The High Line

The Best Free Things to Do in New York City

"While a number of NYC-based museums offer free or pay-what-you-wish entries (The Met, Museum of Natural History, etc.), the majority of the city’s most famous spots boast some form of entry free; thankfully, New York is home to a plethora of art galleries that welcome visitors free of charge. Although a handful of neighborhoods offer robust art gallery scenes—think the East Village and Upper East Side, for example—Chelsea is by far the most synonymous with gratis gallery hopping. For the art aficionado looking to make the most of your budget, start your free gallery hopping tour on West 24th Street and work your way south, then ultimately spend your pinched pennies at the Whitney—or simply continue the spend-free journey by perusing the street art down on the Bowery." - Vicki Denig