Beyond the iconic, show-stopping displays–the grizzly bear in the Hall of North American Mammals, the 94-feet long blue whale, the prehistoric Barosaurus skeleton rearing up as if to scare the adjacent Allosaurus skeleton–is an expertly curated, 150 year old-plus museum that fills visitors of all ages with a curiosity about the universe. Whether you’re interested in the world below our feet, or the cultures of faraway lands or the stars light-years beyond our reach, your visit is bound to teach you a few things you never knew. It's just about $22.99 per person. Therefore, exploring the American Museum of Natural History is one of the things to do in New York City for under $100.

Admission to the museum is a suggested donation, which is great for anyone who wants to see big dinos for little dinero. However, for access to the amazing special exhibits like the annual Butterfly Conservatory or the mesmerizing Space Show in the Hayden Planetarium, you’ll have to shell out more (For one special exhibit $27, students and seniors $22, children $16). Many who are looking to spend the whole day at the museum should consider the Super Saver tickets ($35, students and seniors $28, children $22), which includes admission to as many special exhibits, IMax films and the Space Show as you can feasibly schedule in one day.

Website: amnh.org

Address: Central Park West at 79th St, New York, NY10024

Contact: 212-769-5100

Price: Suggested donation $23, seniors and students $18, children 2–12 $12.50, children under 2 free.

Opening hours: Daily 10am–5:45pm

It would take multiple visits to fully appreciate this sprawling–as in 13 acres sprawling–collection of over 5,000 years of art from every corner of the world. As one of the biggest museums in the world, the gorgeous late 19th century neo-classical institution displays some of the finest examples of art spanning from mummified royalty of ancient times to avant garde fashion couture from last year’s runway. Visitors young and old are mesmerized by the Temple of Dendur, an Egyptian temple from 10 B.C. that was transposed from its Nile-side location to the bright, sun drenched Sackler Wing overlooking a reflective pool. It's just about $25.

Advanced online tickets will allow museum-goers to skip the lines, but, word of warning you’ll have to pay the full suggested donation ($25, seniors $17, students $12). Budget-conscious art fans should come early on weekdays, pay what they wish and come often–the special exhibits change every few months and vary from big-name retrospective block busters to displays of little-known gems.

Website: www.metmuseum.org

Address: 1000 Fifth Ave, New York, NY10028

Contact: 212-535-7710

Price: $25, seniors $17, students $12, members and children under 12 free, NYS residents and tri-state area students, pay what you wish

Opening hours: Mon–Thu, Sun 10am–5:30pm; Fri, Sat 10am–9pm.

There’s no way you could explore all 843 acres of Central Park on foot. Not in one day or even one weekend. To take in as much of the park as possible, rent a bike and cycle up and down the serene paths. You’ll see it all: waterfalls, castles, carousels, bridges and more. It's about $8 per hour.

Map out your next trip to Central Park in New York with our handy rundown of the park’s must-see attractions. Whether you’re looking for free things to do, a serene picnicking spot, an off-the-beaten-path area or a historical monument, we’ve got you covered. You’ll also find the lowdown on tourist attractions—the Central Park Zoo, boat rides on the Lake, the Bow Bridge, Belvedere Castle—that are perfect for out-of-town friends and family. Therefore, renting a bike in Central Park is one of the things to do in New York City for under $100.

Website: bikerentalcentralpark.com

Address: 1391 6th Ave, New York, NY 10019

Contact: (212) 664 9600

Price: $7.5/ hour, $14 (2-hours), $22.4/day. $40 full day bike rental

Opening hours: Mon - Sun: 8am - 9pm

While there is much debate on how Wall Street originally got its name–some claim it was because of a wall the Dutch erected to keep Native Americans away from their growing colony at the southern tip of Manhattan, while others believe it to be an Anglicization of a common Dutch surname–few people can argue what the street’s name is synonymous with today: wealth and capitalism. Since the late 19th century, Wall Street has been home to many of the city’s most important financial institutions and stock exchanges, including the New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ. Lean about the markets, banking history, and the lavish Wolf of Wall Street lifestyle on a guided tour. It's about $35 per person.

Though the street is less than a mile long, so you won’t have to travel far to see many of the financial district’s other iconic sites. Just around the corner from where Wall Street meets Broadway is Arturo Di Modica’s bronze three-and-half ton statue The Charging Bull, which Modica gave to the city as a symbol of America’s entrepreneurial spirit on December 15, 1980 under a Christmas Tree in front of the New York Stock Exchange. Two blocks north of Wall Street is the Federal Reserve Bank, where visitors can tour the gold vault, which holds over 500,000 gold bars, and learn about the bank’s history and importance, free of charge (reserve online in advance).

Website: wallstreettravel.com.au

Address: Wall St, New York
Contact: no phone number

Price: free

Opening hours: 24/7

Let the world believe the Empire State Building has the best view of New York City–it keeps the crowds slightly more manageable at 30 Rockefeller Center’s spectacular open air observation deck. The bird’s eye view of Gotham from 70 stories up allows visitors to not only see other landmark skyscrapers around midtown–including the aforementioned Empire State Building–but also to see the full sprawl of Central Park.

If you’re willing to spend a little more, don’t forget to dress up and stop by the Rainbow Room–the historic lounge on the 65th floor–for exceptional cocktails, fine dining, live music and spectacular sightlines that rival the deck’s, albeit a few stories lower. $34 per person. Therefore, looking over NYC from the Top of the Rock is one of the things to do in New York City for under $100.

Website: top-of-the-rock-observation-deck-t37483

Address: 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10020

Contact: 1-877-692-7625

Price: Adults $38, seniors $36, children 6-12 $32

Opening hours: 8am–midnight

Considering the (Museum of Modern Art) MoMA’s reputation for having one of the world’s finest collections of art from the 18th century through today, it’s no surprise that around nearly every corner of the venerated museum is a seminal piece by an artist trumpeted in art history or coveted by contemporary collectors. If you really want to experience the museum and all it has to offer, go on a weekday and buy your all-inclusive ticket online. You’ll skip the line and find yourself unencumbered as you stop to contemplate the meaning of time in front of Salvador Dali’s melted-clock painting The Persistance of Memory. It's about $25 per person.

After three years of planning and construction—including a four-month closure this summer—the Museum of Modern Art has finally thrown open its doors to a shiny, reconfigured self, offering the public more Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) to love (or at least to ponder) than ever. The massive expansion brings the institution’s total size to a whopping 708,000 square feet, 166,000 of which are dedicated to exhibition space.

Website: moma.org

Address: 11 W 53rd St, New York, 10019

Contact: 212-708-9400

Price: $25, seniors $18, students $14, children under 16 free.

Opening hours: Sunday-Friday 10:30am–5:30pm; Saturday 10:30am–7pm

Pinterest lovers, this one’s for you. Unleash your creativity in a class at Brooklyn Charm, a jewelry design shop and veritable haven for the DIY-obsessed. Choose from workshops on wire-wrapped pendants, basic earrings, stamping and engraving. The price includes all the materials you need—plus, you get to take your creations home. It's about $40 per person. Therefore, learning to bead at Brooklyn Charm is one of the things to do in New York City for under $100.

Tracie Howarth’s story is a Brooklyn-crafting fairy tale come true. After becoming a Top 20 Seller on Etsy and manning a sought-after booth at Williamsburg’s Artists & Fleas market, she opened this brick-and-mortar shop, where DIY types can choose from a plethora of gems displayed on a giant rustic wood table, including vintage brass lockets ($7) and Swarovski rhinestone charms ($3). Howarth also offers jewelry-making classes, like assemblage basics and wire wrapping.

Website: brooklyncharmshop.com

Address: 145 Bedford Ave, Brooklyn

Contact: (805) 628-3665

Price: $4.00

Opening hours: Daily 11am–8pm

Only 15 minutes from midtown, the Museum of the Moving Image is one of the city’s most dynamic institutions and an essential activity for film buffs. Rubbing elbows with Kaufman Astoria Studios, it includes a three-story extension that features a state-of-the-art 267-seat cinema and expanded gallery spaces. Meanwhile, the museum’s “Behind the Screen” exhibit examines every step of the filmmaking process, with artifacts from more than 1,000 different productions, and 14 classic (playable!) video games, including Asteroids, Ms. Pac-Man and Space Invaders. It's just about $15 per person. Therefore, geeking out at the Museum of the Moving Image is one of the things to do in New York City for under $100.

The Museum of the Moving Image is one of the city’s most dynamic institutions. When it reopens, expect to spend time in the newest exhibit, "Envisioning 2001: Stanley Kubrick’s Space Odyssey" and weekly screenings of 2001: A Space Odyssey; "The Jim Henson Exhibition" and "D'Oh! Animating America’s Funniest Family" among other exhibits. Timed tickets will be required.

Website: movingimage.us

Address: 36-01 35th Ave, Queens, NY 11106

Contact: 718-777-6800

Price: $15, seniors and students $11, children 3–12 $6, members and children under 3 free.

Opening hours: Friday 2-8pm, Saturday and Sunday noon 6.00pm

The only thing better than indulging in Momofuku Milk Bar’s crack pie or birthday truffles? Learning to make them yourself, so you can satisfy a craving anytime you want. Now that really takes the cake. It's about $95 per person. Momomaniacs can now go straight to the source for Christina Tosi's whimsical desserts. The pastry maven converted a former storage room of a 11,000-square-foot Williamsburg commissary into a storefront.

Early-adoptertypes can preview products still in development, while the risk-averse can dig into the outfit's signature goodies, including Crack Pie, Compost Cookies and cake truffles. Among the savory options, find riffs on Momofuku's signature buns—one made with pulled-pork shoulder in lieu of belly, and a forthcoming veggie option with caramelized onions, pea shoots and scallions, both piled with hoisin and pickles. The spot is still working on its liquor license—so the boozy milk shakes haven't made their way across the bridge—but you can sip on cereal and raspberry-lemonade-flavored shakes in the meantime.

Website: milkbarstore.com

Address: 382 Metropolitan Ave, New York, NY 11211

Contact: (347) 974-4975

Price: Average cookie: $2. AmEx, Diner's Club, Disc, MC, V

Opening hours: Mon–Thu, Sun 9am–10pm; Fri, Sat 9am–11pm

Get back in touch with nature with a guided walk through Prospect Park. Self-proclaimed “wildman” Steve Brill will teach you how to forage for wild carrots, mushrooms, persimmons, and herbs. If you’re lucky, you might not have to hit the grocery store this week. $20 per person. Therefore, foraging for edible plants in Prospect Park is one of the things to do in New York City for under $100.

Urban visionaries Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, who most famously designed Central Park, also put their stamp on bucolic, 526-acre Prospect Park. Amenities like the Long Meadow and Nethermead offer plenty of space to pull up on a patch of grass and indulge in some people-watching, and the woodland expanse of the Ravine is a towering forest within bustling Brooklyn. But everyone also have to give props to Robert Moses: The controversial city planner was behind some of the park’s kid-friendly offerings, including the zoo and LeFrak Center at Lakeside, where roller skating and ice skating goes down.

Website: prospectpark.org

Address: Prospect Park West to Washington Ave between Prospect Park Southwest and Eastern Pkwy, Brooklyn

Contact: 718-965-8951

Price: free

Opening hours: 10a.m.–5p.m. daily