FREE THINGS TO DO IN NEW YORK CITY WITH KIDS

New York is an expensive city, it was a real culture shock for me when we first moved there (from the suburbs of England.) Luckily, there are also some amazing free things to do in NYC! When travelling as a family, costs can quickly add up so this guide will dive into the best free things to do in New York City with kids and also help you discover some hidden gems!

I’ll start with things that are free and available to do year-round, I’ll also share which days you can get free museum entry and a list of seasonal free events. So, if you’re looking for some budget-friendly activities in NYC, you’re in the right place! Read on for all you need to know.

THE BEST FREE THINGS TO DO IN NEW YORK CITY WITH KIDS

In this section, I’ll share the best free attractions in New York City. These are perfect for families visiting NYC for the first time!

CENTRAL PARK

In my opinion, Central Park is the best park in the world. It should be on everyone’s NYC bucket list and is the perfect free place for families to enjoy.

There is so much to see in Central Park and you can easily spend a full day exploring here if you have the time.

Key places not to miss include Central Park Mall, The Bethesda Terrace and Fountain, the Bow Bridge and the views from Umpire Rock.

The Ramble and Belvedere Castle are hidden gems (yes, a free castle in Central Park!) and small Children will be fascinated by the Delacorte Clock which chimes on every hour and at half past the hour.

Central Park also has 21 free playgrounds. These are the perfect way to let kids burn some energy and break up cultural attractions.

THE BROOKLYN BRIDGE

One of NYC’s most iconic attractions. Walking the Brooklyn Bridge is completely free and I would highly recommend it! The Bridge can get quite crowded due to its popularity so aim to go early in the morning.

BRYANT PARK

Bryant Park is a small park but it is an amazing area to find free things to do in NYC. There is a kid’s area that has books, colouring and activities such as magnetic tiles set up and free to play with. We’d often grab a coffee and relax while our toddler played.

There are also games such as chess and ping pong as well as storytime and juggling lessons.

Find out more and check their events HERE.

CENTRAL PARK | THE BROOKLYN BRIDGE | BRYANT PARK

THE NYC PUBLIC LIBRARY

Located just around the corner from Bryant Park is the NYPL. This is a stunning building to look at from the outside however, I didnt realize until we lived in NYC that you can go inside. This is a great free indoor and worth doing. The building’s architecture is incredible.

They have the original teddy bear that inspired the Winnie the Pooh stories on display which my son enjoyed seeing. At Christmas, they also put up a fabulous tree!

GRAND CENTRAL STATION

Another of New York’s iconic landmarks. The ceiling is painted with a beautiful constellation map. Kids will also love to find the whispering gallery located by the oyster bar. Stand in opposite corners and you’ll hear each other as if you were next to each other!

THE HIGH LINE

This is an abandoned, elevated railway track that has been converted into a public garden. Initially, it used to transport goods in and out of Manhattan and is now the perfect place for families to enjoy. Along the line, you’ll see plants, and flowers but also lots of sculptures and artwork.

Note: the artwork gets changed every so often.

WINNIE THE POOH AT THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY | THE HIGH LINE | GRAND CENTRAL STATION

LITTLE ISLAND

When you get to the end of The High Line, you’ll see Little Island, a unique park built on the Hudson River. This is a very cute, free outdoor activity. The views from here are also great!

This is a good thing to do on a warm day, we visited often and in the winter, the wind makes it freezing!

STATEN ISLAND FERRY

The state Island Ferry is a free boat trip from lower Manhattan to Staten Island. You have to get off at Staten Island but most people just rejoin the queue and head straight back. This trip is popular as you get great views of the Statue of Liberty. Its the best free way to see it!

TIMES SQUARE

Any New Yorker will tell you Times Square is overrated. I agree but I still think it’s something you should see your first time in New York!

LITTLE ISLAND | STATEN ISLAND FERRY

OTHER FREE THINGS TO DO IN NEW YORK CITY WITH KIDS

THE MET – 81st STUDIO

While The Met Museum is not free, if you’re visiting with a child 11 or under, they can visit The 81st Street Studio for free. Unfortunaltely, you can book a slot, you have to put your name on the wait list when you arrive.

Find out more here.

WINDOW SHOPPING

While I’m aware window shopping can quickly leads to expensive shopping, NYC has some great shops that kids will love to visit!

FAO Schwarz – New York’s most famous toy shop.
The LEGO Store – is always fun and has lots of hands-on things for kids
American Girl – I have two boys so I never went here but girls will love it!
Macy’s – on the 7th floor is Macy’s toy department. They have a small play area perfect for little kids.
FDNY shop – one of our favourites things was to go a play in the real fire truck they have on display!
Harry Potter – my kids were a little young but older kids will be fascinated by the Harry Potter Shop.
Target – while Target stores in NYC are smaller than in the rest of the USA, its still a shop my son loved to visit. It’s also a good place to pick up budget friendly snacks.

THE MET STUDIO | LEGO STORE | FOA SCHWARTZ

PIER 57

Hidden above the building on Pier 57 is a secret rooftop garden. From here you’ll get amazing views of Little Island and the One World Observatory Building (The Freedom Tower).

SEARCH FOR ICONIC TV & FILM LOCATIONS

So many films and TV shows have been filmed in New York City. If you have a favourite, going to find the locations can be a really fun activity. You’ll find Carrie Bradshaw’s apartment, Gossip Gir, Home Alone 2, Elf and Ghostbusters locations all in New York City.

BATTERY PARK

Located right at the bottom of Manhattan is The Battery. Battery Park has a playground that is great for kids and worth stopping at if you’re in that area.

GOVERNORS ISLAND

This was our favourite day trip from Manhattan. Just a short ferry ride from Wall Street. Excluding the cost of the ferry, you can easily spend a fun-free day on Governors Island.

I call Governers Island New York’s best kept secret. There are no cars on the island and its a great city escape. It has an urban farm and allotment that my kids absolutely loved. Theres also hammocks, a playground and slide hill that kids will enjoy. Plus, you’ll get great cityscape views of Downtown Manhattan.

They even have a great picnic area (as well as places you can buy food if you wish).

READ OUR FULL GOVERNORS ISLAND GUIDE HERE.

LONG ISLAND CITY

Another great day trip from Manhattan is Long Island City. It’s a short subway or ferry ride from Manhattan, LIC has great views of the Manhattan skyline, plus two playgrounds kids will love, these are especially great in the summer months when they have the water turned on.

CONEY ISLAND

If you want to visit the beach, the subway to Coney Island takes about an hour from Manhattan. The amusement park is great, unfortunately not free but you can relax / play on the beach and wander the boadway for nothing!

Coney Island has also been used as a location for some of the Spider Man movies so if you have little superhero fans, they’ll love this!

The aquarium there is also free entry on Wednesays after 3pm.

SLIDE HILL ON GOVERNORS ISLAND | PLAYGROUND IN LONG ISLAND CITY | CONEY ISLAND BEACH

FREE MUSEUM DAYS PERFECT FOR FAMILIES

Most New York City museums require an entrance fee however if you’re looking for free cultural activities in NYC, some offer free entry at certain times. I’ve listed ones that are great for families with children to enjoy below:

Intrepid – Free on the last Friday of the month from April to October
The Children’s Museum of Manhattan – free the first Friday of every month from 5 pm – 8 pm
The Brooklyn Children’s Museum (in Brooklyn) – free on Thursdays between 2 pm and 5 pm
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum – pay what you wish on Saturday evenings. (Not quite free but you can pay just $1).
Museum of the City of New York – free on Wednesdays
Unfortunately, the American Museum of Natural History doesn’t have any free entry days.

FREE SEASONAL EVENTS IN NEW YORK CITY

There are lots of free events in New York City that take place throughout the year.

WATCH A PARADE

Parades are a great unique, free thing to do with kids in New York City with kids. They’ll just love to see everything!

Luna New Year Parade – Chinatown, Manhattan (February)
St Patrick’s Day Parade – on St Patrick’s Day (March)
National Puerto Rican Day Parade – Manhattan (June)
The Mermaid Parade – Coney Island (June)
Columbus Day Parade (October)
Halloween Parade – Greenwich Village, Manhattan – (October)
Macy’s Thanksgiving Parde – on Thanksgiving (November)

GO KAYAKING

You can kayak for free on the Hudson River. This is a great free experience!

Available weekend afternoons from the end of May – October and Mondays and Tuesday evenings from June – August. Find out more on the website HERE.