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Free & Cheap Date Ideas in NYC

Date ideas that cost little or nothing

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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.

461 verified listings right now. Updated automatically.

Happening now
Daily · 12 AM–11:59 PM
41°F · Chance Light Rain
✓ Verified Nov 8, 2026
Why this place: Free · repeats, so you can go another time · at Triangular pedestrian island, Broadway between 45th & 46th S, Manhattan · official listing on diaart.org · checked Nov 8
Arts & culture

Max Neuhaus — Times Square Sound Installation (Dia)

📍 Triangular pedestrian island, Broadway between 45th & 46th Streets · Times Square, Manhattan
Free
Happening now
Daily · 12 AM–11:59 PM
41°F · Chance Light Rain
✓ Verified Nov 8, 2026
Why this place: Free · repeats, so you can go another time · at West 22nd Street between 10th & 11th Avenues, Manhattan · official listing on diaart.org · checked Nov 8
Arts & culture

Joseph Beuys — 7000 Oaks (Dia Art Foundation)

📍 West 22nd Street between 10th & 11th Avenues · Chelsea, Manhattan
Free
Happening now
Daily · 6 AM–11:59 PM
41°F · Chance Light Rain
✓ Verified Nov 11, 2026
Why this place: Free · repeats, so you can go another time · at Doris C. Freedman Plaza, Manhattan · official listing on publicartfund.org · checked Nov 11
Arts & culture

Camille Henrot: Dogs at Doris C. Freedman Plaza

📍 Doris C. Freedman Plaza · Midtown, Manhattan
Free
Happening now
Daily · 8 AM–8 PM
41°F · Chance Light Rain
✓ Verified Nov 10, 2026
Why this place: Free · repeats, so you can go another time · at National September 11 Memorial, Manhattan · official listing on 911memorial.org · checked Nov 10
Arts & culture

National September 11 Memorial plaza

📍 National September 11 Memorial · Financial District, Manhattan
Free
Happening now
Every Sun, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat · 9 AM–4:45 PM
41°F · Chance Light Rain
✓ 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
41°F · Chance Light Rain
✓ 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 Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri · 9:30 AM–4:30 PM
41°F · Chance Light Rain
✓ Verified Nov 11, 2026
Why this place: Free · repeats, so you can go another time · at The Paterson Museum, New Jersey · official listing on patersonmuseum.com · checked Nov 11
Arts & culture

Paterson Museum Free Admission

📍 The Paterson Museum · Paterson, New Jersey
Free
Happening now
Every Fri · 10 AM–9 PM
41°F · Chance Light Rain
✓ Verified Nov 5, 2026
Why this place: Free · repeats, so you can go another time · at Poster House, Manhattan · official listing on posterhouse.org · checked Nov 5
Arts & culture

Free Fridays at Poster House

📍 Poster House · Chelsea, Manhattan
Free at the listed days and hours; Free on Fridays (open until 9 PM)
Happening now
Every Sun, Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri · 10 AM–5 PM
41°F · Chance Light Rain
✓ Verified Nov 10, 2026
Why this place: Free to enter · repeats, so you can go another time · at Museum at Eldridge Street, Manhattan · official listing on eldridgestreet.org · checked Nov 10
Arts & culture

Museum at Eldridge Street

📍 Museum at Eldridge Street · Lower East Side, Manhattan
Paid; children under 5 free. Official pay-what-you-wish admission Mondays and Fridays.
Happening now
Every Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat · 10 AM–5 PM
41°F · Chance Light Rain
✓ 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
Daily · 10 AM–6 PM
41°F · Chance Light Rain
✓ Verified Nov 11, 2026
Why this place: Free · repeats, so you can go another time · at Austrian Cultural Forum New York, Manhattan · official listing on acfny.org · checked Nov 11
Arts & culture

Austrian Cultural Forum: Erwin Wurm Chamber Play

📍 Austrian Cultural Forum New York · Midtown, Manhattan
Free
Happening now
Every Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri · 10:30 AM–5:30 PM
41°F · Chance Light Rain
✓ Verified Nov 11, 2026
Why this place: Free · repeats, so you can go another time · at International Studio & Curatorial Program, Brooklyn · official listing on iscp-nyc.org · checked Nov 11
Arts & culture

ISCP Galleries (Free Admission)

📍 International Studio & Curatorial Program · East Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Free
Happening now
Every Fri · 11 AM–9 PM
41°F · Chance Light Rain
✓ Verified Oct 31, 2026
Why this place: Free · pay what you wish · repeats, so you can go another time · at The Studio Museum in Harlem, Manhattan · official listing on studiomuseum.org · checked Oct 31
Arts & culture

Friday late hours at the Studio Museum in Harlem

📍 The Studio Museum in Harlem · Harlem, Manhattan
Suggested donation; pay what you wish; Pay what you can
Happening now
Every Sun, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat · 11 AM–6 PM
41°F · Chance Light Rain
✓ Verified Oct 31, 2026
Why this place: Free · repeats, so you can go another time · at Bronx Museum of the Arts, Bronx · official listing on bronxmuseum.org · checked Oct 31
Arts & culture

Bronx Museum of the Arts (Always Free)

📍 Bronx Museum of the Arts · Bronx
Free
Happening now
Every Sun, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat · 11 AM–5 PM
41°F · Chance Light Rain
✓ Verified Nov 10, 2026
Why this place: Free to enter · repeats, so you can go another time · at Bard Graduate Center Gallery, Manhattan · official listing on bgc.bard.edu · checked Nov 10
Arts & culture

Bard Graduate Center Gallery

📍 Bard Graduate Center Gallery · Upper West Side, Manhattan
Paid. Friday admission waived 11 AM–8 PM. Complimentary: members, Culture Pass, hardship, AAM/ICOM/NARM.
Happening now
Daily · 11 AM–5 PM
41°F · Chance Light Rain
✓ Verified Nov 10, 2026
Why this place: Free to enter · repeats, so you can go another time · at Housing Works Bookstore, Manhattan · official listing on shop.housingworks.org · checked Nov 10
Arts & culture

Housing Works Bookstore

📍 Housing Works Bookstore · SoHo, Manhattan
Free to enter · purchases optional · Browsing is free; cafe drinks and food are paid. Net proceeds support Housing Works HIV/AIDS services.
Happening now
Every Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat · 11 AM–6 PM
41°F · Chance Light Rain
✓ Verified Nov 10, 2026
Why this place: Free · repeats, so you can go another time · at White Columns, Manhattan · official listing on whitecolumns.org · checked Nov 10
Arts & culture

White Columns

📍 White Columns · West Village, Manhattan
Free
Happening now
Every Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun · 11 AM–5 PM
42°F · Chance Light Rain
✓ 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 Fri · 11 AM–5 PM
41°F · Chance Light Rain
✓ Verified Nov 11, 2026
Why this place: Free · repeats, so you can go another time · at Asia Society Museum, Manhattan · official listing on asiasociety.org · checked Nov 11
Arts & culture

Asia Society Museum Free Fridays

📍 Asia Society Museum · Upper East Side, Manhattan
Free at the listed days and hours · Official free museum admission on Fridays, 11 AM–5 PM. ages 16 and under and members free.
Happening now
Every Thu, Fri, Sat · 11 AM–6 PM
41°F · Chance Light Rain
✓ Verified Nov 11, 2026
Why this place: Free · repeats, so you can go another time · at The 8th Floor, Manhattan · official listing on the8thfloor.org · checked Nov 11
Arts & culture

The 8th Floor: Carlos Martiel Dark Age

📍 The 8th Floor · Flatiron, Manhattan
Free
Happening now
Every Sun, Thu, Fri, Sat · 12 PM–5 PM
41°F · Chance Light Rain
✓ Verified Nov 1, 2026
Why this place: Free · registration required · repeats, so you can go another time · at Hispanic Society Museum & Library, Manhattan · official listing on hispanicsociety.org · checked Nov 1
Arts & culture

Hispanic Society Museum & Library (Free Admission)

📍 Hispanic Society Museum & Library · Manhattan
Free; registration required; Free with a reserved ticket
Happening now
Every Sun, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat · 12 PM–6 PM
41°F · Chance Light Rain
✓ Verified Nov 1, 2026
Why this place: Free · pay what you wish · repeats, so you can go another time · at Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art, Manhattan · official listing on leslielohman.org · checked Nov 1
Arts & culture

Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art (Suggested Donation)

📍 Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art · Manhattan
Suggested donation; pay what you wish
Happening now
Every Wed, Thu, Fri · 12 PM–8 PM
41°F · Chance Light Rain
✓ Verified Nov 2, 2026
Why this place: Free · repeats, so you can go another time · at The Museum at FIT, Manhattan · official listing on fitnyc.edu · checked Nov 2
Arts & culture

The Museum at FIT (Always Free, Open Until 8 PM Wed–Fri)

📍 The Museum at FIT · Manhattan
Free
Happening now
Every Sun, Mon, Thu, Fri, Sat · 12 PM–6 PM
41°F · Chance Light Rain
✓ Verified Nov 6, 2026
Why this place: Free · registration required · repeats, so you can go another time · at MoMA PS1, Queens · official listing on momaps1.org · checked Nov 6
Arts & culture

MoMA PS1 (Free Admission)

📍 MoMA PS1 · Long Island City, Queens
Free · registration required · Free admission for all; reserve tickets on the official visit page. Closed Tue, Wed, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day. Saturday opens 10 AM.
Happening now
Daily · 12 PM–11:59 PM
41°F · Chance Light Rain
✓ Verified Nov 10, 2026
Why this place: Free to enter · repeats, so you can go another time · at Rudy's Bar & Grill, Manhattan · official listing on rudysbarnyc.com · checked Nov 10
Music & nightlife

Rudy's Bar & Grill: free hot dog with a drink

📍 Rudy's Bar & Grill · Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan
Free to enter · purchases optional · Free hot dog with every drink or any purchase (the drink is paid).
Happening now
Daily · 12 PM–11:59 PM
41°F · Chance Light Rain
✓ 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
41°F · Chance Light Rain
✓ 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 Thu, Fri, Sat · 12 PM–5 PM
41°F · Chance Light Rain
✓ Verified Nov 10, 2026
Why this place: Free · pay what you wish · repeats, so you can go another time · at National Jazz Museum in Harlem, Manhattan · official listing on jmih.org · checked Nov 10
Arts & culture

National Jazz Museum in Harlem

📍 National Jazz Museum in Harlem · Harlem, Manhattan
Suggested donation; pay what you wish.
Happening now
Every Sun, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat · 12 PM–5 PM
42°F · Chance Light Rain
✓ 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
41°F · Chance Light Rain
✓ Verified Nov 10, 2026
Why this place: Free · repeats, so you can go another time · at The Drawing Center, Manhattan · official listing on drawingcenter.org · checked Nov 10
Arts & culture

The Drawing Center

📍 The Drawing Center · SoHo, Manhattan
Free
Happening now
Every Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun · 12 PM–6 PM
41°F · Chance Light Rain
✓ 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
41°F · Chance Light Rain
✓ 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
41°F · Chance Light Rain
✓ 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
Every Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat · 12 PM–6 PM
41°F · Chance Light Rain
✓ Verified Nov 11, 2026
Why this place: Free · repeats, so you can go another time · at The Skyscraper Museum, Manhattan · official listing on skyscraper.org · checked Nov 11
Arts & culture

The Skyscraper Museum

📍 The Skyscraper Museum · Battery Park City, Manhattan
Free
Happening now
Daily · 3 PM–11:59 PM
41°F · Chance Light Rain
✓ Verified Nov 10, 2026
Why this place: Free to enter · limited spots · repeats, so you can go another time · at Alligator Lounge, Brooklyn · official listing on alligatorloungebrooklyn.com · checked Nov 10
Music & nightlife

Alligator Lounge: free pizza with a drink (21+)

📍 Alligator Lounge · Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Free to enter; purchases optional. Dine-in and same day only; no to-go. · 21+
Happening now
FRI, NOV 13 · 4 PM–5 PM
41°F · Chance Light Rain
✓ Verified Nov 5, 2026
Why this place: Free · at Brooklyn Public Library Central Library, Teen Tech Center, Brooklyn · official listing on bklynlibrary.org · checked Nov 5
Painting & crafts

DIY Fridays at Brooklyn Public Library Central Teen Tech

📍 Brooklyn Public Library Central Library, Teen Tech Center · Prospect Heights, Brooklyn
Free
Happening now
Daily · 4 PM–8 PM
41°F · Chance Light Rain
✓ Verified Nov 10, 2026
Why this place: Free to enter · limited spots · repeats, so you can go another time · at Cozy Corner, Queens · official listing on cozycornerbar.com · checked Nov 10
Music & nightlife

Cozy Corner: free pizza slice with a drink

📍 Cozy Corner · Ridgewood, Queens
Free to enter; purchases optional.
Happening now
FRI, NOV 13 · FROM 4 PM
41°F · Chance Light Rain
✓ Verified Nov 11, 2026
Why this place: Free · at Morse Hall, Manhattan · official listing on juilliard.edu · checked Nov 11
Music & nightlife

Viola Master Class With Garth Knox at Juilliard

📍 Morse Hall · Lincoln Square, Manhattan
Free

Questions

How many listings are in this guide?

461 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.

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