Our September 2006 cover, shot by Jonas Karlsson.

by Wendy Perrin

A couple of days ago I posted a thank-you to National Geographic Traveler's Web site for compiling a nifty list of great things to do in New York City for free.  Then I removed it because a cyberrific reader pointed out that the site that actually deserves our thanks is NYCVisit.com, the home of New York City's tourist board. NGT's list is remarkably similar to the tourist board's, only less comprehensive. 

As a native New Yorker born and raised in midtown, I grew up doing many of these free things myself -- from Friday-night films at the Museum of Modern Art to afternoons at the Sony Wonder Technology Lab to evening concerts in Central Park. The list includes many attractions, museums, walking tours, cultural institutions and events you should not miss -- even if you've got money to burn.

For a list of NYC activities that cost money but are well worth the price -- from kayaking on the Hudson River past the Statue of Liberty to flying through the air on a trapeze with views of Manhattan's skyline -- see Conde Nast Traveler's Insider's Guide to New York City. You can also see the slide show that tells the story of how we managed to shoot movie star Naomi Watts standing on one of the Chrysler Building's gargoyles for our September cover.