Give us feedback

Choose your city

Not in NYC? Change city

GUIDE

Free & Cheap Date Ideas in NYC

Date ideas that cost little or nothing

🗺️ Plan it
🎯 Filters 4 27 listings

Find your thing

27listings
1

Whenpick one

2

Whereall areas · up to 3

New York City70Manhattan39📍 BrooklynQueens5Bronx4📍 Staten IslandLower New York11Long Island2Westchester & Rockland8Lower Connecticut1📍 New Jersey

That's 3 areas, the max. Tap one to swap it.

4

Costpick any

+ More: who's going · indoor / outdoor ▾

Indoor / outdoor

Clear all

Free and cheap date ideas in NYC: gallery nights, free concerts, walking tours, tastings and markets worth wandering. Pair any of these with a walk and you’ve got a night out. For paid ideas, see Date night.

434 verified listings right now. Updated automatically.

Happening now
Daily · 6 AM–10 PM
46°F · Mostly Cloudy
✓ Verified Nov 10, 2026
Why this place: Free · repeats, so you can go another time · at Mount Prospect Park, Brooklyn · official listing on nycgovparks.org · checked Nov 10
Outdoors

Mount Prospect Park hilltop (Brooklyn)

📍 Mount Prospect Park · Prospect Heights, Brooklyn
Free
Happening now
Daily · 6 AM–10 PM
46°F · Mostly Cloudy
✓ Verified Nov 10, 2026
Why this place: Free · repeats, so you can go another time · at Owl's Head Park, Brooklyn · official listing on nycgovparks.org · checked Nov 10
Outdoors

Owl's Head Park Verrazzano and skyline views

📍 Owl's Head Park · Bay Ridge, Brooklyn
Free
Happening now
Daily · 6 AM–10 PM
46°F · Mostly Cloudy
✓ Verified Nov 10, 2026
Why this place: Free · repeats, so you can go another time · at Conference House Park, Staten Island · official listing on nycgovparks.org · checked Nov 10
Outdoors

Conference House Park, southernmost New York

📍 Conference House Park · Tottenville, Staten Island
Free
Happening now
Daily · 8 AM–4 PM
46°F · Mostly Cloudy
✓ Verified Nov 10, 2026
Why this place: Free · repeats, so you can go another time · at Brooklyn Army Terminal, Brooklyn · official listing on brooklynarmyterminal.com · checked Nov 10
Arts & culture

Brooklyn Army Terminal Public Campus

📍 Brooklyn Army Terminal · Sunset Park, Brooklyn
Free
Happening now
Every Sun, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat · 9 AM–4:45 PM
46°F · Mostly Cloudy
✓ Verified Nov 11, 2026
Why this place: Free · repeats, so you can go another time · at New Jersey State Museum, New Jersey · official listing on nj.gov · checked Nov 11
Arts & culture

New Jersey State Museum Free Admission

📍 New Jersey State Museum · Trenton, New Jersey
Free
Happening now
Every Sun, Mon, Thu, Fri, Sat · 9:30 AM–4:30 PM
46°F · Mostly Cloudy
✓ Verified Nov 11, 2026
Why this place: Free · repeats, so you can go another time · at Jockey Hollow Visitor Center, New Jersey · official listing on nps.gov · checked Nov 11
Outdoors

Jockey Hollow Visitor Center in Morristown

📍 Jockey Hollow Visitor Center · Morristown, New Jersey
Free
Happening now
Every Sun, Mon, Thu, Fri, Sat · 9:30 AM–4:30 PM
46°F · Mostly Cloudy
✓ Verified Nov 11, 2026
Why this place: Free · repeats, so you can go another time · at Washington’s Headquarters Museum, New Jersey · official listing on nps.gov · checked Nov 11
Arts & culture

Washington’s Headquarters Museum in Morristown

📍 Washington’s Headquarters Museum · Morristown, New Jersey
Free
Happening now
Every Sun, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat · 10 AM–3:30 PM
46°F · Mostly Cloudy
✓ Verified Nov 5, 2026
Why this place: Free · pay what you wish · repeats, so you can go another time · at Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Brooklyn · official listing on bbg.org · checked Nov 5
Outdoors

Brooklyn Botanic Garden daytime pay-what-you-wish (through Jan 15)

📍 Brooklyn Botanic Garden · Prospect Heights, Brooklyn
Suggested donation · pay what you wish · Daytime admission pay-what-you-wish through January 15 while Lightscape is installed; evenings are separate paid Lightscape tickets
Happening now
Daily · 10 AM–4 PM
46°F · Mostly Cloudy
✓ Verified Nov 10, 2026
Why this place: Free · repeats, so you can go another time · at Pratt Institute Brooklyn Campus, Brooklyn · official listing on pratt.edu · checked Nov 10
Arts & culture

Pratt Institute Sculpture Park

📍 Pratt Institute Brooklyn Campus · Clinton Hill, Brooklyn
Free
Happening now
Every Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat · 10 AM–5 PM
46°F · Mostly Cloudy
✓ Verified Nov 10, 2026
Why this place: Free · repeats, so you can go another time · at Weeksville Heritage Center, Brooklyn · official listing on weeksvillesociety.org · checked Nov 10
Arts & culture

Weeksville Heritage Center

📍 Weeksville Heritage Center · Crown Heights, Brooklyn
Free
Happening now
SAT, NOV 14 · 10:30 AM–2 PM
46°F · Mostly Cloudy
✓ Verified Nov 12, 2026
Why this place: Free · registration required · at Roebling Rink, Emily Warren Roebling Plaza, Brooklyn Bridge , Brooklyn · official listing on brooklynbridgepark.org · checked Nov 12
Painting & crafts

Roebling Rink Opening Day: Free Morning Skate Sessions

📍 Roebling Rink, Emily Warren Roebling Plaza, Brooklyn Bridge Park · DUMBO, Brooklyn
Free admission with a ticket for the 10:30 AM and 12:30 PM sessions. Remaining free tickets are unconfirmed. A fee applies if you rent skates. Later sessions have regular pricing.
Happening now
Every Sun, Sat · 11 AM–4 PM
46°F · Mostly Cloudy
✓ Verified Nov 10, 2026
Why this place: Free to enter · repeats, so you can go another time · at Chinese Scholar's Garden, Snug Harbor, Staten Island · official listing on snug-harbor.org · checked Nov 10
Outdoors

Chinese Scholar's Garden at Snug Harbor

📍 Chinese Scholar's Garden, Snug Harbor · Livingston, Staten Island
Paid; free under 6, military, and members. SI residents free first Friday with proof of address.
Happening now
Every Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun · 11 AM–5 PM
46°F · Mostly Cloudy
✓ Verified Nov 10, 2026
Why this place: Free · pay what you wish · repeats, so you can go another time · at Staten Island Museum, Staten Island · official listing on statenislandmuseum.org · checked Nov 10
Arts & culture

Staten Island Museum (suggested donation)

📍 Staten Island Museum · Livingston, Staten Island
Suggested donation; pay what you wish; members free. Last entry 4:45 PM.
Happening now
Every Sat, Sun · 12 PM–5 PM
46°F · Mostly Cloudy
✓ Verified Oct 30, 2026
Why this place: Free · kid-friendly · repeats, so you can go another time · at Lefferts Historic House, Prospect Park, Brooklyn · official listing on prospectpark.org · checked Oct 30
Arts & culture

Exhibit: The Shirley Chisholm Way at Lefferts Historic House

📍 Lefferts Historic House, Prospect Park · Prospect Park, Brooklyn
Completely free
Happening now
SAT, NOV 14 · 12 PM–2 PM
46°F · Mostly Cloudy
✓ Verified Nov 1, 2026
Why this place: Free · registration required · at The Green-House at Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn · official listing on green-wood.com · checked Nov 1
Painting & crafts

Día de los Hongos: Free Myco-Drawing and Mushroom Walk at Green-Wood

📍 The Green-House at Green-Wood Cemetery · Brooklyn
Free · registration required · Free with RSVP
Happening now
Daily · 12 PM–11:59 PM
46°F · Mostly Cloudy
✓ Verified Nov 10, 2026
Why this place: Free to enter · repeats, so you can go another time · at Skinny Dennis, Brooklyn · official listing on skinnydennisbrooklyn.com · checked Nov 10
Music & nightlife

Skinny Dennis: no-cover country nights (check calendar)

📍 Skinny Dennis · Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Paid; No cover on many nights. Check the official calendar. Drinks are paid.
Happening now
Daily · 12 PM–11:59 PM
46°F · Mostly Cloudy
✓ Verified Nov 10, 2026
Why this place: Free to enter · repeats, so you can go another time · at The Levee, Brooklyn · official listing on theleveenyc.com · checked Nov 10
Music & nightlife

The Levee: complimentary cheeseballs (Williamsburg)

📍 The Levee · Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Free to enter · purchases optional · Complimentary cheeseballs. Drinks and other food (chili dogs, Frito pies) are paid.
Happening now
Every Sun, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat · 12 PM–5 PM
46°F · Mostly Cloudy
✓ Verified Nov 10, 2026
Why this place: Free · pay what you wish · repeats, so you can go another time · at The Noble Maritime Collection, Staten Island · official listing on noblemaritime.org · checked Nov 10
Arts & culture

Noble Maritime Collection (pay what you wish)

📍 The Noble Maritime Collection · Livingston, Staten Island
Suggested donation · pay what you wish · Pay-what-you-wish; donation optional. Members, children under 10, and care partners are free. SNAP visitors are not asked to donate.
Happening now
Every Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun · 12 PM–6 PM
46°F · Mostly Cloudy
✓ Verified Nov 10, 2026
Why this place: Free · repeats, so you can go another time · at Smack Mellon, Brooklyn · official listing on smackmellon.org · checked Nov 10
Arts & culture

Smack Mellon

📍 Smack Mellon · DUMBO, Brooklyn
Free
Happening now
Every Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun · 12 PM–5 PM
46°F · Mostly Cloudy
✓ Verified Nov 11, 2026
Why this place: Free · repeats, so you can go another time · at Zimmerli Art Museum, New Jersey · official listing on zimmerlimuseum.rutgers.edu · checked Nov 11
Arts & culture

Zimmerli Art Museum at Rutgers (always free)

📍 Zimmerli Art Museum · New Brunswick, New Jersey
Free
Happening now
Every Sun, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat · 12 PM–6 PM
46°F · Mostly Cloudy
✓ Verified Nov 11, 2026
Why this place: Free · repeats, so you can go another time · at A.I.R. Gallery, Brooklyn · official listing on airgallery.org · checked Nov 11
Arts & culture

A.I.R. Gallery Free Admission in DUMBO

📍 A.I.R. Gallery · DUMBO, Brooklyn
Free
Happening now
SAT, NOV 14 · 1 PM–2:30 PM
46°F · Mostly Cloudy
✓ Verified Oct 25, 2026
Why this place: Free · at Prospect Park Picnic House, Brooklyn · official listing on nycgovparks.org · checked Oct 25
Tours & walks

Fall foliage hike in Prospect Park

📍 Prospect Park Picnic House · Prospect Park, Brooklyn
Free
Happening now
Every Sat · 1 PM–1:20 PM
46°F · Mostly Cloudy
✓ Verified Nov 10, 2026
Why this place: Free · repeats, so you can go another time · at UrbanGlass, Brooklyn · official listing on urbanglass.org · checked Nov 10
Tours & walks

UrbanGlass Saturday Drop-In Studio Tour

📍 UrbanGlass · Downtown Brooklyn
Free

Questions

How many listings are in this guide?

434 verified listings right now. Updated automatically.

How are these listings checked?

Every listing links to the organizer's own page: the venue, the city agency or park, or the official ticket or RSVP page. We don't copy listings from other event sites.

Related guides