Ten great things you can do for free in New York

A billionaire’s playground, New York City is one of the most expensive cities in the world. That’s why visitors might be surprised to learn there’s an abundance of fabulous, free things to do in the Big Apple. Follow the lead of savvy locals and live it up for nix.

Laugh on cue

Ed Sullivan Theater on Broadway.Credit: iStock

I’ve breathed the same air as Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers, Stephen Colbert and Trevor Noah. You can too, when you sign up to be part of the studio audience at a live TV show taping.

First, create a free online account at 1iota.com. Keep an eye on the site as taping dates become available, then request tickets for your preferred dates. If your request is successful, be on time and in line when doors open.

See 1iota.com

Tour a magnificent museum

Some of the world’s best museums and galleries are in New York City including The Metropolitan Museum of Art and the American Museum of Natural History.

Alongside these are free treasures to visit – Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology, American Folk Art Museum – and many pay-what-you-wish venues where a donation as little as a dollar will get you in.

On some days of the week and month, many premium museums also swing open their doors for nix. The Whitney, for example, is free to visit on Friday nights and the second Sunday of the month. Advance reservations recommended.

See visit.whitney.org

Catch the ferry

Staten Island ferry.Credit: iStock

A classic New York City experience, the Staten Island Ferry takes about 25 minutes to ride between lower Manhattan and the Island’s St George Terminal. Immortalised in countless films and TV shows from Sex and the City to Working Girl, the ferry runs 24 hours a day, every day of the year and is always free. The best views are usually at sunset or after dark, when the city skyline lights up like a Christmas tree.

See siferry.com

Listen, laugh, clap, repeat

Hey, this is Noo Yawk, and it’s full of creative, funny, attention-seeking people who want to be seen and heard. Attend a free stand-up comedy show, join the crowd at an open mic night in Brooklyn, listen thoughtfully at a book reading or see a show off-off-Broadway before it hits the big time. For a fiver, you could even score a seat-filler ticket to a Broadway show that needs bums on seats.

See timeout.com, clubfreetime.com and secretnyc.co

Put it in park

Walk the High Line.Credit: iStock

NYC Parks’ roster of free outdoor programming is a true gift to the city and its visitors. There’s the free-for-all wonder that is Central Park, of course, but the outdoor fun doesn’t stop there.

Stroll the High Line, an elevated park built on a historic freight rail line, to enjoy downtown views and stellar people-watching. Catch a free movie screening in Bryant Park, thrill to the sound of the NY Philharmonic under the stars in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park, take a yoga class in Riverside Park. Check out what’s new at Little Island on the Hudson River, the city’s newest public park.

See nycgovparks.org

Go for the galleries

World-class masters and rule-breaking newcomers compete for wall space at New York’s art galleries. Many of the venues displaying art for sale are free to enter. Happen upon an opening night party, and you’ll score free wine and nibbles to boot.

Outdoor art is found throughout the five boroughs, curated in parks and cityscapes. At Socrates Sculpture Park in Queens, artists are invited to exhibit sculptures in the city’s largest outdoor space dedicated to the purpose.

See socratessculpturepark.org

Feel free on foot

Little Italy’s Mulberry Street.Credit: iStock

Is a free tour really a free tour when (we suspect) a tip is always expected? We’ll leave the gratuity etiquette up to you. Free Tours by Foot offers a wide range of complimentary, hosted walking tours to some of the city’s most enticing attractions. Get a feel for Bushwick’s best graffiti art, learn about the history of the Brooklyn Bridge on a stroll from Manhattan, or taste the flavours of Chinatown and Little Italy.

See freetoursbyfoot.com

Swim or skate

Dive in … Astoria Public Swimming Pool.Credit: iStock

A cooling dip at one of NYC’s outdoor swimming pools or beaches is a welcome relief on a hot, humid day. Open for a brief window (July, August and the first week of September), the public pools include an Olympic-sized art deco beauty in Astoria and a floating pool on a barge in the Bronx.

If you visit during winter, swap the swimmers for skates. Bryant Park’s free-admission skating rink, surrounded by Christmas markets, is straight out of a romantic Hallmark movie.

See bryantpark.org

Join the parade

Marcher at the Puerto Rican Day Parade on Sixth Avenue.Credit: iStock

There are countless parades and multicultural street festivals in New York City. Lace up your walking shoes and meander from lower Manhattan to Harlem on any given weekend and you might bump into the Puerto Rican Day Parade, the St Patrick’s Day Parade, an Asian food festival or a pop-up celebration of French culture. Select streets are blocked to traffic on Sundays, making the city a pedestrian-friendly place to explore.

See nyc.gov

Head up to the rooftop

It’s free to visit the New York Public Library’s main building on Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street, a magnificent beaux-arts city landmark. Sign up for a complimentary docent-led tour to learn about the extraordinary historical collections and architecture, or simply enjoy the peace and quiet of the Rose Main Reading Room.

At the nearby Niarchos Foundation Library on 40th Street, there’s a free, public rooftop space. It’s a great spot to enjoy the views or take a break from the busy streets.

See nypl.org