Growing up in the slow paced town of Chapel Hill, the hustle and bustle of a big city has always held a certain allure to me. Ever since I visited NYC for the first time in 8th grade, I still can’t help but dream that I’ll end up living in the Big Apple for a couple of years after I graduate. There’s just something about being around so many different types of people living such different lifestyles in a hectic city that’s invigorating and mysterious all at the same time.

This month I took a trip to NYC to get my student visa for Denmark and stayed a few extra days to spend time with friends. I took the time to wander the city and take advantage of all the free things the city has to offer — here are a few ideas for you if you find yourself wanting to experience Manhattan without breaking the bank:

Broadway Bites: food at your fingertips

While exploring the city, I stumbled upon something called Broadway Bites. I had no idea what it was when I found it — I was just looking for a quiet place outside to read a book — but as soon as I spotted it, I had to take the time to walk around. Broadway Bites is a seasonal pop-up culinary market where you can walk around and buy pretty much any kind of food you want. The day I was there, there was everything from Vietnamese spring rolls to southern style BBQ. I grabbed a couple of French macarons, a tiramisu macaron and a lemon-basil macaron, both delicious.

The High Line and Chelsea Market

I took an afternoon to walk along the High Line, a free public park “walkway” before my flight back home. The High Line is connected to the Chelsea Market, an artsy-foodie area that is great for people watching and trying all different types of food. This area of the city is more hipster than uptown or Times Square, with lots of eateries and local artists showing off their work. Piece of advice — avoid the High Line on summer weekends! Too many tourists and hot, sunny weather don’t make for the most enjoyable experience — no matter how many delicious popsicles you eat. I first went on a Saturday, but decided to go back on a quieter Monday afternoon.

The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)

The MoMA is one of my favorite museums because 1) there’s always an awesome special exhibit, 2) it’s a relatively easy museum to walk through, and 3) even if you’re not an art or history connoisseur (aka like me), the MoMA has art that pulls you in and makes you question what the heck you’re looking at. Admission is free into the museum every Friday from 4-8pm, just make sure to get in line early! When I went, there was already a long line at 3. Rest assured though, the line moves pretty quickly if you don’t want to get there that early.

Central Park

Last, but certainly not least: Central Park. One of my absolute favorite places in the world, it’s a quiet haven away from honking taxis and busy intersections. Central Park is the best place for people watching, for napping, for tanning, for reading, for spending a day alone, or for spending a day with friends. Since the park spans from 59th street to 110th street, so it’s never too far away. If you’re by Columbus Circle on 59th street, stop in for some fantastic window shopping and pick up some snacks to bring to the park.