I spent all of last week in NYC with a few friends and it was nothing short of amazing. We did and saw so much while we were there. Before I left, I knew I would need to be on a budget while I was there so I did a lot of research on free things to do around the city so we could stay busy without spending a fortune. We did so many of the things on the list and loved them so I decided to share the list with you guys!
[Staten Island Ferry]
[Brooklyn Bridge]
FREE ALL THE TIME
-Brooklyn Bridge (Brooklyn)
-Grand Central Terminal (Manhattan)
-The High Line (Manhattan)
-Central Park (Manhattan)
—–The Loch/Ravine (Mid-Park at 103rd St.)
-Staten Island Ferry (Manhattan, 4 Whitehall St.)
–Beaches
—–Fort Tilden (Queens)
—–Coney Island Beach (Brooklyn)
—–Manhattan Beach (Brooklyn)
-New York Public Library (Manhattan, 5th Ave. & 42nd St.)
-Roosevelt Island Tram (Manhattan, 59th St. & 2nd Ave.) *Technically costs a trip on your MetroCard
-Federal Hall National Memorial (Manhattan)
-Greenwood Cemetery (Brooklyn)
-Socrates Sculpture Park (Queens)
-Brooklyn Brewery Tour (Brooklyn)
-Explore Coney Island (Brooklyn)
-National Museum of the American Indian (Manhattan)
-Prospect Park (Brooklyn)
—–Lefferts Historic House
–Upright Citizens Brigade – Offers lots of free shows. (Manhattan)
–Rockwood Music Hall – Most shows are free. (Manhattan)
-Explore Chelsea Market (Manhattan)
-Explore DUMBO (Brooklyn)
-Governor’s Island – Take a free ferry and wander around! (Closed until May 2015)
–Free work-outs (All over the city.)
-Live Show Taping (Manhattan, Requires a lot of waiting or planning.)
SEASONAL
-Queens Botanical Garden (Free all of November-March – see free select summer hours below)
–Downtown Boathouse – Free Kayaking (Manhattan)
-Central Park (Manhattan)
—–Conservatory Garden (East Side from 105th or 106th St.)
–Bryant Park Film Festival (Manhattan)
[Central Park]
[Roosevelt Island Tram]
[Coney Island Beach]
THROUGHOUT THE WEEK
SUNDAY
-Attend a Hillsong Service (Manhattan)
-Studio Museum in Harlem – Free on Sundays
-Queens Botanical Garden – Free Sunday, 4-6pm (Free all of November-March)
TUESDAY
-Brooklyn Botanic Gardens – Free on Tuesdays
-Wave Hill Public Garden – 9am-12pm Tuesdays (Bronx)
WEDNESDAY
-Queens Botanical Garden – Free Wednesday, 3-6pm (Free all of November-March)
-New York Botanical Garden – Free all day on Wednesdays (Bronx)
THURSDAY
-Jewish Museum Thursdays, 5 – 8 pm pay what you wish (Manhattan)
-Brooklyn’s Children’s Museum – Free on Thursdays from 3 to 5 p.m. and every third Thursday from 3 to 7 p.m
FRIDAY
-MoMA – Free 4-8 on Fridays (Manhattan)
-New York Aquarium – Pay what you wish Fridays after 3. (after 4 in the summer) (Brooklyn)
-Museum of Moving Image – Free Fridays 4:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m. (Queens)
SATURDAY
-Brooklyn Botanic Gardens – Free 10-12 on Saturdays
-Brooklyn Flea (Check locations and hours.)
-Wave Hill Public Garden – 9am-12pm Saturdays (Bronx)
-New York Botanical Garden – 9 a.m.–10 a.m. on Saturdays (Bronx)
-Guggenheim – Pay what you wish – Saturdays 5:45 pm to 7:45 (Manhattan)
-Jewish Museum – Free on Saturdays (Manhattan)
-Brooklyn Museum – Free First Saturdays 5-11 pm
-MoMA PS1 – Free Weekly Dance Parties on Summer Saturdays I(Also only a $10 Suggested Donations at all times. So if you don’t mind a dirty look, you can donate $0 and head in for free. Same with a lot of other Mueseums in the city.) ****If you go to MoMA’s free Friday nights, their ticket includes a free pass to PS1 good for 14 days after. (Queens)
[Roosevelt Island Tram]
[DUMBO]
[MoMA]
What other free things have you done in NYC that we should add to our list?!
xo. Caitlin
