One of the most loved travel destinations by Brazilians, New York is full of interesting things to do and, if you plan ahead, many are “on the range”! That’s why we made a cool list of things to do for free in New York, check it out!
New York is one of Brazilians’ favorite travel destinations but, with the rise in the dollar, the city – which is already considered expensive – becomes a not so inviting destination… The good news is that there are many completely free programs in the city and, if you plan well, you can even visit paid attractions on special free admission days, such as the incredible Metropolitan Museum of Art and MoMA.
Check out our list and, if you have anything to add, let’s enjoy it! Oh, and if you are organizing your trip to New York, you might like to read the report on my trip there, with lots of tips on tours, places to eat and cool shops in NYC. If you want more tour tips and also great recommendations for accommodation in NY, read the first post in this series.
10 things to do for free in New York
Central Park
This tourist spot needs no introduction and I would recommend leaving at least one part of your trip reserved for it. You begin to enter the immense park, which is in the heart of Manhattan and, soon, all the madness of the city is left behind. Very clean and super organized, it’s a great place for those who enjoy outdoor activities and it might be a good idea to have a picnic there. Stop by the Columbus Circle unit of Whole Foods Market, the supermarket chain that only sells organic products, which is located across the street from Central Park, and enjoy NYC like New Yorkers! Two popular places in the park are Strawberry Fields, which was made in honor of the beatle John Lennon (the Dakota building is right in front of the monument), Belvedere Castle and Zoo (the same one from the film “Madagascar”) – the entrance to the zoo It costs US$12 for adults, US$7 for children (3 to 12 years old) and US$9 for seniors (over 65 years old).
High Line
One of the coolest places in the city used to be a disused and abandoned railway line. Today, High Line Park features gardens and art exhibits. During the warmer months, there are even some free guided tours telling more about the park’s history on specific days of the week – the schedule is always up to date on the attraction’s website. The park is two kilometers long and is one of New Yorkers’ favorite places to relax, read a book and watch the sunset. The place also has some good restaurants and bars.
Art Museums
Some of the city’s best-known museums can be visited for free. The Metropolitan costs US$20 to enter (and it’s worth it!), but if you want, you can make a donation of any amount to enter – just inform this when purchasing your ticket. The same goes for the Natural History Museum – entry costs US$16 but you can also inform the box office that you want to make a donation and pay what you can to get in there. MoMA has free entry on Fridays, from 4pm to 8pm – the initiative is sponsored by the Japanese clothing brand Uniqlo, which has several stores spread across the city and is one of the favorites of residents there. Of course, at this time, MoMA is busier, but to see the museum’s immense collection for free, it’s worth it, right? 🙂
To enter the Guggenheim, pay what you want on Saturdays, from 5:45 pm to 7:45 pm – but the last ticket is offered at 7:15 pm, so stay tuned! If you want to visit the fabulous Whitney Museum of American Art, know that it is free for those who go there on Saturdays from 5:30 pm to 7:45 pm.
Brooklyn Bridge
Crossing the beautiful Brooklyn Bridge on foot is something I highly recommend in NYC, especially if you go there during the mild seasons (fall and spring). And don’t think it will be empty – tourists from all over the world flock to the bridge daily to have one of the most beautiful views of Manhattan and take lots of photos! From there, you will see the skyline of the city, the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, the Chrysler Building and more. Once you get to the other side, stop by Brooklyn Bridge Park! And, of course, take a nice walk around Brooklyn, a neighborhood that is getting more beautiful every day!
Brooklyn Botanical Garden
The Brooklyn Botanical Garden is free on Tuesdays and Saturdays from 10am to 12pm for anyone who wants to explore its various gardens and exhibits. If you are in New York in the spring, it is an unmissable trip! Located in Prospect Park, it has those bridges typical of Japanese gardens and many cherry trees. It was founded in 1910 and has an area of 21 hectares – originally it was a swamp. New Yorkers really know how to restore areas, because this is one of the most beautiful places in the city today!
Grand Central
Just look at the image below and you’ll be reminded of a movie scene… Grand Central Station is one of the most iconic (and crowded!) places in the city, and will guarantee you lots of already seen of films shot there! It’s always crowded, but don’t forget to look at the ceiling, where beautiful constellations created by French artist Paul Helleu are painted. On Fridays, at 12:30 pm, there is a free tour of the station, which was opened in 1903 – find out more on the attraction’s website, which also has an app.
Chinatown, Soho, Little Italy
For me, walking is one of the coolest things to do when traveling, and New York would be no exception. These three parts of the city are very close together and a delight to discover by walking and getting lost in the alleys. There, you will find many restaurants and shops that are only found in this neighborhood, and you will also get a taste of how New Yorkers live, who love exploring these neighborhoods – especially to eat and buy ingredients. As the three are close, I would reserve a day to do this tour.
Times Square
Day or night, he always impresses. I would even go so far as to say that Times Square is the most famous shopping area in the world and is always packed with people – in a city where stores are considered tourist attractions, there is nothing more grandiose than the mega stores in Times Square, which also has many restaurant and bar options – most of them are expensive, keep an eye on prices. Time Out has a great guide for those who want to explore the region better without spending too much, check it out!
Village Walking Tours
One of the city’s most famous neighborhoods has free tours from June to October, every Saturday! To participate, be promptly at 11:30 am at the corner of 2nd Ave and St Marks Place in front of Chase Bank. The tour normally lasts 90 minutes. If you want to take the tour alone or at a different time, stop by the Village Alliance office during business hours and pick up a map with the tour that you can take on your own (it’s located at 8 East 8th Street). The tip also applies to months when guided tours do not take place. 🙂
NY Public Library + Bryant Park
The New York Public Library building is beautiful and, being free, we can’t miss the opportunity to visit it! It is one of the main libraries in the world and it is really cool to explore the incredible architecture of its corridors! When you leave there, don’t forget to stop by Bryant Park, which is right behind it!
Breweries
If you like beer, there are two free tours that I think are really cool: the one at Brooklyn Brewery, which always runs on Saturdays, from 1pm to 5pm (one group per hour) and, on Sundays, from 1pm to 4pm. The brewery is in Williamsburg, the coolest part of Brooklyn and the beer is absolutely delicious, one of my favorites! Another free brewery tour is the Chelsea Brewing tours, which always take place on Saturdays, also every hour, from 2pm to 6pm. Complete information can be found on their website.
WTC Memorial
The tour can be considered a bit sad, but the World Trade Center memorial is beautiful and, it’s no use, the event had a huge impact on the city and those who live there. Ask a New Yorker about September 11th and he will talk for hours… Visiting the memorial is free on Tuesdays from 5pm to 8pm, but you must have a ticket entrance fee that needs to be reserved at 911Memorial.org.
Did you like our tips? Do you have any other suggestions for a free tour of NYC? Leave it here in the comments, it will definitely help other travelers!
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