Now that my hometown is back on top of the must visit destination list, here’s how to enjoy NYC on the cheap.
Things to do include FREE museum admission, a new museum exhibits honoring Flaco the owl and 100 years of the New Yorker magazine, the FREE 50th Anniversary Macy’s Flower Show, car-free streets, Whitney Museum anniversary events, the return of Manhattanhenge and Fleet Week, Museum Mile FREE admission and events, Chinatown Restaurant Week discount meals, FREE dance parties in Bryant Park and concerts in Times Square, outdoor food and flea markets and more.
It all helps make New York City the greatest city on the planet year-round, not just in May and June but year-round.
Nearly everything here is FREE and family-friendly, and nothing is more than $25 per adult unless it is a free program with museum or zoo admission, supports a charity, or otherwise is a noteworthy special event. Some free events require registration.
Pick one, some or all and enjoy the best of New York City FREE or cheap.
This best things to do in NYC on the cheap guide is updated at the beginning and middle of each month, with at least six weeks of events to help you plan how to enjoy the greatest city on the planet.
Best Current Museum Exhibits
NYC has some of the best museums and museum exhibits in the world, including some you can see for FREE.
Current top exhibits include –
The Frick Collection
- The museum has re-opened after a two-year renovation.
The Whitney Museum of American Art
- Celebrating 10 years at its downtown location with special events and exhibits.
Brooklyn Museum
- A special exhibit about gold, including golden clothing and golden jewelry
American Museum of Natural History
- There’s more bling at another special exhibit of gemstone jewelry from Van Cleef & Arpels
New York Public Library – Main Branch
- A FREE exhibit on 100 Years of the New Yorker Magazine
Top Choices in May
Manhattanhenge
Wednesday/Thursday, May 28/29 -Manhattanhenge is a play on words – the Manhattan version of Stonehenge, when the sun sets precisely in between crosstown streets, illuminating both sides of the street.
It happens four times a year – twice in May, and twice again in July.
These are the 2025 dates –
A “half sun” framed by city buildings – and partly cut off at the horizon in a picture-perfect view – will be visible Wednesday, May 28, at 8:13 p.m. and Saturday, July 12, at 8:22 p.m.,
A “full sun” will be visible Thursday, May 29, at 8:12 p.m. and Friday, July 11, at 8:20 p.m.
The best places to enjoy Manhattanhenge are on crosstown streets between 14th and 155th.
The elevated overpass at 42nd St. and Fist Ave. is especially popular with professional and serious amateur photographers. Get there by Noon to secure your space among the tripods and long lenses.
Hunter’s Point South Park in Long Island City, Queens, and Gantry State Park are other optimal viewing locations — as well as anywhere in the outer boroughs so long as you can see all the way to New Jersey.
Or, join the crowds around Times Square who literally stop traffic to gather in the street for the perfect photo or selfie.
Fleet Week NY
Wednesday, May 21 to Wednesday, May 27 – Fleet Week returns to celebrate those working in sea service, with FREE public ship tours, parades, concerts and more, including. visiting ship from the German Navy. Plus, thousands men and women from the US Navy and US Marine Corps will be enjoying NYC on liberty, in the real life version of the movie On The Town.
This is the 33rd year of Fleet Week NY, which includes the Parade of Ships up the Hudson River, with all hands on deck saluting the World Trade Center.
This year’s theme is “Honoring the Past, Defending the Future: 250 Years of Sea Service Excellence,” which celebrates the rich history of the sea services, honoring service members from the past, present, and future who play a crucial role in supporting the fleet while carrying out our Navy’s maritime strategy and strategic objectives.
Fleet Week New York 2025 brings two U.S. Navy ships, two Coast Guard cutters, and five U.S. Navy Academy Yard Patrol boats (YPs).
Additionally, our Canadian neighbor joins the week-long celebration. Ships from the U.S. and Royal Canadian Navy will participate in the Parade of Ships on Wednesday, May 21.
- USS New York (LPD 21)
- USS Oakhill (LSD 51)
- USCGC Calhoun (WMSL 759)
- Bay-class cutter USCGC Sturgeon Bay (WTGB 109)
- Canadian Navy Harry DeWolf-class offshore patrol vessel HMCS Frédérick Rolette (AOPV 434).
The four American ships are open for FREE public tours, but not the Canadian ship.
Ship and pier locations include:
Manhattan, Pier 88 South: Ship public tours on Friday & Saturday, May 23-24, 9am to 4pm.
• San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock, USS New York (LPD 21) from Norfolk, Virginia
Manhattan, Pier 90 North: Ship public tours on Friday & Saturday, May 23-24, 9am to 4pm
• Legend-class cutter USCGC Calhoun (WMSL-759) from Charleston, South Carolina
• Harry DeWolf-class offshore patrol vessel HMCS Frédérick Rolette (AOPV 434) from Halifax, Canada
Manhattan, Intrepid Museum, Pier 86: Ship public tours on Thursday & Friday, May 22-23, 10am to 4pm
• Five U.S. Naval Academy YPs from Annapolis, Maryland
Homeport Pier, Staten Island: Ship public tours will be May 22 – 26 from 9am to 4pm
• Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship USS Oak Hill (LSD 51) from Norfolk, Virginia
• Bay-class cutter USCGC Sturgeon Bay (WTGB 109) from Bayonne, New Jersey 2/2/2
Check the Fleet Week New York website for additional information, including videos and a playlist.
Memorial Day Observance at Soldiers & Sailors Monument
Monday, May 26 – The annual Memorial Day Observance includes a procession with Civil War re-enactors, music by the Navy & Marne Corps and Navy and Marine units participating in Fleet Week New York, plus Naval cadets, bagpipers, and a presentation of memorial wreaths.
Keynote address by a Navy flag officer and remarks by local officials
Soldiers and Sailors Monument commemorates the New Yorkers who served in the Civil War, including freed Blacks.
- 10am at Soldiers and Sailors Monument (Riverside Drive and W. 89th St.)
NYC Tourism Facts
In 2024, New York City welcomed nearly 65 million visitors, the second-highest figure in city history and a 3.5 percent increase from the previous year.
The city is on pace to break city records in 2025 during the celebration of New York City’s 400th anniversary, marking a full economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
New York remains the most visited city in the United States and a top destination for international markets and major events.
NYC Film Industry Facts
A “Made in NY” movie recently won a “Best Picture” Oscar for the first time in 10 years.
Not only did “Best Picture” winner Anora put our city on the big screen, showcasing neighborhoods like Brooklyn’s Brighton Beach and Coney Island, but 48 other awards were also received by “Made in NY” productions during the 2025 TV and film award show season.
New York City’s film and TV industry supports 185,000 New York City jobs. Congratulations to all of the New Yorkers whose work was nominated this season — you make us proud.
More To See and Do in NYC in May
FREE – 50th Anniversary Macy’s Flower Show
April 27 – May 18 – This year’s show at the flagship location in Herald Square is about a month later than usual, but worth the wait. It’s also one week longer than past years.
The entire store – but mostly the ground floor will transform into a vibrant display of “surrealist gardens, drifting cloudscapes, and vibrant vistas,” all in honor of the show’s golden anniversary.
This year includes “YSL BEAUTY ART OF FLOWERS,” which “reflects the freedom and transformation found in nature, and the inherent beauty in living freely,” according to a press release. Additionally, there will be immersive experiences from LEGO and Holland America Line. Even if you can’t board a plane to the Netherlands tulip fields, you can get a taste of it here in NYC!
- Honey Flower Strawberro Cup Tastings (various dates)
- Build-a-Bloom: a LEGO® build event from 11am-2pm on April 27th
- Immersive experiences from LEGO and Holland America Line
- The Bouqs Co. bouquet giveaway on May 3rd
Also, for the first time, the show will be accompanied by a Bouquet of Deals, otherwise known as a special sale.
- FREE, at Macy’s 34th St. Herald Square, during store operating hours
FREE Greek Jewish Festival
Sunday, May 11 – Celebrate two of the oldest civilizations in the world – Greek and Jewish – at this annual street fair at New York City’s only Greek Jewish synagogue, on the Lower East Side – it’s the only festival of its kind anywhere in the world.
Celebrate the unique Romaniote and Sephardic heritage of the Jews of Greece with authentic kosher Greek foods and homemade Greek pastries, traditional dance performances with live Greek and Sephardic music that will get you up on your feet and joining the dance circle, an outdoor marketplace full of vendors, arts and educational activities for kids, Sephardic cooking demonstrations, and more.
Kehila Kedosha Janina (the Holy Community of Janina) is the only Romaniote synagogue in the Western Hemisphere. Romaniote Jews are a unique community of Greek-speaking Jews whose history in Greece dates back over 2,300 years to the time of Alexander the Great. The Romaniotes are historically distinct from the Sephardim, who settled in Greece after the expulsion of the Jews from Spain in 1492.
Entertainment schedule –
1pm: Hellenic Dancers of New Jersey
2pm: Noga Group featuring Avram Pengas
3pm: Orelia Dance Performance
4pm: Ta Pedia Tis Polis
5pm: Baklava Express
Learn more at www.GreekJewishFestival.com
- Kehila Kedosha Janina is at 280 Broome Street, between Allen and Eldridge
- The Tenement Museum is nearby and open on Sundays.
- The Eldridge St. Museum Synagogue also is nearby and open on Sundays.
19th Annual Dance Parade & Festival
Saturday, May 17 – – It’s parade season in NYC, and this is one of the best.
More than 10,000 dancers, DJs, and musicians come together for this FREE event. It’s the world’s largest display of dance diversity, with more than 100 styles of dance from dozens of different countries. In addition to the parade, there are grandstand performances, and a post-parade DanceFest with dance lessons and aerial and social dance across five stages in Tompkins Square Park.
- Noon to 7pm, moving from Flatiron downtown to the East Village.
Chinatown Restaurant Week
Monday, May 19 – Saturday, May 24 – This week-long culinary festival features 18 neighborhood favorites, including some longtime beloved Chinatown favorites , such as Hop Kee and Jing Fong.
Eager eaters will get the chance to indulge in curated recommendations and off menu specials that will only be available during the event.
Participating restaurants will offer prix-fixe menus at a price of their choosing. Prices range from $20 to $80 for dine-in and from $13 t0 $25 for quick service/takeout.
More than half of the 18 participating restaurants are offering dine-in. The others are cafes, bakeries and take-out. Find the full list, menus and make reservations on the Welcome to Chinatown website.
- The Original Buddha Bodai
- Hop Kee
- Jing Fong
- Phoenix Palace
- Ming Wong
- Nha Trang 1/ Sugarcane Daddy
- Nyonya
- Tofu Tofu
- Wok Wok
- Round K
- Fong On
- K-Kimbap
- Maxi Noodles
- Mee Sum Cafe
- Taiwan Bear House
- Soft Swerve
- The Little One
Find menus and make reservations on the Welcome to Chinatown website.
Food Fairs and Flea Markets
Brooklyn Flea
Brooklyn Flea is back for an extended season filled with vintage gems, handcrafted goods, and top-tier eats. There’s a new expanded bar program, so you can browse vintage finds with a cocktail in hand. Returning vendors include Twice the Fiyah, Hood Haberdasher, and Iki Kimono, plus fresh faces for fashion, rare collectibles, and handcrafted decor.
📍 Brooklyn Flea DUMBO, 📍 BQ Flea (Williamsburg)
Uptown Night Market in Harlem
Second Thursday of the Month Through October – – The popular outdoor food market returns to Harlem with more than 50 vendors celebrating Harlem’s rich culinary scene.
Expect to find such items as oxtails, jerk chicken and fried sweet dumplings known as “festival,” arepas, hummus, seafood paella and chocolate-covered strawberries for dessert.
Admission is FREE, but you can reserve a spot online and be automatically entered in a raffle for the VIP Taster’s Club. Three winners are selected each month to enjoy exclusive vendor discounts, early access to deals and giveaways, and special pricing.
- 4pm to 10pm, FREE admission
- West 133 St. and 12th Ave.
Harlem Meer Re-Opens After Renovation
The new Davis Center at the Harlem Meer re-opened in April after a four-year, $160 Million renovation and re-invention.
The new facility will feature a public pool which will convert into an ice rink in the winter, “and in contrast to the old Lasker pool and ice rink it replaces, it will also transform into the Harlem Oval – a public green – in the shoulder seasons, ensuring year-round community access,” according to a press release.
- Opening ceremony at NoonThe Davis Center is at the northern end of the park just south of 110th Street.
- View the Harlem Meer on a map.
- Visit the Davis Center website for a schedule of events
FREE Dance Parties in Bryant Park
- Wednesday, April 30 (Opening Night) – Salsa’s Greatest Hits
Live Music with Alfredo de la Fe All-Star Band
- Thursday, May 1 – Motown: “Dancing in the Streets”
Live Music with KD Browne
- Wednesday, May 7 – Bachata Tradicional & Merengue
Live Music with Mayra Bello y Orquesta
- Thursday, May 8 – Afrofusion featuring Nkumu Katalay
Live Music with Gentleman Brawlers featuring Nkumu Katalay
- Wednesday, May 14 – Brazilian Samba, Forro & Mais
Live Music with Folha Seca
- Thursday, May 15 (Closing Night) – Latin Festival: Salsa, Timba, Candombe, Salsa
6 PM & 8:15 PM: Class
6 PM-10 PM: Live Music with Sebastian Natal & The Orchestra + Flaco Navaja & The Razor Blades
It’s all happening at the iconic Bryant Park Fountain.
Car-Free Open Streets
Columbus Avenue BID’s Open Streets
Sundays, starting May 4th – between 68th–77th Streets starts on Sunday, 5/4 from 12 noon–7 pm in May and June (except 6/1) and all Sundays in September and October (except 10/12).
We’ll add more Car-Free Open Streets as we receive information.
FREE – Times Square Live Daily Concerts
Tuesdays through Fridays through September – TSQ.live returns with a daily mix of free concerts and DJ sets, ending with the annual Taste of Times Square food and music festival in mid-September.
- Tuesdays – DJ sets
- Wednesdays – Performances by MTA Under New York musicians
- Thursdays – Music and dance performances including by Ailey Extension, Carnegie Hall Citywide and Jazz at Lincoln Center
- Fridays – Showcasing independent artists of the New York City music scene including those celebrating the debut of new songs or an upcoming summer album release.
All concerts are at the Broadway Pedestrian Plaza between 45th and 46th Streets.
Concerts Tuesday-Thursday at 5pm, Friday at 6pm.
Check the Times Square Live website for detailed the detailed performance schedule
What to Do in June
47th Annual Museum Mile Festival
The Museum Mile Festival was established in 1978 to increase public awareness of its member institutions and promote public support of the arts. Participating museums –
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art;
- Neue Galerie New York;
- Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum;
- Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum;
- The Jewish Museum;
- Museum of the City of New York;
- El Museo del Barrio; and
- The Africa Center. Several neighborhood partners, including the New York Academy of Medicine, the Church of the Heavenly Rest, Asia Society, 92NY, Institute for the Study of the Ancient World, NYC Kids Project, The People’s Bus, and AKC Museum of the Dog will also join us in this celebration.
Example of what the Museum of the City of New York is planning – The chance to see our latest exhibition Urban Stomp: Dreams & Defiance on the Dance Floor as well as our acclaimed Above Ground: Art from the Martin Wong Graffiti Collection. MCNY has partnered with Cool Culture to deliver family-friendly activities in connection with our exhibitions.
Planning Ahead to Summer 2025
Hudson River Park’s Little Island has a lineup of FREE and $25 or less summer programming.
The Glade will have free performances from Wednesdays through Sundays in July and August, including by Suzan-Lori Parks, Cécile McLorin Salvant, and Justin Vivian Bond.
Performances at the 700-seat amphitheater begin on June 6 with Twyla Tharp’s “How Long Blues.” Tickets for performances at the Ampth are capped at $25.
Shakespeare in the Park returns to the Delacorte Theater this summer, following a year-long renovation, with performances of Twelfth Night.
The play follows twins, Sebastian and Viola, separated after a shipwreck and all that ensues thereafter. Tony Award nominee, Saheem Ali, will be directing the production, with the cast including Bill Camp, Khris Davis, Junior Nyong’o, Lupita Nyong’o, Daphne Rubin-Vega, and Moses Sumney, Peter Dinklage, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, and Sandra Oh.
The 2024 season was a little nontraditional with shows in different pop-up venues around NYC. The iconic Delacorte Theater was first built in 1962, and over the years it has hosted more than five million people from around the world.
Key upgrades include:
- Audience ramps and more accessible seating, box office and concessions booths
- Improved stage and work areas for artists, company members, and staff
- New facade of reclaimed redwood from decommissioned NYC rooftop water tanks
- Newly lighting towers for improved viewing
Twelfth Night will run from August 7th through September 14th, 2025.
Learn more on Public Theater’s website.
FREE Summer Events in Coney Island
Luna Park –
The amusement park, which includes the world-famous Cyclone roller coaster and the newer Thunderbolt, is open Fridays and weekends in May. Full daily operations begin on Friday, May 23.
Friday Night Fireworks
Every Friday, June 21 through Labor Day Weekend – A FREE fireworks show will be held each Friday. The fireworks will launch from the beach at West 12th Street around 9:45 p.m.
Circus Amok
Sunday, June 23 – Circus Amok, a New York City-based circus-theater company, will perform tightrope walking, juggling, acrobatics, stilt walking, clowning, and more. It will take place at West 12th Street and Surf Avenue as part of New York City’s Open Streets program.
3rd Annual Classic Car Show
Thursday, July 18 – The third annual Classic Car Show will take place at West 12th Street and Surf Avenue as part of the Open Streets program.
An Independence Day fireworks show will be held at 10 p.m. on Thursday, July 4.
32nd Annual Sand Sculpting Competition
Saturday, August 17 – Amateurs and professional artists can take part in this annual event for a chance to win cash prizes. The event will be held at Coney Island Beach by Stillwell Avenue and West 12th Street from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Congestion Pricing
If you are driving into the center of Manhattan, including as a passenger in a car service like Uber or Lyft, be aware that so-called “congestion pricing” tolls remains in effect despite a Trump Administration order to rescind it.
The goal is to reduce gridlock, reduce pollution and raise money for public transit.
The toll – which went into effect on January 7 – applies for the most congested part of Manhattan, south of Central Park.
Cost varies depending on the day of the week, the hour of the day, and whether the vehicle is equipped with E-ZPass, the electronic toll collection system used in many states.
Congestion Pricing Costs
- $9 for peak traffic hours, 5am to 9pm weekdays and 9am to 9pm weekends.
- $2.25 for off-peak overnight hours
- Vehicles without E-ZPass will be receive bills by mail, for $13.50 for peak hours and $3.30 for off-peak,
- Motorcyclists pay half the amount that cars pay during peak hours but the same off-peak
- Trucks, buses and large vans (including airport shuttle vans) pay more, depending on their size.
- The cost is once per day.
According to local TV station NY1, Congestion Pricing raised $45 Million in March 2025, to be used to support public transportation.
Restaurant Reservations Simplified Under New NYState Law
Getting reservations at popular restaurants is easier with a new law that cracks down on the practice of selling reservations without the restaurant’s knowledge or approval. In recent years it has become even harder as a secondary market has prospered; reservations for two at popular restaurants have been seen selling for hundreds of dollars.
To combat that, a new law taking effect in February will crack down on the practice of selling reservations without the restaurant’s approval.
Most of the reservations are scooped up by bots, which in can cause chaos for restaurants, The New York Times reported because they don’t have a clear picture of how many diners they would be serving, and their bottom lines have suffered when reserved tables sit empty because a bot-reservation doesn’t show up.
It’s a serious enough issue that it was the subject of a recent “Elsbeth” show on CBS – (spoiler alert) the chef murdered the waiter when she found out he was selling reservations.
Best New NYC Park
Pier 97, Hudson River Park
Move over, High Line and Little Island you’ve got competition.
Pier 97, the northernmost pier in Hudson River Park is now open, following a $47.5 million transformation from a parking lot and Dept. of Sanitation storage facility into a gleaming and appealing public park with multiple facilities.
Pier 97 – at 57th St. and the Hudson River – has 2.5 acres of public open space, complete with a playground, athletic field, sloping sun lawn, and more—all surrounded by over 16,000 square feet of vibrant flowers and plants. A new building with restrooms and concessions is expected to open this winter.
Constructed between 1921 and 1934, Pier 97 served as a hub of the Swedish America Line and remained an active dock through the 1970s. Then it became a parking lot used by the city’s Department of Sanitation until 2011.
Pier 97 features include –
- The playground features a 26-foot-high rope climbing structure, a ship’s hull, and seasonal water spray features.
- The 120-foot-long synthetic turf field can accommodate a range of sports and activities, while the 7,600-square-foot sloping lawn offers a relaxing green space, providing a shady place of respite on the pier.
- A granite slide for guests of all ages connects the new elevated overlook and shaded belvedere section on the pier’s northern edge with the main pier below.
- The sunset deck, equipped with bistro tables, chaise lounges, and two-tiered walls with seating, offers breathtaking views of the Hudson River and skyline.
- Flexible gathering areas framed by flowers and plants offer tranquil spaces for socializing, and a walking promenade along the pier’s southern edge invites visitors for a relaxing stroll.
Work on a new park building directly north of Pier 97 containing public bathrooms, concessions, and a small maintenance area will open this winter. Solar panels will be installed on the roof, and the Hudson River Park Trust will issue a request for proposals (RFP) to select a food concessionaire. The Trust also plans to attract a historic vessel for docking on the south side of Pier 97.
Construction of the pier was primarily funded by $40.8 million from the NY State capital budget, plus $6.7 million in proceeds from a Transferable Development Rights Sale completed by the Trust in 2018.
Who is a real New Yorker? It depends on who you ask.
ecoXplorer Evelyn Kanter was interviewed by
Time Out New York
ICYMI – News Worth Noting
Fotografiska New York Has Closed
The photography museum has closed its location at 219 Park Avenue South to move to a new, larger space. It is expected the museum’s well-regarded restaurant Verōnika and the Chapel Bar will re-open in the new space.
According to Crain’s, the architecturally stunning building is being put on the market. The property was last listed in 2022 for $135 million.
Constructed between 1892 and 1894 for the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society of the Episcopal Church, the ornate building features a Flemish Renaissance Revival style and a striking limestone facade. The building, known as the Church Missions House, was part of an area formerly known as “Charity Row.” It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.
No details of a new location for the museum have been announced yet.
Michelin Guide Adds 12 NYC Restaurants
Fine dining just got more fine with the addition of 12 NYC restaurants to the famous Michelin Guide, bringing the number to 142.
- The new additions include French, Italian, seafood, Thai and Filippino choices
- See the full list here. Reservations recommended.
Landing Day
On Sept. 15, 1654, a group of 23 Sephardic Jews arrived on the shores of New York — then called New Amsterdam — and created the first organized Jewish community in the city. Today, 350 years later, NYC is home to the largest Jewish population of any city in the world.
- The City Council has voted on a resolution to honor both, turning Landing Day from an event marked by a few Jewish leaders into an official date on the city’s calendar. That’s just short of making it a holiday, like Juneteenth.
- The resolution aims to “commemorate the arrival of the first Jewish community in New Amsterdam in 1654 and to celebrate the continuing importance of the Jewish community in the City of New York.”
New Food Hall in Former Lord & Taylor Building
NYC’s newest food hall, Shaver Hall, is set to open in the iconic former Lord & Taylor building on Fifth Avenue between 38th and 39th Sts., now housing Amazon. According to a press release, it will “celebrate the rich heritage of the iconic Lord & Taylor building and promises to redefine the culinary landscape of Midtown Manhattan.”
- Shaver Hall is named in honor of Dorothy Shaver, the trailblazing president of Lord & Taylor and first woman to head a multimillion-dollar business.
- The first two announced tenants are Chick Chick, featuring Korean-inspired chicken, and Taqueria Al Pastor, with Mexican cuisine.
About the Lord & Taylor building –
- Originally constructed in 1914, the Lord & Taylor Building is an 11-story commercial masterpiece in the Italian Renaissance Revival style, designed by renowned architects Starrett & van Vleck.
- The building’s granite, brick, and limestone facade and copper cornice have symbolized elegance and sophistication for over a century, including for its famous and famously inventive holiday windows.
The Vessel at Hudson Yards Re-Opens
- The famous honeycomb sculpture has re-opened after shutting down in 2024 following three suicides, but it is no longer FREE to visit.
- The 150-foot Vessel now has safety netting to safeguard visitors, and the once-free architectural sculpture now costs $10 per person.
- Visitors must buy at least two tickets and will not be allowed to visit alone.
- Hudson Yards is “installing National Suicide Prevention Lifeline signage and messaging” and increasing security, CNN reported.
NEW – New York City residents with ID can visit for FREE Thursdays.
- Tickets are available at 9am on the last Friday of every month at 9am for the following month.
- Register here, with proof of an NYC ID.
- A limited number of free, day-of tickets are available every Thursday on that same website.
Citi Bike Rate Increase
Lyft, the ride share company which now owns and operates the bike share program, has raised rates again, especially for the popular battery-assisted e-bikes.
- Unlocking a Citi Bike now costs $4.79.
- E-bike fees are now approximately $10 for 15 minutes.
- A day pass for a manual bike is now $19.
See Also
More FREE Things to Do in NYC
Things to Do in Staten Island
Best NYC Airport Transportation
It’s All Happening at one of the NYC Zoos
Bronx Zoo
One of the largest zoos in the USA, the beloved Bronx Zoo celebrated its 125th anniversary in 2024, with some new exhibits including –
Animal Chronicles: A NEW temp exhibit includes a walking trail of more than a quarter mile featuring life-size and gigantic, immersive eco-sculptures that showcase key achievements in the Bronx Zoo’s history of saving animal species and connecting New Yorkers to wildlife.
- Animal Chronicles will be available daily and is included with admission.
- Each month features a different theme.
- Ticket prices are $37.75 for adults, $33.25 for seniors 65+ and $28.75 for children 3-15.
- Purchase tickets online here.
Wednesdays are FREE limited admission
- Online reservations for timed tickets open on Mondays at 5 pm at the link.
- These tickets are for park entry only; individual-attraction tickets cost $7/person, per attraction.
- All visitors age 3 and up are required to have a ticket, and to reserve you must register with a valid email address.
- Limited tickets; first-reserved, first-served,
Prospect Park Zoo
The Prospect Park Zoo re-opened in 2024 after being forced to close for eight months due to flood damage caused a severe storm, which left 25 feet of water in the buildings’ basements. No animals were harmed during or after the flooding. Repairs have cost an estimated $20 million of federal funds, and repair projects are continuing even after the re-opening.
There are some new young animals, including baboons Bandari and Nyani and Pinnelopi the porcupette plus Turtle Time and Conservation stations, sea lion feedings with narration, and more.
The animals are happy to have their humans, back, too.
- Adult tickets are $9.95, seniors are $7.95, children ages 3-12 are $6.95, and children 2 and under are free.
- Reserve tickets here
See Also
Best FREE Things in NYC Year-Round
FREE – Late Night Shows Taped in New York City
The late night shows taped in NYC are one of the most popular tickets in town. Here’s how to get FREE tickets to be in the audience.
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon
Jon Stewart Returns to The Daily Show
Tickets for Saturday Night Live (SNL)
FREE Weekly & Monthly Museum Admission 
FREE Monday Admission to the 9/11 Memorial and Museum
First Monday of the Month – This great opportunity is only for NYC residents. You will have to show proof of NYC residency for free admission.
Everybody can get FREE admission every Monday, from from 5:30pm to 7pm.
Simply log onto 911memorial.org from 7am on the Monday morning of your intended visit and book your free ticket.
Tickets are always free to 9/11 families, and the outdoor memorial plaza is always free.
FREE Admission to Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), Friday, May 2, June 6
UNIQLO NYC Nights are the first Friday of each month, 4–8 pm.
New York City residents get free admission courtesy of UNIQLO, but everyone can enjoy an evening out in our galleries with paid admission.
See new art in the galleries, enjoy music by DJs from The Lot Radio, grab a drink at the pop-up bar, get creative with drop-in drawing sessions, see a film in the theaters, and enjoy the spring weather in the lovely outdoor sculpture garden.
FREE First Fridays at Neue Galerie, Friday, May 2, June 6
First Fridays at Neue Galerie offer free admission and extra hours to closing, the first Friday of the month.
Visitors are admitted free at 5 p.m. and the galleries remain open until 8 p.m. No registration is required, and admission is first-come, first-served.
The Book Store and Design Shop stay open late, too.
FREE First Fridays at Poster House, Friday, May 2, June 6
Poster House is the first museum in the United States dedicated to the global history of posters. First Fridays free admission is all day, 10am to 9pm
Every First Friday is different, with tours, workshops, performances, and activities, to further engage visitors with the exhibitions.
- Poster House is at 119 West 23 St. in Chelsea. tel. 617-447-7453
FREE Fridays & Sundays at the Whitney Museum of American Art
Update – The Whitney Museum of American Art now offers free admission for all visitors 25 and under.
The new program builds upon the museum’s free admission on Fridays and the second Sunday of every month, which launched earlier in 2024, replacing its “pay-what-you-wish” system.
Now, admission is FREE for all visitors on Fridays from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. and on the second Sunday of every mont.
Second Sundays offers free all-day admission to visitors and special programming for families. On the second Sunday of every month, guests can enjoy all-ages arts & crafts activities, tours, classes, and other special events connected to exhibitions on view at the Whitney or significant community events like Earth Day or Pride Month.
Also on view will be the museum’s permanent collection exhibitions, featuring artists such as Edward Hopper, Kara Walker, Georgia O’Keeffe, Kevin Beasley, Faith Ringgold, Lee Krasner, Jasper Johns, Alexander Calder, Jacob Lawrence, Carrie Mae Weems, Andrea Carlson, and Clarissa Tossin.
The Whitney hopes free admission will make the museum more enticing to potential visitors and open the doors to a wider audience.
Free admission tickets must be reserved in advance.
FREE Saturdays at the Jewish Museum
There is FREE admission every Saturday.
My personal favorite is the ongoing “Scenes from the Collection” exhibit, with the delightful yellow sculpture shown here. From one side, it spells OY, the German and Yiddish phrase for “uh-oh”. From the other side, it spells YO, now used by multiple cultures in NYC as a greeting.
Which one do you use – OY, or YO, or both?
- The Jewish Museum is at 1109 Fifth Ave. at 92nd St., in the former Warburg Mansion.
FREE Tours of Hart Island
Hart Island is now open to the public. Since 1869, more than 1 million New Yorkers have been laid to rest on the island.
NYC Parks is now offering visits twice per month so New Yorkers can learn about its important history and see the beauty of the island and enjoy picture postcard views of the city.
You can put your name in the lottery for a free walking tour here.
Read about the history of Hart Island in this article in The City.
- Tours are Tuesdays, 10am to 1pm
This NYC Best Things to Do Calendar is updated at the beginning and middle of each month.
ecoXplorer Evelyn Kanter is a journalist with 25+ years of experience as a newspaper and magazine writer, radio & TV news producer & reporter – all focusing on travel, automotive, the environment and your rights as a consumer.
ecoXplorer Evelyn Kanter, a native and lifelong New Yorker, also is the author or editor of numerous NYC guidebooks and apps, including for Fodor’s and Rand McNally.
ecoXplorer Evelyn Kanter currently serves as President Emeritas of the International Motor Press Assn. (IMPA), after serving two years as President.
ecoXplorer Evelyn Kanter is a member of the North American Travel Journalists Assn. (NATJA) and the North American Snowsports Journalists Assn. (NASJA) and a former Board Member of the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW).
Contact me at evelyn@ecoxplorer.com.
Copyright (C) Evelyn Kanter
This is great! I love exploring my city and being made aware of what’s going on and where to go!