Costs nothing · New York City, United States
15 Free Things to Do in New York City
The best budget in travel is zero. These New York City spots have verified free entry.
Free means verified: each entry policy here is checked, out of 169 tracked New York City places. Updated monthly.
Greenwich Village
NeighborhoodGreenwich Village is one of New York's most beloved neighbourhoods, a leafy, low-rise enclave of tree-lined streets, historic brownstones, and a bohemian legacy that made it the cradle of American…
Read our full guide →B&H Photo & Video
MarketB&H Photo & Video is a legendary destination for photographers, videographers, and tech enthusiasts.
Read our full guide →Columbia University
LandmarkColumbia University is an Ivy League research university located in the Morningside Heights neighborhood of Upper Manhattan, New York City.
Read our full guide →Chelsea
NeighborhoodChelsea is a dynamic neighborhood on Manhattan's West Side, stretching from roughly 14th to 30th streets and from the Hudson River to Sixth Avenue.
Read our full guide →Basilica Of St. Patrick's Old Cathedral
Religious siteThe Basilica of St. Patrick's Old Cathedral is a landmark Roman Catholic church in the Nolita neighborhood of Lower Manhattan.
Read our full guide →Friends Apartment Building
LandmarkThe Friends Apartment Building at 90 Bedford Street in Greenwich Village is a beloved landmark for fans of the iconic TV show.
Read our full guide →The Shops at Columbus Circle
MarketThe Shops at Columbus Circle is a premier retail complex located within the Deutsche Bank Center (formerly Time Warner Center) at the southwest corner of Central Park.
Read our full guide →Madison Avenue
MarketMadison Avenue, specifically the stretch between 57th and 79th Streets, is synonymous with luxury shopping in New York City.
Read our full guide →Time Warner Center
LandmarkTime Warner Center is a striking twin-tower complex at Columbus Circle, anchoring the southwest corner of Central Park.
Read our full guide →Little Island
Park & natureLittle Island is an innovative public park built on tulip-shaped concrete pillars rising from the Hudson River, just off Greenwich Village.
Read our full guide →Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site
MuseumThe Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site is a museum located in the Gramercy-Flatiron neighborhood of Manhattan.
Read our full guide →Harry Potter New York
MarketHarry Potter New York is a sprawling three-level store that brings the wizarding world to life in the heart of Manhattan.
Read our full guide →African Burial Ground National Monument
LandmarkThe African Burial Ground National Monument is a powerful tribute to the estimated 15,000 free and enslaved Africans interred in a 6.6-acre burial ground during the 17th and 18th centuries.
Read our full guide →Unisphere
LandmarkThe Unisphere is a iconic 140-foot-tall stainless-steel globe located in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens.
Read our full guide →Paragon Sports
MarketParagon Sports is a well-known sporting goods retailer located on Broadway in New York City's Gramercy-Flatiron neighborhood.
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How we pick these
Every place here is genuinely free to enter. We filter the 169 New York City places we track down to those with no admission charge, then rank them by traveler reviews. Updated monthly.
Good to know
A few museums are free only on set days — check opening info before you go.
Entry is free, but transport, snacks and lockers in New York City still add up.
Free attractions draw crowds; mornings are usually the calmest.
Common questions
What can you do for free in New York City?+
This list ranks the best no-cost things to do in New York City, from parks and viewpoints to museums with free entry.
Are there free museums in New York City?+
Some museums are free all the time and others on specific days. The verified-free ones are included above.
Is New York City expensive to visit?+
You can see a lot of New York City on a tight budget by leaning on the free attractions here and eating where locals do.
Rather have a human do the planning? A Local Friend can build this day for you, at local prices.