Updated October 30, 2024
Look no further for fun but dirt cheap things to do in Manhattan!
Have you seen those TikToks where you take one step outside your door in NYC and you’re hit with a barrage of costs, like an $9 latte and $23 cocktail?
It really can be like that, living in NYC 🙈
But worry not, there’s plenty of cheap things to do in Manhattan, despite it being located in one of the most expensive cities in the United States.
And, my cheap ass has spent hours trying them all, so that I can recommend the best things that are actually worth your time!
Whether it’s your first time in the Big Apple or you’re one of the many disillusioned New Yorkers, this is the ultimate guide to fun things in NYC at the most affordable prices.
With that, let’s dive into cheap things to do in Manhattan.
Cheap Things To Do in Manhattan
Active Things To Do
1. Walk the High Line & Visit Little Island
The High Line is my favorite place to show visitors around.
I usually start at the Vessel then walk down and enjoy Little Island.
Every time I pass Zaha Hadid’s curvy, drawn-out apartment building on 520 W. 28th, I wonder, “How much is one of those apartments?” and “Is it worth it given that everyone’s always looking inside from the High Line? Or is that the point?”
A few blocks down is the brutalist concrete building on 508 W. 24th. The grids of black steel windows remind me of similar buildings in Hong Kong that I also loved.
It’s a cute winding walk up the stiletto prongs forming Little Island. From the top, you can see the Statue of Liberty from afar and take in the beautiful views of the Hudson.
Beware, this whole walk is quite busy, especially during the peak summer tourist season.
If you’re not feeling the crowds, a walk along the West Side Highway slightly further downtown is a great alternative (or continuation of your High Line walk).
2. Citi Bike along the West Side Highway
You might think, “Why not bike around Central Park?”
Well, unless you bike a lot, Central Park is actually quite hilly and a little annoying to bike around, unless you get the electric bikes. But those e-bikes are actually quite expensive!
Therefore, I’d recommend renting a classic push-pedal Citi Bike and biking down the relatively flat West Side Highway, which has a nice dedicated bike lane that is separate from traffic.
3. Play 18-Hole Mini Golf by the Hudson River
Being on a budget doesn’t mean we can’t get classy!
For just $12, you can play 18-holes at Pier 25 by the Hudson.
That price includes golf club rentals too, so don’t worry if you don’t have a set on you.
4. Free Kayaking at Pier 26 and Pier 96
Go kayaking for free every weekend at Pier 26 and Pier 96 in the warmer months.
The catch is that you can only book the kayaks for 20 minutes at a time. But hey, it’s free!
The piers are typically open from mid-May to mid-October, but check their websites for the exact dates.
Cheap Things To Do During the Summer
5. Watch Shakespeare in Central Park for Free
NYC is one of the art and culture capitals of the world, and I love that there’s so many accessibility initiatives.
Every summer, typically May to September, the Public Theater hosts free Shakespeare in Central Park!
In 2025, the Public will perform Twelfth Night at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park.
You can register for tickets to the free shows here.
6. Watch the US Open for Free during Fan Week
The US Open is one of the 4 Grand Slam tennis tournaments and is hosted every year in Flushing, Queens.
Did you know that you can actually watch the pros practice and compete in qualifying matches for free during Fan Week?
Fan Week is typically the first week of the US Open. In 2025, it will likely be Aug 25-31.
You’ll need to reserve the free Fan Access Pass in order to attend. Here’s the Practice Schedule!
7. Free Workout Classes by the Hudson River
Boutique fitness classes in NYC are expensive!
Thanks to Healthy on the Hudson, you can enjoy yoga, HIIT and other fitness classes hosted by boutique studio instructors in the Hudson River Park for free during the summer.
There’s usually 4 outdoor classes per week (you read that right!), from the end of May to the end of September.
I’d definitely recommend booking a seat since popular classes fill up fast (like the 305 Fitness / Zumba dance classes on select Mondays!). Here’s the event calendar.
In addition, I’ve made the mistake of showing up to these classes a little late or right on the dot, but don’t be like me!
In order to have the best experience, it’s best to show up about 15 minutes early and try to score a spot near the instructor, since the sound systems sometimes get finicky.
8. Free Outdoor Movies
From the end of May to September, NYC Parks hosts outdoor movies in parks all around Manhattan on Monday and the weekend.
Bring your favorite snacks and a picnic blanket and curl up with your loved ones!
While it can be a little hard to focus on the inflatable screen with so many people around, I make sure to fit in a few every summer.
It brings me back to my childhood when I watched outdoor movies from the car. Remember those days?!
Previous screenings have included:
- Barbie
- Crazy Rich Asians
- Forrest Gump
- Mamma Mia!
At these Manhattan parks:
- Central Park
- Bryant Park
- Washington Square Park
- Riverside Park (145th)
- and more!
Check here for the updated schedule.
9. SummerStage & Free Summer Concerts at NYC Parks
There’s a super-wide range of free concerts at the NYC Parks, from pop names you’ll recognize to orchestras you’d have to shell out to watch otherwise.
Many of the most popular free concerts are part of the SummerStage festival. I’m thinking lines wrapped around Central Park, well before the performance.
Others are more low-key, drawing a crowd of about 100 people.
Either way, the quality of the performances is always high in classic NYC fashion. Plus, since there’s a lot of local performers, it’s a great way to connect with the community.
Past performances have included:
- Corinne Bailey Rae
- Andra Day
- Metropolitan Opera
- Funk Flex
- American Symphony Orchestra
Past locations have included:
- Central Park (Rumsey Playfield, E 71 St)
- Bryant Park
- Riverside Park (Hippo Playground, W 91 St)
A full list of the free summer concerts is here. Here is SummerStage’s website.
Cheap Things To Do During the Winter
10. Bring-Your-Own-Skates to Bryant Park
If you have your own pair of skates, it’s free to ice skate at Bryant Park!
Otherwise, the prices vary quite a bit, depending on how close to the end of the year you are.
Renting skates during lower peak times (like a weekday in November) is around $20.
But the prices go up higher than $50 around Christmas!
You can check the prices and reserve online here. The skating rink is typically open from late October to March yearly.
11. Celebrate the Holiday Spirit
The winter holidays brings many visitors to New York City. And many of those activities are completely free!
Start your afternoon at the Bryant Park Winter Village. At this open-air market, there’s tons of cute Christmas items and gift-worthy trinkets, from ornaments to charms.
There’s also a lot of bites, from sweet desserts, baked goods to savory bratwursts.
Once the sun’s down, it’s a 15 minute walk to the huge Christmas tree at the Rockefeller Center.
Then head to Fifth Avenue to watch the Saks light show and coo at the twinkling and twirling window displays.
12. Play Board Games at The Uncommons
If you’re bored of another Saturday morning grabbing coffee and bagels with your friend, head over to The Uncommons and play some board games!
For $15, you can play as many of their games as you want for 3 hours.
They’ve got all the classics, like Uno, Catan and Cards Against Humanity.
Their ~1,000 game collection also includes indie titles, tabletop RPGs, strategy and cooperative games.
The Uncommons offers coffee ($3.25), canned beers ($6-12) and wines ($10), so they’re great as a pre-lunch or evening get-together (they open at 10am and close at 11pm/midnight!).
Address: 230 Thompson St, New York, NY 10012
Arts & Culture
13. Free Drinks and Bites at Gallery Opening Receptions
Dress up and head over to an art gallery opening reception!
There’s multiple gallery openings happening pretty much every day in New York City.
For us, that means that you have the chance to score free bites and drinks with good music (and art!) every day at their opening receptions, which typically happen from 6-8pm.
The See Saw app makes it super easy to see which galleries are opening soon. Don’t worry if you’re planning a date last minute – there’s a good chance there’s multiple openings happening tonight, which you can see through the app!
Here are some of my favorites:
- Chelsea: Hauser and Wirth, Petzel, Greene Naftali
- Lower East Side: Marc Straus Gallery, Richard Taittinger Gallery
14. Watch Ballet for $30 if You’re Under 30
If you’re under 30 years old, you can buy tickets to the New York City Ballet for just $30!
$30 for 30® tickets are typically released on Tuesday around noon for shows happening that week.
Given that ticket prices generally start at at least $50 (to upward of almost $200) plus various fees, the $30 no-fee tickets are a deal.
In order to unlock $30 tickets, you’ll first need to register and get your age verified (takes around 2-3 business days).
Otherwise, you can go in-person to buy tickets from the box office in the Koch Theatre.
But I would suggest going the online verification route, since popular shows can sell out shortly after they’re released on Tuesday.
While you’ll have a shot at tickets in the first ring for less busy shows, you can expect tickets in the third or fourth ring if you go through $30 for 30®.
Learn more on the NYC Ballet site.
15. Free & Pay-What-You-Wish Museums
In the brutality of New York City winter, you’ll find yourself wandering about many-a-museum.
Many museums around the city have free entry days or are pay-what-you-wish for New York residents.
Here’s a comprehensive list:
Always Free or Pay-What-You-Wish
- Metropolitan Museum of Art: There’s “no need to travel” when you can travel right at The Met, which is pay-what-you-wish for New York state residents (and NY, NJ, CT students). In addition, there’s live music, drinks and bites at Date Night at the Met, which is every Friday and Saturdays from 5-9pm.
- American Museum of Natural History: You can definitely feel your inner child come out as you marvel at the grand dinosaur exhibitions at this museum. Free for New York state residents.
- National Museum of the American Indian: To be honest, I did not feel like the equivalent museum in D.C. does Native history justice, and I have not visited this museum. Like other Smithsonian institutions, this museum is free for everyone.
Mondays
- 9/11 Memorial & Museum: Free Admission Mondays from 5:30-7pm. The free tickets are released the morning of at 7am and are first come, first serve. The touching outdoor memorial is always free and open to the public.
Wednesdays
- Museum of the City of New York: It was super cool learning about all the immigration and the painful aspects of NYC history through the digital displays and artifacts at this museum. Free Wednesdays for everyone and always pay-what-you-wish for New York State residents.
Fridays
- Whitney Museum of American Art: My personal favorite free museum! Starting December, the Whitney will be free every day for visitors 25 and under (!!). Right now, their free days are: Free Friday Nights from 5-10pm, and Free Second Sundays.
Cheap Food & Drinks
16. Cheap Snacks & Food in Chinatown
Head on over to the Lower East Side in lower Manhattan for some seriously delicious and cheap bites.
It’s one of the few neighborhoods where you can satisfyingly fill your belly and buy groceries on the cheap in Manhattan.
In a pinch or love a good deal? Head to Shu Jiao Fuzhou and get 10 dumplings for $5, and top it off with Mei Lai Wah’s irresistible pineapple bun with roast pork for $2.50.
Expect lines at both places, but they do go by fast.
17. Sip Chai at The Chai Spot
There’s nothing like caffeine-fueled connection and chatter. But in New York City, it’s hard to feel comfortable sitting around at a cramped cafe for too long.
The Chai Spot is an excellent alternative to a coffee shop that’s also a fun, new cultural experience.
Order a cup of chai at the front and head to the seating area in the back, which is full of comfy mats and pillows so you can get comfy on the floor.
You’ll spot people coming alone to watch a movie on their laptop, couples curled up together, and groups of friends chatting away.
The chais range from $6.50-10 per cup. Since The Chai Spot is open until 10pm, it’s also a great alternative to a bar.
Address: 156 Mott St, New York, NY 10013
18. Plan a Picnic or Bagels To-Go at Public Parks
One of my very favorite things to do when the weather’s nice is walking to Sheep Meadow in Central Park and chilling.
There’s usually plenty to people-watch: groups of friends laughing, sunbathers, tourists and kids.
Planning a picnic or eating bagels at the park is also a great, affordable alternative to meeting friends at a restaurant in Manhattan.
Here are my favorite parks in NYC:
- Central Park: It’s super convenient meeting people at Columbus Circle, then walking to Sheep Meadow to chill (beware: it closes at 7pm!).
- Washington Square Park: It’s a classic grabbing a bagel and coffee from Brooklyn Bagel & Company and people watching around the fountain in Washington Square Park. There’s always (too much) to see, from skateboarders, NYU students to street performers. There’s also frequently small business vendors selling
Cheap Things To Do in Manhattan (Conclusion)
In this guide, we went over cheap things to do in Manhattan.
You can have confidence that these are the best free things to do in Manhattan, because as a local resident, I’ve spent many hours researching and trying all kinds of activities and free attractions.
- Walk the High Line & Visit Little Island
- Citi Bike along the West Side Highway
- Play 18-Hole Mini Golf by the Hudson River
- Free Kayaking at Pier 26 and Pier 96
- Watch Shakespeare in Central Park for Free
- Watch the US Open for Free during Fan Week
- Free Workout Classes by the Hudson River
- Free Outdoor Movies
- SummerStage & Free Summer Concerts at NYC Parks
- 10. Bring-Your-Own-Skates to Bryant Park
- Celebrate the Holiday Spirit
- Play Board Games at The Uncommons
- Free Drinks and Bites at Gallery Opening Receptions
- Watch Ballet for $30 if You’re Under 30
- ree & Pay-What-You-Wish Museums
- Cheap Snacks & Food in Chinatown
- Sip Chai at The Chai Spot
- Plan a Picnic or Bagels To-Go at Public Parks
Thanks for checking out my article about cheap things to do in Manhattan!
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