Posted on 13 September 2019

A trip to the Big Apple can take a big bite out of your finances - but after your flight and accommodation are booked, there are actually plenty of cheap and free things to do. Read our top 10 wallet-friendly activities to enjoy in New York City...

New York Public Library

The New York Public Library's beautiful Rose Main Reading Room is free to enter. Even if you're not a fan of the printed word, you're sure to be blown away by the opulent interior. It's also a wonderful place to enjoy some deep silence after the hubbub of New York's streets.

Sit in an NBC studio audience

NBC hand out free tickets for a number of shows, including Saturday Night Live and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. If you can't get tickets you may be able to get a standby ticket (handed out if there are cancellations), but you'll have to queue up from 7am!

The High Line Park

The High Line is a public park that stretches from Gansevoort Street to West 34th Street. It's free to enjoy and features gardens, performances and food sellers. Built on an old freight line, the park extends 1.45 miles and offers greats views of the Hudson River.

Brooklyn Brewery tour

Enjoy a free tour of the Brooklyn Brewery taproom in Williamsburg, every half an hour from 1pm to 6pm on Saturday and Sunday. You can see how these popular local imbibes are made and you can get low-cost tokens for beer samples. Free tours are limited to 40 people and queues can be long on sunny days.

Central Park

This vast 3.5 square mile park is free for all. Enjoy some (relatively) fresh air and feed a cheeky squirrel or two as you explore the park's various draws. Don't miss the charming cast-iron Bow Bridge, which has featured in innumerable TV series and films. If you've packed some running shoes why not hit the tarmac around the pretty Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir?

Free art galleries and museums

No-cost art institutions include the American Folk Art Museum, the National Museum of the American Indian and the Leslie-Lohman Museum of Gay and Lesbian Art. The Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) is free to enjoy from 4pm-8pm every Friday. Many other museums and galleries offer free entry at certain times.

Rockaway, Brighton and Coney Island beaches

You can visit New York's pleasant beaches for free - you'll just have to pay a few dollars for the Subway journeys there and back. People watch, enjoy a classic American burger from a food vendor, or take a dip in the Atlantic Ocean - if you can handle the chill!

Watch an outdoor movie

If you're planning a summer visit, take advantage of HBO's free outdoor screenings of blockbusters and arthouse flicks in Bryant Park. There are plenty of other free screenings too - in Brooklyn Bridge Park, Pier 63, Hotel Hugo and Coney Island. Check their websites for details.

Times Square at New Year - or any time

If you're in the Big Apple for New Year, there's no better place than the lights of Times Square - just wrap up well and be aware there are no public toilets! It's very much worth a visit whichever time of year you're here.

Staten Island Ferry

Free to all and running 24 hours, the Staten Island Ferry is a quintessential NYC experience. It sails between Whitehall Ferry Terminal in Manhattan and the St George Ferry Terminal on Staten Island. Enjoy a beer and a bagel as you take in the incomparable New York skyline.

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