Highest-rated free things to do in New York, according to Tripadvisor
Highest-rated free things to do in New York, according to Tripadvisor
It is incredibly expensive to be an American. While workers in the United States have seen an 80% increase in wages over the past 50 years, those gains haven't caught up with the ever-growing cost of living, according to a 2024 report from Consumer Affairs. Between 1970 and 2022, the national consumer price index increased by over 500%, while wages only grew by 80%.
That imbalance has put a huge strain on the average American. The number of cost-burdened households in the U.S. reached an 11-year record in 2022, according to an analysis of Census Bureau data by the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies. In June 2024, Redfin reported that the median U.S. home sale price hit an all-time high of $394,000.
It's no wonder that maintaining savings, paying down debts and mortgages, and regular expenses are taking precedence over vacations. But not everything that's enjoyable has to come at a high price. In fact, there's a roster of completely free things to do in New York.
Think about the most common items on a vacation getaway itinerary: sightseeing, touring landmarks, or completing a nature walk. Or, maybe you're just aiming to relax and want some peace and quiet. Whether you're a history buff or aching to dip your toes in some cool water, you can find all this and more without swiping your credit card or crossing state lines.
To help you find your next free activity, Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated free things to do in New York using data from Tripadvisor. Tripadvisor ranks places using a combination of metrics, including overall rating, reviews, and number of page views. As a result, an activity with a 5 out of 5 overall rating might rank lower than one with a 4 out of 5. Data is as of June 12, 2024.
Read on to start planning a weekend of free fun near you!
#30. Woodbury Common Premium Outlets
- Rating: 4/5 (4,072 reviews)
- Address: 498 Red Apple Court Central Valley, New York
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#29. Saratoga Spa State Park
- Rating: 4.5/5 (1,028 reviews)
- Address: 19 Roosevelt Drive Saratoga Springs, New York
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#28. Chrysler Building
- Rating: 4.5/5 (3,082 reviews)
- Address: 405 Lexington and 42nd St. New York City, New York
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#27. St. Paul's Chapel
- Rating: 4.5/5 (3,460 reviews)
- Address: 209 Broadway b/t Fulton St. & Vesey St. New York City, New York
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#26. Green-Wood cemetery
- Rating: 5/5 (1,077 reviews)
- Address: 500 25th St. Brooklyn, New York
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#25. Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park
- Rating: 4.5/5 (2,384 reviews)
- Address: 61 Parker Ave. Poughkeepsie, New York
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#24. Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery
- Rating: 4.5/5 (964 reviews)
- Address: 9749 Middle Road Hammondsport, New York
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#23. SoHo
- Rating: 4.5/5 (3,858 reviews)
- Address: South of Houston St. New York City, New York
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#22. World Trade Center's Liberty Park
- Rating: 5/5 (3,011 reviews)
- Address: 155 Cedar St. New York City, New York
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#21. Greenwich Village
- Rating: 4.5/5 (3,841 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#20. Brooklyn Bridge Park
- Rating: 4.5/5 (3,349 reviews)
- Address: 334 Furman St. Brooklyn, New York
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#19. The Oculus
- Rating: 4.5/5 (2,698 reviews)
- Address: 50 Church St. World Trade Center New York City, New York
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#18. Brooklyn Heights Promenade
- Rating: 4.5/5 (3,478 reviews)
- Address: Montague St. &, Pierrepont Place Brooklyn, New York
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#17. Dumbo
- Rating: 4.5/5 (2,956 reviews)
- Address: Brooklyn, New York
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#16. Niagara Falls State Park
- Rating: 4.5/5 (4,591 reviews)
- Address: 332 Prospect St. Niagara Falls, New York
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#15. Fifth Avenue
- Rating: 4.5/5 (8,586 reviews)
- Address: 5th Ave. New York City, New York
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#14. Chelsea Market
- Rating: 4.5/5 (9,851 reviews)
- Address: 75 9th Ave. New York City, New York
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#13. Niagara Falls
- Rating: 4.5/5 (8,230 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#12. Rockefeller Center
- Rating: 4.5/5 (25,625 reviews)
- Address: 45 Rockefeller Plaza New York City, New York
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#11. St. Patrick's Cathedral
- Rating: 4.5/5 (15,332 reviews)
- Address: 50th St. & 5th Ave. Wheelchair accessibility located off the corner of 51st St. and 5th Ave. New York City, New York
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#10. New York Public Library
- Rating: 4.5/5 (14,648 reviews)
- Address: 476 5th Ave. New York, NY 10018 New York City, New York
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#9. Bryant Park
- Rating: 4.5/5 (23,900 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#8. Times Square
- Rating: 4.5/5 (56,855 reviews)
- Address: Broadway New York City, New York
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#7. Staten Island Ferry
- Rating: 4.5/5 (23,032 reviews)
- Address: 4 South St. New York City, New York
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#6. Grand Central Terminal
- Rating: 4.5/5 (44,771 reviews)
- Address: 89 East 42nd St. New York City, New York
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#5. Manhattan Skyline
- Rating: 5/5 (21,499 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#4. Brooklyn Bridge
- Rating: 4.5/5 (26,077 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#3. Broadway
- Rating: 4.5/5 (31,886 reviews)
- Address: 599 Broadway New York City, New York
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#2. The High Line
- Rating: 4.5/5 (63,072 reviews)
- Address: Gansevoort St. To W. 30 St. Between Washington St. and 11 Ave. New York City, New York
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#1. Central Park
- Rating: 4.5/5 (134,015 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor
This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani, writing by Zuri White-Gibson, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states and Washington D.C.
