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New York City is an expensive city to visit, so if you’re a budget-conscious traveler, you might be wondering what are the COMPLETELY FREE things to do in NYC.
One of the greatest things about NYC is that while there are countless wonderful ways to splurge, there are also plenty of awesome activities that are 100% free and still just as fun.
Some of them require a bit of planning, or require you to be here on certain days of the month/year, but others are always available.
To give you some ideas on what to do for free in New York City, here are some activities you can do while leaving your wallet at home.
1. See Manhattan from the Staten Island Ferry
I absolutely love the view of Manhattan from the water, no matter what time of day or what river. There’s something about the beauty and scale of the skyscrapers that you just can’t quite appreciate when you’re standing right below them.
Although I love the Circle Line cruises that take you all around the island with interesting commentary, the Staten Island Ferry is a wonderful way to get the same views with none of the price. A bonus of this ferry is you go right by the Statue of Liberty!
Similarly, IKEA runs a free ferry service from Lower Manhattan to Red Hook in Brooklyn on the weekends – you can easily hop on or off without having to buy any cheap Scandinavian furniture.
And on weekends before 11am, there is a free ferry from downtown Brooklyn to Governors Island.
Read more: Where to find the best NYC views
2. Walk along the High Line
Introduced in 2009, the High Line has transformed Western Manhattan. Built on a disused portion of the elevated New York Central Railway, it’s been converted into a pedestrian-only park and public art space.
Although it’s understandably more pleasant in warmer temperatures, it’s open year-round and only closed during intense rain and blizzards.
3. Explore Central Park
Central Park is an oasis of nature in the heart of a chaotic city, and a beloved escape for locals and tourists alike. It’s one of the top things to do in NYC and also completely free to visit!
There is so much to do in Central Park, and but if you want to know the free activities, then be sure to do the following:
- Pay your tribute to John Lennon at Strawberry Fields
- Watch the kids of all ages racing sailboats at the Conservatory Water or scrambling over the Alice in Wonderland statue
- Watch the lovers rowing boats under Bow Bridge
- Get lost in The Ramble (don’t go at night)
- Search for turtles at Turtle Pond
- Have a picnic in Sheep Meadow
- Walk down elm-lined Mall
- People-watch at Bethesda Fountain
- Wander through Shakespeare Garden
4. Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge
The Brooklyn Bridge is one of New York City’s most recognizable structures. Although it’s especially romantic to walk across at sunset, I love the beautiful light and serenity to be found on the bridge at sunrise.
If you walk from Manhattan to Brooklyn, you’ll end up in DUMBO. You can wander through the expertly-planned Brooklyn Bridge Park promenade, see Jane’s Carousel and get the iconic shot of the Manhattan Bridge from the cobblestone intersection on Water Street.
And if you want another amazing photo of the Brooklyn Bridge: walk through DUMBO and then walk back to Manhattan on the Manhattan Bridge. It’s especially good when all the cars are driving home at sunset.
5. See a collection Metropolitan Museum of Art
Technically the Met isn’t a completely free thing to do in NYC as it’s run by donations, and you do have to make a donation. You can pay what you want, it must be at least $0.01 per ticket.
That being said, there are signs that will lead you (and all other unsuspecting tourists) to believe that the cost of entry is $30 – it’s technically a suggested donation – and thus, you can donate whatever you please.
Although you do have to donate something, even just $1.00, you can still get access to one of the greatest museums in the world, which is a pretty epic deal.
The museum itself is giant and overwhelming, so unless you want to spend your whole day here, pick a few things that you’re especially interested in seeing.
6. Visit free museums in NYC
And although it does require some planning and serendipitous timing, most of New York’s museums do offer free museum days on certain days and times.
For example, MoMA (Museum of Modern Art) is free on Friday evenings to New York City residents from 4:00pm – 8:00pm, and the Frick Collection is pay-what-you-wish on Thursdays from 4:00pm –6:00pm and free admission on the first Friday of the month (except for January and September).
The Whitney Museum is free for all visitors every Friday from 5:00pm – 10:00pm.
If you’re a Bank of America cardholder, many museums are free to you on the first full weekend of every month. Check out the list here.
Bronx Museum of the Arts is always free to everyone, Wednesdays through to Sundays from 11:00am – 6:00pm.
Another great free museum is the National Museum of American History (international visitors should check this one out). The American Museum of Natural History is free to members.
7. Watch the crowds in Grand Central Station
It’s weird to think of a train station as an attraction, but Grand Central Station is more than just a place for commuting. The beautiful structure and all its bustle has featured in many iconic movies and TV shows, and it’s entirely free to visit.
From the zodiac constellations on the ceiling to the four-sided clock, the Main Concourse is the hub of all of the back-and-forth activity.
And you can’t miss the Whispering Gallery! The perfectly arched ceiling – and architectural anomaly – allows you to face into the wall and have a whispered conversation with someone in the opposite corner.
8. Look into the windows on Fifth Avenue
Although Fifth Avenue is surely at its greatest during the Christmas season – incredible window displays, the tree at Rockefeller Center, merriment and goodwill to all – it’s the most iconic street in New York City for good reason.
Start at 59th Street (just below Central Park) and head south: you’ll see the giant glass Apple Store cube, the old-world glamour of stores like Bergdorf Goodman, Saks and Lord & Taylor (all very good options for public bathrooms, BTW), the façade of Tiffany & Co. made famous by the lovely Holly Golightly, the soaring spires of St. Patrick’s Cathedral and the shadow of Rockefeller Center.
9. Read in New York Public Library and Bryant Park
One of my favorite past-times is reading a book on the sun-soaked steps of the New York Public Library or on the Bryant Park lawn – and it feels just like being in one of the movies.
I especially loved walking up on 41st Street – aka Library Way – where famous literary quotes are cast in bronze on the sidewalk. The building is a National Historic Landmark with a grand and imposing marble exterior.
The Rose Main Reading Room is everything a scholar could ask for: a hush of studied quiet, sturdy wooden desks with brass reading lamps, massive windows, and sparkling chandeliers. And behind the library, Bryant Park features rows of London plane trees surrounding a lush center lawn.
During the summer, there are even free yoga classes and free outdoor movies!
10. Be Dazzled by Times Square
Although not everyone’s cup of tea, Times Square is an iconic area in NYC and completely free to visit – it’s still something you have to see at least once.
All of those bright neon lights and soaring skyscrapers! You don’t have to spend too much time here, but the energy can be intoxicating.
11. Get fit in one of NYC’s Parks
New York City is not short of parks and green spaces. You might be surprised given how famously built up it is, but this is all the more reason to build parks – there needs to be a retreat from the chaos, an urban respite, where you can relax and unwind away from it all.
Aside from Central Park, some of the best parks in NYC to escape the hustle and bustle in are Washington Square Park, Battery Park, Tompkins Square Park in East Village, and Hudson River Park, or Brooklyn Bridge Park and Prospect Park in Brookyln.
Socrates Sculpture Park is great for those who love modern art sculptures.
You will often find free daily yoga classes in the morning, jogging tracks and outdoor gyms, and big lawns where you can do your own work out routine.
If you have kids, take them to the playgrounds or watch the street artists, street performers, and buskers performing.
12. Admire the Guggenheim
For those looking for a unique background for your social media feed, admire the famous Guggenheim Museum, which is famous for its exterior more so than the contents of the museum.
The exterior is famous for its distinctive and innovative cirvacious architectural design, created by the renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright.
It was completed in 1959, and the unique spiraling form was pioneering for its time.
It’s an iconic symbol of modern architecture and a celebrated landmark in the heart of Manhattan.
Here are other things to do in the Upper East Side of NYC
13. Bronx Zoo on Wednesdays
One of the best free things you can do with kids is take them to the Bronx Zoo which is free all day on a Wednesday.
Although free, you do need to reserve your ticket in advance as there is only a certain number of tickets available.
The Wednesday ticket lottery opens on Mondays at 5:00pm for that Wednesday, and you can only order four tickets per person. So a bit of pre-planning is needed.
14. Walk the Coney Island Boardwalk
The perfect free thing to do anywhere in the world is to just go for a stroll and take in your surroundings.
The Coney Island Boardwalk is a lovely 2.7-mile-long (4.3 km) boardwalk on the south side of the island, and connects many of the island’s top attractions.
Walk past the New York Aquarium, Luna Park and Deno’s Wonder Wheel Amusement Park, or just enjoy the ambiance.
There are usually events happening along the boardwalk too.
15. Take a free walking tour
Want to learn about the history and culture of the Big Apple? Then take a free walking tour! This is a great way to see past the city skyline and learn about what makes NYC beat.
If you’ve never taken free walking tours before, they are essentially free tours that run by local guides, who take you around their city and tell you about some of the iconic sites.
At the end of the tour, if you enjoyed the experience, you are suggested to give your guide a tip.
Remember, NY is expensive, not just for visitors but locals too, so even though it’s completely free to do this tour we do recommend tipping your guide… you know, so they can pay their rent!
You may like these food tours of NYC (although not free)
16. Enjoy movie nights at Hudson Yards and see The Vessel
Every Friday night you can watch a free movie in the Public Square and Gardens at Hudson Yards. It’s one of our favorite free events that takes place every week.
Bring you own blanket and enjoy classic movies on The Big Screen! If you bank with Wells Fargo, you get priority seating (though it’s still on a first-come, first-served basis, so it doesn’t really work out well for you).
Doors open at 5:00pm with the movie starting at 6:00pm, see what’s on when you visit here!
While you’re there, be sure to capture a selfie in front of The Vessel, an architectural marvel in Hudson Yards known for its series of staircases. It’s free to visit The Vessel on Thursdays for NYC residents.
17. Do a Brooklyn Brewery tour
Want to learn about how craft beer is made? On Sundays from 1:00pm – 6:00pm, the Brooklyn Brewery offer free one hour tours!
Learn about how beer is made, and taste their latest creations with their experts explaining the process and flavor palettes.
This would also be a great date activity. Check out more information here.
Map Of These Free Things To Do In NYC
To help you get around, as NYC is a huge and sprawling city, here is a map that shows you the location of each of these attractions mentioned in this guide…
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Which of these free things to do in NYC are you most excited to do? Let us know in the comments.
