29 of the Best Free Things To Do in New York City

I love New York City! I had the opportunity to live in the big apple after college and I worked in NYC every summer until I had kids. I love the smell, the people, the action, the food, the shopping, the walking, I love it all. New York City has so much to offer. Plan a trip to New York City, and use this list of mostly free things to do in NYC as your NYC guide!

29 Free Things To Do in New York City

To do everything on this list would take a good month! I divided the list up categories to make choosing free things to do as easy as possible. I recommend picking 1-3 things to do in a day, and take time to explore your surroundings. Oh and if you like cupcakes, be sure to checkout my lower Manhattan battle of the cupcake and 10 fun, free things to do with kids in downtown Manhattan.

Unique Photo Ops in NYC

1. Brooklyn Bridge

Walk, jog, skip or ride a bike across the Brooklyn Bridge. You will absolutely want to take pictures of the Manhattan skyline and the bridge! Grab an ice cream cone and ride Jane’s Carrousel for $2 in the Brooklyn Bridge Park.

2. Take the free Staten Island ferry

Enjoy a free ride around the New York Harbor and lots of fun photo opportunities, including the Stature of Liberty. Ferries run every 3o minutes except during rush hours they run every 15 minutes. The ferry ride is one of the best views of the Statue of Liberty. Pro tip: You can reserve ferry tickets from Manhattan to Ellis Island for $25.50 that include access to the Statue of Liberty.

Pro Tip: Try to avoid the rush hour ferries weekdays from 7-8:45am and from 5-6:45pm because they will be packed.

3. Visit the Hello Deli from David Letterman

If you’re lucky, you can take a picture with Rupert. The sandwiches are yummy too.

4. Love sculpture

Take a cheesy, but adorable picture in front of the love sculpture at 6th Avenue and W. 55th.

5. Naked Cowboy

The Naked Cowboy can typically be spotted on the corner of 45th and Broadway in Time Square right before lunchtime!

Get free tickets to live tapings of TV shows

My husband and I saw the David Lettermen many moons ago. Just remember, this takes advanced planning. Although, if you are willing to wait in long lines, you can sometimes get stand by tickets too.

6. Be a part of these live New York City audiences for free

1. The Daily Show
2. The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon
3. The Voice
4. Saturday night live ticket lottery: Send an email to: [email protected]
5. Late Night with Seth Myers
6. The Rachel Ray Show
7. Live with Kelly and Mark
8. The View

Kid Friendly Activities in NYC

Most activities on this list can be done with kids in tow, but the following 5 things are my very favorite free kid activities.

7. Bronx Zoo

General admission is free on Wednesday, but a donation is encouraged. Bring a picnic linch and make this is an all day event! It is also always free to kids 2 and under, members of the U.S. military with a valid military ID, and to NYC undergraduate college students.

8. Roosevelt Island Tram

Roosevelt Island is a tiny island between Manhattan and Queens. The tram from Manhattan to the island is a 4 minute ride and has awesome views! An adult ticket is $2.75 one way, but up to three 3 children 44 inches tall and under can ride for free when accompanied by a fare paying adult! If your kiddo loves all things transportation, this is a don’t miss inexpensive activity! Be sure and visit the FDR Four Freedoms State Park while you are there. It’s always free, but closed on Tuesdays. 

 

9. Hudson River Park

This is one of our go to spots in the Manhattan, it’s a huge 550 acre park, with 400 acres of river front property! We like to grab a few slices of pizza and hang out on the grass. The views are beautiful and Maxwell loves smelling the flowers and making new friends. Oh and the people watching is great too. There is a lot more to do than picnic on the grass. I wrote another post with 10 free things to do with kids in downtown Manhattan with more details about the Hudson River Park!

10. Kayak for free at the Downtown Boathouse

Free Museums in NYC

11. One World Trade Center

Visit the 9/11 Memorial Plaza and and Museum. Memorial Plaza is free to visit, but you can also take a guided tour from a staff member for $15. The 9/11 Museum is free on Tuesday evenings from 5-8, the last entry is at 6pm. Below is a picture from 2008 that I took of the 9/11 site when it was still being built.

Pro Tip: The Oculus is next to the 9/11 Memorial and absolutely worth a stop inside.

 

12. St. Paul’s Chapel

Not only is it Manhattan’s oldest building in use, it also withstood September 11th, and played a huge role in hosting recovery workers after the attacks. St. Paul’s Chapel sit directly across the street from One World Trade Center. Inside, there is a 9/11 Chapel of Remembrance that reflects on the role the church played in the aftermath of the attacks.

 

13. MoMA

Admission is free every Friday from  4-8pm. Get there early because the line can wrap around the block!  If you are not there on a Friday evening, adults tickets are $25, but kids 16 and under always get in free. MoMa hours and admissions info here.

14. Whitney Museum of American Art

Adults tickets are $25, and kids under 18 are always free.

15. Brooklyn Children’s Museum

Pay what you wish on Thursdays from 2-5pm. Closed on Monday through Wednesday. Kids under 1 year old are always free.

16. Federal Reserves Bank

Take a free 60 minute tour to learn about the role of the Federal Reserve System and money. Tours take place Monday through Friday from 1-2pm. Pro tip: No strollers are allowed.

Free Things To Do in Central Park

Central Park is 843 acres, and was established in 1857. It is 2.5 miles long between 59th Street and 110th Street, and is 0.5 mile wide between Fifth Avenue and Central Park West. Central Park is also a great place to walk and explore with kids.

17. Borrow a Discovery Kit

18. Explore 21 Playgrounds

Central Park has 21 playgrounds for kids! Here is an awesome list with descriptions of all 21. Don’t miss the Heckscher Playground oringially built in 1926, but recently updated in 2006. The playground has separate play structures for preschoolers and older kids, a climbing boulder, a giant sandbox, and in the summertime, awesome sprinklers.

19. Camp For Free

That’s right, with the Urban Park Rangers you can camp for free with your family in parks across New York City. S’more’s included!

20. Hans Christian Anderson Storytelling Center

Since 1956, children have gathered around Hans Christian Andersen’s statue at the Conservatory Pond in Central Park to hear fairytales from around the world. Storytelling happens every Saturday at 11am June, July, August and September.

21. Shakespeare in the Park

22. Central Park Tours

Get an insiders look at the world’s greatest urban park with free tours from the Central Park Conservancy. The tours cover many parts of the park including a welcome tour, hound hikes, and even a birding tour.

23. Rent Bikes

This isn’t free, but it is one of my favorite things to do in Manhattan, and it provides hours of fun! There are 3 parts to the Manhattan Waterfront Greenway: We like to ride on the Hudson River greenway because it is the longest, and the entire path follows the river and is separated from traffic. We typically rent bikes for $20- $30 for the day.

26. Socrates Sculpture Park

Manhattan Landmarks You Have to See

28. Grand Central Station

29. Fifth Avenue

The Plaza Hotel is right across the street from the Apple Store.

 

30. Chelsea Market

Chelsea Market doesn’t fit into one of my categories, but I had to include it! It is located directly below the High Line at 15th Street, this venue is always changing. There are restaurants, bakeries, artists, sample sales, concerts, and even a flea market! Grab a delicious brownie at Fat Which and enjoy browsing the goods with the kids in tow (or not).

And there you have it, 29 free things to do in NYC. You don’t have to break the bank to enjoy New York City! Have you and your family ever been to NYC? Do you love it? Do you hate it? Would you ever want to live there? What’s your favorite thing to do in in NYC? I’d love to hear…

Note: Did you know that we’ve got 50+ guides with 10+ fun, free family friendly things to do in cities all over the world! Check out the complete list here. I like to call it Creating Really Awesome Free Trips!