rush hour, typically 7 am to 9 am and 5 pm to 7 pm. Many people take this ferry to see the Statue of Liberty, so you should find a spot as soon as you get on the ferry where you can see the statue without obstruction. If you cannot take good pictures on the way to Staten Island, you will have another chance when you take the next returning ferry to Manhattan. Visit https://siferry.com/schedules/ to view the ferry schedule.

3. Alexander Hamilton U.S. Customs House

From the Staten Island Ferry terminal in Manhattan, walk alongside Battery Park until you reach the Bowling Green plaza. This will be a 10-15 minute walk. There, you will find the Alexander Hamilton U.S. Customs House, erected in the early 1900s and registered as a US National Historic Landmark. The four statues by the front staircase represent the continents of Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Americas. According to the New York Landmarks Conservancy website, it is free to visit the National Museum of the American Indian located inside the Customs House.

4. Charging Bull

On the other side of Bowling Green, you will find the famous Charging Bull. This 7000-pound bronze sculpture has become the symbol of the New York Financial District since 1989, representing its power, prosperity, and ferocity. The bull is on Bowling Green’s grounds in the open air, so there is no fee to access it or take a picture.

5. Trinity Church

The Charging Bull faces Manhattan’s famous Broadway Avenue. Walk up Broadway, and you will find the Trinity Church and Cemetery. Founded in the late 1600s, Trinity Church is a registered US National Historic Landmark as it was an important site during the American Revolution. The Trinity Cemetery is the resting place of notorious New York historical figures Alexander Hamilton and John Watts Jr. Both graves are visible from the street. Trinity Church is a piece of history preserved in the modern city.

6. New York Stock Exchange & Federal Hall

Trinity Church faces directly towards Wall Street. The street gained its name because it was the location of an actual wall constructed during the Dutch colonial times to protect the colony. The Wall Street area houses the New York Stock Exchange building, the world’s largest stock market, and the Federal Hall building, where George Washington was inaugurated as the United States’ first President. According to the National Park Service website, the Federal Hall building entrance is free.

7. 9/11 Memorial

Heading northeast from Wall Street, you will find the 9/11 Memorial and Museum. The site serves as a remembrance of the lives lost during the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and the February 26, 1993 bombings. The pools are located on the towers’ site, and each pool is bordered by parapets containing the names of those in the towers, the airplanes, and the first responders who died at the site. The plaza also houses the survivor tree, a Callery pear tree recovered from the wreckage and brought back to health by the New York City Parks Department. Entrance to the 9/11 Memorial and Plaza is free. You can find prices for museum tickets here. 

The One World Trade Center building stands tall next to the 9/11 Memorial Plaza. The building is 1,776 feet tall, representing the year the United States declared its independence. One World Trade Center is the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere, and its name is that of the Twin Towers’ North building.

8. Oculus World Trade Center

Walking East from the 9/11 Memorial Plaza, you will find the Oculus building with the Westfield Mall. Its design symbolizes a hand releasing a dove. The architect expressed to Architectural Digest that he wanted the building to “deliver a feeling of hope” after the terrorist attacks of 9/11. I experienced his vision when I first visited the Oculus while the 9/11 Memorial was still under construction. The dove-shaped building rose above the surrounding scaffolding like a phoenix rising from the ashes.

According to the World Trade Center’s official website, the building is “in alignment with the sun’s solar angles on each September 11, from 8:46 am, when the first plane struck, until 10:28 am, when the second tower collapsed. Its central skylight fits this alignment and washes the Oculus floor with a beam of light.” Entrance to the Oculus is free and you can visit any store inside. Whether you plan to purchase something or not, seeing the Oculus in person from inside and out is an unforgettable experience.

9. Brooklyn Bridge

From the Oculus building, you will have a 15 to 20-minute walk to the Brooklyn Bridge. The Brooklyn Bridge is another US National Historic Landmark located in Lower Manhattan. The bridge’s iconic arches have become a symbol of the city of New York and have been featured in multiple movies, shows, and paintings. The bridge accommodates pedestrians, cyclists, and passenger vehicles. Walking the bridge one way will take approximately 30-40 minutes. There is no fee to enter the Brooklyn Bridge promenade and once you are there, you have a unique view of the city; perfect for pictures.

10. Brooklyn Bridge Park

Once you exit the Bridge on the Brooklyn side, head westward until you reach the park.  There you will find the famous Van Leeuwen Ice Cream shop. Grab an ice cream and walk to the pier, giving you a great view of the Brooklyn Bridge with Lower Manhattan as the backdrop.

Visiting New York City doesn’t have to break your wallet. The city has a lot of history and attractions that are free and open to the public. In my next article, I will share more ideas about exploring other parts of the city on a low budget. 

Have you visited any of these attractions? What tips would you give others visiting Lower Manhattan? Share in the comments!