NYC is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world and with good reason. The city can be expensive so it is nice to have some free things to do as well. If you are visiting New York City for the first time you will want to hit all the major sites, but save a day or two to do some fun FREE things.

Visit the Vessel

This new interactive sculpture is part of the new Hudson Yards development. The Vessel at Hudson Yards is a must-visit for anyone who loves architecture and design. It is an interactive, multi-level public art installation with multiple sets of stairs leading to the top and bottom.

The Vessel was designed by Thomas Heatherwick, a British designer who has created some of London’s most recognizable landmarks, such as the Olympic Cauldron.

You will love walking up and down all the stairs to view different views. If you want more information about how to get free tickets, please check out my post on Visiting the Vessel and Hudson Yards.

Update: The Vessel is not open at this moment but keep checking back to see if it will reopen. You can still view it without climbing it.

Walk Across the Brooklyn Bridge

When the Brooklyn Bridge opened back in 1883, it was the longest suspension bridge and the first fixed crossing over the East River. It has been designated a National Historic Landmark, a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark, and a New York City Landmark. Today it is one of four toll-free bridges that connect Manhattan with Brooklyn and Queens.

The Brooklyn Bridge is a New York icon that is popular with both tourists and residents. It’s one of those things that you must do on your first trip to NYC and it won’t cost you a thing. You can enjoy some of the best views of the city as you walk across the bridge.

Take the subway to the City Hall Station in Manhattan and close by you will find the pedestrian entrance to the bridge. As you cross the East River, you can see the Freedom Tower, Statue of Liberty, and more. Be sure to watch out for bikes as they share the same path. Once you get to the other side, you should enjoy some pizza from Juliana’s before heading back. If you don’t want to walk, you can take the ferry.

by Anisa from Two Traveling Texans

Visit Coney Island

When you think of New York City, you may not think of beaches, swimming, or building sandcastles. But one of the best free things to do in NYC is to take a trip to Brooklyn for a day spent at Coney Island Beach. While nearby Coney Island may find you paying some hefty fees, the Coney Island Beach is completely free to visit. Reaching Coney Island is easily done on the subway with the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue taking you just steps away from the beach.

The Coney Island Beach and Boardwalk is made up of 3 miles of sandy beaches and boardwalk with plenty of activities to keep the whole family entertained. You can spend hours relaxing on the beach, enjoying the sun, or jumping waves in this otherwise concrete jungle or find some opportunities for recreational fun with volleyball and basketball courts.

If visiting with young kids (or even adults!) be sure to bring the sand toys and for sandcastle building. You will also find many street performers lined up along the boardwalk, which can be very entertaining, but be sure not to get caught up in the tourist traps looking for money. To get out over the water walk the pier, which extends out into the Atlantic Ocean.

Submitted by Melissa at Navigationjunkie.com

Walk Over the Manhattan Bridge

New York City’s Brooklyn Bridge is a tourist-hogging granite and steel celebrity. However, there is another NYC bridge offering a unique skyline perspective but with far less chaos – the Manhattan Bridge.

Walking over the Manhattan Bridge is a hugely underrated free thing to do in New York City thanks to a pedestrian walkway lacking in … let’s say ‘style’.

But does it really matter what the bridge you are walking on looks like? The more important aspect is the view and from the Manhattan Bridge, you can not only watch a stunning sunset over Lower Manhattan, but the Brooklyn Bridge becomes your foreground.

The Manhattan Bridge also features two of NYC’s top photography locations. First, the hole-in-the-fence image framing Madison Street in Chinatown and second, the famous Manhattan Bridge View from Washington Street in Dumbo.

Families can enjoy a considerably more relaxing stroll from Manhattan to Brooklyn, plus the kids will be wholeheartedly occupied finding every single hole in the fence framing different parts of Downtown Manhattan.

Visit Times Square

Visit the 9/11 Memorial

September 11, 2001, is the day that will never be forgotten by any American and probably by no one who understood the tragic event.

The 9/11 Memorial is a tribute to the nearly 3,000 victims, women, children, and men, from the Twin Towers, the Pentagon, and Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

Designers submitted several ideas for the commemorative monuments. The winner was the design called Reflecting Absence and belongs to Michael Arad.

You can read the names of all the 9/11 victims on the plates of the two pools. The memorial was opened to the public on September 11, 2011, to commemorate ten years since the event that shocked the entire globe.

The memorial is always free to visit, and there is even an application that can be downloaded and can guide you, giving you all the information you need. Instead, you have to pay to visit the museum. However, there is a day when you can get to see it for free, but tickets are limited. That day is every Tuesday, between 5 and 8 pm.

The 9/11 Memorial is also a good place for families with children. There is a separate guide for the little ones, and the information provided to them is undoubtedly interesting for their level of understanding.

By Raluca at whisperwanderlust.com

Do a Free Walking Tour of DUMBO

Cobblestone streets, a mixture of old and new buildings and warehouses give DUMBO a unique feel. Though it is a small area, you will find plenty to charm you.

One way to explore all the gems of the iconic area is to join a free walking tour with Free Tours by Foot. The tour takes you across the Brooklyn Bridge, to Brooklyn Heights and around DUMBO. You will explore historic locations and impressive art and architecture.

You will love the views of the Manhattan skyline from Brooklyn Bridge Park. At Washington Street between Front and Water Streets, you will find the famous perfectly symmetrical view of the Manhattan Bridge. Completing the scene is a cobblestone street and the Empire State Building framed perfectly between the bridge legs.

If you prefer to explore on your own, you can get to the DUMBO neighborhood by walking across the Brooklyn Bridge, taking a car, train, or ferry.

Contributed by Debbie Fettback from WorldAdventurists.com.

The High Line

Brooklyn Heights

Visiting Brooklyn Heights is one of the best things to do if you visit New York on a budget. Located across the Brooklyn Bridge and on the other side of Lower Manhattan, this is the first ever suburb of the city, and despite the passing of time and increased attention from tourists it’s retained its local atmosphere and a lovely vibe. The area is packed with nice Victorian-style buildings, small independent shops, and boulevards lined with trees.

The main perk of visiting Brooklyn Heights is the incredible view of New York from the promenade. Visit during the day, and you can see all the way to the Statue of Liberty; go later at night, and you’ll see the lights shine on Lower Manhattan. It is quite a show!

Cross the Brooklyn Bridge and turn right towards Whitman Park to get to Brooklyn Heights Promenade. Turn right again on Tillary St. Finally, turn left on Clifton St. and right again on Pierrepont St.

By Claudia Tavani, My Adventures Across The World

Wander through The Strand Bookstore

 

Wandering through the plethora of shops scattered throughout Manhattan is a fun and cheap way to experience some of what NYC has to offer. Though, there’s one shop in the Big Apple where I could easily spend hours perusing, yet not feel obligated to spend a single cent – The Strand.

The Strand is a well-loved bookshop that stands in Greenwich Village at Broadway and 12^th Street, just a few blocks south of Union Square. There are a few smaller locations around the city, but the Greenwich location tends to be the most-appealing to both new and returning visitors.

This bookstore has thousands of books organized in various sections between multiple floors. You will come across new books, used books, and rare books of every genre imaginable. This may easily be one of the few attractions in the city that draws-in repeat visitors over and over again – there’s always something new and exciting to discover in The Strand.

Contributor: Kylie Loyd of Catch the Drift travel blog 

Take a Ferry to Staten Island

If you are looking for free things to add to your New York itinerary don’t miss the boat trip to Staten Island.! The Staten Island passenger ferry is the perfect way to enjoy great views of the lower Manhattan skyline and to get up close to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.

The ferry travels between Whitehall Ferry Terminal (South Ferry) in Manhattan to St George’s Ferry Terminal in Staten Island- a distance of 8.4 kilometers which takes 25 minutes. Most passengers get on the ferry at Battery Park, at the southern tip of Manhattan. The ferries operate 24 x 7 and depart every 20 minutes, as they are the only way residents of Staten Island, can get to the city. The ferry travels through New York Harbour. For the best views, sit on the starboard side of the ferry when it leaves Manhattan and the port side as it leaves Staten Island.

Contributed by Chrisoula from travelpassionate.com

Grand Central Terminal

Visit Grand Central Terminal to experience world-class architecture, art, and design at no cost other than your time. It’s one of our favorite things to do in New York City! Enjoy the spectacular ceiling that has been in more movies and pictures than almost anywhere.

You can go to Grand Central Terminal just for fun or take a tour as well- there are many tours offered by different companies like FREE tours by Foot. Enjoy learning about one of the busiest transportation hubs in the United States.

Domino Park

Domino Park is one of the most popular parks in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. There is a giant domino sculpture made of steel and concrete that towers over you when you walk inside.

Domino Park has three sections: an open park area with some trees, several swings and benches; an enclosed basketball court (with hoops) to which there are stairs on both sides; and a children’s play area for infants through 12 year-olds featuring slides, tunnels, bridges and climbing structures.

It’s free to enter but be prepared for crowds on weekends!

The Jewish Museum

This lovely museum is located in the Upper East Side and was founded to preserve Jewish history. It is FREE on Saturdays!

The museum has a permanent collection of over 13,000 objects relating to Jews worldwide from ancient times up until today, including art and ritual items such as synagogue furnishings and Torah scrolls. It also maintains America’s largest public archives of Holocaust-era photographs.

The Morgan Library

The Morgan Library is one of my favorite museums in New York City, and it’s free every Friday night from 7-9. It has a fantastic collection of medieval manuscripts, illuminated texts, and important pieces of classical art. It is a little gem of a museum.

Visit the New York Public Library

New York Public Library is one of the most beautiful libraries in the world, and it has an incredible history to boot. It’s a place where you can spend hours browsing through old books or exploring some fascinating exhibitions about topics like fashion, photography, illustration, science and more.

See Saturday Night Live

Every Saturday night, the iconic show “Saturday Night Live” is filmed live on TV. You can see it in person at New York’s NBC Studio 30 Rockefeller Center between 49th Street and 50th Streets from October through May each year (check their website for updated info).

To get tickets, you need to wait in a line that starts at the NBC Studio Tour entrance to get a standby ticket, or you can buy a ticket in advance.

Go see an opera

The Met has been performing operas since 1883 and is one of the most renowned operas in the world. Some nights during these performances will also be broadcasted live internationally through live stream. For more info click here.

Go to Rockaway Beach

 

Rockaway Beach is a little bit of a trek from Manhattan, but it’s worth it. The Rockaways are one of the few places in New York City that you can find free beach access. Located on Jamaica Bay, this secluded stretch of sand offers some amazing views and awesome waves for surfers who come at high tide to catch some major swells.

Go see Shakespeare in the Park

This summer, pay a visit to the Delacorte Theater in Central Park and watch free performances of Shakespeare’s plays. Performances are given every evening from July 12th to August 16th (except for Mondays). Bring a blanket or lawn chair and enjoy a perfect summer night under the stars while reveling in some timeless drama.

 

Free Julliard Performances

The world-class performances at the Juilliard School are always free and open to the public. The school offers a variety of events, from jazz concerts to lectures about dance and opera’s newest talents. Check their website for upcoming shows that interest you!

The Oculus

The Oculus is part of the new World Trade Center complex. It is a must-see for architecture fans, history buffs, and New Yorkers who want to experience the city from a completely different perspective!

It is half mall, half subway station and very instagramable place in New York City.

Movies at Brooklyn Bridge Park

Brooklyn Bridge Park is a beautiful waterfront park with stunning views of the Manhattan skyline. It also has free movie screenings on Wednesday nights during the summer months!

Check their website for upcoming showtimes and films being screened.

National Museum of the Native American

This is one of my favorite small museums in NYC. It features the art, history, and culture of Native Americans from pre-Columbian times to the 17th century. It’s a great place for kids and adults alike! It isn’t too big and is a great stop if you are in the Wall Street area.

American Folk Art Museum

The American Folk Art Museum is one of the best art museums in NYC, and it’s FREE. It is across from Lincoln Center in midtown and is a great 30-minute museum.

This museum showcases folk, self-taught, and outsider artists from America. The exhibitions are always really interesting and diverse!

Hamilton Grange

Hamilton Grange is part of the National Parks Service. It’s the only private residence of a Founding Father open to the public!

The site is 20 acres and has original structures from Hamilton’s time, such as his orangery (a greenhouse), kitchen garden, and fields planted with crops. The tours are free, but reservations must be made in advance by contacting: npsinfo@nps.gov

Fashion Institute Museum

This museum is located in the heart of Manhattan’s Midtown and has a lot to offer visitors. There are two floors that house exhibitions, an educational center for children aged five to fourteen years old, a gift shop with New York-themed merchandise such as books and souvenirs, and they have free lectures on various topics all year round.

If you love “Project Runway” you will love visiting FIT.

St. Patricks Cathedral

 

This cathedral, located on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, is known for its beautiful stained-glass windows and mosaic ceiling. It’s not just a house of worship but also an architectural landmark that allows visitors to roam around the building as long as they don’t disturb anyone inside.

If you are lucky, you might catch a beautiful wedding. (I’ve seen two, and they were stunning!)

Free Jazz

There are several places in Harlem where you can enjoy this style of music, including Smalls Jazz Club, a speakeasy-style jazz club with live music nightly: or Fat Cat Music Hall, a jazz club in the heart of Greenwich Village.

Free night at the Museum of Modern Art

Art at MoMA is free on Friday nights from dusk to close. Arrive after 6 p.m. to avoid long lines.They also have a free app called “Make Art!”

Art Walks

If you are an art enthusiast, you will find galleries throughout the city make excellent pastimes. This means hundreds of artists show off their work without having to pay to see it!

There is often no admission fee, but some exhibits charge for entry. But you can see tons of amazing art without paying an entrance fee. Check out this site for some art walk suggestions.

Free things in Central Park

An oasis in America’s busiest city, Central Park should be on every NYC itinerary. You can spend all day in the iconic 843-acre park and still not see everything! While there are plenty of ways to spend money in Central Park, like taking a horse-drawn carriage ride, most of the best things to do in Central Park are free!

Ensure you get a map at the visitor’s information stand right before entering the park (West 59^th street at Central Park West or 6^th Avenue). Remember, eating in NYC is expensive, so if you are planning to spend the day there, you may want to bring a picnic instead of buying the pricey park hotdogs.

Families should check out the Discovery Center’s free tours and exhibits, but the best way to enjoy the park is to walk it and make your discoveries. Strolling through the tree-lined paths, keep an eye out for birds—over 200 species live in Central Park.

You’ll also recognize numerous sites that have appeared in countless movies and TV shows, like Belvedere Castle, Bethesda Terrace, Bethesda Fountain, the Bow Bridge, Central Park Lake, and, of course, the famous views of the surrounding landmark buildings.

Central Park Conservatory

The Central Park Conservatory is one of the most popular destinations in New York City. The conservatories are home to beautiful indoor gardens and plants from all over the world and a greenhouse filled with exotic orchids, bromeliad and ferns! Free tours take place at 11 am Monday through Friday on weekdays.

 The Turtle Pond

Skip rocks into the water or sit by it as many locals do during their leisure time. This pond used to be called “The Turtle Pond” because turtles had taken up residence here, but they have all gone now, so visitors won’t see them anymore!

Bethesda Terrace and Fountain

A great place to go any time of the year, this public space is hidden in Central Park but was designed by Calvert Vaux and Jacob Wrey Mould. Features include a large fountain that can be used as an ice rink in winter. The views are especially breathtaking during sunset!

Belvedere Castle

Belveder Castles is a beautiful wooden castle that is located in Central Park. It offers stunning views of the city and is a great place to enjoy nature with your family.

Sheep Meadow

Sheep Meadow is a great place for a picnic or to relax. The area was only completed in 1934 and is the perfect place for sunbathing, reading, people watching and kite flying.

Hecksher Playground

This playground overlooks Central Park West and Wollman Rink, where ice skaters can be seen during public hours for most months of the year. There are also plenty of spaces nearby to sit down and enjoy lunch brought from home so pack up your toddler’s backpack now before heading out!

Free Walking Tour in Lower Manhattan: Financial District

A self-paced walking tour with 16 sites that offer insights into New York City history as you enjoy some of its finest architecture! Start when you like, but it takes about two hours to complete all the stops. Trams are available for those too tired but it goes at a relatively slow pace so you should be fine. For more information, click here.

I hope this list helps you find some tremendous Free things to do in NYC!

 

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