30 Free Things to Do in New York City

Text: Julie Schwietert Collazo
Photos: Francisco Collazo
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Whether you live here or you’re visiting, this city isn’t cheap.

For all of its expenses, though, there’s plenty to do and see for free in New York City, so save your money for New York City hotels or a memorable meal at one of the five boroughs’ thousands of restaurants.

Here are 30 of our favorite free things to do in New York City:

1. See a live performance of world music during the annual Lincoln Center Out of Doors Festival. Susana Baca, Buika, Carlos Varela, Ruben Blades. We’ve seen them all give full length concerts for free at this festival.

2. Visit The Bronx Zoo on a Wednesday.
Wednesday is suggested donation day at the zoo.

3. Check out the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council’s calendar.
Public art installations and performances, lectures, and programs like “Poems and Pints” are mostly free. The goal of all projects is to “draw audiences to little known or overlooked locations citywide.” Check their calendar to see what’s going on while you’re in town.

4. Take a photo with the New York Public Library’s lions, Patience and Fortitude. They stand guard outside the main branch of the library on 42nd Street and 5th Avenue.

5. Then, go inside and see the NYPL’s current exhibitions…
The main branch of the NYPL hosts rotating exhibits in two main floor galleries and on the third floor. The listing for exhibits and other library events (most of which are also free) can be accessed here.

6. And visit the Main Reading Room.

7. Visit the United Nations.
If you want to take a tour, there’s a fee, but visiting the main hall and the gift/book shop is free. The main hall hosts exhibitions, often of photographs.

8. Swing in a hammock at Gantry Plaza State Park in Long Island City, Queens.
Getting one of the hammocks is almost a competitive sport in the summer, but if you’re not successful, there are plenty other places to spread out a blanket or take photos of the Manhattan skyline from this park on the East River.

9. Listen to a lecture at the City University of New York (CUNY) Graduate Center.
You could almost get a college education for free by attending the lectures at CUNY that are open to the public. Some of the university’s departments also host their own lecture series; one such department is the Bildner Center for Western Hemisphere Studies, which presents lectures about the Americas.

10. Attend an event at the Americas Society.
The Americas Society presents lectures, talks, and readings that are intended to “promote the understanding of the political, economic, and cultural issues that define and challenge the Americas today, from the Arctic Circle to the southernmost tip of Argentina.” These events are held in the Society’s headquarters, a lavishly designed building on Park Avenue.

11. Participate in the PEN World Voices Festival.
The festival, held each April, brings together writers from around the world to venues around the city. They read their work, they talk about it, they discuss current and historical events. Always something fascinating on the agenda at this festival.

12. Go kayaking.
There are plenty of launch points around the city: Red Hook, Long Island City, Piers 40 and 96, and the pier on 72nd Street. These are volunteer run, so drop a donation if you can.

13. Visit the dead.
Just because you don’t know anyone buried at the Woodlawn Cemetery doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go pay your respects. The cemetery is an incredible place to learn about New York history, architecture, and design. Read more about it here.

14. Explore New York’s Masonic Hall.
One of the entries in our ongoing series, Overlooked New York, the Masonic Hall offers free tours.

15. See sculpture at Socrates Sculpture Park.
In addition to the sculpture on display at this outdoor, interactive museum, Socrates hosts summer movie festivals, an annual “Makers Market,” an arts and craft fair, and other seasonal events.

16. See a Rooftop Film.
During the summer, the group Rooftop Films shows films on large screens on rooftops and in parks around the city.

17. Participate in a cultural day parade.
Puerto Rican Day Parade, Dominican Parade, Greek Parade… practically every community has an annual parade. Check the city’s calendar to see if a parade coincides with your visit.

18. Take advantage of museums’ free admission days.
Most museums have a day when admission is free or by donation. Newyorkology maintains a comprehensive list of these museums here.

19. Browse the Union Square Greenmarket.
Even if you’re not buying, it’s fun to browse the farmers’ stalls at the Union Square Greenmarket, a popular farmers’ market for the city’s chefs.

20. Spend time in Hudson River Park.
When we moved here in 1999, the Hudson River Park was just starting to be developed. 11 years later, it’s New York’s best park, running the length of western Manhattan and offering recreation opportunities for almost everyone. There are many paid activities, but plenty of free things, too.

21. Visit a memorial.
The Irish Hunger Memorial is our favorite; you can learn about that one and some others here.

22. Pass by Poets House.
With cozy places to read a book and windows overlooking the Hudson River, Poets House is a lovely place to visit any day. They also offer readings and other programs.

23. Go to Governors Island.
It’s incredible how Governors Island has become an epicenter for arts and cultural programming in the city in just a few short years. Hop on the ferry (free!) and enjoy some of the programming.

24. Participate in OpenHouse New York.
Each year, OpenHouse New York gives people a peek into places they can’t normally visit.

25. See Scandinavia House.
New York has many cultural institutions open to the public that offer loads of free programs. Scandinavia House is just one.

26. Go to an auction.
As long as you don’t plan to buy, attending an art auction at Sotheby’s, Christie’s, or one of the other famous auction houses won’t cost you a penny.

27. Go through Grand Central Terminal.
Walk through the main hall and look up at the gorgeous ceiling. And check out that clock… it’s valued between $10 and $20 million.

28. Check out Chelsea Market.
You could spend some cash here, but it doesn’t cost a thing to browse the shops here (Posman Books, Anthropologie, Imports from Marrakesh) and you can usually find a free sample at Fat Witch Bakery.

29. Visit FAO Schwarz.
Even if you don’t have kids, visit FAO Schwarz to see just how crazy American consumerist culture can be. Thousand dollar stuffed toys? Yes.

30. See the US Open.
The qualifying competitions the week before the US Open are free! See top-seeded players without a ticket.