Top 10 free things to do in New York

One thing is clear: New York is one of the most expensive cities in the world and it is important to take this into account before travelling so that you can look for resources and alternatives that will allow you to save some money on some of the most important visits. This will allow you to give your pocket a break or invest that money doing other visits in the city, which is highly recommended.
Did you know that you can see the Statue of Liberty for free or that some museums in the city have free admission?

Believe it or not, in New York you can also do things for little money and sometimes even for free. Still don't believe it? We assure you it's true and to prove it, after our visits to the city, we leave you with a list of the 10 best free things to do in New York, all of which are included in this list of 100 things to see and do in New York. Let's get started!

1. Staten Island Ferry

The 25-minute boat ride on the Hudson River between the Whitehall (Manhattahn) and St George (Staten Island) terminals is one of the free things to do in New York that you can't miss.
These ferries leave every 15 minutes and are open-top, allowing you to enjoy fantastic views of the Manhattan skyline and the iconic Statue of Liberty without paying a single dollar.
A good time to take the ride is half an hour before sunset so you can watch the sunset on the way out and then, on the way back, the skyscrapers of the Manhattan Island skyline light up.
If you have time, you can take a stroll around Staten Island or go shopping at the Empire Outlets, located two minutes from the terminal, which is considered one of the best outlets in New York and spend the dollars you saved on the ferry.

Staten Island Ferry

2. Visit some free museums in New York City

Although major New York muse ums such as the Natural History Museum and the Metropolitan Museum are no longer free (or pay-what-you-will), there are others that you can still visit without breaking the bank.
Some famous museums are only free one day a week and for a certain number of hours, such as the 9/11 Museum on Mondays from 15:30 to 17h, or the MoMA (Museum of Modern Art) on Fridays from 17:30 to 21h. For both, we recommend arriving well before the free hour, as there are long queues.
Other less touristy museums, such as the interesting National Museum of the American Indian, dedicated to the indigenous peoples of the Americas, or the Federal Hall National Monument, the country's first capitol and the site of George Washington's inauguration, are always free. If you visit the latter, we recommend you also book free admission to the Federal Reserve Bank on this page.

9/11 Museum

3. Attend a gospel service in Harlem, one of the free things to do in New York.

During our trip to New York in 11 days, it was clear to us that one morning we were going to enjoy a gospel mass, an almost 3-hour spectacle that is very worthwhile.
We went to Bethel Assembly Gospel Church, at the 8am service on Sunday morning, and we can assure you that although the entrance is free, the quality of the gospel singers and the fantastic atmosphere, makes it almost obligatory to give a good donation.
Although it is free, we would like to recommend that you don't leave a donation of a dollar or nothing, as we saw some tourists do. We know that saving money in New York is a must as it is an expensive city but it is also important to be responsible as a tourist.

Gospel mass in Harlem

4. Climbing The Vessel

In the new Hudson Yards neighbourhood, several futuristic buildings and monuments have been built in a short period of time, such as the spectacular The Vessel, which has become another of the best free things to do in New York.
This imposing construction is 45 metres high and has 2,500 steps, and although the views from its observation decks are not the most spectacular in New York (for that you have its neighbour The Edge), it is well worth a visit.
Remember that although The Vessel is free, you have to book your ticket in advance from this page.
After the experience you can wander around the stalls at Chelsea Market and stroll around Little Island, a new floating public park on the Hudson River, also free.

Update 2021: The Vessel is closed until further notice to increase security and prevent potential suicides.

The Vessel

5. Visit the New York Public Library

Visiting the New York Public Library will take you inside one of the most beautiful libraries in the world, with over three million books in its collection. Always keeping quiet so as not to disturb the study or reading of those present, you can pass through Astor Hall and up a flight of white marble stairs to the beautiful Rose Main Reading Room, all without paying a single dollar.
By the way, don't miss the souvenir shop, one of the best we visited in New York, with very original options.

Public Library

6. Free admission to City Hall

City Hall, located in Lower Manhattan, is another of the less touristy places to visit in New York that is well worth a visit.
This magnificent building, built between 1803 and 1812, is the oldest City Hall in the United States, and offers free one-hour tours (in English) every Wednesday and Thursday to discover its historic rooms such as the City Council Chambers and the Governor's Room, as well as to see one of the sets where the film Ghostbusters was filmed.
You can visit New York City Hall for free by booking your ticket from this page.

Recommended travel cards

Remember that to avoid paying commissions and to always have the current exchange rate, we recommend you use the Revolut card and the N26 card, which are the ones we use, are free and will save you a lot of money.
You can find more information in this article on the best cards for commission-free travel.

7. Sign up for a free tour of New York City

To learn more about the incredible history, anecdotes, curiosities and get a good first taste of the Big Apple, we recommend you book this free tour, considered one of the best free tours in New York and one of the best rated by travellers visiting the city.
These guided tours in Spanish will take you to some of the most emblematic places in the city such as Wall Street, Battery Park or the 9/11 Memorial and although they are free, it is almost obligatory and deserved to give a good tip to the guides (between 10 and 20 dollars per person).

Wall Street

8. Cross the Brooklyn Bridge, another of the best free things to do in New York.

The experience of crossing the Brooklyn Bridge, the most photographic and iconic bridge in the city, by day and by night, is another of the best free things to do in New York.
This bridge, which joins the island of Manhattan and the borough of Brooklyn in its almost 2 kilometres of length, offers fantastic panoramic views of the Hudson River and both banks.
It is important to keep in mind that this is the bridge that most people cross on foot or by bike, so be careful when you stop in an area to take photos, especially if it is reserved for bicycles, as we saw the occasional mishap.
Once you get to Brooklyn we recommend taking in the views of the Manhattan skyline from the Brooklyn Heights Promenade and Empire Fulton Ferry Park.

Brooklyn Bridge

9. Getting to Roosevelt Island

Another free thing to do in New York is to ride the Roosevelt Red Roosevelt Cable Car, which will take you from Manhattan to the small Roosevelt Island, perfect for a leisurely stroll with a view.
It's worth noting that the cable car is quote-unquote free, as you must have a Metrocard, which is essential for underground travel, to not be able to ride it for free.

Roosevelt Cable Car

10. Enter Grand Central Terminal

Getting into Grand Central Terminal, one of New York's architectural gems and one of the most beautiful train stations in the world, is another of the things to do in New York for free.
Although you must have a ticket to get to the platforms, the most beautiful part of the station, such as the beautiful Hall with its marble floors and iconic clock in the middle, is free to enter, so you have no excuse not to visit.
At this station you can also see the filming locations of scenes from numerous Hollywood movies such as 'Death by Death', 'Superman' and most recently, 'The Avengers'.

Grand Central Terminal

Map of the best free things to do in New York

To do all these free things to do in New York in a logical order and to make the most of your time we recommend you follow this guide to New York in 7 days and this series of tips for travelling to New York.
This map will help you to find the location of the different points we have mentioned in the list so that you can organise your visit more easily.