New York Free Walking Tour
2h30 · rated 9.7/10 in 14,561 reviews
Guided in English
Reserve a spot- Home
- New York
Free things to do in New York
New York charges $30 for most big museums and $40 or more for an observation deck, yet a lot of the best of it costs nothing. The Staten Island Ferry sails past the Statue of Liberty for free, around the clock. Central Park, the High Line and the walk over the Brooklyn Bridge are open to anyone. The museums are where it gets tricky: free hours exist, but they sit on one evening a week, some are for New York residents only, and several need a ticket booked days ahead. The rules below were checked against each institution's own page, and a few changed in the last year.
Free walking tours in New York3
These have no fixed price. You reserve a spot, and at the end you tip the guide what you think the tour was worth.
Chinatown, Little Italy & SoHo Free Tour
2h · rated 9/10 in 2,582 reviews
Guided in English
Reserve a spotTimes Square, Broadway, & Midtown Manhattan Free Tour
2h · rated 9.2/10 in 788 reviews
Guided in English
Reserve a spotSpots are booked through Civitatis.
Always free in New York19
Open to everyone, every day they are open. No ticket to buy.
Staten Island Ferry
Lower ManhattanAlways freeGood with kids
A commuter ferry that crosses New York Harbor past the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. It is the free version of the harbor cruise.
- Free when
- Always · 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Boats leave every 15 to 30 minutes for most of the day.
- Free for whom
- Everyone
- Reservation
- Not needed. There are no tickets at all.
- Time needed
- About 1h round trip
- How to get there
- Subway 1 to South Ferry, R/W to Whitehall St, or 4/5 to Bowling Green. Board at Whitehall Terminal.
Worth it? Yes.Do it. Stand outside on the right-hand side leaving Manhattan for the statue, and go around 5 pm in fall or winter to come back with the skyline lit up. You have to get off at St. George and walk around to reboard.
Source: NYC DOT · checked Oct 4, 2026Open in Maps
Central Park
Manhattan, 59th to 110th StreetAlways freeGood with kids
843 acres of lawns, woods, lakes and bridges in the middle of Manhattan. Too big for one visit, so pick a section.
- Free when
- Always · daily 6 am to 1 am
- Free for whom
- Everyone
- Reservation
- Not needed
- Time needed
- 2 to 3h for one section
- How to get there
- Subway B/C to 72 St for Strawberry Fields and Bethesda Terrace, or N/R/W to 5 Av/59 St for the southeast corner
Worth it? Yes.Enter at West 72nd Street, walk to Bethesda Terrace and Bow Bridge, then lose yourself in the Ramble. The southern end near 59th Street is the most crowded and the least interesting part.
Source: Central Park Conservancy · checked Oct 4, 2026Open in Maps
Brooklyn Bridge walk
Lower Manhattan to BrooklynAlways freeGood with kids
A wooden promenade above the traffic, a bit over a mile from end to end, with the stone towers and cables overhead the whole way.
- Free when
- Always · the promenade is open at all times. Sections can be narrowed during repair work.
- Free for whom
- Everyone
- Reservation
- Not needed
- Time needed
- 30 to 45 min one way
- How to get there
- Manhattan side: subway 4/5/6 to Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall, entrance at Centre Street across from City Hall Park. Brooklyn side: A/C to High St.
Worth it? Yes.Go before 9 am or after dark. At midday the walkway is shoulder to shoulder and you spend the crossing dodging photo shoots. Walking from Brooklyn to Manhattan keeps the skyline in front of you.
Source: NYC DOT · checked Oct 4, 2026Open in Maps
The High Line
Chelsea / Meatpacking DistrictAlways freeGood with kids
An old elevated freight railway turned into a planted walkway, running from Gansevoort Street up to Hudson Yards at 34th Street.
- Free when
- Always · daily 7 am to 10 pm from April through November, 7 am to 8 pm from December through March
- Free for whom
- Everyone
- Reservation
- Not needed
- Time needed
- 1 to 1.5h end to end
- How to get there
- Subway A/C/E or L to 14 St/8 Av for the south end, or 7 to 34 St-Hudson Yards for the north end. Stairs and elevators at several cross streets.
Worth it? Yes.Worth it, but weekend afternoons are a slow shuffle. Start at 34th Street on a weekday morning and walk south so you finish among the restaurants and the Whitney.
Source: Friends of the High Line · checked Oct 4, 2026Open in Maps
Brooklyn Bridge Park
DUMBO / Brooklyn HeightsAlways freeGood with kids
A string of rebuilt piers along the East River with lawns, playgrounds and the classic view of Lower Manhattan and both bridges.
- Free when
- Always · daily 6 am to 1 am. Some areas keep shorter hours.
- Free for whom
- Everyone
- Reservation
- Not needed
- Time needed
- 1 to 2h
- How to get there
- Subway A/C to High St or F to York St, then a ten-minute walk downhill. Or walk off the Brooklyn Bridge.
Worth it? Yes.The best free skyline view in the city. Sit on the Pier 1 lawn or the steps at Pebble Beach about an hour before sunset. Kids will want the Pier 6 playgrounds at the south end.
Source: Brooklyn Bridge Park · checked Oct 4, 2026Open in Maps
9/11 Memorial
Financial DistrictAlways freeGood with kids
Two square pools set in the footprints of the Twin Towers, with the names of the victims cut into bronze around the edges.
- Free when
- Always · daily 8 am to 8 pm
- Free for whom
- Everyone
- Reservation
- Not needed for the outdoor Memorial. The Museum is separate and paid.
- Time needed
- 30 to 45 min
- How to get there
- Subway E to World Trade Center, R/W to Cortlandt St, or 1 to WTC Cortlandt
Worth it? Yes.Go. It is quieter early in the morning or after 6 pm when the pools are lit. A white rose in a name means it is that person's birthday.
Source: 9/11 Memorial & Museum · checked Oct 4, 2026Open in Maps
New York Public Library, main branch
Midtown, Fifth Avenue at 42nd StreetAlways freeBooking recommendedIndoorGood with kids
The marble library with the two lions out front. Inside is the Treasures exhibition, with a Gutenberg Bible and the original Winnie-the-Pooh toys, and the Rose Main Reading Room.
- Free when
- Always · Mon and Thu to Sat 10 am to 6 pm, Tue and Wed 10 am to 8 pm, Sun 1 to 5 pm. Last entry to Treasures is 30 minutes before closing.
- Free for whom
- Everyone
- Reservation
- Free timed tickets for the Treasures exhibition at nypl.org/treasures. The building itself needs no ticket.
- Time needed
- 1h
- How to get there
- Subway 7 to 5 Av, or B/D/F/M to 42 St-Bryant Park
Worth it? Yes.A good rainy-day hour. Casual visitors can step into the Rose Main Reading Room only from 10 to 11 am, Monday to Saturday, or on a free guided tour, so come at opening.
Source: New York Public Library · checked Oct 4, 2026Open in Maps
Grand Central Terminal
Midtown East, 42nd Street at Park AvenueAlways freeIndoorGood with kids
A working train station with a painted night-sky ceiling over the Main Concourse and a four-faced brass clock above the information booth.
- Free when
- Always · daily 5:15 am to 2 am. Shops and the food concourse keep their own hours.
- Free for whom
- Everyone
- Reservation
- Not needed
- Time needed
- 30 min
- How to get there
- Subway 4/5/6, 7 or S to Grand Central-42 St
Worth it? Yes.Twenty minutes well spent. Stand on the east balcony for the full view, then go down to the arch outside the Oyster Bar, where a whisper into one corner carries to the opposite one.
Source: Grand Central Terminal · checked Oct 4, 2026Open in Maps
National Museum of the American Indian
Financial District, Bowling GreenAlways freeIndoorGood with kids
A Smithsonian museum of Native art and history inside the old US Custom House, a 1907 building with an oval rotunda that is worth the stop by itself.
- Free when
- Always · daily 10 am to 5 pm. Closed December 25.
- Free for whom
- Everyone
- Reservation
- Not needed. No tickets.
- Time needed
- 1h
- How to get there
- Subway 4/5 to Bowling Green, 1 to South Ferry, or R/W to Whitehall St
Worth it? Yes.The easiest free museum in the city: no line, no ticket, three minutes from the Staten Island Ferry. Expect airport-style security at the door.
Source: Smithsonian Institution · checked Oct 4, 2026Open in Maps
Bryant Park
Midtown, 42nd Street at Sixth AvenueAlways freeGood with kids
A lawn ringed by movable green chairs behind the public library, with free ping pong, board games and a reading room. In winter it has a rink with free admission if you bring skates.
- Free when
- Always · daily, 7 am to 10 pm in October. Closing time changes by month.
- Free for whom
- Everyone
- Reservation
- Not needed
- Time needed
- 30 min to 1h
- How to get there
- Subway B/D/F/M to 42 St-Bryant Park, or 7 to 5 Av
Worth it? Yes.The best place in Midtown to sit down for free. Pair it with the library next door. The Winter Village opens October 28, 2026, and skate rental is where the rink makes its money.
Source: Bryant Park Corporation · checked Oct 4, 2026Open in Maps
MoMA PS1
Long Island City, QueensAlways freeIndoor
MoMA's experimental branch, in a former public school. Installations fill old classrooms, stairwells and the boiler room.
- Free when
- Always · Mon, Thu, Fri and Sun noon to 6 pm, Sat 10 am to 6 pm. Closed Tue and Wed.
- Free for whom
- Everyone. Admission is now free for all visitors, not only New Yorkers.
- Reservation
- Not needed
- Time needed
- 1.5h
- How to get there
- Subway E/M to Court Sq-23 St, or 7/G to Court Sq. Two stops from MoMA on the E.
Worth it? Yes.If you cannot get into MoMA for free, come here instead. The art is newer and stranger, so check the current shows first. Do not miss the James Turrell room on the top floor, which opens to the sky.
Source: MoMA PS1 · checked Oct 4, 2026Open in Maps
American Folk Art Museum
Upper West Side, Lincoln SquareAlways freeIndoorGood with kids
Quilts, weathervanes, portraits and work by self-taught artists, in a compact space across from Lincoln Center.
- Free when
- Always · Wed to Sun 11:30 am to 6 pm. Closed Mon and Tue.
- Free for whom
- Everyone
- Reservation
- Not needed
- Time needed
- 45 min
- How to get there
- Subway 1 to 66 St-Lincoln Center. The entrance is on Columbus Avenue between 65th and 66th Streets.
Worth it? Yes.A calm 45 minutes and never crowded. Combine it with a look at the Lincoln Center plaza and fountain across the street, then walk two blocks east into Central Park.
Source: American Folk Art Museum · checked Oct 4, 2026Open in Maps
Brooklyn Museum
Prospect Heights, BrooklynAlways freePay what you wishIndoorGood with kids
New York's second-largest art museum, with a strong Egyptian collection and Judy Chicago's The Dinner Party on permanent view.
- Free when
- Pay what you wish · Wed to Sun 11 am to 6 pm, general admission only. The suggested price is $20. Closed Mon and Tue. The free First Saturdays evenings have ended for 2026 and the 2027 dates are not announced yet.
- Free for whom
- Everyone can pay what they can at the admissions desk. Ages 19 and under are free.
- Reservation
- Do not book online. Online and kiosk tickets charge the full suggested amount; only the staffed admissions desk takes a lower amount. Special exhibitions cost extra.
- Time needed
- 2h
- How to get there
- Subway 2/3 to Eastern Pkwy-Brooklyn Museum. The station exit is at the front door.
Worth it? Yes.The most generous big-museum policy left in the city, and open to tourists. Walk to the desk, say what you would like to pay, and start on the third floor with the Egyptian galleries.
Source: Brooklyn Museum · checked Oct 4, 2026Open in Maps
Green-Wood Cemetery
Greenwood Heights, BrooklynAlways free
A hilly 1838 cemetery with a Gothic gate, old mausoleums, ponds and a harbor view from Battle Hill, the highest natural point in Brooklyn.
- Free when
- Always · the main entrance is open daily 7 am to 7 pm
- Free for whom
- Everyone
- Reservation
- Not needed. Guided tours are paid.
- Time needed
- 1.5 to 2h
- How to get there
- Subway R to 25 St, then one block uphill to the main gate at Fifth Avenue and 25th Street
Worth it? Yes.One of the quietest walks in the city. Look up at the main gate for the green monk parakeets that nest in its spires, then climb Battle Hill for the Statue of Liberty in the distance.
Source: The Green-Wood Cemetery · checked Oct 4, 2026Open in Maps
Times Square and Midnight Moment
Midtown, Broadway from 42nd to 47th StreetAlways freeGood with kids
Billboards, crowds and costumed characters who expect a tip. The one thing worth timing is Midnight Moment, when more than 90 screens show the same artwork at once.
- Free when
- Always · the plazas are open at all hours. Midnight Moment runs nightly from 11:57 pm to midnight.
- Free for whom
- Everyone
- Reservation
- Not needed
- Time needed
- 20 min
- How to get there
- Subway 1/2/3, 7, N/Q/R/W or S to Times Sq-42 St
Worth it? Depends.See it once, after dark, from the red steps at 47th Street, and leave. Do not eat here and do not pose with the characters unless you want to pay for the photo.
Source: Times Square Alliance · checked Oct 4, 2026Open in Maps
Little Island
Hudson River Park, Pier 55 at West 13th StreetAlways freeGood with kids
A small park raised over the Hudson on concrete tulip-shaped columns, with winding paths, a lawn and an amphitheater.
- Free when
- Always · opens daily at 6 am. Closes at 11 pm through October 31 and at 9 pm from November 1 to December 31. Performances in the amphitheater can be ticketed.
- Free for whom
- Everyone
- Reservation
- Not needed for the park
- Time needed
- 30 to 45 min
- How to get there
- Subway A/C/E or L to 14 St/8 Av, then a ten-minute walk west to the river
Worth it? Depends.Nice for a sunset if you are already on the High Line, which ends five minutes away. Not worth crossing town for: you can walk every path in half an hour.
Source: Little Island · checked Oct 4, 2026Open in Maps
The Bronx Museum
The Bronx, Grand ConcourseAlways freeIndoorGood with kids
A contemporary art museum focused on artists from the Bronx and from African, Asian and Latin American backgrounds.
- Free when
- Always · Wed to Sun 11 am to 6 pm. Closed Mon, Tue and federal holidays. Galleries are closed for installation until the fall shows open on October 9, 2026.
- Free for whom
- Everyone
- Reservation
- Not needed
- Time needed
- 1h
- How to get there
- Subway B/D to 167 St, or 4 to 161 St-Yankee Stadium and a ten-minute walk up the Grand Concourse
Worth it? Depends.Small, and half the building is under renovation, so check what is on before making the trip. It works well combined with a walk along the Art Deco apartment blocks of the Grand Concourse.
Source: The Bronx Museum · checked Oct 4, 2026Open in Maps
The Museum at FIT
Chelsea, Seventh Avenue at 27th StreetAlways freeIndoor
The fashion museum of the Fashion Institute of Technology, with two or three exhibitions of clothing at a time drawn from a large historic collection.
- Free when
- Always · Wed to Fri noon to 8 pm, Sat and Sun 10 am to 5 pm. Closed Mon, Tue and legal holidays.
- Free for whom
- Everyone
- Reservation
- Not needed
- Time needed
- 45 min
- How to get there
- Subway 1 or R/W to 28 St
Worth it? Depends.Great if you care about clothes, skippable if you do not. Galleries close between shows, so look at the exhibitions page before you go.
Source: Fashion Institute of Technology · checked Oct 4, 2026Open in Maps
Coney Island Beach and Boardwalk
Coney Island, BrooklynAlways freeGood with kids
A wide Atlantic beach and a wooden boardwalk running past the Wonder Wheel and the Cyclone roller coaster. The beach and boardwalk are free; the rides are not.
- Free when
- Always · the boardwalk is closed only from 1 to 5 am. Swimming is allowed from Memorial Day weekend through the Sunday after Labor Day, 10 am to 6 pm, when lifeguards are on duty.
- Free for whom
- Everyone
- Reservation
- Not needed
- Time needed
- 2 to 3h plus about 1h each way on the subway
- How to get there
- Subway D, F, N or Q to Coney Island-Stillwell Av, the last stop
Worth it? Depends.Worth the long ride on a warm day. Off season the amusement parks are mostly shut and it is a windy, empty walk, which some people like. Walk east to Brighton Beach for the Russian food shops.
Source: NYC Parks · checked Oct 4, 2026Open in Maps
Free on certain days, or for certain people13
Mostly museums. The free window, who it applies to and the booking rule are on each card.
Whitney Museum of American Art
Meatpacking District, Gansevoort StreetFree on certain daysBooking recommendedIndoorGood with kids
Twentieth-century and contemporary American art, including Edward Hopper, in a Renzo Piano building with outdoor terraces over the Hudson and the High Line.
- Free when
- Free · every Friday 5 to 10 pm, and all day on the second Sunday of each month (10:30 am to 6 pm). The ground-floor gallery is free at all times. Closed Tuesdays.
- Free for whom
- Everyone on Friday nights and second Sundays. Visitors 25 and under are free on any day.
- Reservation
- Reserve a free timed ticket on whitney.org before you go. Walk-ups are possible but you may wait.
- Time needed
- 1.5 to 2h
- How to get there
- Subway A/C/E or L to 14 St/8 Av, then ten minutes on foot. It sits at the south end of the High Line.
Worth it? Yes.The best free museum night open to visitors. Arrive after 7 pm, when the first wave has thinned, and start on the top floor terraces.
Source: Whitney Museum of American Art · checked Oct 4, 2026Open in Maps
9/11 Museum, Free Admission Mondays
Financial DistrictFree on certain daysBooking requiredIndoor
The underground museum beneath the Memorial pools, built around the remains of the towers' foundations, with recordings, wreckage and personal objects.
- Free when
- Free · Mondays 5:30 to 7 pm. Last entrance is at 5:30 pm, so the ticket gives you about 90 minutes inside.
- Free for whom
- Everyone, while tickets last
- Reservation
- Tickets are released on the museum website each Monday at 7 am Eastern for that same evening, first come, first served. They are usually gone within the hour.
- Time needed
- 1.5h
- How to get there
- Subway E to World Trade Center, R/W to Cortlandt St, or 1 to WTC Cortlandt
Worth it? Yes.Set an alarm for 7 am on Monday. Ninety minutes is less than the museum deserves, so go straight down to the historical exhibition and leave the upper levels for last. It is heavy for young children.
Source: 9/11 Memorial & Museum · checked Oct 4, 2026Open in Maps
The Morgan Library & Museum
Murray Hill, Madison Avenue at 36th StreetFree on certain daysBooking requiredIndoor
J. P. Morgan's private library: three tiers of rare books behind brass grilles, a painted ceiling, and rotating shows of manuscripts and drawings.
- Free when
- Free · Fridays 5 to 8 pm
- Free for whom
- Everyone
- Reservation
- Reservation required. Free tickets are released on themorgan.org one week in advance.
- Time needed
- 1h
- How to get there
- Subway 6 to 33 St, or a ten-minute walk south from Grand Central
Worth it? Yes.The most beautiful room you can enter for free in New York. Book the moment tickets open the Friday before, and head for Mr. Morgan's Library first, before the line for it builds.
Source: The Morgan Library & Museum · checked Oct 4, 2026Open in Maps
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Upper East Side, Fifth Avenue at 82nd StreetFree on certain daysResidents onlyPay what you wishIndoorGood with kids
Five thousand years of art in one building, from the Egyptian Temple of Dendur to European paintings and the American Wing.
- Free when
- Pay what you wish · Sun, Mon, Tue and Thu 10 am to 5 pm, Fri and Sat 10 am to 9 pm. Closed Wednesdays. Residents and tri-state students only.
- Free for whom
- New York State residents, and students from New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, with ID. The minimum is $0.01. All other adults pay $30. Children 12 and under are free.
- Reservation
- Not needed. Buy at the desk with a New York ID, library card or bill. Online pay-what-you-wish needs a New York State billing address.
- Time needed
- 3h
- How to get there
- Subway 4/5/6 to 86 St, then a ten-minute walk west to Fifth Avenue. Bus M1, M2, M3 or M4.
Worth it? Yes.The pay-what-you-wish rule ended for tourists in 2018, and that is still how it works. If you qualify, the same-day ticket also covers The Met Cloisters uptown.
Source: The Metropolitan Museum of Art · checked Oct 4, 2026Open in Maps
Bronx Zoo, free Wednesdays
The Bronx, Bronx ParkFree on certain daysBooking requiredGood with kids
One of the largest city zoos in the country, 265 acres of woods with tigers, bison, sea lions and giraffes in big outdoor habitats.
- Free when
- Free · Wednesdays all year, 10 am to 5 pm through October 31 and 10 am to 4:30 pm from November 1. The free ticket is Limited Admission only.
- Free for whom
- Everyone
- Reservation
- Advance ticket required. The Wednesday ticket store opens online the Monday before at 5 pm and closes Wednesday at 2 pm or when the day sells out. Maximum 4 tickets per order. Do not show up without one.
- Time needed
- 4 to 5h
- How to get there
- Subway 2 or 5 to West Farms Sq-E Tremont Av, then a five-minute walk to the Asia Gate
Worth it? Yes.A full free day, as long as you book on Monday at 5 pm sharp. Congo Gorilla Forest, JungleWorld and the other star attractions are not included and cost $7 each, so decide which one you want and skip the rest.
Source: Bronx Zoo (Wildlife Conservation Society) · checked Oct 4, 2026Open in Maps
Governors Island, free weekend morning ferry
New York HarborFree on certain daysGood with kids
A car-free former military island eight minutes from Manhattan, with old forts, hammocks, artificial hills and a close view of the Statue of Liberty.
- Free when
- Free · Saturdays and Sundays on ferries before 11 am. At other times the round trip is $5. The island is open every day, all year.
- Free for whom
- Everyone before 11 am on weekends. At any time: adults 65 and over, children 12 and under, IDNYC holders, NYCHA residents and military.
- Reservation
- Not needed. Pick up a free ticket at the terminal for a morning sailing. The return trip is included.
- Time needed
- 3h
- How to get there
- Ferry from the Battery Maritime Building, 10 South Street, next to the Staten Island Ferry. Subway 1 to South Ferry or R/W to Whitehall St.
Worth it? Yes.The cheapest escape from the city. Bring food, because what is sold on the island is pricey, and walk to the top of Outlook Hill for the statue. The cutoff used to be noon and is now 11 am.
Source: Trust for Governors Island · checked Oct 4, 2026Open in Maps
The Frick Collection
Upper East Side, East 70th Street at Fifth AvenueFree on certain daysPay what you wishBooking recommendedIndoor
Old Master paintings hung in the rooms of a Gilded Age mansion: Vermeer, Rembrandt, Holbein and Fragonard, reopened in 2025 after a long renovation.
- Free when
- Pay what you wish · Wednesdays 1:30 to 5:30 pm
- Free for whom
- Everyone aged 10 and up. Children under 10 are not admitted.
- Reservation
- Online reservations need a minimum of $5 per ticket and guarantee entry. To pay less than $5, ask at the museum on Wednesday afternoon; those tickets are limited and not guaranteed.
- Time needed
- 1.5h
- How to get there
- Subway 6 to 68 St-Hunter College, then a ten-minute walk west
Worth it? Yes.Regular admission is $30, so the $5 online ticket is the smart move: sure entry for the price of a coffee. Walking up for a free ticket is a gamble on a busy afternoon.
Source: The Frick Collection · checked Oct 4, 2026Open in Maps
The Jewish Museum
Upper East Side, Fifth Avenue at 92nd StreetFree on certain daysIndoorGood with kids
Art and ceremonial objects spanning 4,000 years of Jewish culture in a French Gothic mansion, plus strong temporary shows of modern art.
- Free when
- Free · every Saturday 11 am to 6 pm, and on select holidays. Closed Tue and Wed, and on some Jewish holidays in September and October.
- Free for whom
- Everyone
- Reservation
- Not needed
- Time needed
- 1.5h
- How to get there
- Subway 6 to 96 St or Q to 96 St, then walk west to Fifth Avenue. Bus M1, M2, M3 or M4.
Worth it? Yes.A whole free day rather than a squeezed evening, and no line. Regular admission is $24. Check the calendar in early fall, when holiday closures can land on a Saturday.
Source: The Jewish Museum · checked Oct 4, 2026Open in Maps
Guggenheim Museum
Upper East Side, Fifth Avenue at 88th StreetFree on certain daysPay what you wishBooking recommendedIndoorGood with kids
Frank Lloyd Wright's white spiral, with one long ramp of temporary exhibitions and a side gallery of Impressionist and early modern paintings.
- Free when
- Pay what you wish · Tuesdays and Sundays 4 to 5:30 pm. This replaced the old Monday and Saturday slot. The museum is closed Tuesday, November 10, 2026.
- Free for whom
- Everyone. Children under 12 are free at any time.
- Reservation
- The museum recommends reserving online in advance. Tickets are also sold at the door, and the last ones are issued about 15 minutes before closing.
- Time needed
- 1 to 1.5h
- How to get there
- Subway 4/5/6 or Q to 86 St, then walk to Fifth Avenue. Bus M1, M2, M3 or M4.
Worth it? Depends.Ninety minutes is tight but enough, because the building is the main exhibit. Take the elevator up and walk the ramp down. If the rotunda is closed for installation, skip it and keep your money.
Source: Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum · checked Oct 4, 2026Open in Maps
MoMA, UNIQLO Friday Nights
Midtown, West 53rd StreetFree on certain daysResidents onlyBooking requiredIndoorGood with kids
The Museum of Modern Art: Van Gogh's Starry Night, Monet's Water Lilies, Picasso, Warhol and five more floors.
- Free when
- Free · Fridays 5:30 to 8:30 pm, New York State residents only
- Free for whom
- New York State residents with proof of residency. Tourists pay $30. Children 16 and under are free at any time.
- Reservation
- Free tickets must be reserved in advance on moma.org.
- Time needed
- 2h
- How to get there
- Subway E/M to 5 Av/53 St, or B/D/F/M to 47-50 Sts-Rockefeller Center
Worth it? Depends.Visitors from out of state cannot use this, despite what older lists say. If you qualify, go to the fifth floor first. If you do not, MoMA PS1 in Queens is free for everyone.
Source: The Museum of Modern Art · checked Oct 4, 2026Open in Maps
New York Botanical Garden, Wednesday grounds
The Bronx, Bronx ParkFree on certain daysGood with kids
250 acres of gardens, a rose garden, a rock garden and a stretch of old-growth forest along the Bronx River.
- Free when
- Free · Wednesdays, grounds only. NYC residents get in free all day. Everyone else is free only if they enter between 10 and 11 am. The garden is open Tue to Sun 10 am to 6 pm.
- Free for whom
- NYC residents with proof of address, all day. All other visitors who arrive between 10 and 11 am.
- Reservation
- Not needed. Ask for the free grounds pass at the gate. It does not include the Haupt Conservatory, special exhibitions or the tram.
- Time needed
- 2 to 3h
- How to get there
- Subway B, D or 4 to Bedford Park Blvd, then the Bx26 bus or a 20-minute walk east to the Mosholu Entrance
Worth it? Depends.Good in spring and in late October for fall color, thin in winter. Tourists must be through the gate by 11 am, so leave Midtown by 9:30. The zoo is free the same day, but doing both is too much.
Source: New York Botanical Garden · checked Oct 4, 2026Open in Maps
New Museum
Lower East Side, Bowery at Prince StreetFree on certain daysPay what you wishBooking requiredIndoor
Contemporary art only, by living artists, in a stack of offset white boxes that doubled in size with a new wing in March 2026.
- Free when
- Pay what you wish · Thursdays 7 to 9 pm
- Free for whom
- Everyone. Ages 18 and under are free at any time.
- Reservation
- Reserve a pay-what-you-wish ticket online in advance. A few more are offered at the door, with no guarantee.
- Time needed
- 1.5h
- How to get there
- Subway F to 2 Av, J/Z to Bowery, or 6 to Spring St
Worth it? Depends.The shows change completely every few months, so read what is on before you commit a Thursday night. Regular admission is $28, and the surrounding blocks are good for a cheap dinner afterwards.
Source: New Museum · checked Oct 4, 2026Open in Maps
The New York Historical
Upper West Side, Central Park West at 77th StreetFree on certain daysPay what you wishIndoorGood with kids
The city's oldest museum, telling the story of New York and the country through Tiffany lamps, Audubon's bird watercolors and changing history exhibitions.
- Free when
- Pay what you wish · Fridays 5 to 8 pm
- Free for whom
- Everyone
- Reservation
- Not needed. Pay what you like at the admissions desk.
- Time needed
- 1.5h
- How to get there
- Subway B/C to 81 St-Museum of Natural History, or 1 to 79 St
Worth it? Depends.Best for people who like American history; others will get more from the Whitney on the same evening. Go straight to the fourth floor for the room of glowing Tiffany lamps.
Source: The New York Historical · checked Oct 4, 2026Open in Maps
Before you go
- Free tickets with a release time go fast: the Bronx Zoo opens Wednesday tickets on Monday at 5 pm and the 9/11 Museum releases its Monday tickets at 7 am the same day.
- At the Brooklyn Museum, pay what you can only at the admissions desk, because the website and kiosks charge the full suggested price.
- Friday evening has more free museum hours than you can use, so pick one and do it properly instead of running between three.
Questions people ask
Is MoMA free on Fridays for tourists?
No. UNIQLO Friday Nights (5:30 to 8:30 pm) are free only for New York State residents, and the free tickets must be reserved in advance. Visitors 16 and under are free at any time. MoMA PS1 in Queens is free for everyone.
Can visitors pay what they wish at The Met?
Only New York State residents and students from New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, with ID. Everyone else pays $30 for adults. Children 12 and under are free.
Is the Staten Island Ferry really free?
Yes. It is free for everyone, runs 24 hours a day, and needs no ticket. Anyone selling you a ticket outside the terminal is selling something else.
When is the Guggenheim pay what you wish?
Tuesdays and Sundays from 4 to 5:30 pm. The museum recommends reserving online in advance, and tickets are also sold at the door.
Is the 9/11 Memorial free?
The outdoor Memorial with the two pools is free every day from 8 am to 8 pm. The Museum is paid, except on Mondays from 5:30 to 7 pm with a free ticket released online at 7 am that morning.
PAID · ONE PER CITY
If you spend on one thing in New York, make it this.
Top of the Rock at sunset
No free viewpoint puts you above Midtown with Central Park on one side and the Empire State Building on the other. The ferry and the bridges show you the skyline from outside; this is the one place that shows it from the middle. Book a slot about 45 minutes before sunset and stay until the lights come on.
Everything above is free. This is the only paid pick on the page, chosen because no free option replaces it.
See tickets and prices
