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7 Free Things to do in New York City | Visit NYC on a Budget

I recently sat down to write a New York City Travel Guide and realised just how many recommendations I have. As I listed everything, including the free things to do in New York City, I realised that a dedicated post may be most beneficial. New York certainly isn’t the most budget friendly destination overall. You may be surprised though, by how many low to no cost experiences and sights that it offers.

THE HARRY POTTER STORE

The NYC flagship Harry Potter Store is an experience in itself. The store is so much fun to visit because it’s full of magical details from the Wizarding World. It also hosts a large selection of Harry Potter merchandise, selling everything from clothes and books to homeware and makeup. It even has dedicated sections to certain things, such as a wand shop and a mini Honeydukes sweet shop. If you really want to go all in on the experience then the store has it’s own little cafe which sells magical snacks and the famous Butterbeer.

Top tip: The store is next to the iconic Flatiron building so make sure to tick off these experiences in the same trip.

9/11 MEMORIAL

The 9/11 memorial is a landmark whose mission is to honour the victims of the most notorious terror attacks in recent U.S. history. The memorial is free to all visitors, but predictably, be prepared for high emotions. The memorial is incredibly moving and features the names of almost 3000 victims.

Museum entry is charged, but there are free-admission Mondays if you’re willing to take the risk on entry by not purchasing a ticket.

CENTRAL PARK

Central Park is one of the most obvious free things to do in New York. It’s also one of my absolute favourites and I never seem to spend enough time there because there’s so much else to do. We did a little Whole Foods picnic haul and found a nice spot to sit in the sun which was perfect.

If you’re willing to upgrade your experience by allocating some budget then there are a few cool things to do such as visiting the Central Park zoo or boating on the lake. There are also a tonne of food trucks and a few nice restaurants.

Top tip: Make sure to wear some comfy shoes. The park is much larger than most people imagine and there are quite a few steps involved to even get there.

GRAND CENTRAL STATION

The Grand Station terminal is perhaps the most beautiful train station you’ll ever see. Famous for being a dramatic background in countless movies, it’s also known for its stunning ceiling and ‘meet me at the clock’. There’s not much else to say about it other than to not see it would be to miss out. It’s close to a Bath & Body Works store and Midtown Comics.

THE STATEN ISLAND FERRY

Maybe you’ve already visited The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island? Or it’s just not that high on your NYC travel list? Don’t miss out on seeing the Statue of Liberty when you can do so without spending a penny. Okay, so it may be from a distance, but it’s still worth the trip. The Staten Island ferry is one of the last operating ferry systems in New York and it’s free to use. The ferry naturally goes right by the Statue of Liberty so that you can see her without heading to Liberty Island. We stayed on the Island for a while and visited a few stores. If the Statue of Liberty is the motivation for your trip though, you can simply wait for a return trip. The ferry is super regular so the longest you’ll wait is 30 minutes.

TIMES SQUARE

Perhaps the most famous Square in the world, Times Square is a non-negotiable when visiting New York. Best known for its hustle and bustle, it’s bright lights and skyscrapers plastered with digital billboards is something to see. There isn’t a crazy amount of things to do once there other than shop or find somewhere to eat. It is close to Broadway so worth combining these experiences if you’re planning on doing both.

ARCHITECTURAL SIGHT-SEEING

New York City is full of must-see buildings. From skyscrapers like The Empire State Building, the Flatiron and The Chrysler Building to uniquely designed buildings like the Vessel. Many of these buildings are central to other NYC Travel Bucket List experiences so they’re definitely worth incorporating into existing trips if you can.