22 Free things to do in New York City

There are plenty of free things to do in New York City and exploring the city has never been easier. For example, hop on the Staten Island Ferry for a free mini harbor cruise for amazing views of the Statue of Liberty and the city.

A visit to the largest city in North America does not have to drain your bank account. A well planned trip will take advantage of hotel rate discounts outside of peak travel times. Avoid busy summer months, holiday weekends, and especially New Year’s Eve, when the city is crowded and prices for accommodation escalate.

New York City is made for walking and this is one of the easiest ways to get around. The subway is fast and fairly simple to use. There’s a cab on almost every corner or take an Uber, which typically works out to be less expensive, especially in the congested traffic of the city.

We hope this guide to free things to do in New York City will save you time and be a valuable resource for your next incredible journey. Subscribe below to be alerted to the next article as soon as it’s published. We pride ourselves in writing informative articles with interesting facts. If you found this article informative, please share and leave any comments, questions or suggestions below.

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22 Free things to do in New York

We have complied 22 free things to do in the city that never sleeps. Tip: while exploring the city, talk to local New Yorkers working in stores or at attractions to find out where their go-to favorite spots are for a meal or drink, nearby. They may even suggest tours they particularly like. Museum volunteers are a great resource for information.

1. Soak up the vibe of Times Square

The famous Times Square landmark has massive billboards, towering neon lights, and an atmosphere like no other. Right next to the Theater district, it is truly one of busiest hives of activity in the city. There are lots of shops, restaurants, bars and attractions to explore here. On New Year’s Eve the famous ball drop happens in Times Square, but keep in mind participants who want to attend plan months in advance.

2. Check out the Financial District

Wall Street is home to the bustling New York Stock Exchange and is the financial hub of the world’s economy. There are several notable sites to visit in this area free — and not so free:

• One World Trade Centre Observation Deck
• The National September 11 Memorial and Museum
• The Charging Bull statue for photo opportunities
• New York Stock Exchange (not open to the public)
• World Trade Centre Oculus, which includes an outdoor food market, beer garden, shops and Optik, an interactive light and sound art installation.
• Trinity Church, the oldest church location in New York.
• Catch the free Staten Island Ferry.
• Access to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge and Pier 11 for Dumbo/Fulton Ferry return ferry.
• Access the the ferry to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty.

3. Catch a ride on Staten Island Ferry

Take a 25-minute picturesque ride on the Staten Island Ferry for a quick tour of the harbor. Go past the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. The ferry leaves Lower Manhattan from the Whitehall Ferry Terminal, 4 South Street, to St. George Ferry Terminal on Staten Island. The boat runs 24 hours a day. Check schedule here. Note: you must disembark the ferry at the other end and then hop aboard it again for the return trip.

Don’t miss a ride on the free Staten Island Ferry. Photo: Alexander Naumann, Pixabay

4. Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge

Plan on taking at least one hour to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge. Beside the amazing views of Manhattan’s cityscape, at the other end, you’ll find a wonderful park and Jane’s Carousel, a 1922 fully restored classic carousel, with 48 carved horses and two chariots. Each ride costs just $2. Consider exploring the area and then taking the ferry back. Visit the Financial District to access the Brooklyn Bridge or the ferry at Pier 11 to cross over to Brooklyn.

People also rent bikes to ride across.

5. Stroll through Chelsea Market

Renowned Chelsea Market is located in the Meatpacking District. It is an internationally recognized food hall with many shops and, of course, great places to eat.

Famous Chelsea Market in the Meatpacking District of New York City. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

6. High Line Park Urban Space

High Line is an elevated park designed on a historic railway line running through the west side of Manhattan. The park opened in 2009, to provide an urban space to enjoy nature and art. Take advantage of free tours of the park. The park can be accessed near the Chelsea Market and the Whitney Museum of Modern Art. The first floor of the Whitney Museum is also free.

7. Garment District Factory Tour

The Garment District, also known as the Fashion District, is located in Midtown Manhattan. It’s a vibrant creative community, with an excellent selection of restaurants and cafes.

This area started to bloom in the 1920s, when many garment manufactures moved to the district. By the early 1930s, it became North America’s largest concentration of clothing producers.

Be sure to see the 28 historic Fashion Walk of Fame plaques that run along 7th Avenue from 40th to 34th streets, celebrating famous New York designers.

It’s here you’ll find stores such as Mood Fabrics, offering design inspiration with a wide range of fashion and home fabrics, vintage trims, leathers, beads, wedding needs and just about everything imaginable for the construction of a garment.

Take a factory tour in one of the many places in the Garment District. One fascinating tour is offered at M&S Schmalberg, an artificial flower factory, to see how fabric flowers are custom made.

And, if in need of a button, Lou Lou Buttons has more than 10 million to choose from.

Look for the iconic Button and Needle Sculpture, unveiled February 2023, at 7th Avenue and 39th Street, along with the nearby statue of the Garment Worker.

Button and Needle Sculpture on display in the Garment District of New York City.

8. See a Live TV Performance

Be in the audience of a live taping of a New York produced TV show. Some of the many offered include, Jimmy Kimmel, Seth Myers, Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Saturday Night Live, and The View.

9. Little Island

Little Island is an urban space on the Hudson River, at Pier 55, which opened in 2021. The 2.4-acre park is constructed out of 132 mushroom-shaped concrete columns and the garden is designed to maximize colors as a way to attract an impressive variety of birds and pollinators. To learn more about the design, there is a 40-minute audio tour available narrated by Signe Nielsen, the landscape architect.

While in the same area, visit the Hudson River Park walkway popular for strolling, jogging and biking.

View of Little Island from the Whitney Museum of Art. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

10. Soak up the atmosphere of Chinatown

Densely populated Chinatown in Manhattan is located right next door to Little Italy. The narrow streets boast many shops to browse in featuring wares from China and Southwest Asia. There is an abundance of Asian restaurants offering dim sum, tea rooms, and traditional Chinese cuisine.

New York City has the highest Chinese population in the United States and it boasts two other large Chinatowns, one in Flushing, Queens and the other in Sunset Park, Brooklyn.

Narrow streets of Manhattan’s Chinatown. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

11. Grand Central Terminal

Grand Central Terminal is the second most visited landmark in the city, after Times Square. More than 750,000 people pass through the train station each day. Grand Central Depot, built in 1871 by Cornelius Vanderbilt, the wealthy railroad owner, quickly became out-of-date and Grand Central Terminal replaced it in 1913. Take a few minutes to learn more about this urban history here.

A few special features to look for in the terminal:

• The main concourse’s emerald green zodiac ceiling features 2,500 stars and 12 constellations.
• All clocks in the station are accurate to one second. The main clock at the information booth is valued at around $20 million.
• The European-style Grand Central Market has 13 vendors to choose from to pick up ingredients for a picnic lunch.

Whispering Gallery at Grand Central Station

Don’t miss the Whispering Gallery located near the Oyster Bar. The acoustic oddity can be experienced by standing in one corner of the domed arches, while another person stands on the opposite corner. One person turns into the corner to utter a whispered message and the other person will be able to hear it clearly above the drone of the terminal.

The Pershing Square Cafe

We found a really great cozy restaurant at Grand Central Station in Manhattan under the Park Avenue viaduct. The Pershing Square Cafe serves up really tasty, reasonably priced food. We dropped in for lunch one day and, liked it so much, we came back for breakfast.
Note: their chicken Waldorf salad is just about the best we’ve ever tasted. The front of the restaurant also has a little coffee area where you can choose five delicious cookies for five dollars, a bargain in any city.

Grand Central Station is one of the most famous train stations in North America. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

Famous clock at Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

A visit to Grand Central Terminal is on of the best free things to do in New York City. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

12. Window shop along Fifth Avenue and Macy’s on 34th Street

Strolling down Fifth Avenue to window shop in some of the most well-known brand shops in the world will cost nothing. Stepping through the doors on the other hand, may leave quite a dent in your wallet.

Make sure to take a look in Macy’s on 34th Street, the largest department store in North America. Don’t miss seeing the antique wooden escalators, which are more than 100-years old.

Famous antique wooden escalators in Macy’s Department Store in New York. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

13. St. Patrick’s Cathedral

St. Patrick’s Cathedral is the most famous church in Manhattan. The foundation for this neo-Gothic Catholic church was laid in 1860. Everyone is welcome to enter this magnificent  landmark to look around, worship or both.

St. Patrick’s Cathedral is a Catholic cathedral in the Midtown Manhattan neighborhood of New York City. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

14. Stroll through Little Italy

The Italian district is smaller now than it was when thousands of Italians immigrated here in the late 1800s and is now concentrated on three streets. Mulberry Street, lined with Italian restaurants and bakeries, is the main street in Little Italy.

Ferrara is the most famous bakery and cafe in this area. This eatery opened its door in 1892, as the first American pastry shop and espresso bar. And, don’t forget to stop at Caffé Palermo home of the Cannoli King, Baby John.

Nearby, is Lombardi, home to the first pizza ever served in North America in 1905. Take a fun food tour for one of the best experiences available to learn about the cuisine and history.

One of the city’s oldest street fairs, Feast of San Gennaro, is celebrated annually in Little Italy in mid-September.

Explore Little Italy in New York. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

15. Field of Light at Freedom Plaza

Six acres of Manhattan along the East River waterfront have been transformed into a field of light by British artist, Bruce Munro. Take in the immersive experience with a walk along the winding pathway through 18,750 low-light spheres. This free event requires an advance ticket. Visitors are welcome to join a standby line in the event previous ticket holders do not show up for their time slot.

16. Visit the natural beauty of Central Park

New Yorkers love to walk in Central Park and there is lots to explore here. The man-made park is built on top of ancient bedrock.

Fun Facts about Central Park

• Planning of Central Park began in the 1858 and it became a 1963 national historic landmark.
• Central Park covers 843 acres.
• There are 210 bird species that come to the park.
• More than 500 TV shows and movies have been made here.
• 58 miles of walking trails to explore.
• Three ice skating rinks.
• The Conservatory Garden is a formal garden within the park.
• There are eight lakes and ponds in the park.
• Tavern on the Green has been a restaurant since 1934. The Crystal Room has Tiffany-stained glass, and Baccarat chandeliers.
• The park features four different varieties of cherry trees.
• More than three million children come to the park each year to play in its 21 playgrounds.

17. Bryant Park

There are all sort of free activities to enjoy at Manhattan’s Bryant Park. Each year, more than 12 million come to enjoy all the park has to offer, from its gardens, activities, shops and eateries.

• Take a morning or evening birding tour
• Attend movie night
• Enjoy a picnic concert
• Live performances at night
• One hour yoga sessions
• Broadway shows
• Take the challenge of a chess game (as seen in movies)
• Learn how to juggle and much more
• In the winter months, free ice skating is available at the ice rink.

18. New York City Library

Located at 5th Avenue and 42nd Street next to Bryant Park, a visit the the New York City Library should not be missed. The library is housed in the stunning Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, a fine example of Beaux-Arts style architecture. Impressive murals grace arched ceilings. Exterior walls, 12-inches thick are made from Vermont marble. The two lions standing on guard at the front of the building are sculpted from pink Tennessee marble

Who doesn’t love Winnie-the-Pooh? We were excited to discover Christopher Robin’s favorite stuffies, Winnie-the-Pooh, Tigger, Piglet, Kanga, and Eeyore are living in New York City and on display as part of the Polonsky Exhibition of the New York Public Library’s Treasures. The Polonsky Exhibition showcases some of the 65 million pieces the library has collected for more than 125 years.

To us, seeing the Winnie-the-Pooh display was one of our favorite discoveries during our recent trip to New York City.

A visit to the New York City library is one of the best free things to do in New York City. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

A visit to the New York City library is one of the best free things to do in New York City. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

19. Rockefeller Center

Take a fee self-guided tour of Rockefeller Center. Wander around the center to marvel at the architecture, art and history.

NBC Studios

Take in a live taping of: Saturday Night Live, Kelly Clarkson, The Late Show with Seth Myers, The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. Find out about NBC Studio tickets.

20. Queens Night Market

Family-friendly Queens Night Market offers global cuisine with tasty bites capped at $6. The diverse open air market has about 100 food and artisan vendors, as well as cultural performances. The affordable market is located in front of the New York Hall of Science and is open during the summer months from 4-9 p.m.

21. Free Summer Outdoor Concerts in the Park

Take advantage of the free outdoor summer concerts series perform by musicians from around the world. Check out the schedule.

22. Rooftop City Views

Look for rooftop bars of hotel offering impressive views. We found several in Manhattan. Visitors are welcome to travel to the top to take photos of the view without purchasing a beverage if the bar is not overly busy.

Visiting a rooftop bar with sweeping views is one of the best free things to do in New York City. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

Visiting a rooftop bar with sweeping views is one of the best free things to do in New York City. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

If you go to New York City

Where to stay

On my last stay in New York City, I stayed at the Doubletree Hilton Times Square South. It was in the perfect location — close to everything. The complementary bottled water and freshly baked chocolate cookies each day were very welcome. Most hotel rooms in New York City are on the smaller side. The rooftop bar offered great views of the city and the Empire State Building. Check out my Instagram for the reel.

Tip: Ask for two beds in the room instead of a queen. This will give you a bigger room. Always check for complementary upgrades to the room when checking in. Look for rates that include breakfast if the rate is not too much extra.

Search for more accommodation in New York City by using Booking.Com

Where to dine

There are endless options for food, from Michelin star restaurants to lots of reasonably priced delicatessens, cafes, bakeries and food trucks to choose from. Look for lunch or early dinner specials.

Last time we were in New York City:

The Pershing Square Cafe

We found a really great cozy restaurant at Grand Central Station in Manhattan under the Park Avenue viaduct. The Pershing Square Cafe serves up really tasty reasonably priced food. We went there for lunch one day and liked it so much we came back for breakfast. Their chicken Waldorf salad is just about the best we had ever tasted. The front of the restaurant had a little coffee area where you can choose five cookies for five dollars.

Cafe Un Deux Trois

Looking for the quintessential spot to have dinner before catching a Broadway show in New York City? We found it, thanks to a recommendation from fellow travel writer Meryl Pearlstein.

Cafe Un Deux Trois is the place to be. The restaurant’s co-owner Gerard Blanes dropped by to charm us. He always makes sure patrons are well taken care of. This is a popular haunt of playwrights, producers, performers and before and after show crowds. Of special note: Al Pacino, Bette Midler and Meryl Streep have frequented the restaurant and bar over the last 35 years.
We didn’t try the onion soup but we have heard it is one of the best you will find.

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