Best Free Things to Do in NYC
Are you looking for the best free things to do in NYC?
As a native New Yorker, I know firsthand just how pricey this city can be. New York regularly ranks among the most expensive cities in the world (if not the most expensive) when it comes to cost of living. This also extends to tourism, with sky-high prices for hotels, entertainment, tourist attractions, and dining out.
However, visiting New York doesn’t have to break the bank. There are ways to save money here, including staying at a hotel outside Manhattan, eating cheaply (pizza and bagels all the way), and doing free activities. On the list below, you’ll find some of the best free things to do in NYC that I would recommend.
What you won’t find on this list, but that I’ve seen on some others, is advice like “walk down Fifth Avenue” or “walk around Chinatown.” I think it goes without saying that walking around a neighborhood or down a street is free. So instead, I’ve tried to prioritize actual free activities on this list.
Ready for the best free things to do in NYC? Let’s get into it!
1. Ride the Staten Island Ferry
If a sightseeing boat ride is out of your budget, riding the Staten Island Ferry is always totally free. This ferry takes you on a scenic 25-minute journey from Whitehall Terminal in Lower Manhattan across New York Harbor to Staten Island, offering great views of the skyline and the Statue of Liberty along the way.
For the best views, go outside and to the right when departing on the ferry from Manhattan. Ferries leave from Manhattan and then return from Staten Island several times per hour, all day long.
Note: Ignore the scammers that sometimes hang around Whitehall Terminal. They will try to sell you tickets for the Staten Island Ferry — ignore them and keep walking, because it’s 100% free!
2. Visit a free museum
New York is home to some of the most incredible museums in the world, but unfortunately, many of them charge a steep entry fee of anywhere from $20 to $30. However, there are also some great free museums.
I put together a big list of museums that always offer free admission, as well as museums that offer free admission on specific days of the week, in my guide to the best free museum days in NYC. Amazing museums like the Guggenheim, the Frick Collection, and the Whitney are free once a week.
3. Explore Little Island and Pier 57
Little Island is a unique free public park at Pier 55 on the Hudson River. This cool floating park is an urban oasis that is worth a visit. From Little Island, you can then walk over to nearby Pier 57.
Pier 57 has a food market inside with dozens of stalls if you’re looking for a casual bite to eat. But there’s also another free hidden gem here, which is the rooftop. The relaxing rooftop park at Pier 57 offers plenty of places to sit and take in the excellent views of Little Island and the Lower Manhattan skyline.
4. Visit the New York Public Library
The grand Stephen A. Schwarzman Building of the New York Public Library, located on Fifth Avenue by Bryant Park, is free and open to visitors. There are always great free exhibitions to check out inside.
The library also offers free tours, which I highly recommend. This is also a good place to stop if you’re looking for a free public restroom in Midtown Manhattan (much nicer than some other options!)
5. Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge
Walking across the Brooklyn Bridge is a must when visiting NYC. This iconic bridge dates back to 1883 and is one of the most well-known architectural landmarks in the city. And walking across it is free!
You can enter the pedestrian walkways of the Brooklyn Bridge from either the Manhattan or Brooklyn side. The bridge spans a little over a mile and takes about 30 minutes to walk at a leisurely pace. On the Brooklyn side, I highly recommend walking around the DUMBO and Brooklyn Heights neighborhoods.
If you’re looking for something unique to do on the way back from Brooklyn, I highly recommend walking across the Manhattan Bridge for a different perspective and more amazing views.
6. Explore NYC’s best bookstores
For book-lovers, New York is a paradise. There are lots of great independent bookstores around the city where you can get lost browsing. One of the biggest is The Strand, with over 2.5 million books!
I have a whole list of the best bookstores in NYC that you can check out. Many of these bookstores have cafes or inviting seating areas where you can sit down and read for a while if you want to take a break.
7. Have a picnic in Central Park
Central Park is truly one of my favorite places in NYC. I’m extremely lucky to live just a ten-minute walk from the park, so I spend a lot of time there. In fact, you could easily spend a whole day in Central Park!
Strolling around this scenic park is totally free. Some of my favorite spots in the park are Belvedere Castle, the Alice in Wonderland statue, and Bethesda Terrace. Sheep Meadow and the Great Lawn are popular spots for picnicking in Central Park, and you’ll see tons of people hanging out there on a sunny day.
8. Stroll the High Line
Another great free thing to do in NYC is walk the High Line. This elevated park and pedestrian path was constructed over old rail tracks, running almost 1.5 miles from Gansevoort Street to 34th Street.
You can enjoy great views from the High Line, and there are cool things to do on either end of it. On the north end, you have Hudson Yards, a sleek shopping mall that’s also home to tourist attractions like the Edge observation deck and the Vessel, a massive honeycomb-like structure you can climb. On the south end, you have the hip art galleries of Chelsea and Chelsea Market, a massive indoor food hall with tons of vendors.
9. Go gallery-hopping
Speaking of Chelsea’s trendy art galleries, these are totally free to visit, and you can walk right in to most of them and browse the artwork on display without being expected to buy anything.
Most of these galleries display works from contemporary artists, and there are always some really cool exhibitions on display. Here’s a guide with an overview of many of the Chelsea galleries you can visit.
10. Watch a free outdoor movie
During the summer months, parks and other public spaces across NYC host free outdoor movie nights. Some places that offer free movies include Bryant Park, Union Square Park, and Brooklyn Bridge Park.
If you’re visiting during the summer, this is a great way to enjoy an evening of free entertainment. Just look up the schedule of free outdoor movies and plan to arrive with a picnic blanket to claim your spot.
11. Enjoy a free concert or performance
Many parks in New York also offer free concerts and performances. Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center host free performances in parks during the summer, and Central Park has a free concert series.
You can also enjoy Shakespeare in the Park in Central Park during the summer months. This guide has a huge list of free concerts and performances that you can check out all across New York City.
12. Go ice skating
If you’re visiting NYC in the winter, you’ll see ice skating rinks pop up all over the city. Some of the most popular ice skating rinks are at Rockefeller Center, Bryant Park, and Central Park’s Wollman Rink.
This activity can be expensive, but many people don’t know that Bryant Park actually offers free ice skating. The catch is that you have to bring your own ice skates. If you already have a pair, though, this can be a great way to save money, and you can enjoy skating on one of NYC’s most festive rinks.
13. Explore Governors Island
Governors Island is a unique destination that’s easy to get to from Manhattan. This small island is located in New York Harbor, just a 10-minute ferry ride from Lower Manhattan. And if you get on the ferry before 11 AM on a Saturday or Sunday, you don’t have to pay a penny to visit the island.
On Governors Island, there are several free things to do, including exploring the remains of the island’s historic fortress, viewing the public art installations, and taking in the views from across the water.
14. Go kayaking
One of the coolest free activities to try in NYC is kayaking. Manhattan Community Boathouse at Pier 96 and the Downtown Boathouse at Pier 26 both offer free kayaking in the Hudson River.
Free kayak rentals are available from both places, and you can gain a new perspective of the city from the water. This guide has a list of even more options for free water sports around NYC.
15. Step inside historic churches
The churches in NYC may not be on the same level as the grand centuries-old cathedrals of Europe, but there are still cool historic churches that are worth visiting, and they are free to enter.
One of those is Trinity Church, whose graveyard is the final resting place of Alexander Hamilton and other notable historic figures. It’s also the oldest church in New York City, dating back to 1697. St. Patrick’s Cathedral on Fifth Avenue is a stunning Gothic-style church that is also worth stepping inside.
16. Go people-watching in a park
Central Park might be the most famous park in NYC, but there are dozens of other amazing parks around the city to visit, too. Some of the best smaller parks for people-watching are Washington Square Park, Union Square Park, and Tompkins Square Park. All of these parks are located in Lower Manhattan.
In Brooklyn, Prospect Park is similar to Central Park and a great place to spend a relaxing afternoon. Brooklyn Bridge Park and Domino Park both offer amazing views across the East River to Manhattan.
17. Take a free walking tour
Finally, one of the best “free” things to do in NYC is taking a free walking tour. I put “free” in quote marks for this one, because free walking tours are tip-based, and you should always tip your guide.
I always love doing free walking tours when I travel to new places, and while I haven’t personally done one in NYC since I live here, I can only imagine there are tons of great options. You can find a list of free walking tours here, some of which are tailored to specific neighborhoods or particular interests.
Best Free Things to Do in NYC
This guide showed you the best free things to do in NYC.
Although New York is an expensive destination overall, there are a number of great free things to do in the city. Some of my personal favorite activities include visiting museums with free admission, spending the day in Central Park, walking across the Brooklyn Bridge, and going to the New York Public Library.
Enjoy your trip to NYC!
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