tours walksFREE
African Burial Ground National Monument
📍 Civic Center
A memorial and visitor center honoring the free and enslaved Africans buried here in the 1600s–1700s.
Official site ↗
✈️ TRAVEL MODE · METRO AREA
New York City Metro Area
Top things to do for visitors, each linked to its official source.
METRO AREA
New York City Metro Area
arts culture
All In Adventures West Nyack
📍 West Nyack (Palisades Center)
Five 60-minute themed escape rooms, including Treasure Island, Zombie Apocalypse and Sherlock's Library.
Official site ↗outdoorsFREE
Alley Pond Park trails
📍 Douglaston
Marked woodland and wetland trails in northeast Queens.
Official site ↗markets shoppingFREE
American Girl Place New York
📍 Rockefeller Center
Doll store with a doll hair salon and a café.
Official site ↗family kidsFREE
American Museum of Natural History: pay what you wish (NY State residents)
📍 Upper West Side
General admission is pay-what-you-wish for NY State residents with ID. Special exhibits cost extra.
Official site ↗markets shoppingFREE
Apple Fifth Avenue (the glass cube)
📍 Midtown
The glass cube on 59th St, open 24 hours. Free Today at Apple sessions.
Official site ↗arts culture
ARTE MUSEUM New York
📍 Chelsea
Immersive digital art halls of waves, flowers and light projected floor to ceiling.
Official site ↗arts culture
ARTECHOUSE NYC
📍 Chelsea Market
Room-sized digital art in an old boiler room under Chelsea Market. Now showing: Twilight Zone, an ocean show.
Official site ↗food giveawaysFREE
Arthur Avenue Retail Market
📍 Arthur Avenue
LaGuardia's 1940 covered Italian market in Bronx Little Italy: cheese, cured meats, cigars, a beer hall and Gene Bean's ices. Free to wander.
Official site ↗outdoorsFREE
Bear Mountain State Park
📍 Bear Mountain
Hessian Lake loop, the Perkins Drive overlook and Hudson Highlands trails. Walking in is free; the park charges a car fee on some dates. Trailside Museums & Zoo keep shorter daytime hours.
Official site ↗tours walksFREE
Big Apple Greeter
📍 All five boroughs
A free volunteer "greeter" shows you a neighborhood like a local. Request online in advance.
Official site ↗markets shoppingFREE
Books of Wonder
📍 Flatiron
NYC's classic kids' bookstore, with original illustration art and Oz rarities.
Official site ↗arts culture
BrainXcape
📍 Manhattan
Manhattan escape rooms for groups.
Official site ↗outdoorsFREE
Branch Brook Park
📍 Newark
America's first county park, famous for its cherry blossoms in April.
Official site ↗outdoorsFREE
Briarcliff-Peekskill Trailway
📍 Briarcliff Manor to Peekskill
A 12-mile unpaved county hiking trail.
Official site ↗outdoorsFREE
Bronx Park & Bronx River paths
📍 Bronx River
Riverside paths along the Bronx River between the Zoo and the Botanical Garden.
Official site ↗family kids
Bronx Zoo
📍 Bronx Park
A well-known museum or garden worth a few hours.
Official site ↗family kids
Bronx Zoo Holiday Lights: Opening Weekend
📍 Bronx Park
An after-dark walk through illuminated wildlife displays and interactive seasonal features. Opening weekend is Sat Nov 21 and Sun Nov 22; lights switch on at 4:30 PM.
Official site ↗family kidsFREE
Bronx Zoo: free Wednesdays
📍 Bronx Park
Free general admission every Wednesday with an advance date-specific ticket.
Official site ↗arts cultureFREE
Brookfield Place Winter Garden
📍 Battery Park City
A glass atrium with 16 palm trees overlooking the Hudson marina. Free to enter.
Official site ↗arts culture
Brooklyn Botanic Garden
📍 Prospect Heights
A well-known museum or garden worth a few hours.
Official site ↗fitness wellness
Brooklyn Boulders Queensbridge
📍 Long Island City
A climbing gym in LIC with bouldering and roped walls. Beginners are welcome; sign the waiver before your first visit.
Official site ↗outdoorsFREE
Brooklyn Bridge Park
📍 DUMBO & Brooklyn Heights
85 waterfront acres of piers and lawns with the best Manhattan skyline views.
Official site ↗outdoorsFREE
Brooklyn Bridge Park Boathouse: free kayaking
📍 Dumbo, Brooklyn Bridge Park
Free kayaking in the calm water between Piers 1 and 2, under the Brooklyn Bridge. Book a slot two weeks ahead or try walking up.
Official site ↗arts culture
Brooklyn Escape Room
📍 Industry City
Themed puzzle rooms in Industry City.
Official site ↗fitness wellness
Brooklyn Go Karts & Mini Golf
📍 Gravesend
Outdoor go-kart track and mini golf.
Official site ↗arts culture
Bruce Museum
📍 Greenwich
Art and natural history museum with free parking, for all ages.
Official site ↗arts cultureFREE
Bruce Museum: Free Tuesdays
📍 Greenwich
Art and natural history museum in Greenwich, free for everyone on Tuesdays. Free parking on site. 1 Museum Dr.
Official site ↗outdoorsFREE
Bryant Park
📍 Midtown
Midtown's lawn and reading room behind the library, with free programs most of the year.
Official site ↗fitness wellness
Bryant Park Winter Village Ice Skating
📍 Midtown
Skate in Midtown at Bryant Park's seasonal rink, where admission is free and you can bring your own skates or rent a pair. The 2026–27 season runs Oct 28 to Feb 28.
Official site ↗markets shoppingFREE
CAMP Flatiron
📍 Flatiron
A "family experience" toy store with a secret door and themed play areas.
Official site ↗outdoorsFREE
Carl Schurz Park Dog Runs
📍 Yorkville
Two fenced runs along the East River, from E 84th to 89th Streets near East End Avenue.
Official site ↗tours walksFREE
Castle Clinton National Monument
📍 The Battery
An 1811 fort in The Battery. Walk in free; it is also where Statue of Liberty ferry tickets are sold.
Official site ↗outdoorsFREE
Caumsett State Historic Park Preserve
📍 Lloyd Harbor
Hiking and walking trails across a former estate on the North Shore. No pets allowed.
Official site ↗outdoorsFREE
Central Park
📍 Midtown to Harlem
843 acres of lawns, lakes, bridges and paths. Bethesda Terrace, Bow Bridge and the Ramble are free anytime.
Official site ↗outdoorsFREE
Central Park off-leash hours
📍 Central Park
Dogs may run off-leash in designated areas early morning and late night; leash them 9 AM–9 PM. Some spots, like the Ramble and Conservatory Garden, are always leash-only.
Official site ↗family kids
Central Park Zoo
📍 Central Park
Sea lions, penguins and snow leopards in the middle of Central Park. Sea lion and penguin feedings run through the day. Kids 2 and under free.
Official site ↗markets shoppingFREE
Chelsea Market
📍 Chelsea
A food hall in the old Nabisco factory. Free to browse; food is extra.
Official site ↗music nightlife
Chelsea Piers Bowling
📍 Chelsea
Lanes plus a bar and music; a classic date.
Official site ↗music nightlife
Chelsea Piers Golf Club
📍 Chelsea
Play-focused night out: games, golf or pinball.
Official site ↗tours walks
Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises
📍 Hell's Kitchen
City views from up high (or on the water). Tickets are timed, so book a slot.
Official site ↗outdoorsFREE
Clove Lakes Park
📍 West Brighton
Lakes, waterfalls and woodland paths, a short bus ride from the ferry.
Official site ↗drinks tastings
Confetti Ristorante (Piermont)
📍 Piermont (Ash St)
Family Italian kitchen in riverside Piermont village, a short walk from the Piermont Pier at sunset.
Official site ↗outdoorsFREE
Conservatory Garden (Central Park)
📍 East Harlem
Central Park's only formal garden: Italian, French and English gardens behind a gilded gate.
Official site ↗arts culture
Cradle of Aviation Museum
📍 Garden City
Real planes and a lunar module in hangar-size galleries, with a planetarium dome.
Official site ↗outdoorsFREE
Cunningham Park Dog Run
📍 Fresh Meadows
A fenced run on 193rd Street between Aberdeen Road and Radnor Road.
Official site ↗family kids
Deno's Wonder Wheel Amusement Park
📍 Coney Island
Rides and boardwalk-style fun. Seasonal hours.
Official site ↗markets shoppingFREE
Disney Store Times Square
📍 Times Square
Disney's two-floor Times Square store.
Official site ↗