Free Things to Do in New York City

By Dom Bewley

The City of Dreams - New York City - is the ultimate destination for workers, students, and all of the human folk across the globe. Living in New York can truly be a dream come true and teach you so much about life in a metropolis that it will always be an experience to remember.

That being said, it's not the cheapest city in the world. And, with so many things to see in New York, such as museums, restaurants, parks, and iconic attractions, it's easy to lose track of time and expenses while you're there.

Lucky for you, there are plenty of free things to do in New York City! Here is a list of the best things you can do for free in the Big Apple.

Including:

  • Central Park
  • High Line
  • Staten Island Ferry
  • New York Public Library
  • and more!

Free Things to Do in New York City: Central Park

Arguably the most famous park on the planet, Central Park needs no introduction. The backdrop for countless movies and TV shows, its 843 acres of verdant delight are enveloped by the towering concrete of Manhattan. For locals, it's a quick escape from the city's hustle and bustle. For you, it's an excellent excuse for some free fun!

If you need to burn off some calories from all the food, get your walking boots on and go exploring! There are tons of lakes, ponds, and bridges to explore, as well as trees to sit beneath with a book or picnic.

You could also visit the Conservatory Garden, a free garden full of seasonal flora, fountains, and sculptures. Need some holiday snaps? You'll find tons of Grammable things ripe for the taking.

You can even hike in Central Park, thanks to the North Woods. This 40-acre stretch of land includes trails, waterfalls, and opportunities to see some birds. Nice.

And, if you've got some spare cash, consider taking a guided bike tour of the park's best bits to see it all in one fell swoop.

Free Things to Do in New York City: High Line

The High Line is a park built on an old elevated train track. And, given it's the former New York Central Railroad track on the west side of Manhattan, it's guaranteed to offer some of the best views in the city. You can walk through the gardens, check out the contemporary art exhibits and performances, and savor delicious food with your friends and family while getting a unique perspective of the city.

Free Things to Do in New York City: Staten Island Ferry

Staten Island is where the famous rap ensemble Wu-Tang Clan first came together. So, if you're a fan and want to see where the members grew up, why not take the Staten Island Ferry? Not only will you receive a lesson in NY hip hop, but you'll pass the iconic Statue of Liberty, one of the most photographable monuments on the planet.

You can board the ferry at the St. George Terminal on Staten Island or the Whitehall Terminal in Lower Manhattan. The ferry ride takes approximately 25 minutes and operates every day of the week.

Free Things to Do in New York City: New York Public Library

Bookworms and students rejoice! The New York Public Library is free to visit! And yes, most libraries do offer free entry.

While the NYPL name encompasses over 90 libraries in the city's limits, we're talking about its most famous location - the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building. And oh my, is it grandiose.

Each room and floor has unique architectural features and many activities besides reading.

For students living or studying in NYC, it can get a little mundane to work and hit the books at home. That's why the Rose Reading Room is so popular. This peaceful and spacious area allows anyone to set up shop and study to their brain's content.

Image courtesy of legacy1995/Shutterstock

Free Things to Do in New York City: Museums

No good city would be complete without a comprehensive list of museums, and New York is no different. And if you're looking for free things to do in the Big Apple, some of the best are free too!

The American Museum of Natural History is arguably the best of its kind on the planet. Featuring 28 interconnected buildings housing 45 permanent exhibition halls, a planetarium, and a library, you can spend literal hours wandering around. And, with recent additions like the gargantuan Titanosaur to eye up, it'll delight both kids and grown-ups alike.

If you're interested in more recent history, learn all about New York at the Museum of the City of New York. It's a mouthful, but there's no better place to chart the city's rise from settlement to metropolis.

Free Things to Do in New York City: Times Square

Times Square is one of the most iconic spots in New York; with bright lights, street art, and performances, you can take in the true blue New York energy at Times Square. It is also one of the best places to take pictures and indulge in some good food from across the globe.

Or, if you want to upgrade your experience, take a guided tour and get the low down on the area's history.

New York - a city so nice they named it twice; it is hands-down one of the best cities in the world, and getting the chance to live and study there is truly a dream come true. Make sure to make the most of your time and save some money by exploring these free things to do in New York City.

If you are in New York for a longer stay, consider your accommodation options. AmberStudent is an online student accommodation that helps you secure a home of choice on your study abroad journey. This is a great choice for international student housing.

And, if you're looking for things to do in New York City that aren't free, the New York Pass has got you covered. Featuring all of the city's best bits, including entry to the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty, and the Guggenheim, it's the best way to see it all for one low price!

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Video Games Set In New York

NYC’s a pretty famous place, so it’s not hugely surprising that many a video game has taken place there. And what better way to experience all the fineries the city has to offer than from the comfort of your own room, in the dark, alone. Just how nature intended. So don’t get dressed. Don’t shower. Don’t even brush your teeth. Use your eyes and join us on a reading journey through some of the many video games set in New York. Die Hard Trilogy Yippee ki yay. If it isn’t New York’s favourite fictional cop John McClane with his own trilogy of ‘maximum adventures’ (according to the box art). Die Hard Trilogy was a classic for the PS1 back in the late Nineties. Three films (we don’t talk about the other two) translated into three very different gaming experiences. The first had you playing McClane in third person, as you ran around Nakatomi Plaza, disarming threats. Die Hard 2 was an on-rails shooter akin to Time Crisis or House of the Dead (and special editions even featured a bulky plastic light gun). And finally, Die Hard With a Vengeance saw you drive around NYC in a taxi, stopping criminals. Those who played it will no doubt remember the windscreen wipers. Brutal. Max Payne Hardboiled cop Max Payne had it pretty rough. He lost his wife and daughter and was framed for his partner’s death. So what did Max Payne do? He donned his best leather jacket, that’s what. Oh, he also enacted justice on the perpetrators while wielding the uncanny ability to slow down time. The Max Payne series is often credited as the game that popularised ‘bullet time’ in the game industry, with its inspirations firmly based in Hong Kong action cinema. It’s a technique still used nearly 20 years later in all sorts of different game genres. Followed by two sequels that delved further into Max’s psyche and his decent into alcoholism, this brutal noir trilogy still holds up today as one of the best action spectacles around. They’re only surpassed by the cinematic tour-de-force that is the Max Payne movie. Lol. 50 Cent: Bulletproof The Noughties were kind to 50 Cent. ‘Get Rich Or Die Trying’ the movie, anyone? But did you also know that he starred in not one, but two video games? Thank you, whoever greenlit these. Thank you so much. In 50 Cent: Bulletproof, you play Fiddy. You run, you fight, and you throw out uninspired one-liners and edgy curse words. Inspiring stuff. When aliens eventually find the remnants of our species in a few million years, we hope that they find the very pinnacle of human achievement - this game. Marvel's Spiderman Just when you thought Marvel were content with cornering the cinematic and comic book markets, here comes the first game in another potential ‘universe’. When will they end? Thankfully, this new universe starts with a bang (pun intended, as all puns are). This fantastic game sees you take up the well-worn mantle of Peter Parker. However, unlike the high school antics of the Tom Holland-fronted movies, this is an older take on The Webslinger. You’ll swing through the city, stopping street crimes while facing off against some of Spiderman’s greatest adversary – full time employment. You can even take selfies, like an insufferable millennial. This video game set in New York is actually well worth a play. Grand Theft Auto IV No list of video games set in New York would be complete without a mention of Rockstar’s behemoth, Grand Theft Auto. Three games in the series have taken place in Liberty City, Rockstar’s fictional recreation of the Big Apple, but perhaps its most well-known is GTA IV. Players control Niko Bellic, an Eastern European immigrant who arrives on Liberty City’s shores to meet his “COUSIN!” Roman, in pursuit of the American Dream. Niko starts off small-time, helping out his idiot cousin in many of his schemes, but soon finds himself doing jobs for the criminal elite, and even working for a shady undercover government organisation disguised as a paper company. You’ll drive, and fight maniacally through 40+ hours of open-world goodness, and eagle-eyed players can even find a beating heart in the Statue of Liberty. Sadly, she doesn’t have one in real life. Don’t believe us? See for yourself. Def Jam Vendetta What do you get if you bring some of rap’s biggest names together for a video game? Pro-wrestling, obviously. With NYC as the backdrop, you can pick from a huge roster of established rap stars like DMX, Method Man, and Ludacris and...sigh...wrestle other rappers. Or you can take on the game’s story mode, which sounds hilarious. Grapple for street cred, pin your expectations on the mat, and choke-slam your disbelief as you vendetta your way to saving your girlfriend from a wrestling promoter or something. How do games like this exist? The Noughties. That’s how. Them’s just some of the many video games set in New York City. If you didn’t like this list then you are wrong, but please feel free to tell us which games you would have picked instead in the comments below! Fancy exploring New York IRL? We've got plenty of inspiration for you.
Dom Bewley
Blog

The Best Museums In New York City

We all know that New York City is full-to-the-brim with things to do, see, and experience. There’s a reason it’s the city that never sleeps, after all. So whether it's the day after a night out and you want to relax and soak up the scene, or you're a verified culture vulture, we’ve got you. Here are some of the best museums in New York City. The Statue of Liberty Museum New York’s most iconic sight, and one of the most recognized structures on the planet, The Statue of Liberty needs no introduction. However, after a five-year wait, the Statue of Liberty Museum opened recently, which gives culture-seekers the chance to experience a side of the statue they’ve never seen before. Discover the events that led up to its creation, experience over 130 years of the statue’s history, and even touch a copper replica of the Lady Liberty’s face. The Guggenheim Museum The world-famous Guggenheim Museum is a great place to start. Home to great works from artists like Picasso, Monet, and Gaugin, it’s one of the finest collections of art on the planet. Take a walk up the Museum’s iconic grand spiral, and experience exhibitions, galleries, performances and even film screenings. Don't miss their newest exhibit, Artistic License: the museum's first ever artist-curated exhibit. The Metropolitan Museum of Art Right in the heart of Manhattan, the MET is the largest art museum in the country. Within its huge walls, you’ll be treated to more than 2 million works of art spanning the last 5000 years, from famed artists like Leonardo Da Vinci and Vincent Van Gogh. It doesn’t really get any more cultured than this. Over 7 million people visit the MET every year, so if you’ve never been, what are you doing?! And even if you’ve been before, with so many works of art on display, you’re sure to see something new. It's definitely one of the best museums in New York City. Whitney Museum of American Art If you like your art with a strong dose of Freedom, then the Whitney Museum of American Art has an amazing collection of around 15,000 pieces from American artists. If you want to see works from national powerhouses like Georgia O’Keeffe and Jasper Johns, all housed in architect Renzo Piano’s stunningly designed indoor and outdoor spaces, then what are you waiting for? American Museum of Natural History Experience your own 'Night at the Museum' at the American Museum of Natural History. Though, if any of the exhibits come to life, you may still be suffering from the night before. Come face to face with a giant Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton, be perplexed by the size of a blue whale (yes, it’s 94 feet long), and explore a wealth of fossils and artifacts from millions of years ago. Our planet was – and remains – a fascinating place, and the American Museum of Natural History houses the very best that Earth has to offer. The Museum of Modern Art If you’re looking for something more modern, the Museum of Modern Art is the one for you (the clue is in the name). See works from over 70,000 modern artist superstars like Lichtenstein, Warhol, and Kahlo. A steady rotation of exhibitions means that even if you’ve already been, there’ll be something new for you too. And when you’ve soaked up enough culture, sit and relax in the museum gardens. To celebrate their 90th anniversary, the museum have deconstructed their space, opening stunning new galleries and spaces for performance and events while showing their collection in new ways. Image courtesy of The Museum of Modern Art Museum Of The Moving Image For cinephiles everywhere, the Museum of the Moving Image is a must-see. It’s the only museum in the country that’s entirely dedicated to film in all its forms. Within, you’ll explore the origins of film technology, all the way through to modern digital solutions. They also have screenings of cinema classics as well as contemporary films, and you’re even able to attend discussions with some of the brightest minds from film and television. And when you feel like you’ve soaked up enough culture for one day, they also have an on-site cafe where you can buy food and beverages, and a shop if you fancy taking home any merch. International Centre of Photography Museum Containing over 20,000 prints ranging from the early days of photography all the way up to today, the International Center of Photography Museum is likely to make anyone stop and rethink their many albums of food photos. Explore the origins of the photo, and see how technology has changed the way we take and share photos over the last century and beyond. And not a hashtag in sight, we hope. And there you have it, just some of the best museums in New York City. Are there any of your favorites that we missed? We’d love to hear your suggestions and comments on our Facebook page!
Dom Bewley

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