places to visit that are free

New York City   Travel Guide

Free Things To Do in New York City

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Central Park Central Park free

This part-park, part-museum, part-concert hall swallows central Manhattan, and many of the city's most notable attractions are situated next to it or within its limits ( the Guggenheim , the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the American Museum of Natural History , to name a few). But travelers insist that you shouldn't just pass through Central Park on your way to another place. This 843-acre green space is a favorite of New Yorkers and tourists; you can come here to exercise, dine, go to the zoo and more.

Almost everyone has a positive impression of the park, but no one has quite the same experience or recommends that you do quite the same thing. There's an almost impossible amount of sights to see here (hidden treasures, indeed), including more than 20 playgrounds, 48 fountains, monuments or sculptures, and 30 bridges. Here's a shortlist:

Brooklyn Bridge Brooklyn Bridge free

One of many signature landmarks of New York City, the Brooklyn Bridge is also one of the oldest suspension bridges in the country and a National Historic Landmark. Its six lanes (and one pedestrian and bicycle walkway) span the East River, connecting Manhattan to Brooklyn. Walking across the bridge remains a tourist pastime.

Some visitors decide to skip the bridge in favor of other attractions, but if you're short on money, this truly is one of the best ways to experience the city and to get a unique view of either borough at no cost. Several reviewers warn that since there is no shade along the bridge, it can get quite hot in the summertime (though there are vendors selling bottles of water). Many also warned that it can get quite crowded, and advised visiting in the morning before 9 a.m. if you don't want to maneuver around crowds.

The High Line The High Line free

U.S. News Insider Tip: Visit early in the morning or on a weekday to avoid crowds. If you walk from north to south, add on a visit to The Standard Biergarten or the vibrant Chelsea Market for great people-watching, food and drink. – Erin Evans, Managing Editor

Set on an abandoned rail track on Manhattan's West Side, this sprawling, nearly 1½-mile-long landscaped park stretches over three of the city's most lively neighborhoods: the Meatpacking District, West Chelsea and Hell's Kitchen. Standing 30 feet above street level, the High Line offers sweeping views of the Hudson River and Manhattan's cityscape. But the vista isn't the only reason visitors and Manhattanites flock to this manicured green space. Here, you'll find continually changing public art installations, a handful of food vendors and a sprawling picnic and sunbathing area (known as the 23rd Street Lawn).

Washington Square Park Washington Square Park free

U.S. News Insider Tip: Finding an empty bench in Washington Square Park after visiting one of the neighborhood's independent bookstores – from The Strand to Three Lives & Company to Left Bank Books – is a true lower Manhattan pleasure. – Jessica Colley Clarke

The central gathering place of Greenwich Village is Washington Square Park, an almost 10-acre green space known for its downtown buzz. Here, kids splash in the fountain, musicians perform to a crowd, artists sell sketches or photographs, and chess enthusiasts gather to challenge each other to a game. What was historically a cemetery and later a bohemian hot spot is now a neighborhood institution that draws locals and visitors alike with its kids' playground, sizable dog run and ample shady space for picnics. An arch dedicated to George Washington is the dominant architectural feature of the park. 

Grand Central Terminal Grand Central Terminal free

At this beautiful train station, you can eat some lunch or shop till you drop, but recent travelers most enjoyed just taking in the scenery. Before you enter, be sure to snap a few shots of the exterior's ornate beaux-arts neoclassical architecture. Inside the celebrated main concourse, you're treated to glimmering marble floors, gold and nickel-plated chandeliers and a sky-themed ceiling. Other must-sees include the Information Booth clock, the Whispering Gallery and Grand Central Market, a European-style food market that sells produce, gourmet ingredients and treats. Food options range from the upscale (Cipriani Dolci and The Campbell Bar) to the legendary (the Grand Central Oyster Bar & Restaurant) to the fast and easy (Shake Shack). As mentioned, there are also plenty of shopping options, though most travelers suggest you leave most of Grand Central's pricey merchandise in the store. If you want a train-themed souvenir, visit The New York Transit Museum Store in the shuttle passage.

Travelers call the train station "iconic" and say it's a beautiful space to walk through or to grab a meal and people-watch.

Bryant Park Bryant Park free

U.S. News Insider Tip: This Midtown park draws crowds for two seasonal events: summer movie nights under the stars and a holiday market complete with ice skating. For summer picnics or winter shopping sprees, Bryant Park delivers year-round. – Jessica Colley Clarke

Sprawling across nearly 10 acres, Bryant Park sits just south of Times Square – though it feels a world away. Though its lush green space has existed for more than 150 years, Bryant Park was a revitalization project of the 1990s that made it a sanctuary for locals and tourists alike. This is the preferred place for midtown Manhattan professionals to eat lunch, for fashionistas to strut during fashion week and for performers to showcase their talents during annual events like Broadway in Bryant Park and Piano in Bryant Park. If you're interested in learning more about the park's history, consider joining one of its free tours. Tours, which last 45 minutes, are free and offered every Wednesday, year-round. 

Staten Island Ferry Staten Island Ferry free

Perhaps the most famous ferry service in the United States, the Staten Island Ferry runs daily between the Whitehall Ferry Terminal in lower Manhattan and St. George Ferry Terminal on Staten Island. The city has been operating the ferry service since 1905 and transports some 70,000 passengers across New York Harbor every day. It’s one of the last remaining vestiges of an entire ferry system that served New York City residents before the construction of any bridges.  

But the Staten Island Ferry is more than a transportation service; it’s an attraction, drawing tens of thousands of out-of-town visitors a year for a free ride across the harbor (that’s right, no charge; the service is provided by the City of New York). The 5-mile ride lasts about 25 minutes. Passengers must disembark and then reboard to make the return trip to Manhattan. Travelers remark about the views of the Statue of Liberty , Ellis Island, Manhattan skyscrapers and the bridges of lower Manhattan. 

New York Public Library New York Public Library free

U.S. News Insider Tip:  If you love all things book-related, consider visiting The Morgan Library & Museum nearby, which features J.P. Morgan's stunning 1906 library. The museum offers free admisson (and live jazz music) on Fridays from 5 to 7 p.m. – Elizabeth Von Tersch, Senior Editor

This main library branch, officially called the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, attracts plenty of book lovers, history junkies and architecture aficionados. Most people swing by the Bryant Park landmark to say hello to Patience and Fortitude (the famous marble lions guarding the entrance) and to admire the lovely beaux-arts design.

Brooklyn Bridge Park Brooklyn Bridge Park free

Located on the Brooklyn side of the East River, Brooklyn Bridge Park is an 85-acre oasis at the foot of the famous bridge connecting Manhattan and Brooklyn. The park stretches 1.3 miles along Brooklyn’s waterfront, connecting Columbia Heights and Dumbo, an acronym for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass, an eclectic neighborhood of boutiques, trendy cafes and restaurants. Travelers rave about the views of the lower Manhattan skyline, the New York Harbor and the bridge.

Among the city’s newest parks, Brooklyn Bridge Park was once an industrial district and home to a transportation terminal that served as an entry point for immigrants. Today, the park features rolling hills, promenades, playgrounds, basketball courts, sports fields, a roller skating rink, gardens, and more among six piers and the riverfront. What’s more, the park is home to more than 12,000 species of plants and wildlife. It also hosts a variety of events and programs throughout the year, such as sunset yoga and stargazing.

Little Island Little Island free

New Yorkers have long needed to get creative to maximize space on the island of Manhattan, where space is limited. But with the opening of Little Island in 2021, that creativity stretched beyond the island's borders and into the water. Little Island is an artificial island located on the west side of Manhattan in the Hudson River.

This public park, which is free to visit, offers a new space for locals and visitors alike to immerse themselves in nature, art, free events like concerts and one of the most memorable locations in New York City to catch the sunset.

St. Patrick's Cathedral St. Patrick's Cathedral free

This sprawling cathedral sits amid the hustle and distinctively secular bustle of Rockefeller Center . But that doesn't take away from its otherworldly vibe. Whether you're religious or just making an architectural pilgrimage, you can't help but be impressed by St. Patrick's.

Opened in 1879, the neo-Gothic cathedral spans the length of an entire city block and features 330-foot spires. Its interior is just as impressive thanks to its numerous altars, stained-glass windows, organs and imposing 9,000-pound bronze doors. The church welcomes more than 5 million visitors annually.  

Little Italy Little Italy free

U.S. News Insider Tip: Taste the best of Little Italy at C. Di Palo Wine Bar. With connections to the fine foods store serving this neighborhood for more than a century, this wine bar serves Italian cheeses, meats and wines in a comfortable, modern environment. – Jessica Colley Clarke

Once a thriving enclave of Italian immigrants, Little Italy is now a popular tourist destination (though remnants of the past remain).

Times Square Times Square free

Some say that Times Square is like a five-block metaphor for New York City itself – it's exciting, colorful and always jumping. Others describe this area of midtown Manhattan as artless, overpriced and congested. Perhaps this commercial stretch from West 42nd to West 47th streets is a little of both, and though locals would advise you to avoid it, you should at least catch a glimpse of its neon lights.

Most travelers recommend visiting the area after dark to see the marquee displays. Many add checking out Times Square before or after a Broadway show is the perfect time to fit it into your schedule. However, if you're not a fan of crowds, reviewers suggest you avoid this area altogether.

Fifth Avenue Fifth Avenue free

It's fitting that St. Patrick's Cathedral would be on the same street as stores like Bergdorf Goodman, Tiffany & Co. and Van Cleef & Arpels. That's because for many people, shopping is a religious experience, and here between 34th and 59th streets you'll find the holy grail. 

Even if you're not planning to put your credit card to work at high-end stores, travelers say a stroll along Fifth Avenue is a must. It's one of the top places to shop in the city, according to local experts. Plus, during the winter holidays, the street is decked out in festive decor.

The Battery The Battery free

The Battery is a 25-ace park that sits at the very southern tip of Manhattan Island and offers a green respite from the steel and concrete of lower Manhattan. The park, named after artillery batteries that protected the settlement in the 17th century, is popular with visitors because of its views of the harbor and the Statue of Liberty . 

The park is home to perennial gardens, bike paths, grand lawns, an urban farm and a unique carousel, known as the SeaGlass Carousel. On the carousel, riders sit within iridescent fish and glide through a 360-degree aquatic adventure. The carousel’s bioluminescent design honors the waterfront site as well as another landmark, the Castle Clinton, one of the country’s earliest aquariums. 

Chrysler Building Chrysler Building free

Technically, the Chrysler Building is an office building open Monday through Friday, but you don't need to go inside to appreciate its aesthetic appeal. Recent visitors praised the building's unique architectural style (though a few wished you could still go inside to admire its intricate lobby and elevators).

Built in 1930, the Chrysler had a short-lived run as the tallest building in the city, before it was usurped of its title by the Empire State Building . Nevertheless, this 1,046-foot-high skyscraper remains a favorite among New Yorkers for its classic art deco style. And unlike the Empire State, at this site you won't need an expensive entry ticket, a strong stomach to stand soaring heights or patience for long lines to see what all the fuss is about. You can behold the building's menacing gargoyles and triangular openings from many spots in Manhattan. Though the lobby is currently closed to visitors, there have been talks of building an observation deck, though none is available at this time.

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25 Best Free Things To Do In NYC Right Now

There's no questioning how energetic, unique and diverse New York City is. But if there's one negative? It's definitely the cost.

But even though it’s one of the most expensive cities in the world, there are loads of completely FREE things to do in NYC. During the week and on weekends , there’s tons of free-pop ups, events, and deals to take advantage of. If you’re paying the rent to live in a city this fantastic, you must take advantage of all there is to do and see.

1. Free museum days

New York is full of the most prestigious art and history museums , but sometimes their entrance fees don’t feel quite accessible enough to the everyday New Yorker. Luckily, most have special “free” admission days when entrance fees are waived completely. Take a look at some below and even more here :

• The Museum of Modern Art (First Friday of every month): Thanks to clothing store UNIQLO, museum admission to the Museum of Modern Art is free for New Yorkers from 4 pm – 8 pm on the first Friday of every month!
• Brooklyn Museum (First Saturday of the Month, 5-11 pm) : Head to the outer boroughs to experience this historic museum whose roots trace all the way back to 1823.
• Guggenheim Museum (Pay What You Wish on Saturdays 6 pm–8 pm): Step into a world of modern and contemporary art at the Guggenheim Museum on the Upper East Side. The museum is typically $25 for adults, but hosts a “pay what you wish” program on Saturdays from 6 pm – 8 pm.
• Bronx Museum of the Arts (Free everyday!): This uptown museum known for its innovative contemporary art exhibitions houses over 2,000 pieces of artwork in a variety of mediums.

2. The Portal

The Portal is New York City’s hottest talking point right now, and the installation in Flatiron virtually connects NYC to Dublin in real time! The visual live stream connects the two cities, allowing you to meet fellow humans around the world! It’s free to visit and it’s located on the Flatiron South Public Plaza at Broadway, Fifth Avenue, and 23rd Street, next to the Flatiron Building. Read more about the groundbreaking Portal here !

3. Free outdoor movies

Summer is officially here, and that mean’s one of our favorite free park activities is back… outdoor movies ! Plenty of NYC parks will be showing screenings in the coming months, including Bryant Park , Brooklyn Bridge Park , and so many more . Check out all of the park showing free movies in NYC this summer here !

4. Free outdoor workout classes

Get your sweat on right now with free workout classes happening all across NYC ! Now that the weather is officially beautiful, you can take advantage of free exercise programs happening at Bryant Park , Times Square , and beyond . It’s the perfect way to get your summer body on track…without spending a dime! See the full list of free outdoor workout classes happening in NYC here .

5. Free outdoor concerts

Summer is the season of free park concerts, and 2024’s lineup is set to impress! From Central Park’s SummerStage to New York Philharmonic’s annual “Concert in the Parks” series , there’s so much free live music to dance to this summer. Check out the full list of concerts going on here , and get your lawn chairs and blankets ready!

6. Kayaking at Brooklyn Bridge Park

Get out on NYC waters for free with a wonderful free kayaking program presented by Brooklyn Bridge Park. Starting May 29 and running through September, Brooklyn Bridge Park’s boathouse will offer free sessions from Pier 2 on Wednesdays, Thursdays, & Saturdays! No matter your experience level, you’ll be able to paddle throughout the waters during a free 20 minute sessions. Learn more about the program and book your spot here !

7. Free concerts

Get your live music fix and enjoy an evening of live music for FREE all summer long! There’s tons of free concert series happening throughout NYC, providing New Yorkers with all sorts of free entertainment. Some of our favorites include Bryant Park Picnic Performances and Backyard at Hudson Yards to name a few! See all of the free concerts coming to NYC here !

8. Outdoor street fairs

Take in all the smells of summer when NYC’s various street fairs and cultural festivals happen all summer long. Plenty of vendors offer up food, music, and entertainment that can make for some perfect free strolling time! See a full list of NYC’s upcoming street fairs here .

9. “Field of Light”

Stop by the Freedom Plaza on the East Side of NYC to see “Field of Light,” a brand new 6-acre installation consisting of 17,000 stemmed glass spheres . Designed by world-renowned artist Bruce Munro, the lights illuminate Manhattan is the most breathtaking way. Learn more about the installation here .

10. Go swimming

Beat NYC’s current heat wave by cooling off in a public pool…for free! There’s over 90 pools across the borroughs that are open for the season and don’t cost a dime to swim in! So grab your towel, some snacks and spend a day at the pool splashing around catching some rays. Discover our favorite free public pools around NYC here !

11. Governors Island

Hop on the ferry ride over to Governors Island and partake in their free summer programming , which includes all kinds of free events like the 23rd annu­al Riv­er To Riv­er Fes­ti­val, the Porch Stomp folk music festival, Governors Island Arts’ THIRD Saturdays, and so much more ! See the full listing of upcoming happenings on Governors Island here .

12. NYC beaches

Nothing beats a good beach day, and NYC is full of incredible sandy spots to enjoy a free day of sunshine! From the iconic Coney Island Boardwalk to lesser known gems like South Beach on Staten Island , a beach outing is one of the best ways to spend a day. Check out our full list of best beaches near NYC here …and don’t forget your sunscreen!

13. Explore NYC’s outdoor public art

Tap into New York City’s artsy side and check out the numerous options of public art that awaits you! These mind-bending open-air installations are free to visit and are pretty cool photo opps too! Check out our favorite public art installations in NYC right here .

14. New York Public Library

The New York Public Library’s Stephen A. Schwarzman Building is one of the coolest libraries in all of NYC, and is a great place to admire with a book in hand. Acquiring a library card is free for all New York residents , and rummaging the shelves for your next good read is such a great way to spend your time.

15. Free birthday perks around NYC

If it’s your birthday (or it’s coming up soon), you’ve got to take advantage of the freebies around NYC! Some of our favorite businesses offer up sweet promotions for the celebration with some of our favorites including:

• QCNY Spa : At QCNY Spa on Governors Island, you can enjoy free admission (on your birthday or within 7 days after your birthday) with a paying guest. This special birthday offer applies Monday through Friday.
• SUGARFISH: Eat a free “trust me box” of sushi for your birthday if you’ve dined at SUGARFISH at least twice during the year!

16. Walking tours

Tours in NYC are known to be pricey, but there are actually a variety of walking tours given by volunteers that are completely free . Join free walking tours offered by different organizations, which pairs visitors with local volunteers for personalized tours of the city. See some our favorites below and the full list here :

• Flatiron District: If you’re interested in learning more about NYC’s most iconic triangle-shaped building, the Flatiron/23rd Street Partnership sponsors free 90-minute walking tours around the neighborhood on Sundays at 11am. Meet on the southwest corner of Madison Square Park.
• Free Tours By Foot.com: Though not completely free, these walking tours are unique in the fact that you pay-as-you-wish. There is no upfront cost and after the tour, you decide how much to give the guide based on the quality of the tour/what you think it was worth.
• Central Park Conservancy: The Central Park Conservancy offers a few free tours. They are: The Southern Welcome Tour, which highlights the noteworthy aspects in the southern part of the park, admiring the Pond, Gapstow Bridge, and the Dairy Visitor Center which used to serve children fresh milk in 1871; the Memorial Tour, which showcases monuments and statues in the park honoring veterans; and the Discovery Walks for Families, which is perfect for children of all ages. Plus they have a few virtual tours to choose from, all which have a suggested donation of $5. See more on their website here .

17. The High Line

This walkway sits atop an old railroad line running from the Meatpacking District to W 34th Street.

18. Brooklyn Bridge

Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge…and think about all of the hidden fun facts while you’re doing it.

19. Little Island

This floating island is one of our favorite spots to relax, and the views of downtown Manhattan are killer too. Bring a friend, a blanket and stay awhile!

20. TV show tapings

NYC is home to tons of big-name TV shows including Jimmy Fallon, Trevor Noah, and of course Saturday Night Live . Tickets for these shows are free and are done through a lottery, so try throwing your name in the hat!

21. Pier 35 Swings

Tap into your innner childhood fun and ride on these giant swings at Pier 35 on the Lower East Side. It’s completely free and one of the best waterfront views in all of the city!

22. Bronx Zoo

Stop by and see some of your furry friends at The Bronx Zoo , which offers free admission on Wednesdays . Check out all of NYC’s zoos here .

23. Green-Wood Cemetery

Another rich piece of history, the Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn was founded in 1838 and is 478 acres! This gorgeous cemetery offers all kinds of other free happenings too like bird watching sessions, trolley tours, live performances, and much more! See what’s on at Green-Wood Cemetery here .

24. The Vessel

While you can no longer c limb the wacky Vessel at Hudson Yards , access to the ground-level base is open to the public. There are rumors of The Vessel reopening soon though …so stay tuned.

25. 9/11 Memorial

Learn about the events of 9/11 at the Memorial Pools and 9/11 Museum . The pools are open to the public and the museum offers free admission on Mondays (need to reserve tickets online) .

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Best free things to do in NYC

Live your best life without breaking the bank at NYC's best free events, shows and exhibits.

Finding free things to do in New York City is like striking gold. NYC is one of the greatest cities in the world, but holy cow, is it pricey. Seeing Broadway shows or dining at one of the city’s most buzzed about restaurants will cost you a pretty penny. Luckily for us, the city also offers a prime list of  free museum days , walking tours, exhibits, comedy shows and more. Read on for our list of NYC's best gratis activities.

RECOMMENDED: Full guide to our  best things to do in NYC

Been there, done that? Think again, my friend.

1.  Free museum days

Free and cheap tickets to NYC's best museums ? It's possible! One of the benefits of living in or visiting New York City is all the incredible cultural institutions and museums are at your beck-and-call like  The Metropolitan Museum Of Art ,  MoMA or the Guggenheim .

Luckily, most museums offer free hours or days and pay-what-you-wish admission. You just have to know where and when they are. We’ve got the info you need in our guide to all the free museum days and cheap admission in NYC you should know about.

2.  NYC's outdoor art

• Contemporary art

New York City is full of free outdoor art that you don't even have to go to a museum to see. Sculptures, murals and photographs can be found in its parks, sidewalks and on its buildings!

Locations such as the High Line , Central Park , the Metropolitan Museum Of Art , Cadman Plaza in Brooklyn and Socrates Sculpture Park in Queens  and other NYC locales all have a wide variety of pieces awaiting you, from massive sculptures to eye-popping murals and graffiti . Best of all, it costs you nothing to pay a visit.

3.  Coney Island Fireworks

• Things to do

Don’t bother with Orlando. Coney Island is its very own magical kingdom, setting off free, sensational fireworks every Friday night all summer long.  Grab a frank and get yourself a comfortable spot on the boardwalk to celebrate the end of the work-week every week.

Friday Night Fireworks run weekly through Labor Day.   Fireworks  begin at approximately 9:45pm and launch from the beach at West 12th Street, providing a breathtaking backdrop to the iconic boardwalk and amusement parks.

4.  Free Yoga in Bryant Park

• Sports and fitness
• Yoga & Pilates

It might seem impossible to experience tranquility in the middle of hustling, bustling Manhattan, but Bryant Park’s free yoga series presented by CALIA is aiming to achieve just that. Outdoor classes will be held all summer long through September 25 with excellent instructors. These popular classes occur Tuesday mornings at 10am on the terrace and Wednesday afternoons at 6pm on the lawn.

Though the classes are free and open to the public, make sure to   register in advance , and don't forget your yoga mat and water bottle!

5.  Field of Light

On the far east edge of Manhattan, 18,750 glowing orbs of light sprout from the ground. They gleam in green, blue, pink, and purple tones, each one emerging from the Earth like an avant-garde flower. The fiber optic lights are part of an otherworldly experience called   Field of Light . 

The 6-acre installation was installed by British artist Bruce Munro who’s known for using light to create an emotional response. Though the skyline is visible from Field of Light, the installation feels far away from the typical hustle and bustle of the city, allowing me to detach from my daily worries. 

Expect to spend about 30 minutes strolling through Field of Light. While the exhibit is free to visit through fall, you will need to   reserve a ticket online ; a standby line is available for walkups. Find Field of Light at East 41st Street between First Avenue and FDR Drive.

6.  SummerStage concert series

The city’s most beloved free summer concert series is back with a stellar line-up featuring nearly 85 free and benefit shows in Central Park, plus neighborhood parks across the five boroughs.  

The 2024  SummerStage  lineup includes T-Pain, Snail Mail, Madison Cunningham,  Corinne Bailey Rae , The Metropolitan Opera, Counting Crows, Ghostface Killah, The Gaslight Anthem, Trixie Mattel and Amanda Lepore, and more.

This season is all about celebrating incredible music from around the world with artists like The Aussie BBQ, Colombian music star Fonseca and Spain’s captivating new flamenco singer Israel Fernández, Sidonie and the Balkan Paradise Orchestra.  

All shows are free except the benefit concerts.  Here's the  full schedule and ticket info .

7.  Free kayaking

Grab a paddle and seek out some free kayaking! NYC's waterways have never looked more beautiful from a kayak, and they'll reveal some of the   best views   of the city. You'll get to see   New York City attractions   in a whole new light by kayaking, which by the way is one of the best   things to do outside   in the city.

8.  Bryant Park's Picnic Performances

• Events & Festivals

Bryant Park's Picnic Performances will bring the best of NYC to the stage, including the New York City Opera, Jalopy Theatre, Carnegie Hall, the Harlem Chamber Players, and the American Symphony Orchestra.

Best of all, all 25 performances are free and open to the public. Many performances will be livestreamed for free on Bryant Park’s social media channels and  website  in case you can’t make it in person. Shows run from May 31-September 13.

The lineup includes The Late Show with Stephen Colbert bandleader Louis Cato; trumpeter Steven Bernstein playing the music of James Bond with Arturo O’Farrill and The Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra; the NYC premiere of Ghanaian highlife band Gyedu-Bly Ambolley; Ronald K. Brown/EVIDENCE dance company; South African world pop star Thandiswa Mazwai and many more.

9.  Films on The Green Festival

This free outdoor French film festival is back with a sports-themed lineup in honor of the Olympics in Paris this summer. The festival is hosted by Villa Albertine, and this year’s edition features 11 French films with English subtitles across Manhattan and Brooklyn parks. Expect a mix of classic and contemporary movies, all on the theme of “Sports on Film.”

"The lineup proves that sports films, a stereotypically American genre, are very much alive and thriving in French cinema," event organizers say.

Here's the 2024 schedule:

— June 28 , J. Hood Wright Park: The Triplets of Belleville by Sylvain Chomet — July 5 , Seward Park: Marinette by Virginie Verrier — July 12 , Seward Park: Air of Paris by Marcel Carné — July 19 , Riverside Park, Pier I: Les Cinq Tulipes Rouges by Jean Stelli – U.S. premiere — July 26 , Riverside Park, Pier I: The Golden Ball by Cheik Doukouré — Sept. 6 , McGolrick Park, Brooklyn: Racetime by Benoît Godbout — TBA ,  Ride Abov e by Christian Duguay

All screenings will be subtitled in English, free and open to the public. Screenings begin at sunset. Here's more about each film and exact show locations.

10.  Other of Pearl art exhibit

Ocean noise, chemical pollution, climate change and sea level rise are words that often appear in the news. But these important concepts can be hard to make sense of—or to understand at all.

That's where artist Jenny Kendler comes in. Her new exhibit,   Other of Pearl , confronts these pressing environmental issues in ways that feel more accessible with stirring whale songs, incredible pearl sculptures, a crystalline whale eye cast with human tears, and more. You can see these powerful works for free on Wednesdays-Sundays from 10am-5pm now through October on Governors Island. 

Seven intimate, delicate works are displayed in the cavernous, subterranean magazine of historic Fort Jay, a star-shaped fortification built on Governors Island between 1775 and 1776. 

11.  Little Island's summer shows

Little Island , the beautiful 2.4-acre elevated park that sits above the Hudson River on Manhattan's west side, is offering a lineup of star-studded performances this summer. Performances will kick of on June 1 and close out on September 22, spanning the realms of music, dance, theater, opera, comedy, jazz, pop and funk. 

Just as exciting is the debut of The Glade, a brand new cocktail lounge opening on the island that will be offering a selection of beers, wines, cocktails and mocktails to be enjoyed anywhere throughout the park.

You can learn more about Little Island's full summer programming (including free events) on their   website .

12.  TSQ Live in Times Square

TSQ Live offers a series of 80 free, open-air performances all over Times Square. It's basically, a giant, free outdoor event festival with programs presented by the likes of Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Soul Summit and more. 

Expect dance workshops by Ailey Extension, weekly DJ sets, and a new series called Street Lab that will feature pop-up activations for entire families focusing on all things art. This year's full lineup can be found right   here .

13.  BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! 2024

You can set your watch by how reliably awesome the annual BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! Festival is. Unlike   SummerStage , which spreads out across the five boroughs, all BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! shows, most of which are free, take place at the beautiful bandshell in   Prospect Park  from June 8-August 24.

This year’s genre-crossing lineup includes performances by: trailblazing punk-ska vets Fishbone; four-time Grammy winner Meshell Ndegeocello; rising Afrobeat star Seun Kuti; reggae stars Lila Ike and Jesse Royal; Belgian dance sensations Charlotte Adigéry & Bolis Pupul; retro soul ensemble Thee Sacred Souls; and Sinkane. You'll also get to see a host of vital emerging acts like Ambar Lucid; Adi Oasis; Black Belt Eagle Scout; and Talibah Safiya.

14.  Intrepid Museum’s Free Fridays

On select Friday nights this summer, the Intrepid Museum opens its doors for free (tickets are usually $36/adult), allowing visitors to explore the museum and enjoy free after-hours programming. Free Fridays run on the last Friday of the month (June 28, July 26 and August 23). 

On Free Fridays, visitors can explore the museum free of charge and enjoy after-hours programming. Doors open at 5pm and close at 8:30pm. 

While you're there, be sure to check out the fascinating exhibit "Apollo: When We Went to the Moon." With archival speeches, historic documents, and incredible space equipment, the exhibit whisks visitors back to the 1960s, an era when humanity first ventured into the unknown. 

If you've got time, stick around for free movie nights , too!

15.  The Intrepid Museum's Summer Movie Series

Many free outdoor movie screenings are taking place all over town this summer, but none boast an ambiance quite like that of the Intrepid Museum's Summer Movie Series.  After all, you get to watch some awesome movies while hanging out on the aircraft carrier's flight deck at sunset. How cool!

In connection with the museum's fascinating newest exhibition: Apollo: When We Went to the Moon ,   all of   the movies this summer will feature stories about humankind’s exploration and fascination with the Moon.  Here is the summer schedule:

— Friday, June 28: Apollo 13 — Friday, July 26: First Man — Friday, August 23: Moonfall

The movie will be played on a huge inflatable screen, so there's not a bad seat in the house. Doors open at 7pm and the movie starts at sunset. M ake sure to bring some blankets and lawn chairs along.  You can also bring your own food and drinks (alcohol is not permitted, though), and light snacks will be sold at the event.

16.  Free outdoor theater

Public spaces come alive with free outdoor theater in New York City in the summer, and especially with the plays of William Shakespeare.

The top destination, of course, is usually the Delacorte Theater in Central Park , where the Public Theater’s Shakespeare in the Park presents excellent productions that among New York's best things to do in the summer . That series is on hold this year for long-needed Delacorte renovations, but luckily you can still enjoy plays by Shakespeare and other classical masters elsewhere in the city: in Harlem and Brooklyn, at Battery and Riverside Parks, even in a Lower East Side parking lot.

You might be surprised by the magic that can come from wonderful words, inventive actors and a mild summer breeze. Here's our full list of outdoor theater this summer.

17.  Summer on the Hudson

Summer on the Hudson , a program run by the Riverside Park Conservancy and NYC Parks for the past two decades, is back. Adn this time, it's bigger than ever before with new programming and more than 300 free events, including some in West Harlem and Washington Heights for the first time ever. 

As usual, expect a ton of artists and musicians to participate in the extravaganza, which is free to the public and hinges heavily on all things wellness. Plus, silent disco sessions, movies under the stars, sunset yoga classes, and a Black Birders Week.

This year, Silent Disco sessions at Pier I in Riverside Park South, the Irish Dance Festival, the West Side County Fair and Movies Under the Stars will make a comeback while the uptown expansion will bring with it novel events. These include movie screenings on the Hudson waterfront at 145th Street every Thursday in August, sunset yoga classes and a Black Birders Week hosted alongside NYC Audubon.

18.  Street fairs

If you need another  reason to get outside this summer , NYC street fairs take over various blocks in all five boroughs when the weather gets warmer. While frolicking along the city's sidewalks, snack on sensational eats from the best restaurants in NYC and score stellar throwback wares and antiques as you would find at our city’s finest vintage clothing stores.

A few of our favorites include the Hester Street Fair and Grand Bazaar. Window shopping is free.

19.  The Met's 81st Street Studio

There are usually a few rules at art museums: No yelling, no loud music and certainly no touching the displays! But at The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s new 81st Street Studio, these rules don’t apply. 

This art and science play space designed for kids ages 3-11 and their families welcomes visitors to use their senses for exploration. Kids can smell different types of wood, look through a microscope, play oversized musical instruments, and try digital activities to learn about different materials. Best of all, this newly designed drop-in space on the Met’s ground level is completely free for kids and their caregivers.

Within its 3,500-square-foot area, 81st Street Studio features both digital and analog experiences designed to encourage making, investigation, critical thinking, problem-solving and appreciation for materials and their properties. Drop-in activities and self-directed art- and science-making activities will be available during museum hours. 

20.  Meditations on Medication art project

A powerful new art project on Governors Island brings empty pill bottles out from their cramped cabinets and into the light. Called   Meditations on Medication: The Pill Bottle Project , this ever-evolving community installation will be constructed on weekends all summer—and all are invited to contribute.

The project is the brainchild of Alyson Vega, an artist with Fountain House Gallery who wants to spark conversation around medication, routine, recycling, plastic waste, insurance and accessibility. 

To donate bottles, see the artwork, and lend a hand in creating it, head to Governors Island on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 11am-5pm now through August 11. Find the setup at Nolan Park #8B. It's free to enter.

21.  The Polonsky Exhibition at the NYPL

• Midtown West Until Dec 31, 2025

Hundreds of items have been pulled from the New York Public Library's expansive and centuries-spanning archive to be put on display—many of them for the first time—in a permanent exhibition called "The Polonsky Exhibition of The New York Public Library’s Treasures."

Inside the NYPL's Stephen A. Schwarzman Building and its beautiful Gottesman Hall, are more than 250 unique and rare items culled from its research centers including the only surviving letter from Christoper Columbus announcing his "discovery" of the Americas to King Ferdinand’s court and the first Gutenberg Bible brought over to the Americas.

22.  Flatiron-Nomad Walking Tour

Every Sunday at 11 am, rain or shine, expert guides are ready and waiting to offer you a historical tour of the Flatiron-Nomad neighborhoods. On these fascinating walking tours, take a stroll through this iconic area while taking in the architectural gems and even learning some scandalous tidbits.

It's totally free; no need to RSVP. Just meet your guide at the tip of the Flatiron Building on 23rd Street just east of 5th Avenue.

23.  Drag Me To Joanne’s

Lady Gaga’s family restaurant, Joanne  Trattoria  (a name made famous by the artist’s eponymous album), is bringing in sensational drag queens for free, “speakeasy” drag shows every Wednesday.

“Drag Me To Joanne’s,” which is hosted by Jupiter Genesis, features special guests. Of course, because it’s all set at Joanne’s, there will “be ample Lady Gaga action,” organizers say.

Produced exclusively by Jessee O of G L I T A NYC and co-produced by Jupiter Genesis, the show starts at 7pm. Joanne Trattoria’s full Italian menu will be available during performances. Additional tickets for the show aren’t needed, you just need to order a meal.

24.  A self-guided literary walking tour of Brooklyn

It's one thing to read about Brooklyn and yet another thing to visit the landmarks that have turned it into the stuff of literary legend.

An audio tour by the Brooklyn Public Library explores the lives of the characters and authors that call the borough home in fiction and in real life. From Patti Smith to Biggie Smalls, Howard Zinn to Tanwi Nandini Islam, the guide covers a total of 16 writers over eight miles of Brooklyn. You can also expect to stop at important public libraries the likes of Washington Irving and Clinton Hill, which played an important role in the lives of the featured authors.

Expect the entire tour, which can virtually start off from anywhere in Brooklyn, to take at least two hours to complete, depending on how many stops you wish to make along the way.

25.  Little Island

• West Village

One of New York City’s hottest attractions, Little Island greets visitors and locals who flock to see Manhattan’s gorgeous “floating” greenspace. The park is filled with open lawns, colorful foliage, cool installations and even a secret garden.

The park opens at 6am daily (closing times differ throughout the year), and it's totally free to enter. 

Plus, there are plenty of free performances this summer to check out; here's the full list .

26.  Governors Island

If you crave an escape from the city that won’t land you in debt, head to the ever-changing urban oasis of Governors Island, NY which combines park, adult playground and outdoor art space into a single lovely haven for adventure.  Governors Island  has officially become a year-round destination for the public to roam. Yes, even in the winter .

Heads up that getting there will cost you a few bucks.  It costs $4 to cruise to the car-free paradise on a ferry, but there are a few opportunities to get a free ride, like taking an early ferry or if you qualify for special discounts.  

27.  The High Line

• Parks and gardens

The 1.45 mile-long park, which first opened in 2009, was originally created entirely on an abandoned elevated train track, snaking above the otherwise industrial West Side neighborhoods. Today millions clamor for the dazzling views of the Hudson River and the downtown skyline. The park hosts free star-gazing events, lively cultural happenings like Latin dance nights and rotating works of sculpture and art throughout the year.

28.  Queens County Farm Museum

• Special interest

This Queens County treasure is well worth the bus trek or car ride. As the city’s longest continually farmed site in the city (it’s been in operation since 1697), the 47 acres feels like an entirely different world compared to Manhattan. Feed and pet the barnyard animals, including sheep, ponies and goats, hop aboard a hayride and come back during the fall harvest season when you can go pumpkin picking and attempt to find your way through the Amazing Maize Maze (yes, that’s a   corn maze ).  

Admission is free except on special ticketed event days. Don’t miss the store on your way out for fresh fruits and veggies grown on the premises.

29.  Green-Wood Cemetery

• Walks and tours

Filled with Victorian mausoleums, cherubs and gargoyles, Green-Wood is the resting place of some half-million New Yorkers, among them Jean-Michel Basquiat, Leonard Bernstein and Boss Tweed.   There’s more to do here than grave-spot: Check out the massive Gothic arch at the main entrance or climb to the top of Battle Hill, one of the highest points in Kings County and a pivotal spot during the Battle of Brooklyn in 1776.

30.  Free Black Women's Library in Brooklyn

Find your latest read at  The Free Black Women’s Library , a new free library in Brooklyn's Bed-Stuy neighborhood, which also serves as a social art project, a reading room, a co-working space and a community gathering center. The library "celebrates the brilliance, diversity and imagination of Black women and Black non-binary authors." All 5,000 books in the library's collection are written by Black women and non-binary authors.

Here's how it works: Anybody can visit the space to read, work or hang out. If you want to take a book home, simply bring a book written by a Black woman or Black non-binary author, and you can trade. Whether you decide to bring the book back after you're done reading or keep it for your collection is up to you.

The library is currently open four days per week (Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday) at 226 Marcus Garvey Boulevard. In addition to offering a space to read or work, the library has also hosts a book club, art shows and workshops on topics like writing, drawing, poetry, painting and sewing. All are welcome. 

31.  Bronx Museum of the Arts

• Art and design
• price 1 of 4

Founded in 1971 and featuring more than 1,000 works, this multicultural art museum shines a spotlight on 20th- and 21st-century artists who are either Bronx-based or of African, Asian or Latino ancestry. The museum sporadically offers family programming. It's always free to attend.

32.  Chelsea art galleries

In the westernmost stretches of Chelsea, dozens of free-admission galleries showcase groundbreaking paintings, prints, installations and sculptures.   It's a great way to get an introduction to the city's gallery hopping scene. Pro tip: while the shows frequently change, we recommend starting out with Gagosian Gallery, David Zwirner and Pace Gallery.

33.  The Hispanic Society Museum

With 750,000 objects, The Hispanic Society Museum & Library boasts the largest assemblage of Spanish art and manuscripts outside Spain. The collection includes many religious artifacts, including 16th-century tombs from the monastery of San Francisco in Cuéllar, Spain. After a six-year, $10-million renovation, the museum's main building reopened in May 2023. Additional renovation work is planned for the museum's East Building. 

The museum features a variety of exhibitions each year; keep an eye   on their website   to see what's on view. A permanent fixture of the museum, however, is Valencian painter Joaquín Sorolla y Bastida’s   Vision of Spain , comprising 14 monumetal oil paintings commissioned by the Society in 1911. Each massive panel reflects a different region of Spain in vivid colors, featuring tuna fishing, bull fighting and an Easter parade, along with objects including oranges and flowers. The canvases are arranged around the room, making it feel truly immersive.

The museum, founded by the son of a railroad magnate in the early 1900s, is free to visit. It's located in Manhattan's Washington Heights neighborhood.

34.  Socrates Sculpture Park

Take in the great outdoors while appreciating awe-inspiring large-scale sculptures and installations at this 4.5-acre public space. Built over an old landfill, today the park offers beautiful, lush green lawns overlooking the East River and boasts a reputation as a premiere outdoor location for artists to create site-specific wonders.

35.  The Museum at FIT

• Fashion and costume

Overseen by fashion historian Valerie Steele, the Museum at FIT showcases selections from the institute's permanent collection, as well as temporary exhibitions focusing on individual designers and fashion's role in society. FIT owns one of the largest and most impressive collections of clothing, textiles and accessories in the world, including some 50,000 costumes and fabrics dating from the 5th century to the present. 

36.  The Jewish Museum

• Central Park

The Jewish Museum, housed in the 1908 Warburg Mansion, showcases temporary exhibitions of contemporary and modern art and also maintains a substantial collection of artworks of art and Judaica.

The Jewish Museum is free on Shabbat during regular hours. There is a permanent exhibit specifically for children, as well as a restaurant that includes an Uptown outpost of Russ & Daughters, the iconic Lower East Side purveyors of Kosher delicacies like lox, sable and whitefish.

37.  The Morgan Library & Museum

• Murray Hill

This Madison Avenue institution began as the private library of financier J. Pierpont Morgan and is his artistic gift to the city.

Building on the collection Morgan amassed in his lifetime, the museum houses first-rate works on paper, including drawings by Michelangelo, Rembrandt and Picasso; three Gutenberg Bibles; a copy of Frankenstein annotated by Mary Shelley; manuscripts by Dickens, Poe, Twain, Steinbeck and Wilde; sheet music handwritten by Beethoven and Mozart; and an original edition of Dickens’s A Christmas Carol that’s displayed every yuletide.  Here's the full list of special exhibitions coming to The Morgan in 2023.  

The museum is free to visit on Fridays, 5-7pm. Reservations are required available one week in advance.

38.  Home for Retired Playground Animals

New York City has an official retirement home for worn-out playground animals, you know, the ones we used to climb on as kids. 

Flushing Meadows Corona Park now has a section set aside for these beloved concrete animals that have seen better days. Called the “Home for Retired Playground Animals,” this space is next to the giant Unisphere and it’s meant to be a contemplative area with plantings where you can see these animals and sit on benches near them.

There are two dolphins, one aardvark, one elephant, one camel and one frog from various NYC parks that children have played and climbed on since the 1980s and ’90s.  Until now, these animals were just thrown out, but starting now, they'll be added to the "retirement home" at Flushing Meadows-Corona Park where you can visit them.

39.  Central Park

No matter the season, there’s always an excuse to visit Central Park. From leaf peeping to learning local history to strolling amongst the flowers, Manhattan’s iconic green space dazzles every day. We've broken down our list of best things to do by season, so you won't miss a thing.

40.  Free comedy shows

You don't have to shell out cash or order two drinks at these free comedy shows in NYC. The city has an embarrassment of riches when it comes to comedy—on any given night, you can hit up some of NYC’s best comedy clubs to see sets from the city’s best-rising comedians, along with well-established names—but you can also find hella funny sets around the city for nothing!

Check out our rundown of free shows in town, which will satisfy die-hard fans of comedy podcasts  and even clue you in budding comics in on the best open-mic nights in town.

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21 best free things to do in New York City

Mar 23, 2024 • 9 min read

No filler. No fee. This is the best of New York City for free © Pedro Merino / Stocksy

New York City evokes both high-rise luxury and savvy deals. But the best offer in town? The number of free attractions the Big Apple has to enjoy.

You could spend a lifetime here ticking off the best things to do  – but have you seen the rental prices? It's better to squeeze in a concert, museum or tour that's absolutely free.

Want to make the most of your dollars? Save our guide to visiting New York City on a budget .

1. See one of the world's loveliest final-resting places at Green-Wood Cemetery

Once the nation's most visited tourist attraction outside Niagara Falls, the gorgeous Green-Wood Cemetery was built in 1838 and today is the eternal home to some 600,000 souls. The 478-acre cemetery is leafy and lovely and features Brooklyn's highest point, Battle Hill – named after a skirmish during the Revolutionary War and now marked with a seven-foot statue of the Roman goddess of wisdom, Minerva.

Planning tip:  Watch for the squawking green parakeets at the cemetery's Gothic-style entrance pavilion; according to local legend, these non-native birds arrived after a mishap at JFK Airport in the 1980s and have called the cemetery home ever since.

2. Visit the moving African Burial Ground National Monument

In 1991, construction workers uncovered a burial ground filled with more than 400 caskets containing the bodies of enslaved Africans from the 17th and 18th centuries – an age when New York had more people in bondage than any American city outside Charleston, South Carolina. Today, tucked among downtown skyscrapers, the  African Burial Ground National Monument  offers a space for visitors to contemplate the past and learn about the history of the African American community in early New York City.

3. Discover unsung talent at the American Folk Art Museum

With objects ranging from photographs and quilts to weather vanes in its collection, the American Folk Art Museum is devoted to the appreciation and expressions of self-taught artists, spanning all eras. And perhaps appropriately for an institution devoted to the work of creators from outside the canon, admission is always free.

Keep museum-hopping at these institutions and galleries in NYC .

4. Hear sizzling live jazz at Barbès

Having helped to launch the careers of legendary jazz artists like Dizzy Gillespie and Thelonious Monk, New York City's club scene is enshrined into the pages of jazz history, and seeing a live show here is an essential NYC experience for music lovers. Iconic venues like the Village Vanguard and the Blue Note may be way out of your price range, but head across the bridge to Barbès in Brooklyn, and you can enjoy stellar nightly performances for free (tips for the band are always greatly appreciated).

5. Pay your respects at Grant's Tomb

This imposing granite structure holds the remains of the Civil War hero and 18th president and his wife, Julia. Built after a major fundraising campaign in the late 19th century, the General Ulysses S Grant National Memorial  is the largest mausoleum in the USA and was inspired by Mausolus' tomb at Halicarnassus , one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.  

6. See haute stuff at the Fashion Institute of Technology Museum

It's always Fashion Week at the FIT Museum , which features rotating exhibits by students and engaging exhibitions that draw on a collection of 50,000 garments dating from the 18th century to the present.

7. Admire the Bushwick Collective's curated street art in Brooklyn

Curated by Bushwick native Joe Ficalora, the Bushwick Collective  is an unofficial graffiti museum that brings together top street artists from all around the world. Spanning multiple buildings over several blocks, the art you'll see is all temporary, legal and a worthy rival to anything you'll see in a museum with four walls.

Planning tip:  The Bushwick Collective organizes a free block party every June that brings the whole community together to dance and listen to an incredible lineup of artists. Definitely worth a visit if you're spending a summer in the city.

8. Get a culture fix in the Boogie Down at the Bronx Museum of the Arts 

A scrappy and vibrant institution on the historic Grand Concourse, the Bronx Museum of the Arts' mission is to promote cross-cultural dialogue and make art accessible for diverse urban audiences. Founded in 1971 in New York's northernmost borough , the museum collects and exhibits pieces of contemporary and 20th-century art spanning all mediums. The museum became free in 2012.

9. Savor each of Central Park's 843 acres

Even though the real estate surrounding this famous urban oasis is some of the most expensive in the world, access to Central Park is gloriously free for New Yorkers and visitors of all means. Since Frederick Law Olmsted's layout of the park was intended to be pleasantly disorienting, we recommend spending a few hours wandering aimlessly through its alluring paths, lush groves and delightful water features.

You probably won't want to miss the Imagine mosaic at Strawberry Fields , just steps in from where John Lennon was shot in 1980. You can also retrace the steps of  The Catcher in the Rye  protagonist  Holden Caulfield  by checking out the ducks in the Pond at the park's southeastern corner.

Explore Central Park's best hidden corners on one of these detours.

10. Gallery-hop in West Chelsea

New York's most concentrated area for a gallery crawl is in Chelsea, in the West 20s between 10th and 11th Avenues. From small start-ups to established institutions like Pace and David Zwirner , all galleries are free to enter, with no pressure to buy. Check out the Art Dealers Association of America's gallery guide , which has a comprehensive list of current shows, and create your own arty adventure.

Planning tip:  Plan your tour for a Thursday evening, when most wine-and-cheese openings take place.

11. Hop on a boat to bike around Governors Island

The ferry to Governors Island is free on Saturdays and Sundays before noon (usually a $3 round trip). Entry to the 172-acre island, now open year-round, costs nothing either. An eclectic range of attractions includes a 2.2-mile bike path, artificial hills offering splendid harbor views, a program of live events and rotating art installations, plus former military sites such as the Admiral's House and Fort Jay.

Planning tip:  Frequent (and free) guided tours depart from the Soissons Landing Welcome Center.

12. Admire Lady Liberty from the Staten Island Ferry

The Statue of Liberty is a must-see, but ferry tours to Liberty Island start at $18 for adults. Enter the Staten Island Ferry , which plies New York Harbor 24 hours a day, seven days a week, offering a stellar view of this iconic monument at no cost at all. Having been in service since 1905, the ferry shuttles some 19 million visitors and commuters back and forth across the harbor each year. 

13. See how the magic happens during a Brooklyn Brewery tour

Free tours of Williamsburg's Brooklyn Brewery run Saturday and Sunday every half hour starting at 1pm, with the last tour offered at 6pm. Linger a while after in the tasting room.

14. Catch a cool show at BRIC House and Celebrate Brooklyn!

In a part of Brooklyn humming with cultural activity,  BRIC House  is a leading presenter of no-cost multimedia programming, with free admission to two performance spaces and a gallery. In the summer, the organization curates the Celebrate Brooklyn! series in Prospect Park , with a majority of the concerts and performances – which in the past have sets from Chaka Khan, Janelle Monáe, the dancers of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and many others – free of charge, with no ticket necessary.

15. Promenade on the High Line

Technically a public park, the High Line has the feel of a runway, where New Yorkers and tourists (sometimes a lot of them) sashay for a stroll. Part of the slow, ongoing re-green-ification of Manhattan, this 1.5-mile-long elevated park, standing some 30 feet in the air, was created from an abandoned stretch of elevated railroad track.

Connecting the Meatpacking District with Chelsea's galleries before ending at gleaming Hudson Yards , it costs nothing to take a wander up here. En route, wonderful views open up of the Hudson River to the west and of pedestrians on the sidewalks below. 

Planning tip: Hudson Yards has free movie screenings every Friday night in the public square.

16. Explore Native American culture at the National Museum of the American Indian

Situated in the spectacular Alexander Hamilton U.S. Customs House (1907), the National Museum of the American Indian , a branch of the Smithsonian , offers one of the country's finest arrays of Native American art. The focus of its million-item-strong collection, as well as its programs, is on culture rather than history – prepare for a visual feast.

17. Get inspired at the New York Public Library

New York's most famous library  (today known as the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building) is situated in a grand, world-famous Beaux-Arts icon east of Times Square. Guarded by marble lions named Patience and Fortitude, it's a jaw-dropper to walk through – particularly the Rose Main Reading Room, with space for 500 patrons to pore over tomes under the library's original Carrère and Hastings-designed lamps.

Exhibitions showcase the institution's astonishing holdings, which include a copy of the original Declaration of Independence, a Gutenberg Bible and some 431,000 old maps. Free tours  of the building and the Rose Main Reading Room take place throughout the week.

18. Attend a Shakespeare play

You can try your luck to win free tickets to Shakespeare in the Park, presented each summer in Central Park's Delacorte Theater by the  Public Theater , via the digital lottery and standby lines. You can also get your fix of the Bard – with some awfully romantic lighting – at Shakespeare at Sunset, produced by New York Classical Theatre at non-traditional public venues across the city, including Battery Park .

19. See a work of art made from 140 tons of dirt

No frame would be big enough for this. The Earth Room , Walter De Maria's 1977 installation, is a single room in a nondescript SoHo building filled with 280,000 pounds of dirt, combining the familiar confines of an urban space with the scent of a wet forest. Strange? A little. Memorable? Definitely.

20. Interact with the art at Socrates Sculpture Park

Overlooking Roosevelt Island and the Upper East Side on the East River, the site of a former landfill now hosts  Socrates Sculpture Park , a playful and free outdoor museum and public park with large-scale interactive sculptures and multimedia art installations. On Wednesdays in the summer, free movie screenings take place, with an emphasis on foreign films, preceded by corresponding music and cultural performances.

21. Admire the world's first LGBTIQ+ dedicated art space, the Leslie-Lohman Museum of Gay & Lesbian Art

Featuring works by US and international artists, the Leslie-Lohman Museum of Gay & Lesbian Art is the first museum in the world dedicated to LGBTIQ+ themes. As well as rotating exhibitions and regular retrospectives, most of the art on show is from the gallery's vast collection. Lectures, performances and film screenings are also held here regularly. It's free, but donations are welcome.

Save our ultimate guide to LGBTIQ+ travel in NYC .

Ready to plan your trip to NYC?

Add these top experiences to your itinerary Find out which NYC neighborhood fits your vibe Give your wallet a break with these incredible free experiences Navigate NYC like a local with our transportation guide

This article was first published Aug 20, 2019 and updated Mar 23, 2024.

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45 Fabulous Free Things to Do in NYC

Adventurous Kate contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I will earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks!

Trust me — when you live in New York, you quickly learn all the free things to do in NYC. We joke that just leaving your apartment costs $20! It may be in jest, but it’s a little too close to the truth.

One of the secrets of surviving in New York is learning how to have fun on as little money as possible, because this city tends to be even more expensive than you imagine. And you’ll learn that on your trip to New York! Whether you love dining out, seeing Broadway shows, or dancing till dawn, I guarantee you’ll end up spending more than expected.

Luckily, there are tons of amazing free activities in NYC to enjoy. Amazing parks and museums. Historic sites. Cool neighborhoods where just walking around is an adventure. All you need is a Metrocard (preferably unlimited) to enjoy your visit!

That said — things change over the years, and New York in 2022 is not New York in 2012. On one hand, attractions like the Metropolitan Museum of Art are no longer offering pay-what-you-wish admission to all; it’s now only for locals. On the other hand, fun free Instagram-friendly attractions like Little Island have popped up, becoming new classics.

And parts of Brooklyn, the borough once sniveled at by Miranda Hobbes, is now more expensive and trendy than much of Manhattan. Queens is right behind.

One thing’s for sure — this city is always evolving. And no matter what your budget is, whether you’re a solo female traveler in New York , having a weekend getaway with your buds, or visiting with your kids, you can find plenty of fun free things to do in New York City.

Table of Contents

So Many Free Things to Do in NYC

Some of the best free things to do in NYC are riding the Staten Island Ferry , taking a stroll on the High Line , checking out the many free museums .

Kids will absolutely love spending a morning at Governor’s Island , all the fun chaos of Times Square , and of course exploring Central Park .

Take a nice walk along the piers of Brooklyn Bridge Park , go mural-hopping in funky Bushwick , and for something different, head to Soviet-flavored Brighton Beach .

The National Museum of the American Indian , Museum at FIT , and Bronx Museum of the Arts always have free admission! Many others have free days or times each week.

Classic Free New York Experiences

Let’s start with the iconic free things to do in NYC! And you can’t do better than the Staten Island Ferry.

Ride the Staten Island Ferry

Submitted by Katie from  KatieCafTravel.com   

A lot of tourists come to New York City and pay  lots  of money to take a harbor cruise or the ferry to the Statue of Liberty — but what most people don’t know is that there’s an even better boat that runs 24/7, and it’s free to ride! 

The Staten Island Ferry is a favorite open secret in New York City for being the best time you can have without spending a single dollar. 

Operating since 1905, the Staten Island Ferry runs a boat every 15 minutes between Staten Island and Manhattan, 24 hours a day, every day of the year. 

In the daytime, you can get a great up-close view of the Statue of Liberty, and at night the ferry offers fantastic views of the New York Skyline all lit up. 

The Staten Island Ferry has also become known as a party spot, with lots of people BYOB-ing their drinks onboard while they enjoy the view.  Sometimes there are even birthday parties onboard! Making the Staten Island Ferry the best  free  party venue in Manhattan. 

You can take the Staten Island Ferry from the Whitehall Ferry Terminal in south Manhattan.

Tip:  Sometimes some guys try to sell tickets to the Staten Island Ferry outside of Whitehall Terminal — don’t give them any money! The ferry is 100% free for everyone to use, people claiming to sell tickets are just scammers. (Note from Kate: Just say, “I’m local,” and everyone will stop bothering you.)

Make it a cheap activity: Both ferry terminals sell food and beverages, including beer, wine, and mixed canned drinks, and it’s legal to drink on the ferry. Spice things up!

Enjoy Times Square at Night

Submitted by Rasika from Bae Area and Beyond

Times Square is one of the most iconic destinations in New York City. It’s known as “the Crossroads of the World” because it’s where Broadway and 7th Avenue meet 42nd Street.

It’s also one of the biggest tourist attractions in NYC because of its high concentration of theaters and hotels, and bright lights that attract visitors from all corners of the world. It’s the heart of New York City, and has been since 1904. Today, it’s home to some of the world’s biggest brands and biggest attractions. It’s a great place to people-watch and it’s full of iconic landmarks.

Grab a spot on the red staircase at the TKTS booth for a wide view of Times Square. There are plenty of interesting shops to check out, from Hershey’s Chocolate World to Hard Rock Cafe.

Times Square is great to visit at any time of day, but night is the best time of all. This is when all the lights come on, and it’s easy to find a spot for taking photos. If you are visiting during the day, you can still get some good shots by walking around the area and shooting from different angles. There are also some street performers who perform on certain days, which adds to the fun of this place!

Walk the Brooklyn Bridge

Submitted by Jess from Uprooted Traveler

The Brooklyn Bridge, constructed in the late 1880s, is an icon in New York City, with over 116,000 vehicles, 30,000 pedestrians and 3,000 cyclists crossing the bridge each day! There’s something so magical about walking from the shadows of the towering skyscrapers of Manhattan and, with each step, getting closer to the Brooklyn skyline as Manhattan shrinks behind you.

Start on the Manhattan side, so you’ll get to explore areas of Brooklyn, like DUMBO, once you reach the other side of the bridge. I recommend taking the 4, 5, or 6 train to City Hall / Brooklyn Bridge or the J or Z train to Chambers Street. 

Once entering the bridge, make sure to stick to the left hand side of the walkway or you might get run over by a bicyclist! The bridge is a little over a mile long and will take approximately half an hour to walk across.

For the best photos, be sure to get to the bridge early — it’s an extremely popular destination with visitors, as well as an important thoroughfare for the city, so if you come any later than around 7:30 AM, expect your photos to be full of other people. To get one of the classic photos of the bridge, be sure to walk close to the center pylons, so that their Gothic arches fill the camera’s frame.

Make it a cheap activity: If you’re staying in Manhattan, consider taking the ferry back (just $2.75!), once you’re done exploring Brooklyn- it leaves from Dumbo and will provide epic views of the Manhattan skyline for 45 minutes until you’re dropped off at 34th street.

Little Island

Submitted by Catherine Xu of Nomadicated

With an epic view of the Manhattan skyline, stroll around the winding pathways and pot-shaped structures on one of New York City’s newest public parks, Little Island. Open in May 2021, the creation of Little Island transformed the damaged Pier 54 into an urban oasis.

Little Island is an artificial island floating just off West 13th Street on the Hudson River. This small 2.4-acre area features more than 400 species of plants, meant to symbolize a leaf floating on water.

Perfect for visitors passing through Greenwich Village and Chelsea, this public park is also a great starting location for other New York sights like the Vessel and the Highline.

A visit to this recreational area is open to the public and free for all. However, special events at the Amph require a paid ticket to attend. Check out the calendar of events for near daily shows ranging from Afro Latin Jazz Ensemble and Interpretive Dance to Clowning Comedy and everything in between.

Little Island is open, rain or shine, 365 days a year starting at 6:00 AM, save for severe weather. Closing hours depend on the season, with summer hours ending at midnight and winter at 9:00 PM.

Rockefeller Center

Submitted by Sam Opp from Find Love & Travel

Did you even visit New York City without exploring Rockefeller Center? This free attraction is easily one of the top things to do in New York City. Commissioned by John D. Rockefeller Jr., this complex is one of the most recognized National Historic Landmarks.

Rockefeller Center stretches an entire avenue and several blocks full of Art Deco buildings, including Radio City Music Hall! This is the perfect place to marvel at Manhattan architecture and art from the 1930s! 

If you are visiting New York in December , Rockefeller Center is a must-see for the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree! Millions of people come from all around the world to see this famous Christmas tree all lit up with its giant Swarovski star atop. Better yet, the Saks Fifth Avenue Christmas light show faces the opposite way of the Christmas Tree. This gives you the best of both worlds, and all for free! It is really quite spectacular!

Rockefeller Center is also the place to be if you want to attend a free live TV taping. Shows including Saturday Night Live and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon are all done right here at 30 Rockefeller Plaza.

Additionally, throughout the year, Rockefeller Center has free events open to the public. Many free activities include fun interactive art installations for everyone to enjoy. 

Grand Central Station

Submitted by Noel from Visit California and Beyond

If you really want to feel the pulse and beat of New York City, then head out to Grand Central Station. Located in the heart of the city at 42nd street and Park Avenue, the station is the hub of all rail, metro and public transportation in and out of New York City.

Grand Central Station plays an active role in the growth and development of the city and rail transportation regionally to the outside regions and surrounding areas of the state. Grand Central Depot was established in 1871 and represented three participating railroads to the main hub in the city. The Vanderbilts bought out all the separate lines and created a vast transportation network that reshaped the region and made Grand Central a very busy and important transportation hub.

The Grand Central terminal was created with innovative engineering, practical design and beautiful aesthetics that were made with marble, lofty arches and beautiful details that combined both function and efficiency with an elegant structure. You’ll enjoy seeing all the gorgeous craftsmanship and detailed art when you walk around the vast hallway and interior building.

When you enter the main hall of the station, you will immediately be in awe of the grand scale but at the same time see the fine details of decorative flourishes, bronze and stone carvings, vaulted ceilings with chandeliers and marble everywhere. Grand Central Station is truly a working transportation terminal but also a building of art and design.

Make it a cheap activity: Head downstairs to grab a snack in the Grand Central Dining Concourse, or enjoy a bowl of New England Clam Chowder from the Oyster Bar.

The High Line

Submitted by Lori of  Italy Foodies

When it comes to fabulous free things to do in NYC, it’s hard to beat a walk on the High Line, an elevated linear park on the city’s west side that’s nearly a mile and a half long.

Starting in the Meatpacking District, the High Line runs from Gansevoort Street near 14th Street, through Chelsea and up to the West Side Yard on 34th Street near the Javits Center.

The Park itself is built on the site of the abandoned western spur of the New York Central Railroad. Today it is a stunning urban greenway dotted with unique sitting areas, living natural spaces, and intimate gardens.

Especially mind-blowing for art lovers are the number of commissioned art and sound installations that have been curated since the Park’s inception, many of which feature the Hudson River and the history of the industrial age manufacturing plants that once stood here.

Perhaps as equally impressive as the project itself is the community effort involved in creating it. What started as a small grassroots effort in 1999 eventually gained the support of the citizens, Mayor Bloomberg and major corporate donors and construction finally began in 2006. Three years later in 2011, this phase was opened at 14th and 16th Street and two more phases began and finished in 2014.

Don’t miss a stop at the Chelsea Market on 15th Street or a visit to the new wing of The Whitney Museum of American Art near the High Line’s south end on Gansevoort Street.

9/11 Memorial and National September 11 Memorial Museum

Located in lower Manhattan, the 9/11 Memorial occupies the land on which the Twin Towers once stood. Today, it’s a beautiful and somber art installation.

Each of the Twin Towers is outlined on the ground and turned into a fountain, water cascading to hidden depths. Around the edges are the names of each person who died on 9/11. You’ll see roses in some of the names, and each day the memorial staff puts a rose in the names of people on their birthdays.

You can also see the one tree that survived 9/11 and is thriving to this day.

Please know that this is a place for quiet reflection. Many New Yorkers lost loved ones here; others were traumatized forever. Some people travel here to honor their dead relatives. It’s hurtful to see tourists treat the 9/11 Memorial like a wacky selfie backdrop. Do that literally anywhere else in the city. Not here.

Attend a Live TV Taping

Submitted by Merry Allison from Virginia Vacation Guide

Attending a live tv taping is an iconic New York experience! There is a wide range of diverse shows that are filmed in the city in front of a live audience, and general admission for these events is free to the public. 

Watching a live tv taping gives you the unique opportunity to see how television shows are produced, including how lighting, mics, cameras, and teleprompters all come together to bring a show to life on the small screen. You also get the chance to see hosts and guests in a more relaxed setting during commercial breaks. 

Some of the main tv programs that have a live tv audience are morning shows, such as The Today Show and Good Morning America (but be prepared to get up early!); late night shows like The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon , The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert ; talk shows like The View ; and variety shows like Saturday Night Live . 

Each show has its own protocol for how to request tickets to attend a live taping. You can visit the show’s website to learn more about how to attend a live taping. 

Some shows, such as Saturday Night Live , are incredibly popular and can be very difficult to get tickets to. (Note from Kate: I’m a huge SNL fan and there’s a lottery you sign up for at the beginning of the season. I’ve never gotten tickets.)

For other shows, like the Today Show , you can simply go to the location of the filming (in this case Rockefeller Plaza) and stand outside for a chance to be part of the show when the hosts come out to greet visitors. 

One unique live tv taping experience is technically a tv show and live concert rolled into one. Good Morning America hosts a Summer Concert Series every Friday in the summer. You will have to request a ticket online first, but then you can just line up the morning of the concert and see a free outdoor concert, plus get a chance to be part of the live tv broadcast. 

One strong recommendation when attending a live tv taping is to make sure to line up well in advance. Even if you have a ticket to the event, most shows are oversold, which means you are not guaranteed admission.

Attending any live tv show taping will generally take a bit of patience and a fair amount of time waiting in line, however, the experience is definitely worth it.

Shakespeare in the Park

Submitted by Anwar from Beyond My Door

One of the premier summer activities in New York, the Public Theater hosts two Shakespeare Performances annually in Central Park’s Delacorte Theater.

Originally conceived by Joseph Papp in 1954, the series of plays has grown and moved until it found its present location in Central Park in 1962. The Series of productions draw a high caliber of directors and actors with several famous film and theater actors starring in productions over the years.

Each of the productions runs for about 4-5 weeks, with shows running from Tuesday through Sunday. Some of the shows will stay very true to the original Shakespearean production, while others will modernize elements for current events and crowds. The modern interpretations mean that even with previous staging of the plays, it will be a new experience for attendees.

This is also a very popular event for spotting celebrities in the audience!

Shakespeare in the Park tickets are free , and there are several options for obtaining. Hopeful theater goers can line up for tickets at Delacorte the morning of productions, later in the day for standby tickets, or lottery tickets at the Public Theater  downtown or online via TodayTix.  

Submitted by Sean from Living Out Lau

Perhaps one of the  most beautiful places in NYC  architecturally speaking is the Oculus, which coincidentally is completely free to visit. Also known as the World Trade Center,  this is a transportation hub that connects Lower Manhattan with New Jersey via the PATH. The complex also features plenty of retail spaces, boutiques shops, and luxury brands.

As one of the buildings that were built following the attacks on 9/11, the architecture of the Oculus is impressive. The structure has steed-clad ribs that act as the structural integrity of the building, proving that functionality and elegance can be achieved at the same time.

(Note from Kate: When the Oculus was built, some New Yorkers questioned whether a shopping mall was an appropriate reconstruction near the former Ground Zero. Others pointed out that there’s already a 9/11 memorial and adding in a new, cool-looking mall was quintessentially NYC move.)

The interior of the building is all white, with the floor completely made out of marble, making it extremely photogenic. The best thing to do in the Oculus is to just walk around and admire the details that went into constructing this architectural masterpiece.

After you are done exploring the massive venue, check out the photo platform on the second floor of the northwestern part of the building. From there, you can capture the beauty of this place in perfect symmetry. If you are a tourist in NYC, there is no better spot to take a selfie than here! And the best part, it is all free!

New York Public Library

Submitted by Kim Swanson from Traveling Swansons

When in NYC, one of the best free things to do is visit the New York Public Library Main Branch; also known as the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building.  This library is located next to Bryant Park at 476 Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street.  

New York Public Library is no ordinary library. This Beaux-Arts style library is absolutely stunning, marked by two famous marble lions at the entrance. As you walk in, you will be in awe of the magnificent, ornate architecture throughout.

A big draw to the library is the Polonsky Exhibition of The New York Public Library’s Treasures. You can obtain a free timed ticket from an electronic kiosk at the library or reserve your time online.

At the Polonsky Exhibition, you will find many historical articles including manuscripts, art, letters, recordings and more. Some of these treasures include the Gutenberg Bible, the original copy of the Declaration of Independence handwritten by Thomas Jefferson and original sheet music from Mozart and Beethoven.

If you are in  New York City with kids  or are a Disney fan, make sure to take a look at the real stuffed animals that inspired Winnie-the-Pooh and friends.

Your might also be interested in knowing that New York Public Library is a designated NYC Cooling Center. This is a free public facility offering cooling relief to all in hot weather. So if your looking for a place to cool down in the heat of the NYC summer, come here.

Governor’s Island

Submitted by Megan from Your Brooklyn Guide

One of the best free things to do in New York City that’s a bit under the radar for most tourists is enjoying a few hours (or whole day) at Governor’s Island . This island is free to visit on weekends before noon.

This former military base, located on an island in New York Harbor, has been transformed into one of the best urban green-spaces the city has to offer accompanied by some of the best unobstructed views of the Statue of Liberty and Lower Manhattan skyline.

Beyond the views, there are several awesome things to check out once you’re here. Open year-round, you can enjoy picnicking at the various lawns, rent bicycles to explore the island, visit the in-house artists and their exhibitions inside the former military homes, take a ride down the longest slide in New York City on Slide Hill, rejuvenate at the new QCNY Spa, or even stay the night at the luxury glamping yurts with Collective Retreats (not free, but worth the splurge).

There are various food vendors, cafe, and biergarten all on the island as well. You can spend as little or as much time here as you have. 

To get to Governors Island you have to take the ferry from Lower Manhattan at The Battery Maritime Building (daily) or Pier 6 at Brooklyn Bridge Park or Atlantic Basin in Red Hook (both Brooklyn ferry departures are weekends only) and is completely free to visit on the weekends before noon.

Make it a cheap activity: Visit any other time for as little as $4 for a round trip ferry ticket.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Yossi Milo Gallery (@yossimilo)

Browse Chelsea Art Galleries

New York is famed for being a haven for artists and art lovers alike, and Chelsea is the pulsing heart of the NYC art scene. The neighborhood, which spans about ten blocks and is settled in the West Side of Manhattan, is lined with former warehouses that house more than 200 galleries. This makes it a must-stop destination for aesthetes, connoisseurs, or those just looking for a fun cultural activity that won’t break the bank.

There are numerous galleries that are worth touring, including those from famed art dealers like David Zwirner and Larry Gagosian. Hauser & Wirth, Yossi Milo Gallery, C24, Greene Naftali, and Petzel Gallery rank among others that shouldn’t be missed.

Galleries are almost always open to the public and free, so visitors can typically just walk in and browse, without paying any admission fee. You may want to do some research on which galleries specialize in the type of art that most appeals to you and check if there are any exhibits that you want to see, before you plan your trip.

However, it can also be fun to just walk around and explore! Visiting art galleries is a great way to expand your horizons, because they often display art that is newer and sometimes more experimental than what you might come across in museums.

Free Museums and Attractions in NYC

New York has lots of free museums and attractions worth visiting. Some of the top-notch museum have free times to visit (though keep in mind these tend to be very crowded times to visit); others are free all the time!

Beyond that, there are New York’s National Historic Landmarks, which are free to visit all the time. Here are some of our favorites.

Bronx Museum of the Arts

Submitted by Gerry Isabelle from Dominican Abroad

The Bronx Museum of the Arts is a cultural gem for the South Bronx community, and well worth visiting for visitors from anywhere in New York City. This museum recognizes the contributions of the Bronx, including important movements such as hip hop, graffiti art, and Caribbean jazz. Today, the museum owns over 2,000 works of contemporary art by American and local Bronx artists. 

In addition to that, they host various special exhibitions. Currently, there are two you can visit. The first is Gerardo Dexter Ciprian’s Medicina de Amor, which uses mixed mediums, oral histories, and folklore to highlight the Dominican diaspora’s stories, resilience, and beauty. The second is Jamel Shabazz’s Eyes on the Street, which features local New Yorker’s street culture and traditions through photography. 

The Bronx Museum of Art also offers guided tours, poetry slams, family days, and other events listed on their museum calendar. Best of all, this is one of many free museums in NYC — an amazing way to keep the arts and culture accessible to the local community.

Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace

Submitted by Carole from Travels with Carole

Visiting one of New York City’s old brownstone townhouses is always a treat, though usually it requires an invitation or fee.  But not at the Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace national historic site, where you can drop in during visiting hours and the tour of the 4-story Dutch brownstone is free. (Note that the attraction is currently closed for renovations but should be reopening shortly.)

Arrive for your 40-minute ranger-led tour about a half-hour early so you have time to peruse the ground-floor displays, which include a sweet exhibit of teddy bears and another of antique political cartoons. You can also view a film about the life of Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th president of the United States and the first U.S. president born in NYC, who lived here until he was 14.

The tour includes five period rooms on two floors, re-created as to their 1920s appearance. Though it has large rooms and high ceilings, the narrow house is not a mansion. Exterior features include a mansard roof and a high stoop above the basement.  Approximately 60% of the furnishing are original to the house. 

After, since this is located in the Flatiron District near Union Square, just head down Broadway for a plethora of places to get a snack and, perhaps, a browse in the legendary Strand Book Store with its “18 miles of books.”

St. Patrick’s Cathedral

Submitted by Christine from Guide to Day Trips

The architecture of New York City is a kaleidoscope of styles. Buildings of all designs can be appreciated by even those who have no interest in architecture. St. Patrick’s Cathedral is one shining example.

It’s impossible to miss this cathedral in Manhattan, which takes up a whole city block between 50th and 51st streets, Madison Avenue, and Fifth Avenue. If you’re looking for the best free things to do in New York that are easy to access from each other, you’re in luck. This magnificent cathedral is right across from another NYC landmark worth visiting: Rockefeller Center.

Originally erected as a replacement for Chinatown’s Old St. Patrick’s Church in the 1800s, the cathedral has since undergone numerous renovations. Enormous bronze doors and a high altar in a Neo-Gothic style are some of the most notable features of this architectural wonder. You’ll find a Tuckahoe marble slab and a rose window among its prominent design features. The enormous Pietà sculpture and the thousands of stained-glass windows are also not to be missed.

St. Patrick’s Cathedral is a must-see regardless of your religious beliefs, and it provides visitors with an enriching cultural experience that is distinctly New York.

Hamilton Grange

Submitted by Francesca of Homeroom Travel

Hamilton Grange National Monument, also known as The Grange or The Hamilton Grange Mansion or simply The Grange, is one of the best free things to do in New York City, especially for history lovers and should be added to any New York City itinerary. This area is run by the National Park system and was once the country home of Alexander Hamilton. 

Hamilton was born and raised in the West Indies and came to New York at the age of 17 to attend Columbia University. In the early 1800s Hamilton commissioned the Grange to be built and it served as his home for two years. 

Although the Grange does not lie on its original location, the house is a restored original. The house was moved in the late 1800s to help ensure its preservation. The Grange is currently located on 414 West 141st Street. 

To get there, visitors can hop on the A to 145 St. From there, it is a 4 block walk from the subway station. The inside of the Grange is open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, so make sure to plan accordingly. 

You can book a self-guided tour through recreation.gov for $1. Tickets are released at 10:00 AM one week or two days in advance. Tours leave every 15 minutes. If you do not reserve tickets ahead of time, several of the tours are reserved for walk-up tickets only. National Park Rangers on site to answer any questions you may have.

National September 11 Memorial Museum

The National September 11 Memorial Museum is located next to the 9/11 Memorial in lower Manhattan. This museum, which has free entry on Monday afternoons, is a deep dive into the events of September 11, 2001.

Some of the exhibits include artifacts from the surrounding area, video exhibits how the events unfolding on real time, audio from the flights, and somber memorials to the 2,977 people killed on that day.

Speaking personally, I found the 9/11 Museum to be a very heavy place to visit. Give yourself ample time, and you may want to clear your schedule afterward so you have time to process it. I wouldn’t recommend sandwiching it in between fun activities.

The National September 11 Memorial Museum has free entry on Mondays, 3:30-5:00 PM. There is always free entry for 9/11 family members, 9/11 rescue and recovery workers, members of the NYPD and FDNY, and active and retired military.

African Burial Ground National Monument

Contributed by Allison Green of Eternal Arrival

There’s far more to downtown Manhattan than the One World Observatory (the tallest  observation deck in NYC ), Wall Street, and the 9/11 Memorial and Museum.

While downtown Manhattan is often visited in a blur, you shouldn’t skip over the African Burial Ground National Monument located just two blocks from City Hall. It’s free to visit, and it’s an important part of New York history.

It is the site of North America’s oldest and largest burial ground for people of African descent (most of whom were enslaved), where an estimated 15,000 African-Americans were buried.

The African Burial Ground is a National Park Service-managed site, and it consists of a memorial with two main components, the Ancestral Chamber and the Circle of the Diaspora. There is also a Visitor Center about the site located at 290 Broadway.

Passing through the triangular, claustrophobic Ancestral Chamber is meant to symbolize the Middle Passage that transported captured Africans to the Americas, where they would be enslaved.

The Ancestral Chamber leads to a few stairs down to a map of the world with West Africa at its center. This part of the monument is the Circle of the Diaspora, where you slowly ascend up a spiraling ramp, passing religious symbols from different West African religions as you ascend and leave the monument.

It’s a moving memorial that reminds you of the role that slavery played in building New York through an interactive, educational experience.

National Museum of the American Indian

Located in lower Manhattan, the National Museum of the American Indian is a division of the Smithsonian Institution located right here in New York. And because of that, it’s free — always!

The NMAI is an enormous collection of artifacts from Indigenous cultures in the Americas — as far north as the Arctic and as far south as Tierra del Fuego.

The New York museum is home to rotating exhibitions that give voice to Natives. Here you’ll find works of art, clothing, and tools; as well as exhibitions on Native artists. You’ll see a spotlight on local tribes who inhabited the unceded land that is now New York State, including the Iroquois and Lenape peoples.

Museum at FIT

Submitted by Kelly of Travel New York Now

Looking for one of the best and totally free things to do in NYC? If so then head over to Greenwich Village and check out the FIT Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology. 

Known for being the first gallery of fashion in the country, this incredible, two-floor museum showcases upwards of 50,000 garments that include grunge chic pieces from the 1990s, elaborate dresses from the 18th century, flapper inspired garb from the 1920s, and more. 

So, after pursuing through the small gallery on the ground floor that is brimming over with historic outfits and fashion accesories, take the stairs to the basement and enjoy the temporary exhibits on display here. 

Also, because the pieces on display here regularly change, you can always come back to the Museum at FIT to see something new as part of an amazing 2 days in NYC itinerary . 

It’s also a fascinating space where you can not only see historic garments from a particular decade, but you can learn about the larger social context of the pieces presented before you. 

This way, you can better understand why these pieces were created and what they say about designers and society as a whole during this period in time.

Make it a cheap activity: Afterward, if you want to spend a bit of money, enjoy a delicious afternoon tea at nearby Tea and Sympathy. It’s a cozy, authentic British restaurant that serves a giant, well-priced afternoon tea that includes some of the best Victoria sponge and scones in the city.

Queens County Farm Museum

Submitted by Carley from  Home to Havana

Did you know that there’s a farm right in the heart of New York City? Many New York City residents are shocked to learn that within Queens sits a 47-acre working farm, in operation since the late 1600s. And best of all, the farm and all its attractions are open and free to visitors of all ages. 

A visit to the Queens County Farm Museum — also known as the Queens Farm — includes the opportunity to tour the farm’s historic buildings, see the livestock and fields, vintage farming equipment, and much more.

The farm also offers classes and activities related to sustainable agriculture and historic farming practices and regular tours. You’ll feel like you’ve driven hours outside of the city while still just a short subway ride away from New York’s busiest attractions.

The Queens County Farm Museum is a perfect destination to visit in the fall for New Yorkers looking to experience fall on the farm, with regular hayrides through the property. The farm also sells fresh fruits, vegetables, squash, eggs, honey, and pumpkins at its farm stand, open year-round but particularly festive and bountiful during the fall.

Free Wednesdays at the Bronx Zoo

Submitted by Julie Dameron from Family Trips and Travels

Just a train ride away from Manhattan, the Bronx Zoo has over 265 acres to explore and more than 10,000 animals to see.  Founded in 1899, the Bronx Zoo is one of the oldest zoos in the United States and in 1916 opened the first modern zoo animal hospital. The Bronx Zoo focuses its mission on wildlife animal conservation and protecting its species.

The best part? Every Wednesday admission to the Bronx Zoo is free to all visitors! Hop on the #2 train and take a ride up for a full day excursion.  

Make sure to pack a lunch if you want to keep things free, but there’s also a food hall on site. Exploring the zoo can use up a lot of energy. There is a lot of ground to cover while seeing so many incredible exhibits. Check out World of Birds, Sea Lions, World of Reptiles, Baboon Reserve, African Plains, Himalayan Highlands, Tiger Mountain, and so much more.  

For a small fee, there are also several add-on exhibits to choose from. The best offer will be the full experience which comes to around $17 for access to all exhibits. If you want to choose only one, go for the $7 monorail ride around the African Plains for an incredible view.

Whether you’re a longtime resident of New York City or a first-time visitor, the Bronx Zoo is a great place to learn about wildlife and to see some of your favorite animals up close.

Free Fridays Morgan Library

Submitted by Anukrati Dosi from Bulbul On The Wing

The Morgan Library is not merely another library in New York City. It is a museum, research library, and piece of art, which I loved being an introverted art lover.

The posh neighborhood only adds to the charm of the library. Apart from getting fascinated with the old age elegance, I was impressed by the enormous collection of rare books and manuscripts, drawings, and other uncommon pieces that Morgan Library and Museum houses.

The library includes an edition of the collected works of Phillis Wheatley, the first known African-American poet; Mozart’s handwritten score of the Haffner Symphony; a manuscript article by Albert Einstein describing how he developed his General Theory of Relativity, etc.

Morgan Library literally feels larger-than-life. It features 30-foot ceilings, three tiers of bronze and walnut bookcases, stained glass, a large marble fireplace, and grand tapestries. I also visited Mr. Morgan’s study. The room’s red silk damask walls, and antique wooden ceiling ooze charm.

I ended up spending a couple of hours in the library. As I came out, I felt like I was in another world (something like Narnia) all this while. I wondered why Morgan Library is off the typical tourist’s radar. 

There is free entry to the Morgan Library on Fridays, 5:00-7:00 PM. Advance reservations are required, and tickets are released one week in advance.

New York Botanical Garden

(free on Wednesdays, 10-11 AM, grounds admission only)

If you’re visiting the Bronx, you shouldn’t miss the opportunity to visit the New York Botanical Garden. Though it’s important to note that the New York Botanical Garden isn’t always free, they just open up a window on Wednesdays from 10-11 am, where the grounds admission fee is waived for everyone. However, getting to check out a classic NYC attraction for free, when it usually costs $15-30 to visit, makes this excursion extra special.

The Botanical Garden isn’t actually one garden, but rather a series of gardens. This gorgeous 250-acre expanse of land is decorated with numerous areas of interest that feature plants such as roses, perennials, daffodils, daylilies, azaleas, and many more. There’s a rock garden, forest, wetland trail, and conservatories as well.

The sprawling urban jungle that makes up New York City is its own kind of beautiful, but if you’re taking an extended trip to NYC, you may start to miss greenery. The Botanical Garden will help you get a fix of natural beauty and will allow you to experience the native and local flora, as well as more exotic plants too.

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Brooklyn Children’s Museum

America’s first Children’s museum – and potentially the first ever Children’s museum in the world – is housed right in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, where it originally opened in 1899. Like the New York Botanical Garden, The Brooklyn Children’s Museum usually costs money to visit. However, on Thursdays, from 2-5 pm, they offer free admission instead of charging their usual rate of $13 per person.

This is the perfect place to go if you’re visiting New York with young kids. It features four main exhibits and typically has several that are visiting as well. The permanent ones are the Totally Tots, the NEST, Neighborhood Nature, and World Brooklyn.

The Totally Tots section of the museum targets toddlers and the youngest kids, and the NEST provides all children a place to climb and play outdoors on the rooftop terrace. Neighborhood Nature offers kids a chance to learn about the world through science, and includes animals and plants as living parts of the exhibit. Finally, World Brooklyn lets kids explore and play in a miniaturized replica of Brooklyn’s diverse and culturally-rich neighborhoods, so that they can learn about the places and people around them.

Visiting the Children’s Museum is the perfect way to squeeze in some cultural and educational enrichment on your vacation, while still making it fun for the kiddos.

Free Parks, Beaches, and Outside Spaces

New York is all about the parks — and there’s far more than just Central Park! Here are our picks for the best parks, beaches, and all kinds of outdoor spaces in New York that you can enjoy for free.

Visit the Good Parts of Central Park

Here’s a secret — while every New York visitor wants to visit Central Park, the vast majority of visitors only see a tiny portion of it. Mostly they stick to the southern part of the park, or the edges of Central Park West or Central Park East.

While there’s a lot to see here, from the Strawberry Fields John Lennon Memorial to The Lake with its boat rentals to the Central Park Zoo, I recommend going a bit deeper and further north to experience the park as New Yorkers do.

The Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir is so much bigger than you think it’s going to be, and surrounded by a 1.58-mile running track. It’s one of the best places to run or walk in NYC (and I would walk it several times a week).

The northern edge of Central Park, along 110th Street, is home to the Harlem Meer, a lovely little pond, and lots of nice places to sit and people-watch.

And if you’re up for a part of Central Park that feels removed from the city, check out the North Woods, a thickly forested area with walking trails that is a haven for bird-watchers.

Prospect Park

Submitted by Alice from Adventures of Alice

A trip to Prospect Park, the “Central Park of Brooklyn,” is easily one of the best free things to do in New York City. It was also one of the most peaceful things we did whilst in the city. The park is located near Prospect Heights and the Brooklyn Botanical Garden and it won’t cost you a penny to enter. It’s also much more than simply an expanse of glorious green space.

Inside the park, you’ll find a range of attractions and things to keep you busy dotted around the wetlands. In fact, the wetlands themselves are certainly something to look at with beautiful waterfalls, trickling streams, and peaceful ponds teeming with wildlife.

Around these, you’ll also find some beautiful buildings including my personal favorite — the Boathouse. This is a gorgeous white building with a red roof, on the edge of Lullwater, a lake in the eastern part of the park. Around this building you’ll find plenty of birds, making it perfect for birdwatchers.

If you’re after something more active to do in the park, you won’t be disappointed. There’s also a zoo, where you can see sea lions, emus, monkeys, and even red pandas. You can also go ice skating, ride a carousel, or simply kick a ball around. Overall, the park is the perfect combination of fun, activity, and beautiful natural landscapes, and one of the  best things to do if you’re visiting New York on a budget .

Brooklyn Bridge Park

Submitted by Jiayi of The Diary of a Nomad

Brooklyn Bridge Park is located in the eclectic DUMBO neighborhood of Brooklyn, and offers magnificent views of the Manhattan skyline. This 85-acre park includes six different piers reaching toward Manhattan, and while most tourists linger at the first one, it’s very worth going further and exploring all six of them. 

On Pier 1, there is a charming green space with tons of lookout points. Look for the “New York Skyline Lookout” on Google Maps for the exact location of one of the best views from this park. This is also a great place to enjoy a picnic on the grass.

Pier 1 is also where you’ll find Luke’s Lobster, which has been serving delicious seafood for decades. As you venture further to the next piers, you’ll find a tiny sand beach on Pier 4, and a barbecue area between Piers 4 and 5.

Perhaps the nicest spot in the whole Brooklyn Bridge Park is Pier 5, where you’ll find a very clear view of the Manhattan riverfront without any tourists around. This scenic pier is in fact very peaceful and quiet, making it the perfect spot to enjoy tranquil panoramic views.

It’s without a doubt that visiting Brooklyn Bridge Park in NYC is one of the best things to do on the East Coast of the US, especially if you’re looking for a relaxing way to spend an afternoon.

Visit New York’s Beaches

Yes, even in a city as urban and dense as New York, you can enjoy some wonderful beaches here! Just know that it requires going a bit further out on the subway.

The Rockaways in Queens are one of New York’s most popular beach destinations, as well as a major surf hub.

And if you’d rather stick to Brooklyn, hit up Coney Island for the amusement park goodness, or head next door for Soviet-flavored Brighton Beach.

Up in the Bronx, City Island is a fishing village that feels like a throwback to yesteryear — a true gem.

Any of these beaches is the perfect place to enjoy a hot summer day in New York on the cheap!

While all of these beaches are accessible via subway and/or bus with a Metrocard, there are more expensive ways to get there faster — like ferries from Lower Manhattan. Keep in mind whether you want to save time or money on your beach day in New York.

Bryant Park

Submitted by James Ian from Travel Collecting 

Bryant Park is one of the best places to head in NYC if you’re looking for free things to do. First up, in the warmer months it’s the perfect place to hang out and relax at one of the tables around the gardens, or have a picnic on the lawn, enjoying the view of the back of the beautiful New York Public Library.  

But there is so much more. You can borrow a chess set and play a game for free, or, if you have your own equipment, you can also play table tennis at their ping pong tables. Practice your golf putting skills, or learn how to play Kubb, a Scandinavian lawn bowling game. If you prefer something less active, there is a Reading Room where you can sit and read newspapers, book and magazines, for no cost whatsoever.  

The park also hosts more than 1,000 free events throughout the year. In summer, their Picnic Performances program includes 26 music, dance, and theater events. A real highlight is their program of  free Monday Night movies . Be there when the lawn opens at 5:00 PM and run to grab a spot. Then enjoy a picnic on the lawn before joining in the “Movie Dance” just before a classic movie is screened. 

In winter, Bryant Park is transformed into a Winter Wonderland Village. There’s a large skating rink that is totally free if you have your own skates (if not, you can rent some for a small fee). The surrounding area is filled with stalls for their Holiday Market – it costs nothing to browse! 

No matter when you go, there is always something to see, do or experience for free in Bryant Park.  

Socrates Sculpture Park

Submitted by Caitlin from The Country Jumper

Socrates Sculpture Park in Astoria, Queens, should probably be considered more of a museum than a park. It is living, breathing, and always changing as new works are created and installed. The park is small – just 5 acres, and it used to be a landfill and illegal dumpsite, but now the pieces that finds their way there are both visually and culturally engaging.

The views, out across the East River to Roosevelt Island and the Upper East Side, are a perfect backdrop for the artwork and the greenery of the park. While you can always see several installments throughout the property, you may also be able to catch a glimpse of some artists at work. 

Absolutely everything at the park, from access (365 days of the year from 9:00 AM to sunset) to classes like sculpture workshops or dance classes for kids (all listed on their website), is totally free. 

The park is a great spot for a warm, sunny day (there are plenty of alternative rainy day activities around NYC ) and picnics are welcome on the grounds. Alcohol and large parties are not allowed, but pets are welcome on leash. 

And while you’re in the area, another sweet, hidden spot is a patch of sand just around the corner called Hallett’s Cove Beach. Definitely don’t go for a dip here, but a day at the park combined with a drink by the water is a perfect afternoon in Astoria!

Wave Hill Garden and Cultural Center

Submitted by Michele DeBella from From Inwood Out

Take advantage of admission-free Thursdays to explore this beautifully cultivated 28-acre public garden in the Bronx. Because of its relatively small size, the grounds, with its sloping lawns and wooded trails, resemble an elegant country estate more than a botanic garden in the most populated city in the nation.

Wave Hill sits on a ridge above the Hudson River, creating a feeling of open space that’s perfect if you’re looking for a quick escape from city crowds. It’s also one of New York City’s less touristy destinations .

Visitors will encounter various gardens at Wave Hill. See vivid bursts of color in the Flower Garden, where annuals, shrubs, and perennials have been thoughtfully planted to create symmetry in every season. In the Conservatory Garden, tropical plants flourish in an environment that simulates steamy rainforest conditions, while cactus and succulents grow nearby in a desert setting.

And don’t miss the Aquatic Garden, where you can gaze into the shallow waters and spot frogs and fish darting between the lily pads. The Pergola, an Italianate structure that sits high above the river, provides unobstructed views to the Palisades and is undoubtedly Wave Hill’s masterpiece. 

When you’re ready for a break, the on-site café serves soup, salads, and sandwiches, but if you want to stick to a low budget, bring your own food and beverages and enjoy them in Wave Hill’s designated picnic area.

Green-Wood Cemetery

Submitted by Megan of Bobo and Chichi

If you’re looking for free things to do in New York City that are a bit off the beaten path, consider heading to South Brooklyn to the neighborhood of Sunset Park where you can find the OG park in NYC before Central Park.

Green-Wood Cemetery is one of the most beautiful cemeteries in the United States, popular among taphophiles or “Tombstone Tourists” and was used as a park in the Victorian-era that inspired the need to create one of the most famous attractions in all of NYC, Central Park! While a cemetery seems like a strange or macabre place to visit, this cemetery was at one point the second most visited tourist attraction in the United States only behind Niagara Falls.

Green-Wood Cemetery is not only hauntingly beautiful, but there are 478-acres of winding pathways through this level III arboretum and even skyline and Statue of Liberty views.

The cemetery is especially beautiful to visit in the fall during the fall foliage and in the spring when the flowers are in bloom.

Some of the most interesting points of interest to check out are some of the notable people that have been laid to rest here including artist Jean-Michel Basquiat, composer Leonard Bernstein, and Louis Comfort Tiffany of the famous Tiffany stained glass and son of the man who created the famous Tiffany & Co. jewelry to name a few.

Beyond the permanent residents of Green-Wood Cemetery, architecture buffs will enjoy the Gothic Revival Main Entrance and Chapel among the gorgeously designed mausoleums and tombstones. History buffs can retrace the location of one of the most significant battles of the American Revolutionary War on Battle Hill. Those who are fans of Walt Whitman can enjoy walking in his footsteps as Green-Wood Cemetery was one of his favorite places to frequent and people watch which inspired his writings about life in New York City.

The cemetery is open daily and completely free to visit. 

Washington Square Park

Submitted by Wes from Walkabout Wes

Washington Square Park is a popular public park in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of Manhattan.  As you approach the park from 5 th  Avenue, you’ll be greeted by the grand marble Washington Square Arch at the north entrance. 

Walk through the arch and you come to the heart of the park, the Washington Square Fountain. The park is known for its collection of artists, musicians, poets, DJs, and street performers, and the weekends are the time to visit to see the park in full flow. 

The park has a great vibe and is a fun place to spend an afternoon. Bring a picnic and some drinks and enjoy the energy and the atmosphere.

Washington Square Park is possibly even more famous as a chess venue. Playing here on “Chess Plaza” has been a longstanding tradition for the locals and icons like Chess Grandmaster Bobby Fischer have plied their trade here in the past.

Several game tables draw in locals and tourists alike.  If you’re prepared to make a little wager, you’ll undoubtedly find a willing opponent to test your skills. But don’t expect to win! These players are GOOD.

For those with furry friends, take advantage of two dog-run enclosures — one for smaller dogs and one for larger dogs — and there’s a playground for young kids.

Washington Square Park is definitely a space for everyone to enjoy, so make sure you add this to your next New York itinerary.

Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge

Submitted by Michele Herrmann from She Is Going Places

The Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge is in a section of Queens you wouldn’t suspect at first – a nature sanctuary in the borough’s Broad Channel neighborhood. As part of the National Park Service’s Gateway National Recreation Area, Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge is a sanctuary encompassed with fresh water ponds, woods and intertidal salt marshes of its namesake bay.

It’s possible to do some bird watching, as accounts of over 300 bird species have been spotted at times within the refuge. Along with birds, you could spot turtles and butterflies. From woodsy trees to wildflowers, there’s some amazing vegetation to be seen here as well. During warmer months, greenness is abundant and flowers are colorfully in bloom. You can come across all of this via walking paths.

The Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge is open to visitors year round except on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. A visitor’s center is equipped with restroom facilities but you have to bring your own food and drink; there’s adjacent picnic bench seating, too, as a designated picnicking area. The refuge is situated across from Cross Bay Boulevard.

Via the subway, take the A train on the Rockaway bound side to Broad Channel Station. The S train also stops at this station via the Rockaway Park branch line. After exiting the station, walk along Noel Road to reach the boulevard. If you plan on driving there, park at the Visitor Contact Station parking area. As for buses, the Q21 and Q53 go along Cross Bay Boulevard. 

Gantry Plaza

Gantry Plaza is a 12-acre state park that offers an amazing view of Midtown Manhattan. You can take a stroll alongside the East River while you take in staples of the NYC skyline, such as the Empire State Building and the United Nations. It’s particularly spectacular to visit at night, when the city is all lit up around you.

The park features a set of four piers along the river, and also has beautifully-maintained gardens to walk through and explore. The namesake of the park is a series of industrial gantries that have been restored and maintained as a monument to the history of the waterfront. Other activities and attractions include playgrounds, courts for various sports, and public concerts when the weather is warm.

The best part about this plaza is that it isn’t touristy at all. It’s really a hidden gem and can’t be missed if you want to get a good look at the city without weaving through crowds of travelers snapping photos.

Cool Neighborhoods and Free Places to Visit

Just exploring the different New York neighborhoods is a great way to explore the city on a budget. Here are a few of our favorites.

Brighton Beach

Submitted by Amy of Moonshine and Mini Buses

New York is a mosaic of different countries, and one of the most underrated neighborhoods is Brighton Beach, where Russian is the common language. Here, in “Little Odessa,” you can explore all things Eastern European.

The lady on the sidewalk sells Georgian  khachapuri  and other tasty pastries, the grocer labels the fruits and vegetables by their Russian names, and the supermarket displays Roshen chocolates from Ukraine. And if you need some aspirin from indulging in too much Georgian wine or Russian vodka, don’t look for a pharmacy — look for an  apteka.

Brighton Beach experienced its first wave of Russian-speaking immigrants in the 1970s, primarily Russian-speakers from Ukraine and Russia. Since then, there has been an increase in residents from other post-Soviet countries, including the Caucasus and Central Asia. 

There are ways to splash out in Brighton Beach (the opulent and slightly outrageous banquet at Tatiana’s would be a memorable evening!), but perhaps the best thing to do is spend an hour browsing St. Petersburg Books & Gift store, trying to decipher the Cyrillic books.

Then head to one of the local grocery stores and pick up picnic supplies, complete with  kvass  (a just-barely alcoholic drink made out of fermented bread). Head to the beach and enjoy the views of the bay with far more space to yourself than in neighboring Coney Island.

Roosevelt Island

Submitted by Alex Chapman from Travel and Baffles

Need a break from the fast-paced craziness of city life? Roosevelt Island, on the East River between the Upper East Side and Queens, is an excellent getaway for when you want to escape the concrete jungle for a bit. Accessible by tram, train, or car, the island makes for a great experience that everyone should add to their New York bucket list. 

From the island, you can get a beautiful and unique view of the Manhattan skyline, visit Roosevelt Memorial Park, and have a picnic around a cute lighthouse. The island is also home to a lot of unique New York City history, and you can still visit some of the ruins of asylums and hospitals that once played a major part in the city’s medical field. 

Since the island is rather small, you can tour the whole area on a bike. Bring your own or rent a Citibike for cheap, and for an extra special treat, visit the island during Cherry Blossom season. It’s hard to find an activity in the city more relaxing than riding a bike under some Cherry Blossom trees and viewing the towering skyscrapers from afar.

This has become one of my favorite things to do in New York, as it really gives you a moment to breathe during your trip and truly appreciate what’s around you.

Explore Harlem and Its Outstanding Architecture

Are you looking for the most beautiful street in New York? It’s Convent Avenue, between 143rd St. and 145th St. Seriously. This street in the Hamilton Heights neighborhood of neighborhood is home to an eclectic collection of upscale brownstones, each with their own style and unusual details, but they all work together beautifully.

In fact, this is where you can find the brownstone from The Royal Tenenbaums . It’s on the southeast corner of Convent Ave. and 144th Street.

The surrounding streets of this part of Convent Ave. are filled with more architectural treasures. Hamilton PlaceIf you want to go further afoot, I highly recommend Sylvan Terrace, just off 161st Ave. and St. Nicholas Ave. near the Morris-Jumel Mansion, a historic street with unusual wooden houses so different from anything else in New York City!

Another cool architecture street is Astor Row — the south side of W. 130th St. between Lenox Ave. and 5th Ave. — where the brick buildings have elegant green porches that look straight out of the South.

Read More: Best Things to Do in Harlem

Submitted by Isabella Biava of Boundless Roads

You may have seen it dozens of times, that iconic picture of the massive blue Manatthan bridge flanked by red brick buildings, and the Empire State Building peaking through, so tiny from that perspective. If you love photography, I am sure you want to get that shot too, especially if you are visiting New York City for the first time.

For that, you must get to DUMBO — Down Under Manhattan Bridge Overpass — probably one of the most visited neighborhoods in New York and an absolute must on your NYC trip.

Stretching between the Brooklyn and the Manhattan bridges right in front of the Manhattan skyline, the pretty area of DUMBO is indeed one of the most instagrammable places in New York and a lively place to hang out. 

Besides admiring the breathtaking views of the city, tourists and locals alike love to gather here and take long walks along the east river promenade, eat in one of the high-end river side restaurants and enjoy the artsy vibes of this trendy area of downtown Brooklyn. It’s not rare to find incredible street performers by the Jane’s Carousel or random free art expositions along the nearby streets. 

If you love walking you can start strolling from Manhattan Bridge and continue below Brooklyn Bridge through the piers along the Brooklyn Heights promenade. 

Especially during spring, you will see many people jogging, walking their dogs, rollerblading, or sunbathing along the East River. 

Spending time in DUMBO is one of the top free things to do in New York, for its unusual relaxed atmosphere, right in the heart of the city. Sunsets are particularly special from here. 

Explore Bushwick and its Murals

Submitted by Paroma Chakravarty from Year of the Monkey

New York City is home to some of the most stunning murals in the world and there is one place where you can see rows and rows of such dazzling street art, and that too completely free of cost! I am talking about the famous Bushwick Collective murals in Brooklyn where larger than life murals adorn the walls and store fronts of the semi-deserted industrial neighborhood of Bushwick.

What started as an effort to uplift the neighborhood in 2012 by Joseph Ficalora, a local businessman, has now grown into a global phenomenon with artists coming to Bushwick from all over the world to paint the walls with social and political street art.

The easiest way to get to the Bushwick neighborhood from Manhattan is by boarding the L line to Jefferson Street. It takes about 15-30 minutes to get there depending on your location in Manhattan. Start walking as soon as you get off the subway to discover the murals.

The murals are mostly concentrated around Jefferson Street, Flushing Avenue, Troutman Street, St. Nicholas, Wyckoff, Johnson, Gardner and Cypress Avenues. There is also another cluster of murals on Morgan Avenue, Grattan and Siegel Streets ( see the full interactive map here , courtesy of Free Tours by Foot who provide conducted tours of Bushwick street art with an optional $3 booking fee; note that you do need to tip the tour guide).

Free NYC Performances and Activities

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Brooklyn Brewery Free Tours (Sundays only)

This is a great activity for the grown-ups, especially craft beer enthusiasts! Brooklyn Brewery has been around since 1988 and sells beers both across the country and around the world, so you may have already enjoyed their beverages – including the fan-favorite Brooklyn Lager – before you visit New York.

The free tours start every hour on Sundays from 1-6pm. Unfortunately, the beer isn’t free, but you’ll get to learn more about the brewing process and have a unique experience without paying a dime. Then afterwards, if you’re up for it, you can go ahead and sample some of their signature and seasonal beers in the taproom.

Free Kayak Rental at Manhattan Boathouse

This is a super fun way to get a unique experience on your New York trip. The Manhattan Boathouse offers free kayaking to anyone every day of the week, weather permitting.

The kayaks are distributed on a first-come-first-serve basis, so you may want to get there on the early side. However, to minimize wait times, each kayaker is given a 20-minute time limit to paddle the cove, if there’s a line.

Not only is the service completely free of charge, but it’s also all-inclusive. You’ll get a single or two-person kayak rental plus paddle, as well as a locker and lifejacket.

It’s also a great activity for all ages and you don’t need to be particularly athletic to enjoy paddling your kayak. It’s just important that anyone participating knows how to swim in case the kayak tips over.

If you’re looking to get a little exercise in while on your vacation, enjoy nature, or just do something off the beaten path, then taking advantage of the free kayaks at Pier 96 is a great option.

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Free Comedy Shows

New York is a cultural hub. It’s great for music, art, theater, etc., but it’s also one of the best places in the world for comedy. Aspiring comedians travel from every state and country to try to make it in New York. So why not listen to their jokes and have a laugh for free when you’re in the city?

While some comedy clubs charge a cover or have a drink minimum, there are tons of shows that are completely free of charge. Typically these are going to feature new and up and coming comedians, rather than those that have established themselves on the scene. But that can be just as fun, and it’s a great opportunity to potentially witness the next big comedy star.

A lot of the great free shows are in Greenwich Village, but you can find them all over. Some that you might want to check out include Paid by the Bell and Ambush Comedy. There’s also Wet Cash, The Bomb Shelter Comedy Show, and Backroom Comedy, if you want to increase the likelihood you’ll watch a known quantity’s routine. No matter which way you go, you’re sure to have a laugh and a great time.

More on NYC:

• Ultimate Guide to Solo Female Travel in NYC (Yes, it’s safe!)
• What NOT to Do in New York
• What’s the Best Time to Visit New York?
• 124 Best Things to Do in Harlem
• Is Seeing Hamilton Worth It? Yes, and Here’s Why

What’s your favorite free thing to do in New York? Share away!

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24 Best Free Things to Do in NYC

From exploring the Brooklyn Botanic Garden to visiting the former home of Alexander Hamilton, these activities won't cost you a dime.

There's no shortage of cool things to do in New York City, from visiting historic sites to trying some of the best food in the world to filling your camera with photos of the city's magnificent skyline.

Unfortunately, a lot of the best things to do in the Big Apple also happen to cost a big chunk of change. Heading to the top of the Empire State Building, for example, will give you an incredible view of the city, but it will also cost a pretty penny. A visit to Times Square to enjoy a Broadway show may be on most visitors' lists, but tickets for the most popular plays aren't exactly cheap.

Don't fear, as there are plenty of things to do in New York City that don't cost a dime, but still allow you to appreciate its history and culture. Check off your packing list , and then check out the 24 best free things to do in NYC.

Ride the Staten Island Ferry.

The Staten Island Ferry is a great way to get close to the Statue of Liberty without the pricey ticket, making it one of the best free things to do in NYC. Grab a good viewing spot and appreciate the skyline from the water as the boat departs from Battery Park. If you choose to hop off the ferry and explore Staten Island, visit Snug Harbor , once a refuge for retired sailors, now a cultural center and botanical garden. It's a bit of a trek (40 minutes on foot or 15 minutes by bus) but well worth it.

Relax in the sand at the city's public beaches.

You don't need to go to the Hamptons to find a good beach near the city. Head to Coney Island to combine the beach with a trip to the amusement park (the Coney Island Cyclone has been around since 1927). Or, travel further down to Brighton Beach, where you can also find some great Eastern European and Russian restaurants. Hop on the ferry for the cost of a MetroCard ticket and make your way to Rockaway Beach, where you can combine a day of sand and surf with good food (like fish tacos from the Rockaway Beach Surf Club ).

Go bird-watching in Central Park.

There are about 210 different species of birds found in Central Park, with many paying a visit to the Big Apple to rest and feed during their spring and fall migrations along the Atlantic Flyway. Bird-watching novices can find tips and a map of the best viewing points around the park in the Central Park Conservancy's Birding Guide .

Check out the public art at Socrates Sculpture Park.

Socrates Sculpture Park is a free outdoor museum set on an abandoned riverside landfill in Astoria, Queens. The public park hosts temporary exhibitions from emerging and internationally renowned artists across its five waterfront acres. Many works are built on-site in a studio space, giving visitors a peek into the creative process. The park is open 365 days a year, and admission is always free. If possible, plan your visit around the special exhibitions or pair it with a stop at the Noguchi Museum , located only a block away.

Pay your respects at the 9/11 Memorial.

The 9/11 Memorial has two reflecting pools, each marking the footprints where the Twin Towers once stood. It honors the lives lost during the terrorist attacks on the site in 1993 and 2001. The names of every person who died in those attacks are inscribed on the edge of the memorial pools. The memorial is always free to visit, and the museum is free on Mondays from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.

See the mausoleums at the Green-Wood Cemetery.

Founded in 1838, the Green-Wood Cemetery is a National Historic Landmark set on 478 landscaped acres in Brooklyn. Now a destination for history, art, and nature lovers, the cemetery is home to one of the largest outdoor collections of 19th- and 20th-century granite and brownstone mausoleums. Several notable artists, politicians, athletes, and musicians are buried here, including Leonard Bernstein and Jean-Michel Basquiat. Entrance to the cemetery is free, though guided trolley tours and special events cost extra. 

Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge.

The Brooklyn Bridge is one of the most iconic attractions in New York City, and walking across it gives you a dramatic perspective on its architecture. When the bridge was finished in 1883, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world. Now, the Brooklyn Bridge has been designated a National Historic Landmark by the National Park Service, and it happens to be one of the best places to view the downtown skyline. Go early, as the bridge gets very crowded during the day.

Take a free walking tour.

New York City is full of history, and a walking tour is one of the best ways to experience it from an insider perspective. Sandemans New Europe offers free two-and-a-half-hour tours of downtown Manhattan, covering some of the most notable sites in the city, including the Charging Bull sculpture, Wall Street, and the 9/11 Memorial. While the tours are technically free, tips for the guides are encouraged, so bring some cash.

Let the kids loose in one of the city's inventive playgrounds.

New York City has no shortage of playgrounds for kids to burn off some energy, but some are cooler than others. At Ancient Playground , next to the Metropolitan Museum of Art , kids can explore pyramid-shaped climbers and check out the obelisk and sundial, both inspired by the Met's collection of Egyptian art. The Imagination Playground at Burling Slip , designed by architect David Rockwell, encourages kids to use their imagination with giant foam blocks, fabric, and crates. Pier 6 in Brooklyn Bridge Park features playgrounds like the Sandbox Village, where kids can play in little wooden houses in the sand, and the Water Lab, guaranteed to leave them soaking wet and cool on hot summer days.

Hang with farm animals at the Queens County Farm Museum.

Find cows, sheep, pigs, and more at the Queens County Farm Museum , which dates back to 1697 and is one of the longest continuously farmed sites in New York state. Spread out across 47 acres, the museum is free to enter (except on certain event days), and it allows people to learn all about what the area was like before a bustling city sprang up around it.

See Shakespeare in the Park.

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You don't have to fork over a ton of money to see a great theater performance. Each year, the Public Theater hosts Free Shakespeare in the Park , a summer series at the open-air Delacorte Theater in Central Park. The series draws celebrity names and offers the chance to score free tickets for each day's performance through an in-person standby line in Central Park and digital and in-person lotteries.

Tour the Brooklyn Brewery.

Learn the art of making beer during one of Brooklyn Brewery's free tours , offered every hour from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays. While you wait, you can sample the beers in the Williamsburg tasting room.

Kayak at Brooklyn Bridge Park.

Get out on the water and try kayaking from Brooklyn Bridge Park any Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, or Sunday during the summer. Even kayaking novices can join in the fun; the Brooklyn Bridge Park Boathouse will teach you all you need to know, and you can paddle around its protected embayment for 20 minutes. Reservations open two weeks in advance, and limited walk-in time slots are available.

Take a tour of the New York Public Library.

The New York Public Library's Stephen A. Schwarzman Building in Manhattan has a storied past, touching on some of the most important moments in world history. During World War II, allied military intelligence used the library's Map Division for research, and the library collected materials "from the left and the right" during the McCarthyism era, despite objections. Sex and the City fans may remember it as the setting where Carrie wanted to marry Big. Now, you can visit the iconic institution with a free one-hour tour .

Admire craft creations at the American Folk Art Museum.

Located on the Upper West Side, the American Folk Art Museum is New York City’s only museum dedicated to self-taught artists from the U.S. and beyond. The collection includes more than 7,000 works of art from four centuries, ranging from quilts to portraits to handcrafted board games. The museum is open from Wednesday to Sunday and offers free admission, but visitors are encouraged to reserve tickets in advance.

Walk around the floating art installation, Little Island.

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Opened in 2021, Little Island is a public park on stilts set on the Hudson River. With concrete "tulips" resembling oversized golf tees propping it up, the park merges art with outdoor recreation. You can stroll its 2.4 acres via pathways that ascend artificial hills and wind through curated gardens. In the summer you're likely to run across live music, comedy, or theater on the island. The (fully accessible) floating urban oasis, located at Pier 55, is open daily from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. or later, depending on the season. While shows held at the amphitheater require tickets, entry to Little Island is always free.

Learn about the city's diverse communities at the Bronx Museum of the Arts.

Exploring the intersection of contemporary art and social justice, the Bronx Museum of the Arts strives to reflect the spirit of the borough’s vibrant communities. Founded on the belief that art should be accessible, the museum offers free admission, which includes temporary exhibitions. The 16,000-square-foot building designed by the Miami-based firm Arquitectonica is a work of art in and of itself, with a main gallery, flexible event spaces, an outdoor terrace, and a floor dedicated to education programs.

See Alexander Hamilton's Harlem estate.

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Step back in time at Hamilton Grange National Memorial , which features the restored home of Alexander Hamilton. It was completed in 1802, and Hamilton lived there for two years before he was fatally wounded in a duel with his rival, then-vice president Aaron Burr. The house has been relocated twice and moved to its current site within St. Nicholas Park in 2008. You can see the historically furnished floor of The Grange on a free 25-minute guided tour. Reservations are available Wednesday through Sunday on a first-come, first-served basis, so arrive early to secure a spot.

Channel your inner flower child at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden.

Spend your morning surrounded by roses and water lilies at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden , a quiet escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. Located on the northeastern edge of Prospect Park, the garden sits on 52 acres of land. Admission is pay-as-you-wish on weekdays from December through February.

Tour the High Line.

The famous High Line, an elevated freight line-turned-popular park, is always free to visit, but you can learn more about the space and its history, design, and landscape on a free, docent-led tour . Tour dates and times vary by season.

Take a fun (and educational) trip to the Brooklyn Children's Museum.

If you have kids between the ages of six months and 10 years old, head to the Brooklyn Children's Museum for an afternoon of engaging and educational hands-on exhibits. The museum is free to visit on Thursdays from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., thanks to its partnership with Amazon.

Step inside one of the world's most beautiful libraries.

The Morgan Library & Museum is home to J.P. Morgan's beautiful private library-turned-museum, a must-visit space for bibliophiles (in addition to the obvious must-visit New York Public Library). It's free to visit on Fridays between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m., but reservations are required . Tickets are available one week in advance.

Catch a live taping of an NBC show.

Many NBC shows — Saturday Night Live , The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon , and Late Night with Seth Meyers — are filmed at 30 Rockefeller Plaza. And if you're willing to put in some effort, you can score a free seat in the studio audience. Each show has its own system, from lotteries to standby lines, for distributing tickets to the live tapings. Check out NBC's website for the full list of shows and instructions for landing a coveted seat.

Watch a movie in Bryant Park.

Rounding out this list of free things to do in NYC is a seasonal favorite. Every summer, Bryant Park hosts its free Movie Nights series. Bring some popcorn and candy (or buy some beer and wine), lay down a blanket, and settle in for an open-air screening. Arrive early, as it gets crowded — the lawn opens at 5 p.m. for blankets and picnicking, and the movie starts at 8 p.m.

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