New York City is one of the most remarkable places on the planet due to its wealth of world-class attractions all in one location. However, enjoying the Big Apple can often put a strain on your budget. This guide highlights free activities including sights, tours, and attractions that cost nothing, especially during specific free entry times at various venues.
American Museum of Natural History
Visitors can enter the American Museum of Natural History for free during its last hour, from 4:45-5:45 PM. The admission price is ‘suggested’ at other times, meaning you can choose to pay $0 if you’re bold enough. Located at Central Park West & 79th St, Upper West Side.
Bargemusic Music in Motion
Every Saturday at 4 PM, enjoy an hour-long concert aboard a barge on the East River, complete with a Q&A session with the musicians. 1 Water Street, Brooklyn.
Books Beneath the Bridge
On Monday nights throughout July and August, prominent authors read their works at Brooklyn Bridge Park.
BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! Festival
Started in 1979 to attract visitors to Prospect Park, this annual summer festival features free concerts, movies, and dance performances at the Prospect Park Bandshell. 141 Prospect Park West, Brooklyn.
Brooklyn Botanic Garden
The Brooklyn Botanic Garden is free on Tuesdays, from 10 AM to noon on Saturdays, and weekdays during winter (November-February). Eastern Parkway at Washington Ave, Prospect Heights, Brooklyn.
Brooklyn Museum
The Brooklyn Museum offers free admission on the first Saturday of each month, coinciding with lively wine-sipping and DJ parties that attract large crowds. 200 Eastern Parkway, at Washington Ave, Prospect Heights, Brooklyn.
Bronx Zoo
Pay what you wish to enter the Bronx Zoo on Wednesdays. 2300 Southern Blvd, The Bronx.
El Museo del Barrio
El Museo del Barrio is offered free of charge on the third Saturday of each month. 1230 Fifth Ave between 104th & 105th Sts, Spanish Harlem.
Isamu Noguchi Garden Museum
Visitors can pay what they wish at the Isamu Noguchi Garden Museum on the first Friday of each month. 9-01 33rd Rd, Astoria, Queens.
Metropolitan Opera Summer Recital Series
Enjoy opera throughout the five boroughs with The Met’s finest talents performing under the stars.
Movement Research at the Judson Church
Every Monday evening during its fall/winter and spring seasons, Movement Research hosts free dance performances that serve as a platform for emerging artists and experimental works. 55 Washington Square, Greenwich Village.
Movies in the Park
Throughout the summer, you can avoid the inside of a cinema altogether by enjoying outdoor movie screenings held in various parks around the city, including Bryant Park, Brooklyn Bridge Park, and McCarren Park.
Museum of Modern Art
Entry to the Museum of Modern Art is free on Fridays from 4 PM to 8 PM. Expect crowds. 11 W 53rd St, between Fifth & Sixth Aves, Midtown West.
Museum of the Moving Image
The Museum of the Moving Image offers free entry on Fridays from 4 PM to 8 PM. 35th Ave, at 36th St, Astoria, Queens.
Neue Galerie
The Neue Galerie is free on the first Friday of each month from 6 PM to 8 PM. 1048 Fifth Ave at 86th St, Upper East Side.
New York Botanical Garden
Explore the New York Botanical Garden without charge on Wednesdays and from 9 AM to 10 AM on Saturdays. Bronx River Pkwy & Fordham Rd, The Bronx.
New York Historical Society
Visitors can pay what they wish at the New York Historical Society from 6 PM to 8 PM on Fridays. 2 W 77th St at Central Park West, Upper West Side.
Pete’s Reading Series
This intimate reading event at Pete’s Candy Store in Brooklyn occurs every other Thursday at 7:30 PM, showcasing both rising stars and established literary figures. 709 Lorimer St, Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
Studio Museum in Harlem
The Studio Museum in Harlem is free on Sundays. 144 W 125th St at Adam Clayton Powell Blvd, Harlem.
Upright Citizens Brigade Theater
Visit the Thursday Open Mic Night to witness budding comedians deliver their best material, following in the footsteps of UCB alumni like Aziz Ansari, Kate McKinnon, and Amy Poehler. 307 W 26th St, Chelsea.
Wave Hill
Wave Hill, an expansive 28-acre public garden and cultural center, provides free access from 9 AM to noon on Tuesdays and Saturdays. W 249th St at Independence Ave, Riverdale, The Bronx.
