Your parents are paying $40,000 a year for you to sleep through class, your hipster jeans cost more than rent on a studio apartment—but now the Bwog offers you a way to see the city: for free.
Some of our favorite haunts:

Highline
Beginning around 34th Street near 10th Avenue (which used to be called Death Avenue until the Highline was built in 1934, thus removing train traffic from ground level), this over-ground railroad bed continues south for about 22 blocks (just over a mile). Going there is free because it’s technically illegal, but if you manage to get on and avoid the trespassing fees, you’ll get one of the greatest views New York City has to offer.

Music
For those looking for a cheap way to impress a lunch date: Julliard has free concerts almost daily during the school year at the Lincoln Center. Concerts usually begin at 1 p.m. Call 212-769-7406 or visit Julliard’s online calendar for more details.

Kayaks
The Downtown Boathouse offers free kayaking weekends and weekday evenings. The Boathouse is entirely volunteer-run and is funded exclusively by donations. Pier 26 is in TriBeCa halfway between Canal and Chambers streets. Pier 64 is in Chelsea at West 24th Street.

Ice Skating
When it finally gets cold again, throw on your skates and head to Sixth Avenue between 41st and 42nd Streets. Byrant Park, once full of drug dealers and shady dealings, now offers free ice skating (though not free to those who don’t own skates).

– Amanda Erickson