New York is one of the most exciting cities in the world. Life is fast and the atmosphere is unique. It is also expensive if you want to see all the major sights and attractions. But it needn’t be if you know that there are some great places to visit for free. And you certainly won’t feel like you’ve missed out on seeing the real New York.
1 Central Park
It doesn’t take a genius to figure this one out! One of the most famous city parks in the world is sitting there waiting for you to explore it free of charge and many people do not realize that there is a whole bunch of attractions among the grass and trees. Make the most of every single inch!
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2 Brooklyn Brewery Tour
Free tours of Brooklyn’s infamous brewery in Williamsburg are available to beer loving tourist from 1pm to 5pm at the weekends, a cool trip to take for no cost!
3 Chelsea Galleries
The Chelsea district houses the most art galleries per capita in the whole of New York City, and you can easily spend an entire day going from one to the other taking in the exceptional and diverse art.
4 City Hall
One of New York’s most iconic buildings and with enough history attached to it to keep you occupied for hours. You can even be taken to the exact spot where Abraham Lincoln’s body lay in state.
5 Federal Hall
Another interesting building that has been the location of some very important American history, including the inauguration of George Washington way back in 1789.
6 Forbes Collection
The Forbes Collection on Fifth Avenue houses some fabulous pieces like Faberge eggs but also really cool and quirky memorabilia like very first versions of Monopoly boards; definitely a must-see for gaming enthusiasts!
7 Grant’s Tomb
This is a $600,000 granite structure that houses the remains of the Civil War hero and 18th President of the United States, Ulysses S. Grant. Even though visiting it is free, you feel like you are getting two for one because the remains of his dear wife Julia are also there!
8 Governor’s Island
You can take a free ferry ride to this spot, a 172 acre island that boasts a bike path, mini golf and picnic area, as well as a few abandoned ‘ghost buildings’ that any thrill seeker would love to explore.
9 Grand Central Partnership Walking Tours
These 90-minute walking tours are completely free and are commenced every Friday at 12:30pm. They hit a number of interesting landmarks like Grand Central Station’s "whispering gallery" and the Chrysler Building.
10 Green-Wood Cemetery
It might seem a bit morbid, but this cemetery is actually one of the city’s most visited places. The Brooklyn cemetery is the resting place of around 600,000 people and offer some great views of NYC.
11 Hamilton Grange
This is the renovated sight of the retreat where Alexander Hamilton, one of the Founding Fathers, lived out the rest of his days before his fatal duel.
12 High Line Park
This renovated stretch of rail track has been turned in to a walkway that takes you from the Meatpacking District all the way over to Hell’s Kitchen. A much better way to get around than the subway!
13 Hispanic Society of America Museum and Library
Hispanic community and culture is something that is very important in the history of the USA, especially New York, and you can see a rich collection of art and writing at this institution in North Manhattan.
14 New York Earth Room
Something for the unusual art lover, a room in Manhattan that is filled with over 250,000 pounds of dirt, unchanged and untouched since the 1970s!
15 New York Public Library
An iconic building that you have seen in a thousand movies, it is a must see for tourists on a budget or with money to spare, you can pretend you are trying to eagerly crack a case for some hard boiled NYC law show!
16 Old Stone House
This historical building is a standing survivor of the famous Battle of Brooklyn, and it houses a small exhibition of artefacts and information about the aforementioned point of the war.
17 Downtown Boathouse
If you head down to the Downtown Boathouse on a lovely hot day, you can have the enjoyment of kayaking for free! This activity can also be undertaken for no charge at the Long Island Community Boathouse in Queens.
18 Rockefeller Center
Though it does cost money if you want to go up on the observation deck or see an NBC show taping, there is nothing to stop you from going to this famous building simply to check out its famous collection of art and take in the iconic location.
19 Socrates Sculpture Park
Located on the East River, this former dumpsite is now home to a whole host of fascinating art installations, and it even shows open air movies in the hot summer months.
20 Staten Island Ferry
This free, quick ferry takes you from Manhattan to Staten Island and back again, but it is one of the very best ways to get clear and close pictures of the State of Liberty without paying.
21 American Museum of Natural History
If you are the kind of person who feels bad about dodging out on the ‘suggested’ admission prices for museums, you can be saved a lot of embarrassment by going to this institution in the last hour of the day, it’s always free!
22 Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Lovers of all things nature will be delighted to hear that admission to this stunning botanic garden is free on Tuesdays and Saturdays, and every single day during the winter! Don't miss the cherry blossom in spring.
23 Brooklyn Museum
This awesome museum hosts a free event on the first Saturday of every month with wine and DJ sets. It draws a huge local crowd and you should definitely check it out if the timings match up!
24 Bronx Zoo
Every Wednesday at the Bronx Zoo is a ‘pay what you wish’ day, meaning that you can visit without having to come up with the set admission price that is pricey for some.
25 Museum of Modern Art
You can get in touch with your cool hipster side by visiting the Museum of Modern Art on a Friday from 4-8pm when entry is completely free.
26 Museum of the Moving Image
Once again, one of the city’s most underrated and fascinating institutions offers free entry to eager patrons on a Friday from 4-8pm, seemingly the golden hours for budget tourists!
27 New York Botanical Garden
Another nature filled haven in the middle of the concrete and metal metropolis that you can visit for free from 9-10am every single Saturday, and all day on Wednesdays.
28 New York Aquarium
This is another tourist hotspot that momentarily scraps its usual admission price and operates a ‘pay what you wish’ scheme for visitors after 3pm every Friday of the year.
29 Studio Museum
This awesome museum in the historic neighborhood of Harlem is free to visit on Sundays, making it the perfect place to get some culture and save some cash for lunch!
30 African Burial Ground
After being discovered by a construction team in 1991, this mass grave of over 400 caskets in Lower Manhattan is now the site of a prominent memorial, and provides a fascinating and reverent look at some of New York’s lesser-known history.
