Visiting New York City can be expensive! Between the cost of food and hotels, budget travel to the largest city in the United States can be difficult.
Lucky for you, we’ve put together a list of FREE things to do in New York City with kids, as well as few cheaper options.
We’ve visited New York City many times with kids and have found that you can fill your day without spending any money on activities. You just have to know where to look.
The guide below shares some of our favorite FREE and inexpensive things to do in New York City with kids. So let’s check them out!
Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, we may receive a commission if you click through and make a purchase.
15 Free and Cheap Things to Do in New York City With Kids
Our list begins at the southernmost tip of Manhattan and works its way north!
Ride the Staten Island Ferry
Cost: FREE
This one of our favorite free things to do in New York City with kids. And definitely something every first time visitor in New York should do!
Right next to Battery Park is the Whitehall Terminal of the Staten Island Ferry. There, you can board the signature orange boat and ride across the Upper Bay to Staten Island.
Why would kids enjoy this trip? Aside from the fun of riding a large boat, kids will be able to see the Statue of Liberty from the ferry! The 30-minute ferry ride takes you right by Lady Liberty for a perfect view.
Keep in mind, the ferry does not stop at Liberty Island. If you want to visit the Statue of Liberty, you will need to book a trip with Statue Cruises.
The Staten Island Ferry ride not only gives you views of the Statue of Liberty but also gorgeous views of lower Manhattan, including the new One World Trade Center building.
Once you’ve arrived at Staten Island, you must exit the ferry. Don’t worry, follow the crowds to the exit, then turn to the left to enter the waiting area, where you can re-board the boat for the ride back!
Visit the National Museum of the American Indian
Cost: FREE
Located at One Bowling Green in the historic Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House is the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian. Like the Smithsonian museums in Washington, DC, this museum is FREE to visit.
Kids will love the museum’s imagiNATIONS activity center, which features many hands-on exhibits and attractions for them to learn more about our country’s native peoples. Don’t miss the exhibit featuring the various groups that live in New York. Their contributions to the state impacted our country as well.
The National Museum of the American Indian in New York is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is closed on Christmas Day.
Trinity Church
Cost: FREE
Do you have a Hamilton musical fan in your family? Then they will want to pay respects to Alexander Hamilton and his wife, Eliza, at the Trinity Church. There are both buried in the south churchyard.
When you’re done, take the time to step inside the gorgeous Neo-Gothic building to take in the architectural details.
Trinity Church is open to the public 8:30 am – 6 pm (the churchyard closes at 4 pm).
Federal Hall
Cost: FREE
Although Philadelphia is known as the birthplace of America, Federal Hall in Lower Manhattan is the birthplace of the American Government! This is where George Washington took his oath as the first president of the United States.
Federal Hall is only open on weekdays, Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. But even if you’re visiting on the weekend, stop by and take a photo outside of the beautiful and historic building.
Visit the South Street Seaport Museum and Ships
Cost: Pay What You Wish (Or reserve ahead online for $18 for adults, $5 for kids)
Learn about New York’s role as a major world port at the South Street Seaport Museum.
Kids will enjoy the small play area, featuring characters from Eric Carle’s books. Take the time to enjoy the small museum and exhibits and learn about how the port aided New York in becoming the largest city in the country.
In addition to the museum, guests can tour two anchored ships on Pier 16: The Lightship Ambrose and the Tall Ship Wavertree.
South Street Seaport Museum is open Wednesday through Sunday. Admission is $18 for adults and $5 for kids if you reserve online ahead of time. However, they offer Pay-What-You-Wish admission onsite.
Pay Your Respects at the 9/11 Memorial
Cost: FREE for the memorial fountains
When visiting New York City, it is almost impossible not to think about the tragic events that transpired on September 11, 2001.
Thankfully, visitors can pay their respects and learn more about the World Trade Center and those affected by the attacks at the 9/11 Memorial and Museum.
The memorial fountains are FREE to visit, though they are closed to the public on September 11th for family members of the victims.
Teardrop Park Slide
Cost: FREE
There are tons of playgrounds in New York City. Some of the best are in Central Park. But if you’re looking for a quick spot to take the kids in Lower Manhattan, you don’t want to miss the GIANT slide at Teardrop Park.
Tucked on the southern end of the park, the 33-foot-long slide is built on top of large boulders with rocky steps leading the way to the top. The area is shaded, so it’s a perfect retreat from the heat if you’re visiting New York on a hot day.
Whitney Museum of American Art
Cost: Admission is always FREE for Visitors aged 25 and under; Also FREE admission on Friday nights and second Saturdays
The Whitney Museum of American Art in New York has an impressive collection of modern and contemporary American art, featuring works by renowned artists like Edward Hopper, Georgia O’Keeffe, and Jean-Michel Basquiat.
You can also enjoy stunning views of the city and the Hudson River from the museum’s outdoor terraces.
Visitors ages 25 and under are always FREE to visit, and they also offer FREE admission on Fridays from 5 pm – 10 pm. If late nights don’t work, stop by on the second Saturday of each month for FREE admission. Make sure to reserve your spot ahead of time!
Walk the High Line
Cost: FREE
Once an elevated railroad track, the High Line is now a 1.45-mile-long park with over 500 species of plants and trees. Kids will find it fun to walk above the streets and traffic while enjoying and climbing on the various benches and steps.
Don’t worry; you don’t have to walk the entire length of the High Line. From Gansevoort between 12th and 13th Streets to 34th Street by the Hudson Yards, there are many entry and exit points along the way.
There is a dedicated play area located at 30th Street and 11th Avenue entrance knowing as Pershing Beams. Here, kids can walk on the beams and climb through the tunnels while parents rest and enjoy the view of the Hudson Yards and the Vessel, or the river in the distance.
Visit Winnie the Pooh at the New York Public Library
Cost: FREE
Do your kids love Winnie the Pooh? Then, they might enjoy visiting the New York Public Library to see Christopher Robin’s original toys!
A.A. Milne bought these stuffed toys for his son over 100 years ago, and now they are on display the New York Public Library on 5th Avenue, between 40th and 42nd Street.
They are now part of a larger exhibit called “Treasures: The Polonsky Exhibition.” This FREE exhibit features Winnie the Pooh and many other items from the library’s collection, including a second printing of the Declaration of Independence from 1777 and George Washington’s handwritten farewell address.
The New York Public Library is always FREE to visit. It’s one of the places we love to visit when we visit New York with kids in winter.
Visitor Tip: There are clean bathrooms inside the New York Public Library. You can also use the bathrooms and water fountain (with a water bottle filler!) across the street at the children’s library.
Enjoy the Stores in Rockefeller Center
Cost: FREE (unless you buy something!)
The fabulous stores in Rockefeller Center are a great place to entertain kids for FREE (though they may convince you to purchase something).
FAO Schwarz offers several fun activities for kids to try, including the piano made famous in the movie Big.
There is also the Nintendo store, where kids can try out video games, and the Lego store, where kids can build and create with Legos. There are also some photo opportunities, like the cab or sitting next to Hulk.
Tour Central Park
Cost: FREE
Central Park covers more than 750 acres in the middle of Manhattan and has many things for kids to do. However, the Central Park Conservancy also offers many FREE guided tours and discovery walks for families.
If a guided tour doesn’t work with your schedule, you can take a self-guided tour using your cell phone.
The Celebrity Audio Guide offers FREE information and commentary on 40 different locations in the parks. Learn more about the tour here, or when you visit an attraction with the Celebrity Audio Guide sign, dial the phone number and extension provided for detailed information.
Visit the American Folk Art Museum
Cost: FREE
The American Folk Art Museum is dedicated to sharing art created by self-taught artists.
The museum contains over 7000 recognizable pieces in various art forms, such as paintings and sculptures. Kids will love the unique style of the artists and some of the non-traditional forms of art the museum displays.
Located at 2 Lincoln Square, on Columbus Avenue between 65th and 66th Streets, the American Folk Art Museum is open Tuesday – Sunday at varying hours. Admission is always FREE!
81st Street Studio at the Met
Cost: FREE
The Metropolitan Museum of Art is a favorite place to visit in New York with kids, but it can be pricey. However, the museum runs a fun learning and play center that is FREE to visit!
Inside, they have seven interactive stations that include music, hands-on building, and other fun activities. They also have a children’s library.
The 81st Street Studio is always FREE to visit. However, due to high demand, it is first come, first served, and capacity is limited. During busy times, they will limit your visit to 30 minutes.
The studio is open Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday through Sunday, 10 am–5 pm, with last entry at 4 pm.
Ride the Carousels In the City
Cost: $3-$5 per ride
One of the fun things for kids to do in New York is to ride one of the many carousels in the city. The Sea Glass Carousel in Battery Park is not your typical carousel. Instead of turning around in a circle, riders climb aboard various fish and glide about in circular patterns. Tickets to ride this carousel are $5 per ride, cash and credit cards accepted.
The Pier 62 Carousel on the Hudson River near 22nd Street and 11th Avenue offers riders views of the Hudson River on a traditional carousel. Tickets start at $3.50 per ride, with discounts for multiple tickets purchased. Cash and credit cards are accepted for payment.
Le Carrousel at Bryant Park is another traditional carousel in the heart of Midtown Manhattan. Rides cost $3, or you can purchase a 10-ride discount card for $20. The discount card can be purchased ahead of time on their website.
Fifty-seven colorful horses make up the Central Park Carousel, one of the largest in the United States. Operating hours are based on season and weather conditions, so call 212-439-6900 ext 4, before you visit. Rides cost $3.25 each, and only cash is accepted for payment.
How to Get Around New York City With Kids
Walking
There are a few ways to get around New York City. Walking is FREE, but it can be tiring for little legs. Some of the attractions on our list are close together, making it easy to walk in between them.
The Subway
The MTA subway is the best option for moving from one location to another that is further away. It is faster than a bus and cheaper than a taxi. At $2.75 per ride, it can’t be beat. Keep in mind that up to 3 children under 44 inches tall can ride for FREE with a paying adult.
The Bus
Buses are also an inexpensive way to get around the city. However, they are subject to city traffic, so the ride can take longer than walking sometimes! The same Metro Card you would use for the subway will get you a ride on the bus. And, like the subways, up to 3 children under 44 inches tall can ride for FREE with a paying adult.
Taxi Cabs
While taxi cabs may be the most convenient, they can also be very expensive. If you are riding with a young child, installing a child safety seat is recommended, though it is not required by law.
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