New York City is undeniably one of the most expensive cities in the world. The average cost of dinner here is $48, a martini will easily cost you $17, and it costs at least $25 per person to visit many of the city's museums and attractions. However, this certainly doesn't mean you can't visit New York on a budget. In fact, there are tons of free activities in the Big Apple that are just as fun as the expensive ones and won't drain your wallet. To show you what we mean, here are nine suggestions of free things to do and ways to explore New York City.
Walk Through Central Park 
Credit: www.bigstock.com Central Park, New York City
Walk Through Central Park (Hotels Nearby)
Walking through a New York City park doesn't cost you a penny, and Central Park deserves a place on every New York City traveller's itinerary. This large urban park in the Manhattan borough always has something to do, such as family discovery walks, visits to the conservatory gardens, volunteer activities to keep the park beautiful, and floral tours led by horticultural experts. There are actually four Central Park visitor centres (a fifth is under renovation) where you can start your exploration of this free park and learn what's going on that day. Here you can also rent bikes, rowboats and gondolas, try your luck with catch-and-release fishing at the Harlem Meer, go ice-skating and simply immerse yourself in the culture of the city in Central Park.
Visit MoMA on Friday Nights 
Credit: www.bigstock.com The exterior of the MoMA Museum in downtown New York
Visit MoMA on Friday Nights (Hotels nearby)
Most of the time, a visit to the Museum of Modern Art is $25 for adults, which is a hefty price to pay if you're travelling on a budget. Instead, plan your trip to the museum for Friday evening, because admission to the museum is free for everyone on Friday evenings between 4pm and 8pm. Plan to arrive after 6pm to avoid the longer lines on this free night. Some of the world's most interesting and innovative modern art collections are housed here, so you won't want to miss out!
Browse Art Galleries in Chelsea 
Credit: www.bigstock.com Painting and Sculpture Exhibition of Modern Art in the Chelsea District
Browse Art Galleries in Chelsea (Nearby Hotels)
Another great way to explore New York's art scene for free is to browse the art galleries in the Chelsea district. Chelsea is known as the city's art mecca and the place to be if you love exploring new art. Unlike art museums, it is totally and completely free to stroll around and visit many of the art galleries here. Some galleries to add to your bucket list are the Pace Gallery, Cheim & Read, Lehmann Maupin, Sean Kelly, Gagosian and the Mary Boone Gallery. Browsing the art galleries is a wonderful way to spend a spontaneous day in New York without spending any money.
Tours of Brooklyn Brewery 
Credit: www.facebook.com Refreshing beers await at The Brooklyn Brewery
Tours of Brooklyn Brewery
While there's rarely anything like free beer, free brewery tours are a real possibility when visiting New York City. One of the city's most famous breweries, the Brooklyn Brewery, offers free tours on Fridays and weekends to introduce you to local beers and how they are made. You can visit the tasting room here with no cover charge or booking required. Free visits take place at 7pm and 8pm on Fridays, at half-hour from 12.30pm to 6pm on Saturdays and at half-hour from 12.30pm to 4pm on Sundays. You will also find some excellent food trucks on site during the tour times.
Attend a Taping TV show 
Credit: www.bigstock.com Pedestrians walk past the entrance to the NBC TV studio hosting The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon
Attending a Taping TV show (Hotels nearby)
A lot of TV shows are filmed in New York City and, with a little advance planning, you can attend a taping for free. It's a good idea to request free tickets by post or book them online for the time you'll be in New York. Some of the free shows that allow audience members to attend include The Chris Gethard Show, The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, The View and Good Morning America. Tickets are allocated by random lottery at certain times of the year, or you can standby for tickets if you're feeling lucky.
Sunbathe on a free public beach 
Credit: www.bigstock.com Play at Coney Island Beach in New York City
Sunbathe on a free public beach (Hotel nearby)
Many New York travellers don't think of it as a beach destination, but there are some beautiful beaches in the city that are free to visit and perfect on a hot summer day. The city maintains about 14 miles of beaches between Memorial Day and Labor Day with lifeguards on duty. Beaches you can visit here include Brighton Beach near Coney Island, Cedar Grove Beach in Staten Island, Manhattan Beach in Brooklyn, Orchard Beach and Promenade in the Bronx, and Rockaway Beach and Boardwalk in Queens. Pack a picnic, bring a volleyball and slip on some sunscreen!
Launching a Kayak on the Hudson River Credit: www.bigstock.com Two kayakers paddle to a small bridge just off the head of New York's Hudson River and near the beginning of the Erie Canal
Kayaking on the Hudson River (Hotel nearby)
It's not hard to find breathtaking views of the New York skyline when visiting the Big Apple, but one of the most unique views comes from the surrounding waterways. The Downtown Boathouse offers free kayaks for public use on the Hudson River between May and October. The staff here will connect you with all the safety equipment and instruction you need at Pier 26 as a way to promote free access to the water for all. There are also free seasonal kayaking opportunities at the Long Island City Community Boathouse, the Manhattan Community Boathouse and the North Brooklyn Boat Club.
Take a ride on the Staten Island Ferry 
Credit: www.bigstock.com Staten Island Ferry passenger service
Take a ride on the Staten Island Ferry (Hotels nearby)
Boat cruises on New York harbour are quite expensive, but not every ride on the water has to be! Staten Island goes from Staten Island to Manhattan and back for five miles and takes about 25 minutes. The great thing about this ride is that it is very scenic and totally free! The ferry carries about 22 million people a year and offers beautiful views of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.
Browse or attend an event at the public library 
Credit: www.bigstock.com A view of people studying books and laptops in the Rose Main Reading Room of the New York City Public Library
Browse or attend an event at the public library (Hotels nearby)
The New York City Public Library is one of the largest libraries in the world and you can explore the branches for free when you visit the city. You can take a free one-hour tour of the Stephen A. Schwartzman Building at 11am and 2pm Monday to Saturday, or simply stroll through the rows of books on your own. Also, check the websites for library branches near where you are stopping to see if there are any interesting free events taking place during your trip.