GROUPON GUIDE TO NEW-YORK

13 Free Things to Do in NYC

by Andy Seifert | 9.19.2019

Ahh, New York City: so cheap and affordable, right? OK, we know that the Big Apple is consistently ranked as one of the world’s most-expensive cities, and that it’s a challenge for anyone wanting to live there or visit while on a tight budget. But don’t fret: there are a number of fun, free things to do in NYC to fill up the docket of anyone who’s cash-strapped. Take a peek at our some of our favorite free activities below:

Walk the High Line

New York City’s newest iconic attraction is also totally free. This repurposed railroad-turned-park cuts through the Lower West Side from several feet above the ground, offering a brilliant perspective on some of Manhattan’s historic skyscrapers.

Visit the New York Aquarium (on Wednesdays)

Head to the Brooklyn location of the country’s oldest continuously operating aquarium on Wednesdays after 3 p.m., when the admission is a pay-what-you-want donation. This is a great activity for kids: they’ll see sea lions, several types of sharks, and river otters that are so cute you'll probably want to steal one to live in your bathtub (please don’t do this).

See the Statue of Liberty (via Staten Island Ferry)

You gotta pay your respects to ol’ Lady Liberty, right? Our advice: take the Staten Island Ferry, which sails past the statue and doesn’t cost a penny (as opposed to the Liberty Island Ferry, which runs up to $18.50.) As an added bonus, you’ll get to see Lower Manhattan from New York Harbor—a spectacular scenic view all its own.

Tour Chinatown

Just walking through Chinatown is one of the easiest things to do in NYC for free—drop into whatever stores look curious and follow your nose into whatever restaurant (we recommend doing a dim-sum lunch). It’s also the home of NYC’s tallest Buddha statue, located inside the Mahayana Buddhist Temple. It’s 16 feet, if you’re measuring.

Affordable Tourist Activities in NYC

Burrow into a Historic Bookstore

If you enjoy a good book, we recommend cozying up with an old favorite inside the six-story Argosy Book Store, best known for its elegant shelves full of antiquarian and rare editions. If you decide to buy one, you’ll join a customer list than includes Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Jackie Kennedy, who used the store to stock up the White House library.

Take a Romantic Stroll through Central Park

Wanna live like you’re in a scene from a 1980’s romantic comedy? Take an evening stroll through Central Park, America’s quintessential urban park, where trees, statues, birds, and a picture-perfect pond mingle together. No wonder more than 200 films, including When Harry Met Sally and Home Alone 2, have been shot here.

Kayak Around the City

One of the coolest free things to do in NYC is to get a new perspective on the Manhattan skyline via kayak. Several boathouses offer free kayak rentals at select times, including the ones at Hudson River Park and Brooklyn Bridge Park. Hop in, start paddling, and marvel at New York from sea level.

Relax at Brooklyn Bridge Park

Another in New York’s lineup of new green spaces, Brooklyn Bridge Park is where the residents of New York’s highest-populated borough come to play. Located alongside its namesake bridge, the park boasts a wooden carousel from 1922 and plenty of spots to play bocce ball, volleyball, basketball, and more.

Affordable Kids Activities in NYC

Admire Grand Central Station

You can’t really see the stars at night from Manhattan Island—too much light pollution. But the stars on the ceiling of Grand Central Station are a lovely consolation prize. Step into the landmark Beaux-Arts building to see Paul César Helleu’s constellation mural, which has loomed over travelers frantically trying to catch the train to Connecticut since 1912.

Stretch into Yoga in the Park

When you live in one of the planet’s densest cities, it can feel like you have no space to stretch out. But at one of the city’s free “Yoga in the Park” events, that’s the point! At various times during the week, you can do skyscraper salutations in Bryant Park, Battery Park, Washington Square Park, and more.

Visit One of NYC’s Free Museums

Few cities in the world have as many museums as New York, and many of them are free (or offer free days). Browse the 20th-century collection at the Bronx Museum of the Arts, smell the roses at the Snug Harbor Botanical Garden, or get into a baa-singing contest with the goats at Queens County Farm Museum.

Go fishing (yes, really)

We realize that “fishing” and “New York City” sounds like it would go as well together as “canoeing” and “the Sahara Desert.” But it exists, and it’s encouraged! Catch striped bass and eel along the Manhattan coastline at Hudson River Park, or search for crappie and bluegill at the 28-acre Baisley Pond Lake in Queens.

Take Selfies at Famous TV & Movie Sites

In addition to Central Park, New York has so many recognizable movie sites that you’ll probably find yourself staring at a building thinking, “where have I seen this...?” Hop from the instantly recognizable Monk’s Diner from Seinfeld to the fire station from Ghostbusters. Cap it off with a selfie with friends in front of the, uh, Friends apartment.