New York City for Free

New York City for Free

If you think everything in New York costs too much, well, you're right—almost. In fact, the city has tons of free attractions and activities; you just need to know where to look for them.

Outdoor Fun

Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge for a spectacular view of the Financial District, Brooklyn, the seaport, and Manhattan.

Ride the Staten Island ferry to see the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and the southern tip of Manhattan from the water. Check out the spiffy Whitehall terminal in Manhattan, completed in 2005 after a $200 million renovation. The ferry is popular as an inexpensive date spot—the cafeteria onboard is a surprisingly inexpensive place to buy beer and snacks. 1 to South Ferry; 4, 5 to Bowling Green.

Catch a free movie screening in Bryant Park in summertime. A tradition since 1992, watching films alfresco surrounded by tall Midtown buildings is a summertime rite of passage for New Yorkers. Bring a blanket and a picnic basket, and be prepared to stake out a good spot on the lawn well in advance. The park runs from 40th to 42nd streets between 5th and 6th avenues; movie schedules are posted on www.bryantpark.org. B, D, F, V to 42nd St.

Wander Battery Park City's waterfront promenade; the breeze and passing boats will make you forget you're in the gritty city, though the view of the Statue of Liberty will remind you that you couldn't be anywhere but New York. 4, 5 to Bowling Green; 1 to South Ferry.

Kayak on the Hudson; the Downtown Boathouse gives free lessons and paddling tours. There's even an indoor-swimming-pool program to hone kayaking skills in winter months. The boats are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, so cloudy days and early mornings are the best times to avoid the crowds. Pier 40 at Houston St. www.downtownboathouse.org B, D, F, V to 47th-50th Sts./Rockefeller Center.

Watch wannabe trapeze artists swing and soar at the Trapeze School New York (as shown on Sex and the City). They've helped locals and visitors alike make leaps of faith since 2002. Pier 40 at Houston St. www.trapezeschool.com A, C, E to Canal St.

Taste the goods at the Union Square greenmarket (on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday), where farmers offer samples of their organically grown produce, artisanal cheeses, and fresh bread. The greenmarket, a hip outing for all, is often filled with families shopping for dinner, famous chefs choosing ingredients, and foodies stalking Food Network hosts.

Stroll the Coney Island boardwalk for some old-school kitsch (before it's redeveloped into swanky condos). There are also plenty of annual events for free here, including the outrageous Mermaid Parade and the Fourth of July hot-dog-eating contest. B, F, N, Q to Stillwell Ave.

Check out the street performers around New York's parks: break-dancing crews in Union Square, ragtime duets in Central Park, nutty unicyclists in Washington Square. Buskers in the subway are better than you'd expect—in order to perform, they must first be vetted by an MTA committee, with the top performers assigned to the busiest subway stops.

Smell the cherry blossoms in spring at the Central Park Conservatory; the pathways beneath the blossoming trees are gorgeous, and much closer than the botanical gardens in the outer boroughs. 5th Ave. at 105th St. 6 to 103rd.

Music, Theater and Dance

Watch tango dancers and jazz musicians outside Lincoln Center at the annual monthlong Out of Doors festival, held in August. It includes more than 100 performances of spoken word, beat boxing, and bigwigs like Dave Brubeck and Arlo Guthrie. 1 to 66th St./Lincoln Center.

Hit Central Park Summerstage for big-name performers like Afrobeat bandleader Seun Kuti and Columbia's own Vampire Weekend.

Catch rising stars in classical music, drama, and dance at the Juilliard School's free student concerts (check www.juilliard.edu for a calendar of events). Free tickets are available at the Juilliard box office for theater performances; there's also a line for standby an hour before the show. Smaller acts don't require tickets beforehand. 144 W. 65th St. 1 to 66th St./Lincoln Center.

Entertain thyself at Shakespeare in the Park, one of New York City's most beloved events—80,000 watch each year. It's been going strong since 1962, and shows usually feature celebrities earning their olde English acting chops. Get in line early at the Public Theater for a shot at tickets, or head to the Delacorte Theater in Central Park. 425 Lafayette St. 6 to Astor Pl.

Get gratis giggles at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre's comedy shows. The theater has moved a few times since 1999, but the improv comedy, inspired by Chicago's Second City, remains sharp regardless of location. Professional comedians, including UCB cofounder and Saturday Night Live alumna Amy Poehler, are sprinkled in with amateurs during the shows. 307 W. 26th St. www.ucbtheatre.com A, C, E to 23rd St.

Art, Lit and Architecture

Visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art; if you'll believe it, the $20 entry fee is really a suggested donation. You can pay as much, or as little, as you wish. Smaller donations may get some eye-rolling from the cashier, but it's a small price to pay for access to world-famous works. 1000 5th Ave. at 80th St. www.metmuseum.org 6 to 86th St.

Browse through the galleries scattered throughout the city. Chelsea's full of expensive galleries with superstar artists, though things get edgier the closer you get to the West Side Highway; you'll also find a busy, if self-involved, art scene in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

Marvel at Grand Central Terminal's spectacular main concourse; the ceiling painted with the constellations of the zodiac is one of the city's treasures. 4, 5, 6 to Grand Central/42nd St.

Attend a reading at one of the city's hundreds of bookstores. Night owls shouldn't feel left out—they can attend readings of their own at bars like the Half King in Chelsea or Pete's Candy Store in Brooklyn.

Explore the new MoMA on Friday between 4 and 8 PM, when the $20 entry fee is waived during Target Free Friday Nights. Tickets are not available in advance, so plan to wait in line. 11 W. 53rd St., between 5th and 6th Aves. www.moma.org E, V to 5th Ave./53rd St.; B, D, F to 47-50th St./Rockefeller Center.