Free Things to Do in New York with Kids

We spent 11 days in New York with our daughters, who were between 12 and 16 at the time. We planned for months, stayed in a central hotel and used public transport. Between paid museums and observation decks, some of our best memories came from walks that cost us nothing. Here’s how we fitted them in.

We found Caracol Viajero and A Nueva York helpful when planning (both in Spanish). The walks and outdoor sights here are free. We’ve flagged where you’ll pay for admission, transport or refreshments.

New York film and TV locations

We started in TriBeCa at Hook & Ladder 8, the exterior of the Ghostbusters headquarters. It’s a working firehouse, so see it from the pavement. In the West Village we looked for the Friends building at Bedford and Grove, and Carrie Bradshaw’s steps on Perry Street. Both are homes. We also enjoyed finding the Ghost building in SoHo and the exterior of Audrey Hepburn’s apartment in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. For the classic photo, there’s Tiffany on Fifth Avenue, coffee and croissant optional :).

In Central Park we loved Bow Bridge and the Alice in Wonderland statue. You can spend a whole day there if you bring a picnic. If you’re looking for the final meeting in You’ve Got Mail, the garden in that scene is in Riverside Park at 91st Street.

At Grand Central Terminal, step inside to see the main concourse and its clock. We also saw the globe in the Daily News Building, which appears in Superman. It’s in an office lobby, so access depends on the building. The noise and screens of Times Square reminded us of Vanilla Sky, where we saw it completely empty. A Nueva York’s film location guide has more stops (in Spanish).

Wandering around Manhattan

Leave time to look at shop windows and buildings and sit down for a while. We were struck by the yellow taxis, the steam rising into the street and how quickly the weather could change in August. Mixing subway rides and walks helped us make the most of our days. Manhattan is one of five boroughs, along with Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island.

In the Financial District we saw Arturo Di Modica’s Charging Bull at Bowling Green. Kristen Visbal’s Fearless Girl stands opposite the stock exchange. You can also pass the Federal Reserve building, which reminded us of Die Hard with a Vengeance.

The 9/11 Memorial and the Oculus

The 9/11 Memorial is free. The two pools sit in the footprints of the Twin Towers, with the victims’ names around them. A white rose beside a name marks that person’s birthday. The museum has separate admission and made a strong impression on our daughters. Nearby are One World Trade Center and Santiago Calatrava’s Oculus, where you can step inside to see the concourse.

Flatiron, Chinatown, Little Italy and SoHo

We were especially looking forward to seeing the wedge-shaped Flatiron Building. We bought coffees and sat at the plaza tables to look at it. Madison Square Park is nearby, and the squirrels were a hit with our daughters. Chinatown, Little Italy and SoHo fit together well on another part of your day. In Chinatown we liked Columbus Park, where people were playing games or making music.

In Little Italy we tried cannoli and stopped to look at the Christmas in Little Italy shop window. In SoHo we took our time looking at brick façades, fire escapes and galleries. There are some lovely photos to be had :).

Battery Park and the free Staten Island Ferry

You can see the Statue of Liberty in the distance from The Battery. The free Staten Island Ferry leaves from Whitehall Terminal, passes the statue and continues to St George on Staten Island. To get off on Liberty Island, take the separate paid visitor ferry. The Battery also has the paid SeaGlass Carousel. On the other side we wandered through Empire Outlets and did a bit of shopping.

Brooklyn Bridge, DUMBO and Brooklyn Bridge Park

Walking across Brooklyn Bridge was one of the best parts of the trip. You can walk across Manhattan Bridge too. In DUMBO, Washington Street frames the Manhattan Bridge view you may recognise from the Once Upon a Time in America poster. We liked the walk through Main Street Park and the rest of Brooklyn Bridge Park even more. Jane’s Carousel charges for rides. We also stopped at Empire Stores, with its terrace, and Jacques Torres Chocolate. The Roosevelt Island Tram is a separate ride and you pay the public transport fare.

Rockefeller Center, Times Square and the High Line

At Rockefeller Center we stopped at the giant piano from Big in FAO Schwarz and found the newly released Friends LEGO set. At Christmas you can see the tree and rink from outside. Skating and going up to Top of the Rock cost extra. Nearby you can stop at St Patrick’s Cathedral and the M&M’s store in Times Square.

The High Line was our daughter’s discovery. It’s a free park on a former elevated freight railway. We liked taking it slowly and heading down towards Chelsea Market partway along. At Hudson Yards you can see Vessel from the plaza for free. To climb it you need a ticket. The free offer advertised by Vessel has conditions and is for New York City residents.

A walking tour and a service in Harlem

We like to start a trip with a guided walk. Ours took about two hours and covered Wall Street, the stock exchange, the Trump Building, Broadway, the World Trade Center and Battery Park. So-called free tours usually work on tips, so budget for one and check the booking terms.

Thanks to Caracol Viajero, we attended Mass at St Charles Borromeo, at 211 West 141st Street in Harlem. A woman sang with piano accompaniment and the priest came over to ask where we were from. It’s the welcome we remember most. It’s a religious service with an optional donation. Check the parish schedule and follow any guidance for visitors.

Our Staten Island surprise: Snug Harbor

We went to Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden without knowing quite what to expect, and it was one of the surprises of the trip. The outdoor grounds are free. The New York Chinese Scholar’s Garden has separate admission. We loved its pavilions, bamboo path and koi pond. The pieces were made in Suzhou and Chinese craftspeople assembled the garden on Staten Island. We took the S40 bus from the ferry terminal, which charges a fare. See Snug Harbor’s hours and admission details.

For the rest of your trip, see our New York planning guide and our tips on transport, sightseeing passes and places to eat.