Free Things to Do in New York

New York has a reputation for being expensive that it fully deserves. But it also has a longer free list than almost any other city in the world, if you know where to look. Here's what we'd prioritise.

The High Line

The elevated park built on a disused freight railway on Manhattan's West Side is free to enter at any access point. It runs from Gansevoort Street in the Meatpacking District up to 34th Street, covering about 2.3 kilometres of walking with rotating art installations, planted gardens, and consistent views over the Hudson River and the city below. Go in the morning on a weekday to avoid the densest crowds. The southern section around 14th Street is the most interesting for architecture.

Central Park

850 acres of public park in the middle of Manhattan, free to enter and use. The list of things to do in it without spending money is long: the Ramble (a wooded area designed to feel like wilderness), the Reservoir, Belvedere Castle (free, good views), the Great Lawn, Strawberry Fields, and the Conservatory Garden (the most formal and least visited section, in the northeast corner). In summer, the Delacorte Theater in the park runs free Shakespeare performances — tickets are free but require queuing or an online ballot.

Staten Island Ferry

A 25-minute ferry ride across New York Harbor, passing close to the Statue of Liberty, entirely free. It runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You don't need to get off at Staten Island — just ride it back. The views of Lower Manhattan from the water are among the best available, and the fact that it costs nothing makes it one of the best deals in any city anywhere.

Brooklyn Bridge Walk

Walking across the Brooklyn Bridge from Manhattan to Brooklyn (or the reverse) takes about 30 minutes and costs nothing. The views of the Manhattan skyline and the harbour from the bridge are outstanding. Start from the Manhattan side (near City Hall) in the morning for the best light on the water. Arrive back in DUMBO (on the Brooklyn side) for the famous view down Washington Street with the bridge framing the Manhattan skyscrapers behind it.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art (Pay What You Wish for NY State Residents / General Admission for Others)

The Met technically has a suggested admission price, but New York State residents can pay what they wish — including nothing.That said, the Met is enormous and the suggested admission buys access to one of the world's greatest art collections, so it's worth the cost. Check current policy before you go, as it has changed over the years.

The Noguchi Museum (First Friday of the Month, Free)

Strictly a niche pick, but the Noguchi Museum in Long Island City (Queens) is free on the first Friday of each month from 10:00 to 17:00. The sculptor Isamu Noguchi's former studio and gallery space is genuinely beautiful and usually uncrowded.

Brooklyn Bridge Park

The waterfront park running along the Brooklyn side of the East River, from the bridge down to Atlantic Avenue, is free to use. The views of Lower Manhattan from here — particularly from Pier 1 and Pier 6 — are excellent. The park also has a restored carousel (Jane's Carousel, inside a glass pavilion) which charges a small fee, but the park itself is free.

The Oculus and Fulton Center (Architecture)

Two pieces of transit architecture worth seeing just to look at them. The Oculus (Santiago Calatrava's white ribbed structure at the World Trade Center site) is free to walk through. The Fulton Center (a few blocks north) has a reflective "sky reflector net" installation in its central atrium. Both are technically transit hubs and open to the public at no charge.

Governors Island

The island in New York Harbor, a 7-minute free ferry ride from Lower Manhattan (the ferry itself has a small charge but the island is free once you're on it), with a car-free park, art installations, and views of both Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty. Open May through October. Worth a half-day.

The Tenement Museum Neighbourhood (Free to Walk)

The Lower East Side, particularly the blocks around Orchard Street and Delancey Street, is one of the most historically significant immigrant neighbourhoods in the country. Walking it costs nothing. The Tenement Museum itself charges admission for tours, but the streets outside and the surrounding neighbourhood are free. Essex Market and the Essex Crossing development nearby are worth a look.

Lincoln Center (Free Outdoor Performances and Architecture)

Lincoln Center runs free outdoor performances on its plazas during summer (check the schedule at lincolncenter.org). Even outside performance season, the plaza and the architecture — the Met Opera House, Avery Fisher Hall, and the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts — are worth seeing. The Revson Fountain in the central plaza is a good meeting point.

Street Art in Bushwick, Brooklyn

The Bushwick Collective, a large open-air street art project in the Bushwick neighbourhood of Brooklyn, covers several blocks with murals by artists from around the world. It's free to walk through at any time and the scale and quality are impressive. The Jefferson Street stop on the L train puts you close to the centre of it.

The Bronx Art Museum and Other Free Museum Hours

The Bronx Museum of the Arts is free, always, no day restrictions. MoMA PS1 in Queens is free for Queens residents and students; others pay standard admission. The Museum of Arts and Design at Columbus Circle has free hours on Thursday evenings. Always check current free hours before planning museum visits, as policies change.