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GUIDE

Free & Cheap Date Ideas in NYC

Date ideas that cost little or nothing

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🎯 Filters 5 41 listings

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41listings
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Whereall areas · up to 3

New York City59📍 ManhattanBrooklyn17📍 QueensBronx1📍 Staten IslandLower New York6Long Island3Westchester & Rockland3Lower Connecticut↗New Jersey5

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Whatpick as many as you like

🎨 Arts & culture28🎶 Music & nightlife7🍷 Drinks & tastings2🖌️ Painting & crafts4
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👨‍👩‍👧 Family (all ages)47💞 Date×🍸 21+1

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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.

483 verified listings right now. Updated automatically.

Happening now
Daily · 12 AM–11:59 PM
57°F · Showers And Thunderstorms
✓ 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
57°F · Showers And Thunderstorms
✓ 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
57°F · Showers And Thunderstorms
✓ 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
57°F · Showers And Thunderstorms
✓ 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, Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri · 10 AM–5 PM
57°F · Showers And Thunderstorms
✓ 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 Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun · 10 AM–4 PM
57°F · Showers And Thunderstorms
✓ Verified Nov 11, 2026
Why this place: Free · repeats, so you can go another time · at Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site, Manhattan · official listing on nps.gov · checked Nov 11
Arts & culture

Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site

📍 Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site · Gramercy, Manhattan
Free
Happening now
Daily · 10 AM–6 PM
57°F · Showers And Thunderstorms
✓ 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 Sun, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat · 11 AM–5 PM
57°F · Showers And Thunderstorms
✓ 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
57°F · Showers And Thunderstorms
✓ 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
57°F · Showers And Thunderstorms
✓ 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
58°F · Showers And Thunderstorms
✓ 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 Thu, Fri, Sat · 11 AM–6 PM
57°F · Showers And Thunderstorms
✓ 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 Wed, Thu, Sat · 11 AM–6 PM
57°F · Showers And Thunderstorms
✓ Verified Nov 11, 2026
Why this place: Free · pay what you wish · repeats, so you can go another time · at Studio Museum in Harlem, Manhattan · official listing on studiomuseum.org · checked Nov 11
Arts & culture

Studio Museum in Harlem

📍 Studio Museum in Harlem · Harlem, Manhattan
Suggested donation; pay what you wish; seniors 65+, students; children 16 and under and members free. Tickets are pay-what-you-can.
Happening now
Every Sun, Thu, Fri, Sat · 12 PM–5 PM
57°F · Showers And Thunderstorms
✓ 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
57°F · Showers And Thunderstorms
✓ 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
57°F · Showers And Thunderstorms
✓ 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
57°F · Showers And Thunderstorms
✓ 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
57°F · Showers And Thunderstorms
✓ 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
Every Thu, Fri, Sat · 12 PM–5 PM
57°F · Showers And Thunderstorms
✓ 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
58°F · Showers And Thunderstorms
✓ 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
57°F · Showers And Thunderstorms
✓ 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 Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun · 12 PM–4 PM
57°F · Showers And Thunderstorms
✓ Verified Nov 10, 2026
Why this place: Free · repeats, so you can go another time · at Nicholas Roerich Museum, Manhattan · official listing on roerich.org · checked Nov 10
Arts & culture

Nicholas Roerich Museum

📍 Nicholas Roerich Museum · Morningside Heights, Manhattan
Free
Happening now
Every Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat · 12 PM–6 PM
57°F · Showers And Thunderstorms
✓ 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
Every Thu · 2 PM–6 PM
57°F · Showers And Thunderstorms
✓ Verified Nov 10, 2026
Why this place: Free · repeats, so you can go another time · at Museum of the Moving Image, Queens · official listing on movingimage.org · checked Nov 10
Arts & culture

Museum of the Moving Image Free Thursdays

📍 Museum of the Moving Image · Astoria, Queens
Free at the listed days and hours · Free general admission Thursdays 2–6 PM; no reservation required. Screenings and special events are ticketed separately.
Starts in 37m
Daily · 4 PM–8 PM
55°F · Rain Showers
✓ 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.
Starts in 1h 37m
THU, NOV 12 · 5 PM–7 PM
54°F · Rain Showers
✓ Verified Oct 25, 2026
Why this place: Free · at Flatiron Wines & Spirits, Manhattan · official listing on nyc.flatiron-wines.com · checked Oct 25
Drinks & tastings

Free tastings at Flatiron Wines

📍 Flatiron Wines & Spirits · Flatiron, Manhattan
Free
Starts in 1h 37m
Daily · 5 PM–6 PM
54°F · Rain Showers
✓ Verified Oct 27, 2026
Why this place: Free · pay what you wish · repeats, so you can go another time · at Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, Manhattan · official listing on cooperhewitt.org · checked Oct 27
Arts & culture

Cooper Hewitt Pay What You Wish hour

📍 Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum · Upper East Side, Manhattan
Pay what you wish 5–6 PM daily; 18 & under free anytime
Starts in 1h 37m
THU, NOV 12 · 5 PM–6:30 PM
54°F · Rain Showers
✓ Verified Nov 6, 2026
Why this place: Free · registration required · at Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, New York Public Library, Manhattan · official listing on eventbrite.com · checked Nov 6
Painting & crafts

Ancestral Memory: Indigenous Art, History, and Language at NYPL

📍 Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, New York Public Library · Midtown, Manhattan
Free · registration required · Free; RSVP required on the NYPL Center for Educators and Schools Eventbrite page
Starts in 1h 37m
Every Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri · 5 PM–8 PM
54°F · Rain Showers
✓ Verified Nov 10, 2026
Why this place: Free to enter · repeats, so you can go another time · at The Rabbit Hole, Queens · official listing on therabbithole.nyc · checked Nov 10
Music & nightlife

The Rabbit Hole: free hot dog with beer or wine

📍 The Rabbit Hole · Astoria, Queens
Free to enter · purchases optional · Free hot dog with the purchase of any beer or wine, Monday–Friday 5–8 PM (the drink is paid).
Starts in 2h 7m
THU, NOV 12 · 5:30 PM–7 PM
54°F · Rain Showers
✓ Verified Oct 31, 2026
Why this place: Free to enter · at Pearl River Mart Foods (Chelsea Market), Manhattan · official listing on pearlriver.com · checked Oct 31
Arts & culture

Chef Judy Joo book signing at Pearl River Mart Foods

📍 Pearl River Mart Foods (Chelsea Market) · Chelsea, Manhattan
Free to enter · purchases optional · Free to attend; registration appreciated; cookbook for sale
Starts in 2h 7m
THU, NOV 12 · FROM 5:30 PM
54°F · Rain Showers
✓ Verified Nov 11, 2026
Why this place: Free · at Juilliard Station, Manhattan · official listing on juilliard.edu · checked Nov 11
Music & nightlife

Rush Hour at Juilliard Station: Grand Duo

📍 Juilliard Station · Lincoln Square, Manhattan
Free
Starts in 2h 37m
THU, NOV 12 · 6 PM–8 PM
54°F · Rain Showers
✓ Verified Oct 25, 2026
Why this place: Free · at Astor Wines & Spirits, Manhattan · official listing on astorwines.com · checked Oct 25
Drinks & tastings

Free wine & spirits tastings at Astor Wines

📍 Astor Wines & Spirits · NoHo, Manhattan
Free
Starts in 2h 37m
THU, NOV 12 · 6 PM–9 PM
53°F · Rain Showers
✓ Verified Nov 11, 2026
Why this place: Free · registration required · at Flushing Town Hall, Queens · official listing on flushingtownhall.org · checked Nov 11
Arts & culture

Legal Clinic Workshop at Flushing Town Hall

📍 Flushing Town Hall · Flushing, Queens
Free · registration required · Official event page: FREE three-hour practical legal clinic. RSVP on the official listing.
Starts in 3h 7m
THU, NOV 12 · 6:30 PM–7:30 PM
54°F · Rain Showers
✓ Verified Nov 8, 2026
Why this place: Free · registration required · at The Cooper Union, Frederick P. Rose Auditorium, Manhattan · official listing on cooper.edu · checked Nov 8
Painting & crafts

Public Art Fund Talks: Camille Henrot at Cooper Union

📍 The Cooper Union, Frederick P. Rose Auditorium · Manhattan
Free · registration required
Starts in 4h 7m
THU, NOV 12 · 7:30 PM–9:30 PM
52°F · Rain Showers
✓ Verified Nov 9, 2026
Why this place: Free · at David Rubenstein Atrium, 1887 Broadway, Manhattan · official listing on lincolncenter.org · checked Nov 9
Arts & culture

The Precipice: Free Musical Reading at Lincoln Center

📍 David Rubenstein Atrium, 1887 Broadway · Upper West Side, Manhattan
Free; first-come general admission; optional Fast Track
Starts in 4h 7m
THU, NOV 12 · FROM 7:30 PM
52°F · Rain Showers
✓ Verified Nov 11, 2026
Why this place: Free · registration required · at Paul Hall, Manhattan · official listing on juilliard.edu · checked Nov 11
Music & nightlife

Ensemble Connect at Juilliard’s Paul Hall

📍 Paul Hall · Lincoln Square, Manhattan
Free · registration required · Officially free; tickets required.
Starts in 6h 37m
Every Thu · 10 PM–11:59 PM
51°F · Rain Showers Likely
✓ Verified Nov 8, 2026
Why this place: Free to enter · repeats, so you can go another time · at The Stonewall Inn, Manhattan · official listing on thestonewallinnnyc.com · checked Nov 8
Music & nightlife

Thirst Trap Thursday party at The Stonewall Inn (21+)

📍 The Stonewall Inn · West Village, Manhattan
Free to enter · purchases optional · No cover listed on the official site; drinks sold at the bar. 21+ with physical ID · 21+
Starts in 8h 7m
THU, NOV 12 · 11:30 PM–12:45 AM (NEXT DAY)
49°F · Rain Showers Likely
✓ Verified Nov 2, 2026
Why this place: Free to enter · at Mezzrow, Manhattan · official listing on smallslive.com · checked Nov 2
Music & nightlife

Vinyl After Hours at Mezzrow on Thursday Nov 12 (no cover)

📍 Mezzrow · Manhattan
Free to enter · purchases optional · No cover charge per Mezzrow's listing; drinks are sold at the bar

Questions

How many listings are in this guide?

483 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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