58 Free Things to Do in NYC with Kids

Ah, New York City. You can spend $450 – a person! – on the Japanese Omakase menu at Masa, or get a delicious falafel from a food cart for about $5. Likewise, you can spend $600 on Hamilton tickets on Broadway, or score $10 lottery tickets to the show. There are even things to do for free! We’ve unearthed 58 of the top free things to do in NYC with kids of all ages.

58 Free Things to Do in NYC with Kids

• Best Free Things to do in NYC: Manhattan
• Free Things to Do in NYC in Summer: Manhattan
• Free Things to Do in NYC in Winter: Manhattan
• The Best Free Things to Do in NYC: Brooklyn
• Best Free Things to Do in NYC: The Bronx
• The Best Free Things to Do in NYC: Staten Island

New York City is one of the top tourist destinations around the world for many reasons. Food, fashion, culture – from theater to museums to live music – are just some of its allures. Remarkably, you can also find tons of free things to do in NYC with kids. We have broken these down borough by borough so you can find things to do in NYC with kids all over.

Best Free Things to Do in NYC with Kids: Manhattan

1. Go to the Library
2. Ride the Staten Island Ferry
3. Go to Church
4. Take in Times Square
5. Admire the Art
6. Dig the Dinos
7. See and Be Seen
8. Shop an Upscale Mall, NYC Style
9. Go Green
10. Go Back in Time
11. Swing in Lower Manhattan
12. Young at Art
13. Climb the Stairway to the Stars
14. Visit MoMA on Friday
15. Gallery Hop
16. Get Hands-On
17. Walk on High
18. Check Out an Industrial Art Museum
19. Be Quiet
20. Get Kids in Free
21. Show Me the Money
22. Get in Free on Saturdays
23. Pay What You Wish
24. Never Forget
25. Have A Grand Time at Grand Central

1. Go to the Library

The main branch of the New York Public Library, at 476 5th Ave. in midtown Manhattan, has free exhibits on the main floor. The lions guarding the entrance, Patience, and Fortitude, are attractions all on their own.

2. Ride the Staten Island Ferry

Yep. It’s free. AND the best way to see great close-ups of the Statue of Liberty. The ferry is used by commuters and tourists, so steer clear of rush hour. Catch it from Whitehall Terminal in lower Manhattan. The ferry is also a free tide to great shopping — the terminal on Staten Island is next door to NYC’s first outlet mall, Empire Outlets.

3. Go to Church

St. Patrick’s Cathedral, at 5th Avenue and 51st Street in midtown, is always free and open to the public. You can take a guided tour, with a $5 suggested donation.

4. Take in Times Square

Times Square is the place for people watching, even in a city where there are always people worth watching. Sit on the huge red staircase that anchors the TKTS, see the giant billboards and watch the world — and weirdness — pass by.

5. Admire the Art

The Museum of the City of New York, 1220 5th Ave., is free for ages 19 and under. And the $18 admission for adults is suggested. The museum explores the city through art and history. The 1920s dollhouse should not be missed.

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6. Dig the Dinos

The American Museum of Natural History at Central Park West & 79th Street has dinosaurs, a giant blue whale overlooking ocean exhibits, meteorites, fossils and more. Admission to permanent exhibits is by a suggested amount.

7. See and Be Seen

The Edge, an observation deck at Hudson Yards is about to open. You can reserve free tickets for this new sightseeing spot.

8. Shop an Upscale Mall, NYC Style

Brookfield Place, an upscale shopping and food mall at 230 Vesey St. in lower Manhattan, has year-round indoor and outdoor programming. There are concerts, fitness classes, and exhibits. It is a great cold weather destination.

9. Go Green

The Union Square Greenmarket at East 17th Street &, Union Square West is the largest NYC market. It runs year-round on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Many stalls offer free samples and musicians often perform at the perimeter.

10. Go Back in Time

Wander the South Street Seaport’s Historic District. The cobblestone area is home to an outdoor market, open through November, where there are free family cooking classes.

11. Swing in Lower Manhattan

Rockefeller Park in Battery Park City has great playgrounds, including a “Big Swing” park for older kids. You can borrow games and sports equipment from May through October.

12. Young at Art

The Museum of Modern Art, 11 W 53rd St., has free programming on Saturdays and Sundays, 10:20–11:15 am. MoMa Tours for Fours is open to kids age 4 and their adult companions. You can bring along a younger sibling, but one child must be 4 years old. Get to the museum before 10 – tickets are first-come, first-served. 

13. Climb the Stairway to the Stars

Let your little kids show off their stair climbing ability and tire them out at The Vessel, 20 Hudson Yards. This outdoor climbing structure at Hudson Yards has free tickets you can reserve in advance. But if you show up early (and toddlers always get up early, right?) you can get in right away.

14. Visit MoMA on Friday

The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), 11 W 53rd St., started its Free Fridays for teens, though anyone is welcome. Be aware that this is very popular, so arrive early. Free admission starts at 4 pm.

15. Gallery Hop

Art galleries in Chelsea, the Meatpacking District and Soho are all open to the public. Yes, the artwork is for sale, but these are like mini art museums, often focusing on a single artist. Be sure to sign in, and pick up an information sheet. Some faves include the Dia Art Foundation, SVA Chelsea Gallery and Blank Space.

16. Get Hands-On

The National Museum of American Indian, 1 Bowling Green, is part of the Smithsonian Institute. It has a hands-on activity center and exhibits on Native Americans.

17. Walk on High

The High Line, a 1.5-mile elevated park, has public art throughout its span. The High Line runs from the Meatpacking District to midtown. There are places to sit, lounge, splash in the water and people watch. There are also free family programs.

18. Check Out an Industrial Art Museum

Brant Foundation Art Study Center is a new art museum on the Lower East Side at 421 East 6th St. The former Con Edison power plant, now a striking contemporary art museum, retains some of its industrial past.

19. Be Quiet

The Conservatory Garden, a six-acre formal garden in Central Park, is an officially designated Quiet Zone. Bring teens to admire the greenery and exercise decorum. The main entrance is through the Vanderbilt Gate, on Fifth Avenue between 104th and 105th Streets.

20. Get Kids in Free

The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 5th Ave., admits kids 12 and under for free. Adult visitors from outside New York State are now required to pay full admission, but this gets you into the main museum, the Met Breuer, and the Cloisters. My kids loved the armor exhibit and the hands-on gallery tours geared towards children. In summer, check out the roof installation.

21. Show Me the Money

The NY Federal Reserve, 33 Liberty St., offers guided tours Monday through Friday, 1 pm and 2 pm by reservation only. Reserve free tours up to 30 days in advance. 33 Liberty Street.

22. Get in Free on Saturdays

The Jewish Museum, 1109 5th Ave., doesn’t charge admission on Saturdays and select Jewish holidays. Note that only permanent exhibits are open and the hands-on children’s exhibition, and the excellent Kosher restaurant, are closed on the free days.

23. Pay What You Wish

The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, 1071 5th Ave., is particularly appealing to kids because of the Frank Lloyd Wright designed building with the spiral rotunda. Look for the Picassos. Pay what you wish, Saturdays from 5–8 p.m.

24. Never Forget

The National September 11 Memorial & Museum, 180 Greenwich St., has a free outdoor memorial, although you have to pay to get into the museum. The memorial, on the site of the World Trade Center, has deep waterfalls and reflecting pools. The names of all the victims of the terrorist attacks of February 26, 1993, and September 11, 2001, are inscribed.

25. Have A Grand Time at Grand Central

Grand Central Terminal has a zodiac ceiling with constellations painted in gold leaf. You can visit any time, although we don’t recommend going at not rush hour. The indoor location is particularly welcome in winter. There is also a whispering gallery downstairs. The New York Transit Museum has a great train display around the holidays.

Read More: Fun Free Things to Do with Kids at Grand Central Terminal

Free Things to Do in NYC with Kids in Summer: Manhattan

26. Visit Governor’s Island
27. Watch Shakespeare in the Park
28. Go Fish
29. Kayak at Pier 26
30. Catch a Movie
31. Listen to Some Tunes
32. Park it at the Movies
33. Take a Dip

26. Visit Governor’s Island

Governors Island, an island paradise between Manhattan and Brooklyn, has ferry service daily from May 1-October 31. Weekend ferries from Manhattan are free at 10 am, 11 am and 11:30 am and free from Brooklyn at 11 am and 11:30 am. Return trips are free. There’s plenty to do on the island. You can bring bikes for free (and enjoy car-free biking), picnic, hang out in a hammock or hit the adventure playground, play:groundNYC. Ride down giant slides, take out a kayak for free or take a free walking tour. SoHo’s Children’s Museum of the Arts offers free workshops.

27. Watch Shakespeare in the Park

Every summer, The Public Theater has two productions at The Delacorte Theater in Central Park. People line up early to be guaranteed tickets. There is also an online lottery and last minute tickets just before showtime.

28. Go Fish

The Catch and Release fishing program at the Harlem Meer includes free instruction, poles, and bait. This activity is geared toward children ages 5 and up.

29. Kayak at Pier 26

May through October, you can kayak for free on the Hudson River. If you have a big family, note that you can only take one child per boat.

30. Catch a Movie

On Monday nights, June through August, bring a blanket and a picnic to Bryant Park and watch a movie. Some movies are not quite family friendly, though young children might fall asleep before the main event.

TravelingMom Tip: Arrive early!!

31. Listen to Some Tunes

Get street cred with your teens by taking them to SummerStage. The outdoor music festival at Rumsey Playfield in Central Park has big name artists they will know, and you may not. Most performances are free, with the exception of a few benefit concerts.

32. Park it at the Movies

Hudson River Park, on the west side of Manhattan, has free family movies with free popcorn. Riverflicks is on Friday nights at Pier 46 in July and August.

33. Take a Dip

Outdoor swimming pools around the city offer a free way to cool off in the heat of summer. Don’t expect many amenities, but pools are clean and lifeguards are attentive. (Note: There are outdoor pools in all five boroughs.)

Free Things to Do in NYC with Kids in Winter: Manhattan

34. Ice Ice Baby
35. Have Holiday Fun
36. Warm Up to the Holidays

34. Ice Ice Baby

An outdoor skating rink pops up every fall and winter in Bryant Park. Free ice skating does not include rentals, but you can bring your own skates.

35. Have Holiday Fun

Get in the holiday spirit at the Bryant Park Holiday Market. The shops open in late October and close in early January.

36. Warm Up to the Holidays

The Union Square Holiday Market has a warming station where you can – you guessed it – warm up. There is also live music. This market closes Christmas Eve.

Best Free Things to Do in NYC with Kids: Brooklyn

37. Stop and Smell the Flowers
38. Spend the Night at the Beach
39. Have Some Fishy Fun
40. Party at the Museum
41. Paddle the River
42. Celebrate Summer
43. Watch Movies with a View
44. Stretch Outdoors
45. Stretch Again
46. Industrious Children
47. Open Air Shows
48. Read the Headstones
49. Play Old Fashioned Games
50. A Birdhouse Grows in Brooklyn
51. Watch Movies Under the Stars

37. Stop and Smell the Flowers

The Brooklyn Botanic Garden, 990 Washington Ave., is free on Friday mornings, 8 a.m.–noon, March through November. It is also free at all times for children under 12. In winter, visit the indoor desert and tropical rainforest in the Conservatory.

38. Spend the Night at the Beach

Coney Island Flicks on the Beach shows movies every other Monday at 12th Street Beach in July and August. Bring blankets or chairs and a light jacket in case of cool ocean breezes.

39. Have Some Fishy Fun

The New York Aquarium, in Coney Island, offers pay-what-you-wish on Wednesdays from 3 pm to closing. Visit the penguins and seals at the sea cliffs, ad the ocean wonders: sharks, rays and sea turtles.

40. Party at the Museum

First Saturdays at the Brooklyn Museum, 200 Eastern Parkway, is a big party on the first Saturday each month, 5 – 11 pm. Though there are activities geared towards all ages, crowds and the hour make it best for tweens and teens.

41. Paddle the River

Free kayaking at Brooklyn Bridge Park, Pier 2. From June to August, paddle for free.

42. Celebrate Summer

Celebrate Brooklyn, at the Bandshell in Prospect Park, has dozens of free music, movies, and dance night time performances every summer. There is also a family-friendly afternoon event each season.

43. Watch Movies with a View

This movie series in Brooklyn Bridge Park has a DJ set followed by a movie. Thursday nights, July and August.

44. Stretch Outdoors

Prospect Park has free yoga on Thursday evenings, June through August. Bring your own mat to the Long Meadow.

45. Stretch Again

The Brooklyn Greenway Initiative has free outdoor yoga May – September, every other Thursday at the Naval Cemetery Landscape. Yoga in the Garden is 6:30-7:30 pm. 63 Williamsburg St West.

46. Industrious Children

Industry City, in Sunset Park, has kids’ movies weekly. The Saturday Cinema Club in the Factory Floor, produced with Rooftop Films, also offers a hands-on craft activity.

47. Open Air Shows

The Ford Amphitheater in Coney Island, a covered outdoor music venue, has some free concerts (along with ticketed) all summer. It is at the other end of the boardwalk, away from the amusement parks, but the parks may lure you in and they definitely are not free.

48. Read the Headstones

Green-Wood Cemetery was one of the top tourist attractions in the United States in the 1800s and is still a popular field trip for Brooklyn school children. There is nothing scary about the lush grounds and killer NYC skyline views. You can find gravestones of many famous people. Pick up a self-guided tour brochure at the main entrance. Green-Wood Cemetery is on the National Register of Historic Places. 500 25th Street.

49. Play Old Fashioned Games

Lefferts Historic House, 452 Flatbush Ave., is a children’s history museum. The popular Brooklyn spot has old fashioned games, period rooms, and a working garden. Be aware that it is within sight of the carousel, so you may have to pony up for a spin.

50. A Birdhouse Grows in Brooklyn

The Audubon Center at the Boathouse in Prospect Park, Brooklyn, has hands-on exhibits. It also loans free Discovery Packs to families, with binoculars, magnifying glasses, and games.

51. Watch Movies Under the Stars

Prospect Park, Brooklyn has free movies on Wednesday nights. There is music first, then a family friendly movie.

Best Free Things to Do in NYC with Kids: The Bronx

52. Smell the Flowers
53. Walk Among the Blooms
54. Free for All
The Best Free Things to Do in NYC: Queens
55. Stroll Among the Art
56. The Place to Bee

52. Smell the Flowers

Wave Hill, a lush public garden in The Bronx at 675 W 252nd St., has free Tuesday and Saturday morning admission, 9 am to noon. Free shuttle buses run from the 1 train and MetroNorth.

53. Walk Among the Blooms

The New York Botanical Gardens at 2900 Southern Blvd. in the Bronx is free on Wednesdays and Thursdays. This urban oasis has indoor and outdoor displays that ensure year-round blooms.

54. Free for All

The Bronx Museum of the Arts, a contemporary art museum at 1040 Grand Concourse, reflects its diverse community. It offers walking tours of The Grand Concourse, teen nights and family programs on Saturdays, all free.

The Best Free Things to Do in NYC with Kids: Queens

55. Stroll Among the Art

Socrates Sculpture Park, in Long Island City, Queens, has outdoor public art. The park is open daily, and also offers performances, festivals, and nighttime movies on Wednesdays in summer.

56. The Place to Bee

The Queens Botanical Garden has free admission Wednesdays, 3 to 6 pm, and Sundays, 9 to 11 am. It is also free from November through March. There are a pollinator garden, an herb garden and a meadow with perennials.

The Best Free Things to Do in NYC with Kids: Staten Island

57. Bring the Dog
58. Check out a New Place to Play

57. Bring the Dog

Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden, 1000 Richmond Terrace, is free, but there is a fee for the Chinese Scholar’s Garden and the art museum. And it’s dog-friendly! Be sure to check out the Florentine Tuscan Garden and the woodland Healing Garden.

58. Check out a New Place to Play

Freshkills Park is a new public park in Staten Island that is opening in sections. It has free kayaking tours and family nature walks. There are also special bike tours with free bike rentals.

Note: Bargain things to do in NYC with kids include half-priced day-of tickets for Broadway and off-Broadway shows at the TKTS booths and CityPASS, which has three and six attraction prices.

Bonus: You have to pay for the ferry to the Statue of Liberty, but once you get there, the museum is free. Don’t miss it. TravelingMom publisher Kim Orlando visited the Statue of Liberty Museum with a 15- and 6-year-old and all 3 were impressed. The 6-year-old loved that he was allowed, even encouraged, to touch everything. He got to climb onto Lady Liberty’s bronzed foot, and stick his hand up a bronzed cast of her nose. Super cool to a 6-year-old.

The 15-year-old couldn’t resist the technology. One of the interactive spots required him to snap a picture of himself that was sent to the “big screen” to create a personalized statue. Another spot asked him to choose images that represented liberty to him and produced stats on how many people agreed with him.

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