15 Best Free Things To Do In NYC With Kids Right Now
We know NYC is expensive, and when it comes to free things to do, it can be hard to scout out the best activities! Add in a kid (regardless of age) and it can be even more difficult to find inexpensive ways to entertain your kid. To make things a little easier, we’ve put together a list of the best things to do, from sprawling parks to interactive museums, that are gratis and guaranteed fun.
Without further ado, here are our favorite hidden gems and popular spots that promise fun and education, all without spending a dime.
1. Go to a beach in NYC
New York City’s beaches are fully open for summer and spending a day at the shore is the perfect free way to make the most out of the heat wave! Bring your kids to any of the city’s sandy oases and let them build sandcastles, splash in the water, and pick seashells to their heart’s desire.
Some of our favorites include Coney Island Beach (amusement park next door for paid fun), Jones Beach (mini golf, ball courts, paid concerts at Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater), and more. See the full list of NYC’s best beaches here.
2. Take advantage of free museum days
It’s no secret that NYC is home to many museums–and some specifically just for kids–and they’re a great place to spend hours or even a whole day exploring with the little ones. Many of them even offer free admission days, allowing visitors of all ages complimentary access to exhibits across the city. Check out some of our favorite free museum days we recommend taking your kids to:
- Children’s Museum of the Arts: Free admission on Thursdays from 4 – 6 pm
- Brooklyn Children’s Museum: Free admission on Thursdays from 2 – 5 pm
- American Museum of Natural History: Suggested donation for entry at all times
- New York Hall of Science: Free admission on Fridays from 2 – 5 pm
- Museum of the Moving Image: Free admission on Thursdays from 2 – 6 pm
3. Spend a day at an NYC playground
Tire out your children at one of NYC’s awesome playgrounds, which are full of swings, teeter-totters, splash zones, and so much more. These jungle gyms are the perfect free way to keep your kids active, and a great way to meet other kids too! They can slide down the famous slides at Slide Hill on Governors Island, conquer the monkey bars at Pier 25 playground, and so much more. See the full list of the best playgrounds for kids in NYC here.
4. Watch a movie in an NYC park
Grab a blanket, some snacks, and catch a flick with your kid at one of NYC’s free movie nights. Plenty of parks around the city are hosting free screenings all summer long…showing both children’s and grown up movies. Some of the major event series include Bryant Park Movie Nights and Movies with a View in Brooklyn Bridge Park, but there’s also the ongoing “Movies Under the Stars” series which brings smaller-scale pop-up screens to places around NYC. See all of the free movies in NYC to bring your kids to here!
5. See animals at The Bronx Zoo
Get up close and personal with The Bronx Zoo’s animals on Wednesdays, when admission fees are waived all day! Kids can adventure through the park free of charge, seeing their favorite animals and exploring zoo exhibits for hours on end. To gain access to free Bronx Zoo tickets, they are required to be reserved online in advance of your visit. The Wednesday Ticket Store opens for these tickets on Mondays at 5 pm. Reserve them here!
6. See fish at New York Aquarium
Similarly to the zoos, the New York Aquarium grants free access to all on Wednesdays after 3 pm. Advance timed tickets are required to take advantage of this deal, and the Wednesday Afternoon Ticket Store opens on Mondays at 3 pm. In terms of things to do here there’s plenty for kids, including both indoor and outdoor exhibits, a 4-D movie theater, animal experiences, and so much more. Reserve your Wednesday tickets for the aquarium here.
7. Ride the Staten Island Ferry
Grab picturesque views of Lady Liberty with your children as you go on a free boat trip around NYC waters! The Staten Island Ferry is a scenic ride that is completely free, and can make for a fun adventure to take photos together and sightsee the Manhattan skyline. It runs several times per day from Whitehall Terminal in Lower Manhattan to St. George Terminal on Staten Island!
8. Take a trip to Governors Island
Our love for Governors Island is no longer a secret, and bringing your kid here for a quick little day trip is such a great idea! Just a stone’s throw away from the city, it’s a perfect little getaway that can keep the kids busy (and offer great views of Manhattan). There’s so many free activities to do on the island for the little ones, including The Yard (a kids-only adventure playground stewarded by trained playworkers), free bike rentals from Blazing Saddles from 9 am – 12 pm on weekdays, and Hammock Grove (a lounge area of bright red hammocks to relax on). Learn more about Governors Island here!
9. Walk down Summer Streets
Summer Streets are returning to NYC this July and August and it’s a great free way to get some exercise with your kids! Once again, miles of NYC across the five boroughs will closed off to cars, allowing the kiddos to go biking, rollerblading, and walking all around the city. There’s also plenty of other free activities and performances in store throughout this year’s edition so be sure to keep your eyes peeled! You can learn more about Summer Streets and see the dates here.
10. Take the kids swimming
NYC’s public pools are officially open for the 2024 summer, and they’re free to take kids to! Get the floaties ready and gather your towels because there’s plenty of pools around the city to cool off during the heat wave. These family-friendly pools are open from 11 am – 7 pm daily with an hour long break from 3 – 4 pm for cleaning through September. Plus, many of them offer ample seating, lockers, and food stands. See a full list of the best public pools to bring your kids to here.
11. Stroll the Brooklyn Bridge
You simply can’t go wrong with taking a stroll over the Brooklyn Bridge with your kid. It’s not only one of the city’s most eye-catching bridges but it has incredible views of Brooklyn and Lower Manhattan that you can snap photos of. We highly recommend starting on the Manhattan side and ending at Brooklyn Bridge Park, where kids can then ride Jane’s Carousel (for a small price), play on the playground, and walk along the pier.
12. Take in the Coney Island Fireworks
Bring your kids to Coney Island on Fridays throughout the summer, where they’re hosting a family-friendly fireworks show every Friday starting at 9:30 pm! The show is completely free to attend and it’s only steps away from Luna Park (where you could spend some money on rides if you want). It’s happening through August 30!
13. Splash at Pier 6 in Brooklyn
Pier 6 is the ultimate summer splash zone for children, more specifically the “Water Lab Splash Pad.” This aquatic adventure spot features all kinds of fountains and water-jet fields that kids can frolic through for hours. There’s also plenty of green areas, flower fields, and dry playgrounds to explore while you’re on Pier 6! It’s a whole day’s worth of family-friendly fun.
14. Smell the flowers at New York Botanical Garden
Introduce your kids to the natural world at New York Botanical Garden, where every Wednesday grounds admission is free all day to NYC residents, and for other visitors free from 10 – 11 am. The ticket grants you and your kids access to NYBG’s outdoor gardens and collections, including seasonal children’s pop-up programming. Also for a small price, you can check out their Alice in Wonderland-themed exhibit Wonderland: Curious Nature which recently opened. Reserve you and your kid’s tickets to NYBG here.
15. Strut The High Line
The High Line is an elevated park along NYC’s west side that makes for a great walking route with kids. The free-to-walk path is full of green space, public art, and beautiful views that make for a great urban adventure. There’s always incredible children’s programming happening here too, like free art classes, music performances, and more! Learn more about all of the great children’s events happening at The High Line here.
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