40 Free Entertainment in New York

To see most of the sights and visit the main famous places in New York, you have to fork out. The cost of entrance tickets will be a tangible item in the budget of your trip. Empire State Building? $ 20. Metropolitan Museum? $ 20. The Guggenheim Museum and the Whitney are each for $ 18. Even a ticket to the Frick Museum costs $ 15. However, you can simply spend amazing time without spending a penny. And you do not have to limit yourself to walks in the park, riding a bike or exploring shop windows.

Фото: Depositphotos

Some of the free entertainment is always open to the public, while others are only open at certain hours. And we should not forget that in our calendar You can always find information about interesting and free events in the city.

1. African cemetery

One of the most interesting and controversial places in the history of Lower Manhattan is the National Memorial Complex at the new African cemetery. It all started when, during the construction project in 1991, the burial of slaves was discovered here (more than 400 coffins were found). The fact is that there were more slaves in New York than in any other American city outside Charleston, South Carolina (Charleston, South Carolina). On the territory of the complex you can see a lot of various buildings, and in a small tourist center you can listen to an interesting story about the history of African-Americans in the city.

Address: 290 Broadway between Duane & Elk Sts, Lower Manhattan.

2. Tours of Brooklyn Breweries

If you like beer or are simply interested in the history of this drink, then you will certainly be interested in free tours of the Brooklyn breweries in Williamsburg (Williamsburg), which are held every Saturday from 13 to 17 hours and every Sunday from 13 to 16.

Address: 79 N 11th St, Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

3. Walking tours Grand Central Partnership

Every Friday in 12: 30, two historians spend a free 1,5-hour tour of interesting places in the city, like the whispering gallery of Central Station (Grand Central Terminal) and Chrysler Building. This fascinating independent journey will not cost you a cent.

Address: 120 Park ave, at 42nd st, Midtown East.

Фото: Depositphotos

4. Central Park

You don't have to have a brilliant mind or a rich tourist experience to know that most parks are free to visit. However, not every park is Central Park in New York. This is not just a holiday area, it is a kind of recognition of the foresight of the locals (initially, the park was opened in 1860 to increase the value of real estate in this part of the city). There are a lot of free events here, you can admire statues and views of the strawberry fields on its territory, watch people, see the mosaic “Imagine»Next to Dakota, where John Lennon was killed in 1980. Among other things, here, on the southeastern side of the park, there is a pond, to which Holden Caulfield visited from the novel "The Catcher in the Rye", and wondered where ducks fly when it gets cold.

5. Chelsea Galleries

Most of the galleries in New York are concentrated in the Chelsea area (Chelsea), mainly on 20's streets between 10 and 11 avenues. For more information, visit westchelseaarts.com. All galleries are free. At the opening of exhibitions (as a rule, it happens on Thursdays) you can treat yourself to wine and cheese for free.

6. National Museum of American Indians

This museum operates under the auspices of the Smithsonian Institution. It is located near the famous Bowling Green Square and Battery Park, adjacent to the Statue of Liberty, which is attacked by frantic tourists, but he himself often remains in the shadows. Located in the former picturesque mansion of the American Customs (1907), today the National Museum of American Indians represents one of the country's best collections of works of American art. Emphasis is placed on cultural values ​​rather than historical ones. In addition, there are many educational and entertainment programs for visitors.

Address: 1 Bowling Green, Lower Manhattan.

7. City Hall Building

The New York City Hall has occupied this building since 1812. During the tour, you can visit the Marble Hall with a domed ceiling, the governor’s rooms, and the place where Abraham Lincoln’s coffin stood in 1865. If you decide that you need to visit the New York City Hall, keep in mind that tours must be booked in advance.

Address: City Hall Park, facing the Brooklyn Bridge, Lower Manhattan.

8. Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT)

It seems that FIT has a permanent Fashion Week in the museum: students exhibit their work here, here is presented a surprisingly interesting and detailed collection from the first fashion shows (collection of 50 000 clothing items from the XVIII century to the present).

Address: Seventh Ave & 27th St, Garment District, Midtown West

9. Earthen Room New York

If you want to see something completely unusual, go to the earthen room. This is an art installation by Walter De Maria 1977 of the Year - a room filled with 140-tons of earth, which at the same time resembles an ordinary office and at the same time is saturated with the scent of moist forest.

Address: 141 Wooster st, SoHo

10. Federal Hall

The inauguration of the two presidents was held in the Federal Hall of New York. The first was the ceremony of George Washington, the first President of the United States, which took place on 30 on April 1789. The second main character was Chester Arthur. Outside you can see the beautiful statue facing the New York Stock Exchange and Wall Street, and a small, recently renovated museum dedicated to the postcolonial period of New York.

Address: 26 Wall St, Lower Manhattan.

Фото: Depositphotos

11. The Federal Reserve Bank of New York

A free admission ticket to the Federal Reserve Bank building must be booked at least one week in advance. The main interest is a complex security system in storage. Consider: more than 10 000 tons of gold reserves are located here at a depth of 24,5 meters underground. Also here are examples of counterfeit bills and an impressive collection of coins of the American Numismatic Society. The only way to get here is to book a guided tour. They are held regularly, 6 once a day, from Monday to Friday (except for holidays).

Address: 33 Liberty St, Lower Manhattan.

12. Schomburg Center for the Study of African American Culture

This center belongs to the city library system. Here is the country's largest collection of documents, books, records, and photographs related to African American history. Free exhibitions are held at the Schomburg Center. Guided tours are also free, but you need to book a ticket for them at least a month in advance.

Address: 515 Malcolm X Blvd at 135th St, Harlem.

13. National Memorial to General Ulisse Grant (or "Grant's Grave")

The so-called Grant's Grave is a granite monument worth $ 600 000, where the remains of the hero of the Civil War and 18 President (and his wife Julia) are buried. This place is the largest mausoleum in the United States, modeled on the tomb of Mavsol in Halicarnassus (Halicarnassus). As you may have guessed, the memorial is a copy of one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

Address: Riverside Dr at 122 nd St, Morningside Heights.

14. Forbes collection

You can get acquainted with this collection by visiting the journal publishing house. Forbes, in the lobby of which there are various interesting items from the collection of the late Malcolm Forbes. Especially noteworthy is the early version of the game "Monopoly".

Address: 62 Fifth Ave at 12th St, Greenwich village.

15. Socrates Sculpture Park

Socrates Sculpture Park is located on the East River. From here there is a view of Roosevelt Island and the Upper East Side. Previously, there was a dump, now there are interesting art installations, a light show is held and films are shown on Wednesdays during the summer period.

Address: Broadway at Vernon Blvd, Astoria, Queens.

16. Governor's Island

On the Island of the Governor area 69 hectares free ferry goes. The island was open to the public only in 2003. There is a kilometer long 3,5 cycle path, mini-golf, a picnic area, as well as military facilities - Admiral's House and a ghost town in Nolan Park. Ferries depart from the Marine Corps Battery in Lower Manhattan.

Address: Maritime Bldg, briefs 7, L Manhattan.

17. Greenwood Cemetery

The most visited tourist attraction of America (after Niagara Falls) - the magnificent cemetery of Green Wood (Green wood). It was founded in 1838 year and is the last refuge for 600 000 people (which is about 853 km of bodies, from head to toe). Beautiful territory with dense landings, located in the highest point of Brooklyn on the hill of Battle Hill. Once the War of Independence was raging here, and now there is a statue of the Roman goddess of wisdom Minerva. Pay attention to the chirping green parrots at the Gothic entrance to the cemetery - they live here since 1980 year.

Address: 500 25th St, Sunset Park, Brooklyn.

Фото: Depositphotos

18. Hamilton Farm

By visiting this place, you can easily imagine how important you become when you have your own farm. Hamilton's farm, opened after reconstruction in 2011, is a “country house of federal significance”, where Alexander Hamilton spent in peace and quiet his last days before dying in a duel in New York.

Address: St Nicholas Park at 141st St, Hamilton Heights.

19. Highline

Highline is a park, therefore, in theory, the entrance to it should be free. However, the actively developing Highline project is more like a lively attraction with its own rhythm and hours of work. Some time on this place, on an elevation in 10 m, a railroad passed, and today a park in its place connects the warehouses of meat processing plants and the Chelsea galleries (another way to spend free and interesting time in the city) and extends south to the center Javitsa From the park there is a beautiful view of the Hudson River, hurrying pedestrians, etc. Follow the schedule of events and exhibitions.

Address: Gansevoort Street to 30th St (currently), between 9th & 11th Aves, Chelsea.

20. Hispanic Society of America, Museum and Library

The largest collection of works of Spanish art outside of Spain is located on the territory of the Hispanic society of America, on a serene terrace Audobon in the very north of Manhattan.

Address: Broadway & 155th St, Washington Heights.

21. Japanese community

The entrance ticket to films and lectures usually costs money, but the entrance to the gallery operating on the basis of the Japanese community (with an emphasis on samples of Japanese art) is always free.

Address: 333 E 47 St, between First & Second Aves, Midtown East.

22. New York City Library

The New York City Library, New York's most famous library (also called the Stephen Schwarzman building), is located east of Times Square. In 2011 she turned 100 years old. On the facade in front of the entrance there are marble lions named “Patience” and “Fortitude”. The library can amaze your imagination. Especially the reading room, designed for 500 visitors and equipped with original company lamps Carre-and-hastings. Here are many interesting exhibits, including a copy of the original Declaration of Independence, Gutenberg Bible, plus the 431 000 order of old maps. We offer you free tours held in 11 and 14 hours, from Monday to Saturday and 14 hours on Sunday (the library is closed on Sundays in summer).

Address: Fifth Ave at 42nd St, Midtown East.

23. Stone House

Heritage of Dutch descent, surviving after the ill-fated Brooklyn Battle. This old stone house holds a small collection of battle-related exhibits. The second floor is sometimes rented for events (artbazars, etc.)

Address: Fifth Ave, btwn 3th & 4th Sts, Park Slope, Brooklyn.

24. Boating

Free kayaks (canoes) can be taken at state moorings, such as the Bottouse Center in Downtown and the Long Island community in Queens, to make an unforgettable walk on the water.

25. Center for Public Art at Rockefeller Center

Built at 1930 in the midst of the Great Depression, the Rockefeller Center today is not just the backdrop for NBC news shows (broadcast on 6 in the morning) and the Christmas tree setting site in December. And not just a way to make money (the NBC tour costs $ 19, the entrance to the observatory is $ 21). Rockefeller Center also offers free exposition, the leitmotif of which can be called the phrase: "A man at a crossroads is immersed in doubts, but hopes for the future." The list of cultural values ​​is not limited to the museum and includes, in addition to the main exhibition, a statue of Prometheus overlooking the rink and the statue of Atlanta holding the world, in the 5 Avenue 630 area. José María Sert’s posters in the main building resemble Abraham Lincoln’s posters and were first used to replace the original décor in the communist style (depicting Vladimir Lenin) by Diego Rivera.

Address: Between Fifth & Sixth Aves, around 49th & 50th Sts, Midtown.

26. Ferry to Staten Island

Everyone wants to see the Statue of Liberty. Ferry tours start at $ 12. But the crossing to Staten Island, passing through New York Harbor, is absolutely free for residents of the suburbs and is rumored to be the most interesting free attraction on the east coast. From about 1905, the ferry annually makes 19 million trips through the harbor. Strictly speaking, it is just a ferry from one part of the city to another. But this is entertainment, which does not lose its relevance.

Address: East end of Battery Park, L Manhattan.

27. American Museum of Natural History

Admission is free in the evenings, in the last hour of the museum (16: 45-17: 45), the rest of the time there is a recommended ticket price (therefore, in fact, you can disobey recommendations and cheeky to go for free).

Address: Central Park West & 79th St, Upper West Side.

28. Brooklyn Botanical Garden

Free admission on Tuesdays all day and on Saturdays from 10 to 12.

Address: Eastern Parkway at Washington Ave, Prospect Heights, Brooklyn.

Фото: Depositphotos

29. Brooklyn Museum

Free admission on the first Saturday of the month. On this day, wine tasting is organized here, DJ parties that collect polrayona.

Address: 200 Eastern Parkway, at Washington Ave, Prospect Heights, Brooklyn.

30. Zoo in the Bronx

The entrance fee on Wednesdays is non-fixed, free days are arranged.

Address: 2300 Southern Blvd, The Bronx.

31. Museo del Barrio

Admission is free every third Saturday of the month.

Address: 1230 Fifth Ave between 104th & 105th Sts, Spanish Harlem.

32. Garden Museum Isamu Noguchi

The price for entry on the first Friday of the month is not fixed.

Address: 9-01 33 rd Rd, Astoria, Queens.

33. Modern Art Museum

Fridays from 16 to 20 hours free admission. Please note - usually at this time there are a lot of people.

Address: 11 W 53rd St, between Fifth & Sixth aves, Midtown West.

Фото: Depositphotos

34. Moving Picture Museum

Admission is free on Fridays from 16 to 20.

Address: 35th Ave, at 36th St, Astoria, Queens.

35. New Gallery (Neue Galerie)

Admission is free every first Friday of the month, from 16 to 20 hours.

Address: 1048 Fifth Ave at 86th St, Upper East Side.

36. New York Botanical Garden

Admission is free on Wednesdays all day and on Saturdays from 10 to 12 hours.

Address: Bronx River Pkwy & Fordham Rd, The Bronx.

37. New York Historical Community

On Friday from 18 to 20 hours, the entry price is not fixed.

Address: 2 W 77th St at Central Park West, Upper West Side.

38. South Street Seaport Museum

Admission is free on the third Friday of each month.

Address: 207 Front St, Lower Manhattan.

39. Museum Studio in Harlem

On Saturdays, admission is free.

Address: 144 W 125th St at Adam Clayton Powell Blvd, Harlem.

40. Wave hill

Attendance is free from 9 to 12 hours on Tuesdays and Saturdays.

Address: W 249th St at Independence Ave, Riverdale, The Bronx.

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