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Let’s face it: New York City is expensive, and it can be hard not to break the bank when you’re visiting. From the Brooklyn Botanical Garden to brewery tours, here are the top 20 free things in NYC.
Fodor's Travel: On Friday evenings from 4-8pm, UNIQLO sponsors free visits to MoMA. The pass, supported by the Japanese clothing company, lets visitors view all galleries, exhibits, and films during their trip.
btwn Gansevoort & W 34th St (btwn 10th & 12th Ave), New York, NY
Park · Chelsea · 1495 tips and reviews
Fodor's Travel: During warmer months, visitors can take free, guided walking tours on Tuesdays and Saturdays to learn more about the High Line’s history.
59th to 110th St (btwn 5th Ave & Central Park W), New York, NY
Park · Central Park · 1837 tips and reviews
Fodor's Travel: To go more in-depth during you visit, you can take a free welcome tour of certain areas of the park, including the northern welcome tour, southern welcome tour, and heart of the park tour.
Fodor's Travel: The just-over-one-mile walk from Manhattan to Brooklyn gives you a chance to spot the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, the Chrysler Building, the World Trade Center, and much more.
990 Washington Ave (btwn President St & Empire Blvd), Brooklyn, NY
Botanical Garden · Prospect Park · 322 tips and reviews
Fodor's Travel: On Tuesdays, Saturdays (from 10 am to 12 pm), and additional select dates and times throughout the year, admission is free of charge for visitors wishing to explore the various gardens and exhibits.
Fodor's Travel: If you want a behind-the-scenes look at one of the city’s famous breweries, now is the time. The Brooklyn Brewery, located in Williamsburg, hosts a wide range of free tours on Saturdays and Sundays.
Fodor's Travel: Museum admission prices can be expensive in the city, but fortunately the Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology is free year-round.
33 Liberty St (btwn Nassau & William St), New York, NY
Bank · Financial District · 38 tips and reviews
Fodor's Travel: On the visit, you’ll get to travel five stories beneath the bank to sneak a peek at the gold reserves—the largest in the world, with more than 7,000 tons of gold.
Fodor's Travel: With services held throughout the week, visitors are allowed to stop by the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine anytime to look around the facilities.
Fodor's Travel: The ride offers views of the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and the skyline, as it takes you from Whitehall Street in lower Manhattan to St. George on Staten Island.
Fodor's Travel: Located in Long Island City, the Socrates Sculpture Park features rotating exhibits and annual events, such as the kite flight and bike parade.
Performing Arts Venue · Prospect Park · 148 tips and reviews
Fodor's Travel: Since its founding in 1979, more than 2,000 musical acts have have performed at the Prospect Park Bandshell, which draws 250,000 people each summer to watch.
Fodor's Travel: For an extra-special trip, attend one of the Thursday night openings with free wine. The galleries rotate on a fairly regular basis, so you’re guaranteed a new adventure each time you go.
Fodor's Travel: Since 1992, Big Apple Greeter has paired visitors with locals to show them around various boroughs and institutions throughout the city.
Arts and Entertainment · Rockefeller Center · 9 tips and reviews
Fodor's Travel: From the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon to Live with Kelly and Michael, you have plenty of opportunities to watch TV unfold in front of you by grabbing free tickets to studio tapings.
Fodor's Travel: Stop by Queens for a lazy summer day at the city’s largest and oldest pool (dating back to 1936). Once you’re done swimming, you can stroll around Astoria Park along the East River.
87 E 42nd St (btwn Vanderbilt & Park Ave), New York, NY
Rail Station · 1469 tips and reviews
Fodor's Travel: More than 750,000 people pass through the terminal everyday to admire the imitation French limestone and constellations painted by Paul Helleu on the ceiling of the main concourse.
Harbor or Marina · Financial District · 225 tips and reviews
Fodor's Travel: There’s no better way to watch a movie than with the city skyline as the backdrop. Over the summer, New York offers a number of free outdoor film screenings in various locations throughout the city.
Hudson River Pier 40, south side (W Houston St at West Side Hwy), New York, NY
Harbor or Marina · 4 tips and reviews
Fodor's Travel: From May through October, you can take a trip down the Hudson River on one of the Downtown Boathouse’s free kayaks on weekends and select days throughout the week.