Free Things to Do in New York City Today

FloridaDigitalNewsJanuary 16, 2024

70 6 minutes read

Weekly Activities and Events Calendar

There are tons of free things to do in New York all day, every day! Tours, attractions, museums, events, shows, sports, movies and more. Kids, adults, outdoors, indoors, active, lazy…you name it!

So whether you want free Museums, neighborhood tours, a moonlight bike ride in Central Park, to ride the Staten Island Ferry, walk the High Line or Brooklyn Bridge, we have you covered with 100s of free things to do in NYC.

Free Things to do on Monday in NYC

9-11 Memorial Museum – 3:30-5pm free admission with reservation
Museum at Eldridge Street – 10-5pm
Union Square Greenmarket – 8am-6pm
New York Public Library – Free one-hour tours of the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building (42nd St & 5th Ave) 11am & 2pm, Monday – Saturday.
Federal Reserve of Bank of NY Museum and Gold Tour – Mon-Fri, 1pm & 2pm. Very difficult to get reservations, but worth a try!
Free Comedy Show – Giggle Pit Comedy @ Klimat Lounge, 77 E. 7th St. 6-8pm (FREE w/1-drink minimum)
Note: Broadway is generally Dark on Mondays

Free Things to Do in New York City Tuesday

Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Morgan Library & Museum, McKim rooms (Mr. Morgan’s Library, Study, Rotunda, and Librarian’s Office), 3-5pm
Wave Hill, all or 9am to 12pm, depending on time of year
New York Public Library – Free one-hour tours of the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building (42nd St & 5th Ave) 11am & 2pm, Monday – Saturday.
Paragon Run Club – join Paragon for a run every Tuesday at 6:30pm; www.paragonsports.com

Free Things to do on Wednesday

Union Square Greenmarket – 8am-6pm
Museum of Jewish Heritage – 4 to 8pm
Bronx Zoo, pay-what-you-wish, all proceeds support their animal care work
Frick Collection, 2pm-6pm
NY Botanical Garden
New York Public Library – Free one-hour tours of the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building (42nd St & 5th Ave) 11am & 2pm, Monday – Saturday.

Free Things to do on Thursday in NYC

Museum of Arts and Design (formerly American Craft Museum), 6-9 pm
Children’s Museum of the Arts, 4-6pm
New Museum of Contemporary Art, 7-9pm
New York Public Library – Free one-hour tours of the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building (42nd St & 5th Ave) 11am & 2pm, Monday – Saturday.

Free Things to do on Friday in NYC

New York Public Library – free one-hour tours of the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building (42nd St & 5th Ave) 11am & 2pm, Monday – Saturday.
Grand Central Terminal – free 1.5 – 2 hour walking tour, 12:30 pm in the sculpture court at 120 Park Avenue, located at the southwest corner of East 42nd Street and Park Avenue directly across from Grand Central Terminal.
MoMA, Uniqlo Free Fridays, 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. MoMA stays open late on the first Friday of every month and admission is free just for New Yorkers! Tickets, from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m., are free for New York City residents but must be reserved in advance (up to two adults), and are subject to availability and proof of residency.
Bronx Museum of the Arts
International Center for Photography (ICP), 5-8pm
Morgan Library & Museum, McKim rooms, 7 to 9pm
New-York Historical Society – Pay-what-you-wish 6 to 8 pm
Whitney Museum of American Art – Pay-what-you-wish 7 to 10 pm
Union Square Greenmarket – 8am-6pm
Central Park Moonlight Bike Ride – 10pm, first friday of every month.
Children’s Museum of Manhattan – 5-8 pm free admission, 1st Friday of every month
Federal Reserve of Bank of NY Museum and Gold Tour – Mon-Fri, 1pm & 2pm. Very difficult to get reservations, but worth a try!

Free Things to do on Saturday in NYC

Greenwich Village Free Walking Tour – 11:30 a.m. (June – September)
Union Square Greenmarket – 8am-6pm
Union Square Free Walking Tour – 2pm
Brooklyn Botanic Garden, 10am-noon
Guggenheim Museum, 5:45-7:45 pm
Jewish Museum, 11:00 am – 5:45 pm
NY Botanical Garden – 9am – 10 am
Wave Hill, 9am to 12pm
New York Public Library – Free one-hour tours of the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building (42nd St & 5th Ave) 11am & 2pm, Monday – Saturday.
MoMA – A Closer Look for Kids – Saturdays and Sundays, 10:20–11:30 a.m. Engage in lively discussions and fun activities while looking closely at modern masterpieces and cutting-edge contemporary art. A new theme is introduced each month.
Beach Volleyball – 11am-3pm, Tribeca (May-Sept)

Free Things to do on Sunday in NYC

Lower East Side Free Walking Tour – 11 a.m. (April – December)
Frick Collection, 11:00-1:00 pm
Morgan Library & Museum, McKim rooms, 4 to 6 pm
New York Hall of Science – 10 am to 11am
MoMA – A Closer Look for Kids – Saturdays and Sundays, 10:20–11:30 a.m. Engage in lively discussions and fun activities while looking closely at modern masterpieces and cutting-edge contemporary art. A new theme is introduced each month.

Bryant Park NYC

NYC Insider Free Event Picks by Month

January Free NYC Events – Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree, Broadway Week (buy one get one free)

February Free NYC Events – Chinese New Year Parade & Festival, Broadway Week (buy one get one free)

March Free NYC Events – Kids’ Night on Broadway (buy one get one free)

Free Things to Do in New York in Summer – Whether you want free tennis, an outdoor concert, a movie under the stars or free opera outdoors in the park, we have you covered with over 100 FREE things to do in NYC in summer.

June Free NYC Events – Annual Museum Mile Festival, Shakespeare in the Park, Philharmonic in the Park, Taste of Times Square, Pride Month, Lincoln Center Summer for the City, Metropolitan Opera Summer Recital Series, Bryant Park Movie Nights, River to River Festival, Intrepid Museum Summer Movie Series,

July Free NYC Events – July 4th Fireworks, Shakespeare in the Park, Lincoln Center Summer for the City, Met Museum Roof Martini Bar, FREE Broadway (and Off Broadway) in Bryant Park, Free Fitness in New York City, Bryant Park Movie Nights

August Free NYC Events – U.S. Tennis Open Qualifying Rounds, Central Park Film Festival, Metropolitan Opera Summer HD Festival, Met Museum Roof Martini Bar, Shakespeare in the Park, Bryant Park Movie Nights

September Free NYC Events – U.S. Tennis Open Free Day, Feast of San Gennaro, Broadway Week (buy one get one free), Washington Square Outdoor Art Exhibit, African American Day Parade

October Free NYC Events – Columbus Day Parade, Annual ‘Open House’

November Free NYC Events – Ice Skating at Bryant Park, Thanksgiving Day Parade, Watching the New York City Marathon, Holiday Window Displays

December Free NYC Events – Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree, Ice Skating and Christmas Tree at Bryant Park, Guggenheim Holiday Concert, Holiday Window Displays

NYC Museums Free Days Calendar

Many New York City Museums are free to locals. Their goal is to make art and culture affordable to everyone. As non-profits, they ask for a “suggested donation” or contribution to access the museum, rather than an admission price. Know the difference and the best times to visit all NYC Museums at NYC Museums and on our NYC Museums and Tours cheat sheet in the NYC Print Guide and free Mini Guide.

NYC Hotels with Free Bicycles

Don’t miss out on your choice of NYC Hotels with Free Bicycles. If had to pick my FAVORITE way to explore NYC, it would be on bicycle! Just ask anyone who has visited me, I take them all around on bike. The views and hidden nooks of NYC you can see along our greenways are second to none. So why not get yourself a fabulous hotel that offers free bikes to explore our amazing city?

Visiting New York on a Budget

If you are visiting New York on a budget, or even just looking to get the best “bang for your buck,” without compromising quality, NYC Insider Guide has 1000s of ways to save BIG in NYC. Here’s a round up of all our top posts on discounts, coupons, cheap, free, half price and many more ways to save on things to do in NYC.

Save HUGE $$$$ in NYC

New York City Coupons

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