But since we’re New York City on the Cheap so we’re all about the deals this holiday weekend and we have plenty for you. Be sure to keep checking back as we continue adding more events leading up to the holiday.

Brooklyn’s 155th Memorial Day Parade

Brooklyn’s 155th Memorial Day Parade

Brooklyn’s 155th Memorial Day Parade is on May 30th at 11:00 am, starting on 3rd Ave. & 78th Street, Brooklyn.

Green-Wood Cemetery Concert 

Green-Wood is holding its free outdoor Memorial Day concert on May 30th, from 2:30-4:30 pm at 500 25th Street, Brooklyn.

The Annual Free Memorial Day Concert

The Annual Free Memorial Day Concert takes place on May 30th, at 7 pm (doors open at 6 pm) at The Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine, 1047 Amsterdam Avenue at 112th Street, New York, NY.

Mimosa Mondays Brunch & Happy Hour Memorial Day Edition

Mimosa Mondays Brunch & Happy Hour Memorial Day Edition takes place on May 30th, from 2-7 pm at La Avenida, 2247 1st Avenue, New York, NY. Happy Hour admission is free; brunch is $35 per person for two-hour bottomless drinks (+ the cost of entree).

Memorial Day Members Breakfast

Members of the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum can enjoy free breakfast on May 30th, from 8:30-9:30 am at West 46th Street, New York, NY.

Coney Island Memorial Weekend Set It Off

Coney Island Memorial Weekend Set It Off with Strafe Live DJ Frankie Paradise takes place on Sunday, May 29th, from 1-7 pm at West 19th Street, Brooklyn, NY. Entry is free.

Free Family Movie Memorial Weekend

Family Movie Night takes place on Sunday, May 29th, from 12:30-2:30 pm at New Life Rehoboth Church, 1375 Mace Avenue, Bronx, NY.

The Broadway Star Project presents Magic

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IDNYC

An IDNYC is a government-issued photo ID card that is at no cost to you. Any New Yorker can have one as long as they are ten years of age or older.

To start receiving these discounted entertainment offers, you’ll need to register online with your IDNYC number. If you don’t have an IDNYC card you can apply for one on New York’s official website here.

Enjoy all that New York City has to offer for less simply by being a resident of this amazing place we all call home.

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Photo: Mark Doyle/SummerStage

New York City is a great place to be at any season of the year. But some would argue that summer is when the city really shines. Warm weather makes it easy to enjoy some of the city’s great public spaces. Add a little live music to the equation, and you’ve got the perfect evening planned. Even better, some summer concert series in New York are completely free. Of course, we had to compile a list!

SummerStage

Sponsored by the City Parks Foundation, SummerStage is a free series of concerts in Central Park and in other public parks around the city. Performers run the gamut from veteran superstars like George Clinton, to established indie acts like Sharon Van Etten and Modest Mouse, to emerging talents you’ll enjoy discovering.

Photo: Naixin Xu/SummerStage

The main stage is Rumsey Playfield (East 71st Street and East Drive), but there are events in all five boroughs. As in past years, there are dates throughout July and August. There are restrooms as well as vendors selling snacks and drinks.

All SummerStage events are rain or shine except in the case of dangerous conditions, like severe storms or lightning.

>>DO YOU LOVE A DEAL? FIND OUT ABOUT FREE MUSEUM DAYS IN NEW YORK CITY

BAM’s R&B Festival at MetroTech Commons

Brooklyn Academy of Music’s R&B Festival at MetroTech Commons is a free lunchtime concert series that BAM has been offering every summer for over twenty years. As the name implies, the focus is fresh talent in the R&B genre. The concerts take place in Brooklyn Commons (now called MetroTech Commons) at 2 MetroTech Center in Brooklyn. The park is a spacious oasis of green in the center of a downtown office enclave, providing the perfect break in the middle of a weekday. Check the BAM website for updated performers and schedules.

BAMCafé Live

Since 1999, the Brooklyn Academy of Music has offered BAMCafé Live, a free concert series in its Adam E. Max Gathering Space, a very cool bar and lounge space in the Peter Jay Sharp Building. BAMCaf concerts take place most Fridays and Saturdays, and the event space opens half an hour before showtime. Call the venue for start times and performers. This ongoing series has scheduled dates into mid-June.

Celebrate Brooklyn!

One of the oldest and most popular free concert series in the country, BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! has been around since 1979. The Lena Horne Bandshell in Prospect Park, surrounded by the rolling green lawn, paths, and shady trees of Brooklyn’s Olmstead-designed Prospect Park, provides the perfect venue to watch the top-notch talent the festival attracts each summer. The performers for this summer’s schedule have yet to be announced, but past years have featured greats from the world of jazz, dance, pop, rock, film and avant-garde performance.

Carnegie Hall Citywide

Each summer, Carnegie Hall Citywide offers free picnic concerts in Bryant Park. This summer, the five scheduled performances in July and August will include jazz, orchestral and pop musicians. Acts announced so far include Toshi Reagon, the Spanish Harlem Orchestra, The Knights, Adrienne Warren and Friends, Terrence Blanchard & the E-Collective, and Turtle Island Quartet. So grab a picnic blanket, find a spot on the grass, and enjoy the music as the sun goes down.

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Planet Fitness

Starting on May 16th, teens can sign up online or in person to enjoy a free membership at any club closest to them. Those who are under the age of 18 will need a parent or guardian to sign up which can be done anytime from May 16-August 31st. Afraid of missing out? Stay in the loop with an email reminder from Planet Fitness simply by completing the pre-registration online.

Any teen who signs up for the High School Summer Pass will also be entered in two sweepstakes getting the opportunity to win a $500 scholarship and a grand prize scholarship of $5,000. Now, that’s what we call one deal of a summer.

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Ready for more good news? You don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars to see a show. There are tons of ways to score discounts on tickets. In fact, with producers going the extra mile to bring audience numbers back up, there are more ways to get discount tickets than ever — even for really popular shows.

Of course, we had to compile a list! Read on:

The TKTS Booth in Times Square

Located at 47^th Street and Broadway, the TKTS Booth offers deep discounts on same-day tickets to musicals, plays, and dance events. Like a lot of cheap ticket options, this one came into being because it’s impossible to predict demand for a show. Rather than be left with a surplus of unsold seats, producers prefer to sell them to you on the day of the show, for less.

Enter the TKTS Booth, which keeps unsold tickets from going to waste and helps sustain the whole Broadway ecosystem! You have two basic options: you can get there early to beat the long time, or show up closer to showtime, when theaters sometimes make a late-in-the-game decision to release blocks of really prime seats.

The Times Square location has been so popular over the years that the Theatre Development Fund, which runs TKTS, recently added a second TKTS Booth at Lincoln Center, which should be reopening soon. Lines can be shorter at that location. There is also a TKTS App.

Rush Tickets

Want to see a popular show for only $25-$40? Don’t mind standing around? Then Rush tickets might be your best option.

Theaters have a limited number of Rush tickets. These are sold day of show, starting when the box office opens, on a first-come, first-served basis.  Some special categories of these discounted tickets exist, like Student Rush (you’ll need a student ID) and Senior Rush (you’ll need to be over 65 years old).

The upside of Rush tickets is simple: they are deeply discounted! Depending on the price of the show (which can be hundreds of dollars), the discounts range from 20%-30% to 80% or more.

Getting these tickets involves heading to the box office of the show you want to see, and then… waiting. For popular shows, you may find lines already forming by early morning, hours before the box office opens. And at some theaters, tickets designated Rush are usually seats with an obstructed view.

Standing Room Only

Some theaters offer Standing Room Only (SRO) tickets that you can snag the day of the show. The downside: Standing room means you will be standing for the duration of the show! The upsides: You’ll likely spend less than thirty bucks. And standing room is usually just behind the orchestra, so you’ll have a great view. If they were seats, SRO tickets would be great seats!

Many theaters start selling SRO tickets a mere few hours before showtime. Start by calling the box office of the show you want to see. Ask if they offer SRO tickets, and how you can get them.

Mobile Apps

It’s the digital age, so naturally there are lots of new options for finding discounts online. Many of these take the form of apps you can download to your phone, allowing you to plan your Broadway night on the fly.

TodayTix lets you browse theaters and showtimes, then try for Rush tickets from your phone. The app’s creators – former Broadway producers –have partnerships with over 1,300 theaters in big cities worldwide, including lots of the best ones in New York.

Similar apps include BroadwayADay, Broadway.com, BroadwayBox, and the official TKTS app.

Some popular or long-running shows get their own app. For example, you can download the official Hamilton app for original content, updates about the show, a shop with official merch, and more. And, yes, the Hamilton app makes it easy for you to enter the lottery every day for $10 Hamilton tickets. More about ticket lotteries below!

Cancellations

If you’re staying near the theater, or you never know what you feel like doing until the last minute, this option can be a good one. Sometimes tickets become available at the very last minute due to audience cancellations. These will be released by the theater just before showtime. It’s kind of the Hail Mary Pass of cheap tickets, but it might be worth a try!

Ticket Lotteries

Lots of shows offer digital or in-person lotteries where you can win discounted tickets. Sometimes the deals are a significant savings. Hamilton currently has a lottery for $10 tickets! Broadway for Broke People is a handy site for keeping up with shows that are offering lotteries or other deals.

Memberships That Offer Discounts

The Theater Development Fund offers a $40 membership that grants you access to vast numbers of discounted tickets. If you’re generally a Broadway fan and would love to see several shows a year, this could end up saving you tons of money – the ticket discounts are up to 70%.

There are other theaters that offer membership programs, like The Roundabout Theatre, The Vineyard Theatre, and many more. Memberships help venues stay open, since it’s income they can count on even when ticket sales are unpredictable. So if you notice over time that a particular theater offers programs that match your taste, why not become a member? You’re supporting the arts and saving money at the same time!

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Gas Prices in NYC Today

This widget updates daily so you can see which gas stations have the cheapest gas prices in New York City today.

Cheapest Gas Near Me in NYC

This shows the lowest gas prices in NYC on a map instead of in a list format. Easy and convenient for finding the best gas price near you so you don’t have to drive so far (and waste more gas)! You can zoom in or out and pan to show the best price near you.

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To reduce the waste, Starbucks is making it more valuable for customers to bring a reusable cup to the café for their daily drink.

Starting Earth Day, Friday, April 22, 2022, Starbucks Rewards members earn a discount and stars every time they bring a reusable cup for their drink — 10 cents off their beverage and 25 Bonus Stars added to their account. Be sure your cup is clean!

The discount may seem minimal, but, as everyone knows, change adds up. The frequent customer could save a few bucks every month.

However, the true incentive is with the Bonus Stars. Twenty-five Stars earns Starbucks Rewards members a FREE customization on a drink, including an espresso shot, dairy substitute, added syrup and more.

And 150 Stars earns a FREE handcrafted drink (or breakfast sandwich.) That means bring a reusable cup in just six times for a FREE beverage of your choice. Depending on the beverage, size and customizations, members could enjoy a complimentary drink valued at $7 to $8. Loyal customers could easily earn a few FREE drinks every month.

The offer is valid at participating locations on in-store beverage purchases — up to three times per day.

Hungry for more food deals?

Tuesday, April 19, 2022

Wednesday, April 20, 2022

Thursday, April 21, 2022

Friday, April 22, 2022

Saturday, April 23, 2022

Sunday, April 24, 2022

Monday, April 25, 2022

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The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Photo: Deposit Photos

No matter how you count, there are a lot. In fact, it’s safe to say that in the Big Apple, the total number of museums hovers somewhere between eighty and a hundred. Wow! A hundred museums.

That number includes world-class collections of visual art, like the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and museums devoted to design, like the Cooper-Hewitt. There are also museums devoted to fashion,, ice cream, https://www.museumoficecream.com/new-york-city , science, and, yes, even sex!

One thing is for sure: if you’re into experiencing art and culture, New York is the place to be. And that’s true even if you’re on a budget. Although entrance fees can be steep, you can get around them if you try. All you need to do is plan ahead. That’s because nearly every New York museum offers hours when admission is either free or pay what you wish.  So of course, we dug deep and found the skinny on what is free when.

Always free

Because art and education should be available for everyone, before we get to those museum that offer free admission during a select few hours every week or month, let’s look at the ones that are always free to the public.

American Folk Art Museum,  2 Lincoln Square, New York, NY 10023

Godwin Ternbach Musuem at Queens College, 65-30 Kissena Blvd, 405 Klapper Hall, Flushing, NY 11367

Green-Wood Cemetery, 500 25th St, Brooklyn, NY, 11232

Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology, 227 West 27th St, New York, NY 10001

National Museum of the American Indian – Smithsonian Institution, 1 Bowling Green, New York, NY 10004

Socrates Sculpture Park, 32-01 Vernon Blvd, Queens, NY 11106

Storefront for Art and Architecture, 97 Kenmare St, New York NY 10012

Waterfront Museum, 290 Conover St, Brooklyn, NY 11231

Yeshiva University Museum, 15 W 16th St, New York, NY 10011

Pay What You Wish

It costs money to run a museum, so many museums use the strategy of Pay What You Wish. Basically, that means admission is free but there’s pressure to pay at least a token amount. If you can afford more, go for it! You’re supporting the arts! But if your money is really tight, don’t feel bad about not paying more. The point of Pay What You Wish is to make art accessible to people of all income levels and backgrounds.

Gallery of sculptures by Auguste Rodin at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Photo: Deposit Photos

So, without further ado, here are the museums that are pay what you wish:

American Museum of Natural History, 200 Central Park West, New York, NY 10024

Bronx Museum, 1040 Grand Concourse, Bronx, NY 10456

Brooklyn Museum, 200 Eastern Pkwy, Brooklyn, NY 11238

The Cloisters, Fort Tryon Park, 99 Margaret Corbin Drive, New York, NY 10040

El Museo del Barrio, 1230 5th Ave, New York, NY 10029

Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 5th Ave, New York, NY 10028

New York City Police Museum, 100 Old Slip, New York, NY 10005

P.S. 1 MoMA, 22-25 Jackson Ave, Queens, NY 11101

Queens Botanical Garden, 43-50 Main St, Queens, NY 11355

Queens Museum of Art, Flushing Meadows Corona Park Building, Queens, NY 11368

SculptureCenter, 44-19 Purves St, Long Island City, NY 11101

Staten Island Museum, 1000 Richmond Terr, Staten Island, NY 10301

Studio Museum in Harlem, 144 West 125th Street, New York, NY 10027

Monthly free hours

Some museums also offer free evening or morning hours on a monthly or weekly basis. These are usually a way to attract new members (that’s why they sometimes co-exist with Pay What You Wish). These free hours can be fun because they may include special events, like programs, concerts or receptions.

Brooklyn Children’s Museum – Second weekend of the month, before 11 am

Brooklyn Museum – First Saturday, 5-11 pm

Neue Galerie – First Friday, 6-8pm

Noguchi Museum – First Friday (pay what you wish)

Weekly free hours

Museum at Eldridge Street,  Mondays & Fridays (pay what you wish)

9/11 Memorial Museum – Tuesdays 5-8pm

Brooklyn Botanical Garden – Tuesday–Friday during December–February (pay what you wish)

Wave Hill – Tuesdays 9am-noon

Bronx Zoo – Wednesdays 10-11am (free all day for NYC residents)

Museum of Jewish Heritage – Thursdays 4-8pm

New York Botanical Garden – Wednesdays 3-36pm, April – October

Brooklyn Children’s Museum – Thursdays 2-5pm

International Center of Photography – Thursdays 6-9pm (suggested donation of $10)

Museum of Chinese in America – Wednesday-Sunday (until September 18, 2022)

New Museum – Thursdays 7-9pm

Morgan Library & Museum – Fridays 5-7pm

Museum of Modern Art – Fridays 4-8pm

Neue Galerie – Fridays 4-7pm

New-York Historical Society – Fridays 6-8pm (pay what you wish)

Rubin Museum of Art – Fridays 6-10pm

Brooklyn Botanic Garden – Winter Weekdays from December to February (pay what you wish)

Jewish Museum – Saturdays

New York Botanical Garden – Wednesdays all day (NYC residents) or 10-11am (non-residents)

Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum – Saturdays 6-8pm (pay what you wish)

Wave Hill – Thursdays

Frick Collection – Thursdays 4 – 6pm (pay what you wish)

Queens Botanical Garden – Wednesdays 3-6pm; Sundays 9-11am

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Chelsea Flea in 2020.

New York is a world-class destination for shopping and dining. First, it’s a hub for finding anything under the sun on sale. That’s why it’s deservedly a destination for the lucky people who shop for a living, like set and prop designers, personal shoppers, and home decorators. Secondly, it’s a mecca for foodies, because the culinary options are diverse, globally inspired, and all-but-endless.

The bottom line? From casual tourists to serious fashionistas, and from serious chefs and foodies to your average hungry person, people come to the Big Apple to shop and eat.

But, as New York locals and natives know, shopping and dining in the city doesn’t necessarily mean spending a ton of money.  If you’re thrifty, you already know that flea and vintage markets, greenmarkets and farmers’ markets, can add up to savings. And with New York City for a backdrop, outdoor markets are a great option for sightseeing and people-watching, too.

With all that in mind, we’ve created this handy list of the best outdoor markets in New York.

The Chelsea Flea Market

This flea market has history: the district of Chelsea in Manhattan has been home to a flea market since the 1970s. After some recent ups and downs, complicated by the impact of Covid, the storied Chelsea Flea has now reopened under new management, and things are going swimmingly.

The emphasis is on high-quality antiques and furniture. But there is much more than that on hand. Indeed, the market holds a bewildering variety of treasures, ranging from architectural salvage and hardware, to mid-century modern finds, to decorative arts, vintage posters, photographs, and publications. You’ll also find clothing and jewelry, as well as a fascinating selection of hard-to-categorize oddments – think opera glasses, shoemakers’ lasts, turn-of-the-century engraver’s tools, vintage type-setting slugs, and the like.

Chelsea Flea

29 West 25^th Street, NY NY 10001

Between Broadway and Sixth Avenue

Hours: Saturday and Sunday 8am-5pm, rain or shine.

Grand Bazaar NYC

You can feel great about shopping this market, because not only do local and regional vendors get a chance to sell their goods and wares, but 100% of the proceeds go to support four local public schools. That’s because this market has its roots with a group of parents back in the 1980’s, who organized a massive stoop sale to raise funds for their kids’ schools.

Fast forward some four decades later. Now, according to its website, Grand Bazaar NY is “the oldest, largest, and most diverse curated weekly shopping market in New York City.” You will find work by local independent artists, crafts, antiques and collectibles, artisanal food vendors, vintage clothing and ephemera, and furniture and home décor.

Grand Bazaar NYC

100 West 77^th Street, NY, NY 10024

At Columbus Avenue

Hours: Every Sunday from 10:00am – 5pm, rain or shine.

Brooklyn Flea, DUMBO

In case you didn’t know, DUMBO is an acronym – it stands for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass – and it’s one of the coolest places in New York. With its cobbled streets, historic brick facades, and a breathtaking view of the Manhattan skyline, it’s scenic as anything and a gorgeous place to spend a summer day. A creative district, its distinctive buildings are home to artists’ studios and start-ups, as well as a great mix of bars, cafés, galleries, bookshops and boutiques.

The Brooklyn Flea fits right into that vibe. Run by the same people who run Chelsea Flea, the Brooklyn version has the added distinction of having been named by Time Out NY as one of New York’s Essential Pick-up Spots. Vendors are a broad mix that includes vintage clothing, furniture and décor, arts and collectibles, and vintage records. There are local food vendors too if you need to grab a snack.

Brooklyn Flea, DUMBO

80 Pearl Street, Brooklyn, 11201

Saturdays and Sundays, April – December

The Union Square Greenmarket

Speaking of food, this amazing greenmarket is essential weekend shopping for many New Yorkers – in fact, an estimated 60,000 people visit the market stalls on an average day. With over 140 vendors, the sheer variety of fresh and local food is inspiring.

You’ll find fresh produce and orchard fruit from regional farms; mushrooms; kimchi; meat, fish, and artisan cheeses; local honey, yogurt, wines, ciders, and maple syrup; plants and flowers; fresh-baked bread and treats; crafts and gifts. There are also events, including cookbook signings, chef demonstrations, and educational booths. Best of all, the farmers, growers and artisans are there to answer questions.

The Union Square Greenmarket

Union Square West & E. 17^th Street, New York, NY 10003

Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, 8am – 6pm

Artists & Fleas Williamsburg

Okay, so technically it’s not outdoors, but with nearly 50 individual sellers under the cavernous roof of a former dry-goods storage warehouse, Artists & Fleas Williamsburg feels like an outdoor market. Run by an organization that organizes open-air markets all over the U.S., the Williamsburg location is the Artists & Fleas flagship.

The mix is eclectic, with artisanal skincare and small-batch beauty brands thrown into the mix. Browse clothing, furniture, home décor, and crazy finds you didn’t know you needed until you set eyes on them is a great way to spend a day. New Yorkers are some of the savviest and most fashionable people on the planet, so it stands to reason that flea and vintage markets here are packed with once-in-a-lifetime finds. Artists & Fleas is no exception.

Artists & Fleas Williamsburg

70 North 7^th Street, Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Saturday and Sunday 11am – 6pm

Nolita Market

With a curated selection of just under 20 vendors, this smaller outdoor market is a hidden gem with a laid-back, indie feel. Need organic cotton baby clothes and baby blankets? Want something unique to complete your look – something you can’t find in just any store? This is the place to go.

Nolita Market, located on one of the prettiest blocks in Soho, on Prince Street between Mott and Mulberry, specializes in apparel. You’ll find clothing, toys, handbags, sunglasses, jewelry, hats and tee shirts, and more, most of it handmade by local artists. Check back often, as artists update their wares often. And take note: unlike some markets that are rain or shine, this one is open “weather permitting.”

Nolita Market

223 Mott Street, New York, NY 10012

Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 10am-7pm, weather permitting, March – December

The Bronx Night Market

Launched in 2018, and run by a majority-female group of Bronx entrepreneurs, this market celebrates Bronx’s wildly global neighborhood identity. True, it’s a food-centric market–but with pop-up shops, music, and crafts, clothing and other vendors, it’s also an immersive cultural experience.

The Bronx Night Market prides itself on its diversity, with over 20 national cuisines represented among its food stalls. Showcasing local entrepreneurs and talent is also a focus, with everything from pizza and sandwiches to jerk chicken and vegan Puerto Rican cuisine on offer. In addition to the culinary delights, there’s a sound stage where DJs and live performers take turns entertaining marketgoers throughout the evening. There’s also a “kid zone,” art installations, arts and crafts vendors, educational booths, and more.

Bronx Night Market

1 Fordham Plaza, Bronx, NY 10458

Opens April 30 and runs until November. Saturdays 1pm-7pm.

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But five-star restaurants and Broadway shows can get expensive. What if you want to visit the Big Apple without breaking the bank? Lucky for you, we’ve made a list of the best free things to do in New York.

Walk the High Line

Catch a breeze on the High Line. Photo: Deposit Photo

Stroll above the traffic and take in the sights. Sustainable gardens, fountains, public parks, and art installations are just some of the attractions you’ll find on this free, elevated pedestrian space on the west side of downtown Manhattan.

The award-winning complex opened in 2009 following a public competition for innovative designs. The resulting plan reinvigorates an old, abandoned elevated train line that had been slated for demolition. The High Line is open from 7am – 7pm every day of the year. It’s a great place to watch the sunset.

Take a tour with a Big Apple Greeter

Get to know a neighborhood. Photo: Deposit Photo

This super cool organization is volunteer-driven and donor-supported. That’s how they can continue to offer tours of New York neighborhoods, led by New York natives, for free.

Simply contact the organization to request a tour, and you’ll be matched with one of 300 greeters who offer their services. It’s kind of like visiting with a good friend who can show you around the neighborhood.

Your guide will take you to their favorite sights, best out-of-the-way spots to eat and drink, and fill you in on the neighborhood history, too.

Visit Grand Central Terminal

Grand Central Station in New York City. Photo: Deposit Photo

Where else in New York can you look up and see stars in the middle of the day? Known as the Celestial Ceiling, the grand vaulted space above the main atrium boasts a meticulous recreation of a map of the constellations in the night sky.

As for the rest of the building, it’s more than just a train station: This gorgeous art nouveau landmark features carved stone, brass ornamentation, herringbone tiles in the passageways, and decorative inscriptions.

You’ll also find over 30 shops and restaurants. And, of course, you can catch the subway and the Metro-North railroad. As a major transportation hub, Grand Central is a perfect place to people watch: around 750,000 people pass through its doors every day.

Check out Central Park

Gapstow Bridge in Central Park. Photo: Deposit Photo

You may not realize how big Central Park is – or how many secrets it holds. Within its 843 acres you can take wildlife walks, go birdwatching, visit a miniature moated castle, take a sculpture tour, and much more.

Designed by renowned landscape artist Frederick Law Olmstead, the park has been giving New Yorkers a little nature-filled respite from the city for over 160 years.

Check the website for daily free tours, activities and events. And think seasonal: Depending on the season, you’ll enjoy cherry blossoms, merry-go-rounds, ice skating, migratory birds, fish ponds, and more.

Ride the Staten Island Ferry

Staten Island Ferry at the pier. The ferry connects Manhattan with Staten Island and is free for everyone. Photo: Deposit Photo

Running 24 hours a day, 7 days a week between South Ferry in Manhattan and the St. George Ferry Terminal in Staten Island, the Staten Island Ferry is absolutely free of charge!

Drink in the New York Harbor atmosphere and enjoy stunning views of the Statue of Liberty.

70,000 passengers a day take the ferry to commute between Staten Island and Lower Manhattan. If you love the 80s, this might be the perfect free New York activity for you: scenes in the 1988 Melanie Griffith-starring film Working Girl and the 1986 video for Madonna’s Papa Don’t Preach were filmed on the ferry itself.

The ride is about 25 minutes each way, and you must get off the ferry after it arrives in port. You can get right back in line for the return trip.

Browse art galleries in Chelsea

If you are lucky, you can see priceless art AND celebrities. Photo: Deposit Photo

New York is home to dozens of art museums, but the entrance fees can be pricey. The solution? You can get your art fix for free just walking around the gallery district in Chelsea, where some of the most famous artists in the world show their work.

Pick up a gallery guide to check what’s on offer (most galleries have them on hand for free). And make sure you don’t overlook anything – some buildings have a couple of galleries under one roof.

You may even spot a few celebrities. Stars like Katie Holmes, Alec Baldwin, and Jake Gyllenhall are said to frequent the area. Most galleries are closed Mondays, so plan accordingly.

Visit St. Patrick’s Cathedral

St. Patrick’s Cathedral on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. Photo: Deposit Photo

Want to travel back in time? This gorgeous neo-Gothic church will transport you to another era.

Nestled in the heart of the cityscape, on 5^th Avenue in midtown Manhattan, St. Patrick’s was built in its present location in 1908, after the previous St. Patrick’s on Mulberry Street was destroyed by fire.

Since then, skyscrapers have grown up around the elegant structure, and significant restorations have been made, including the cleaning of the façade and the restoration of the windows in 2009. Step inside for a dose of tranquility and beauty that seems to be a world apart.

Take in an auction house showroom

Photo: Deposit Photo

It’s a little-known fact, but the big art auction houses often have galleries with viewings open to the public ahead of their big sales. Christie’s, Sotheby’s, Wright, and Philips all have showrooms in Manhattan.

What’s on display and when depends on upcoming sales; think anything priceless and beautiful, from jeweled Mughal daggers to mid-century Modern furniture designs to contemporary paintings. And, since items at auction are often passing from one private collection to another, you may be getting once-in-a-lifetime glimpses of things that will be locked away, never to be publicly exhibited again!

Visit the New York Public Library

The famous stone lions guarding the massive stone steps up to the doors may look stern and forbidding, but entry into this beautiful, quiet space will cost you nothing. Centrally located near Bryant Park, the main branch of the New York Public Library is a must-visit.

Sit in the beautiful Rose Reading Room under soaring vaulted ceilings and read or study (as long as you’re quiet!). Free, timed reservations are required for the Polonsky Exhibition Space, where some of the treasures of the Library collections are on view.

Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge

Take in the skyline from the Brooklyn Bridge. Photo: Deposit Photo

There are lots of ways to view Manhattan’s famous skyline, but most of them, like the Empire State Building observation deck or the top of Rockefeller Center, cost money. Not so for the Brooklyn Bridge, with enchanting views of Manhattan that can be yours for free.

First opened to traffic in 1863, this bridge is famous for its picturesque stone arches, and has stood the test of time, with recent upgrades including a protected bike lane that was added in September 2021.

Keep the skyline in front of you by taking the subway to the High Street-Brooklyn Bridge stop and crossing the bridge toward Manhattan.

Get tickets to a morning show or daytime talk show

Free tickets let visitors see a television show in production. Photo: Carolyn DiPaolo

You’ve heard the phrase “Taped before a live studio audience,” right? Many of the most popular morning shows and daytime shows are taped in Manhattan studios, with an audience of people just like you.

In fact, Good Morning America, The Today Show, Live! With Kelly and Ryan, and the Rachael Ray Show all rely on a live audience to give the show energy and fun. You’ll need to call ahead or click through a few links online to reserve a free ticket. Audience members can receive gifts or other perks, depending on the show. And of course, there’s always the chance that you’ll end up on camera!

One caveat: You’ll need to get up pretty early. Most morning and daytime shows begin taping by 8 am, meaning you’ll probably need to check in by 7:15 am.

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