
Highest-rated free things to do in New York by visitors
Being an American can be incredibly expensive. While workers in the United States have seen a 1,015% increase in wages over the past 50 years, those gains haven't caught up with the ever-growing cost of living, according to a 2025 report from Consumer Affairs. Between 1973 and 2023, the national consumer price index increased by 586%.
Although Americans have about 63% more purchasing power than 50 years ago, that quickly dissipates when factoring in the increased costs of housing and education. Housing costs have jumped about 1,045%, private college tuition has risen by 158%, and public college tuition has increased by 177%.
That imbalance has put a huge strain on the average American. In 2023, a record-high 42.9 million households were cost-burdened, according to an analysis of Census Bureau data by the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies.
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.
From touring landmarks and historical sites to getting out into nature, 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 Aug. 18, 2025. Only locations that received at least 20 reviews were included.
Read on to start planning a weekend of free fun near you!

#30. Mirror Lake
- Rating: 4.7/5 (1,079 reviews)
- City: Lake Placid New
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#29. Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park
- Rating: 4.7/5 (2,395 reviews)
- City: Poughkeepsie New
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#28. Brooklyn Bridge Park
- Rating: 4.7/5 (3,364 reviews)
- City: Brooklyn New
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#27. Niagara Falls State Park
- Rating: 4.6/5 (4,627 reviews)
- City: Niagara Falls New
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#26. Dyker Heights
- Rating: 4.6/5 (656 reviews)
- City: Brooklyn New
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#25. Macy's Herald Square
- Rating: 4.0/5 (4,956 reviews)
- City: New
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#24. Roosevelt Island
- Rating: 4.4/5 (950 reviews)
- City: New
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#23. Brooklyn Heights Promenade
- Rating: 4.7/5 (3,489 reviews)
- City: Brooklyn New
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#22. Woodbury Common Premium Outlets
- Rating: 4.2/5 (4,090 reviews)
- City: Central Valley New
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#21. SoHo
- Rating: 4.4/5 (3,874 reviews)
- City: New
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#20. The Vessel
- Rating: 4.5/5 (1,539 reviews)
- City: New
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#19. Coney Island
- Rating: 4.1/5 (4,969 reviews)
- City: Brooklyn New
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#18. Fifth Avenue
- Rating: 4.5/5 (8,603 reviews)
- City: New
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#17. Greenwich Village
- Rating: 4.5/5 (3,845 reviews)
- City: New
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#16. St. Patrick's Cathedral
- Rating: 4.6/5 (15,396 reviews)
- City: New
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#15. Dumbo
- Rating: 4.6/5 (2,985 reviews)
- City: Brooklyn New
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#14. Manhattan Skyline
- Rating: 4.8/5 (21,511 reviews)
- City: New
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#13. Niagara Falls
- Rating: 4.7/5 (8,267 reviews)
- City: Niagara Falls New
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#12. The Oculus
- Rating: 4.5/5 (2,759 reviews)
- City: New
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#11. Bryant Park
- Rating: 4.6/5 (24,003 reviews)
- City: New
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#10. Rockefeller Center
- Rating: 4.5/5 (25,697 reviews)
- City: New
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#9. Chelsea Market
- Rating: 4.5/5 (9,948 reviews)
- City: New
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#8. Staten Island Ferry
- Rating: 4.6/5 (23,124 reviews)
- City: New
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#7. New York Public Library
- Rating: 4.6/5 (14,739 reviews)
- City: New
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#6. Broadway
- Rating: 4.6/5 (32,403 reviews)
- City: New
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#5. Grand Central Terminal
- Rating: 4.6/5 (44,847 reviews)
- City: New
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#4. Brooklyn Bridge
- Rating: 4.7/5 (26,279 reviews)
- City: New
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#3. Times Square
- Rating: 4.3/5 (57,102 reviews)
- City: New
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#2. The High Line
- Rating: 4.5/5 (63,344 reviews)
- City: New
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#1. Central Park
- Rating: 4.7/5 (134,336 reviews)
- City: New
- Read more on Tripadvisor
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Jill Jaracz, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 51 states.