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There’s no getting away from it — New York City can be an expensive place to visit. Staying at nice hotels and eating in high-end restaurants might leave you a little short of dollars when it comes to entertainment. But luckily, there are plenty of free things to do in NYC – these are some of our top picks!
1. NYC Museums
NYC is full of amazing museums and art galleries, and while they aren’t all free all the time, many offer free hours or days, or pay-what-you-wish admission. Here are a few of our favorites for first-time or returning visitors:
- 9/11 Museum: Free every Monday from 5:30 pm to 7 pm. Online reservation is needed.
- Morgan Library and Museum: Free admission on Fridays from 5 pm to 7 pm. Online reservation is needed.
- The Fashion Institute of Technology Museum (FIT Museum): Free for all visitors.
- Whitney Museum of American Art: Pay as you wish on Fridays from 7 pm to 10 pm.
- Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum: Pay as you wish on Saturdays from 4 pm to 6 pm and occasionally full Saturdays. Check their website for more information.
- New York Botanical Garden: Admission to the grounds is free on Wednesdays from 10 am to 11 am.
- International Museum of Photography Museum: Pay as you wish on Thursdays from 6 pm to 9 pm. Timed tickets are needed.
- The Jewish Museum: Free on Shabat – Saturdays.
- National Museum of the American Indian: Always free!
- American Folk Art Museum: Always free!
- Bronx Museum of the Arts: Always free!
- Museum of the Moving Image: Free on Thursdays from 2 pm to 6 pm.
- Museum of Modern Art (MOMA): Free on Fridays.
- Queens County Farm Museum: Always free to the public (except for special ticketed admission days and group visits).
2. Shakespeare in the Park
If you’re visiting NYC in the summer, don’t miss Shakespeare in the Park. The Delacorte Theater in Central Park has been putting on productions of Shakespeare for 60 years, making it one of the longest-running free things to do in NYC. The shows are excellent, with a high production value that rivals Broadway shows.
To get a free ticket, you’ll need to register online. Then you will qualify to purchase the tickets when they go on sale at noon on show days. Unsurprisingly, this sells out fast, so be quick!
3. Coney Island Boardwalk
The vibrant neighborhood of Coney Island, with its famous amusement parks and beaches, offers fun things to do for all ages. It would be easy to spend heaps of dollars in the arcades. But the beach and, of course, going for a dip in the ocean are totally free. Take a picnic with you to avoid spending money at food vendors.
The Coney Island Boardwalk is another fantastic free activity, particularly when the weather is good in the spring and summer months. Do some window shopping, soak up the sun, and watch the world go by.
4. 9/11 Memorial & Oculus Mall
The 9/11 Memorial Museum, located at the World Trade Center, is free to enter on Mondays. But even if you don’t go to the museum, be sure to visit the moving 9/11 Memorial, just next door. This never-ending waterfall plunges into the depths of the earth, with names of victims engraved in the surrounding stone.
The Oculus Mall is just across the street from the 9/11 Memorial and Museum. This stunning piece of architecture was designed by Santiago Calatrava and looks like the spine of a fish. The Oculus is also a subway station, so head to your next destination from here.
5. St. Patrick’s Cathedral
St. Patrick’s Cathedral is undoubtedly the most beautiful cathedral in New York City. Located just off 5th Avenue, this Neo-Gothic-style cathedral welcomes more than five million visitors per year. Self-guided tours are totally free, so if the doors are open, head on in.
The cathedral took 21 years to build because construction was halted during the Civil War, and was finally completed in 1879. It has recently undergone a $177 million renovation to restore it to its original glory. The stained glass windows consist of 3700 panels, with the 26-foot Rose Window stealing the show. There are 20 altars in the Cathedral, two of which were designed by Tiffany & Co.
6. Grand Central Terminal Station
Not only is Grand Central Station a transport hub, but it also happens to be a tourist destination in its own right. One of the prettiest subway stations in NYC, Grand Central Station has been the backdrop to countless movies. Head inside for restaurants, a farmers market, the whispering walls, and shops galore.
If you are just passing through, take some time to admire the decorative flourishes, bronze and stone carvings, and vaulted ceilings. Parts of the station are quite palatial, with chandeliers and marble everywhere. This stunning building is quite simply a work of art.
7. NYC Parks
New York parks are one of the top things to do all year round. Central Park is the most famous, but there are many others all over the city that can be accessed for free. Some of our favorites are:
Washington Square Park
Located in charming Greenwich Village, this is one of the most beautiful parks in New York City and a great place to hang out for a couple of hours. Once a burial ground for those killed by Yellow Fever, Washington Square Park is now one of the most coveted green spaces in NYC.
The Washington Square Arch is an enormous grand marble arch that was built to commemorate the centennial of George Washington’s inauguration. It sits at the northern entrance of the park and overlooks the central fountain. Head here with a picnic in the warmer months, and grab a spot with a view of the Empire State Building.
Or if you’re visiting in the winter months, check out their Christmas tree. At any time of the year, you’ll be mixing with tourists, students, business people in suits, and New Yorkers of all types, making it one of the best spots for people-watching in the whole city.
Bryant Park
Bryant Park is perfectly tucked away between the skyscrapers in the heart of Midtown Manhattan. This iconic park holds free events throughout the summer, including movie screenings, exercise classes, and much more. In the colder months, Bryant Park hosts the Bank of America Winter Village with free ice skating on their winter rink (you’ll need to bring your own skates), a pop-up Christmas Market, food vendors, and even cozy winter igloos.
Prospect Park
Located near Prospect Heights and the Brooklyn Botanical Garden, this glorious green space has beautiful waterfalls, trickling streams, and ponds teeming with wildlife. Head to the Boathouse, on the edge of Lullwater, in the eastern part of the park, for amazing bird life. Don’t forget your binoculars!
The High Line
Formerly an elevated rail line for freight trains delivering cargo, The High Line opened in 2009 and is now one of NYC’s most beautiful green spaces. The elevated promenade stretches for 1.5 miles and is adorned with beautiful street art, murals, unique art, and rotating sculptures.
Socrates Sculpture Park
Head to Astoria in Queens to visit this 4.5-acre park, home to large-scale sculpture exhibits all year round. The setting is stunning, with views over the East River to Roosevelt Island and the Upper East Side.
Little Island
New York City’s newest public park opened in May 2021 and has attracted flocks of visitors ever since. This 2.4-acre park is located at Pier 55 on the Hudson and is built on 132 pillars, making it an artificial island. Little Island has lush lawns, colorful shrubs and trees, and even a secret garden. The park is open from 6 am to midnight and entry is free, but entry after noon requires a reservation.
Brooklyn Bridge Park
Open all day, every day, Brooklyn Bridge Park has something for everyone. There is a year-round program of events here, including fitness classes, exhibitions, and family-friendly activities.
8. Brooklyn Brewery
Brooklyn Brewery has been around since 1988 and produces beer that travels to over thirty countries. It offers free, yes FREE, tours on Sundays from 1 pm to 6 pm. This is a fantastic activity for craft beer enthusiasts, although you will have to pay to actually drink the beer. We recommend the Brooklyn Lager, the perfect thirst quencher on a hot (or cold) day.
9. Staten Island Ferry
Not only does the Staten Island Ferry provide free transport to Staten Island, but it’s also the closest you can get to the Statue of Liberty without paying. This boat ride offers stunning views of the NYC skyline, and for the best views, try and catch the ferry at sunset.
The ferry departs from Whitehall Ferry Terminal in lower Manhattan every 15 minutes, 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Be warned, it is very popular and can get quite crowded at peak times, but that’s all part of the fun.
10. Rockefeller Center
The Rockefeller Center stretches an entire avenue and is made up of several Art Deco buildings, including the Radio City Music Hall. There are free activities and fun interactive art installations throughout the year. But one of the best times to visit has to be Christmas time when the famous Rockefeller Christmas Tree with its giant Swarovski star lights up the night sky.
A great free activity at the Rockefeller Center is attending a live TV taping. Shows like Saturday Night Live, The Daily Show, and The Tonight Show are filmed right here at 30 Rockefeller Plaza, and offer a unique opportunity to see how television shows are produced. Most tapings are free, but you will need to apply for a ticket in advance.
11. Roosevelt Island
Ok, getting to Roosevelt Island isn’t free, but the island itself is! The ride on the Roosevelt Island Tram offers up some of the best views in NYC, and these continue from the island itself. Roosevelt Island has an interesting history — smallpox patients, asylum seekers, and prisoners have all been held here at one time or another.
Nowadays, the island offers up green spaces and plenty of historic landmarks to visit. There are plenty of free activities here to keep you occupied, including the Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms State Park, the Smallpox Hospital Ruin, and the Roosevelt Island Lighthouse.
12. Kayaking on the Hudson River
Manhattan Community Boathouse is a non-profit organization run entirely by volunteers and funded through donations from the public. They are based at Pier 96 and offer free kayaking to anyone every day of the week throughout the spring, summer, and early autumn. All skill levels are welcome, but you must be able to swim.
There are changing rooms and lockers, and you’ll get a single or two-person kayak rental, plus a paddle and lifejacket. Kayaks are offered on a first-come-first-serve basis, so get there early. At busy times, kayakers are given a 20-minute time limit.
13. New York Public Library
The New York Public Library is definitely one of the best free things in NYC, especially when the weather is bad. Located next to Bryant Park at 476 Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street, the magnificent, ornate architecture provides the perfect setting to hunker down with something to read and offers a quiet space away from all the hustle and bustle.
Free tickets for the Polonsky Exhibition, which shows off some of the library’s treasures, can be obtained from an electronic kiosk at the library, or you can reserve your time online. Artifacts include the Gutenberg Bible, the original handwritten copy of the Declaration of Independence by Thomas Jefferson, and original sheet music from Mozart and Beethoven.
And if You Still Have a Day or Two Spare…
Other free activities include people-watching in Times Square, window shopping at the luxury stores on Fifth Avenue, and self-guided tours through Chelsea Market. If you are organized enough, you can easily get through a day in NYC just by spending a few dollars on food from street vendors.
Our top tip? Wear comfortable shoes! Walking everywhere is free and a great way to see the City up close.
Featured Image Credit:Â TTstudio
