11 Best Free Things to Do in New York

The National September 11 Memorial, located inside the World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan’s Financial District, was built to commemorate those who were killed in the terror attacks of September 11, 2001. One of its most stunning features is the twin reflecting pools, which were built to symbolize the fallen Twin Towers. You can also see the names of the deceased inscribed around the bronze edges of the pools. Inside, there are two main exhibitions within the memorial. One showcases the past, the present, and aftermath of the event, while the other is a 270° panoramic media installation of the memorial.

Central Park is the green giant that's hard to miss in the centre of Manhattan, housing over 20 playgrounds, manmade lakes and ponds, as well as extensive walking tracks. It’s free and open to the public all year round, and you can enjoy many family-friendly activities here. Highlights include the Carousel, Central Park Zoo, the Central Park Conservatory Garden, Delacorte Theater, and Belvedere Castle. The Central Park Conservancy offers a free guided tour of Central Park’s North Woods for families. The 90-minute hike is inclusive of a complementary Discovery Journal, kid-friendly binoculars, field guides, and hand lenses.

New York Grand Central Terminal Station is one of the city’s busiest landmarks, with thousands of New Yorkers passing through it on their daily commute. Located in Midtown, its exterior features Beaux-Arts sculptures and architecture while 44 train platforms and numerous restaurants can be found within. The main concourse is always packed with commuters, but you can find iconic features like the 4-sided clock, an astronomical ceiling mural, and a gourmet food market. Even if you’re not planning to catch a train, it’s not hard to spend hours exploring hidden nooks within New York Grand Central Terminal Station.

New York is teeming with unique museums that offer free admission hours, usually on Friday and Saturday evenings. Some of the city’s biggest museums, like the Museum of Modem Art (MoMA) and Museum of the Moving Image are free to enter on Fridays between 4pm and 8pm. Museums that are free to enter all year round include Bronx Museum of the Arts, American Folk Art Museum, and FIT (Fashion Institute of Technology) Museum.

Manhattan Bridge spans New York’s East River and links Manhattan to Brooklyn. This suspension bridge has an impressive span and the total length of the structure is over 2 km long. The bridge opened in 1909, and its groundbreaking design was used in many subsequent bridge plans.

Road traffic travels on both upper and lower decks, while on the lower level only, train tracks carry Q, N, B, and D subway trains. From its pedestrian walkways, there’s an uninterrupted view of the iconic Brooklyn Bridge, located a little further downtown.

The Brooklyn Botanic Garden spans over 200,000 sq m of garden space at the north-eastern edge of Prospect Park. It features over 10 flower conservatories, landscaped gardens, walking trails, and ponds that make for beautiful snapshots during your visit. Tickets to the botanical park costs $15 for adults and $8 for children over the age of 12, but you can enjoy free admission on Fridays before 12pm. If you’re in New York during wintertime, Brooklyn Botanic Garden is free to enter all day from Tuesday to Friday.

The Hamilton Grange National Memorial is the former home of US founding father Alexander Hamilton. Located on the northern end of St. Nicholas Park, you can explore the entire house for free, with the chance to see original furniture and decorative items dating back to the 19th century. Guided tours are available at 10am, 11am, 2pm, and 4pm. The onsite visitor’s centre features a permanent gallery, bookstore, and a 25-seat theatre that airs a short film of Hamilton’s life.

The New York Public Library has more than 90 branches in New York, but many locals love the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building for its Beaux-Arts-style architecture, extensive collection of rare books, author talks, and workshops for all ages. One of the library’s most visited displays is the "Winnie-the-Pooh" display in the Children’s Centre, where you get to see the original stuffed toy animals that inspired author Alan Alexander Milne. If you want to learn about the building’s history, free tours are available from Monday to Saturday at 11am and 2pm.

Brooklyn Brewery is where you can learn about the process of beer making in New York. Located in Williamsburg, this home-grown microbrewery offers free tours every 30 minutes on weekends. If you have some cash on hand, you can sample its signature lagers and ales in the tasting room for about $6 per pint.

Art galleries in New York’s Chelsea neighbourhood often host free opening ceremonies for artists from all over the world. Set along W. 14th to W. 29th Streets from 10th to 11th Avenues, there are over 100 galleries you can visit for free on Thursdays, including David Zwirner, Anton Kern Gallery, and Pace Gallery. Best of all, you get to enjoy complimentary drinks (wines and beers are commonly served) and snacks if you visit in the evenings.

Chinatown is a vibrant neighbourhood that covers the area south of Broome Street and east of Lafayette in Lower Manhattan. Exploring its busy streets gives the feeling of travelling to a different continent, with dozens of restaurants representing the cuisines of Southeast Asia, mainland China, and Hong Kong. If you’re a fan of eclectic items, the tiny Mmuseumm exhibits quirky objects from all over the world, including counterfeit beauty products, selfie sticks, and toys left behind by immigrants.