100 Free Things to Do in New York in Summer

FREE Summer Activities in NYC

Free things to do in New York in Summer are everywhere, every day and every night! Kids, adults, outdoors, indoors, active, lazy…you name it! Free summer activities in NYC include concerts, movies, sports and fitness, arts and culture, museums, tours. So whether you want free tennis, an outdoor concert, a movie under the stars or free opera outdoors in the park, we have you covered with over 100 FREE things to do in NYC this summer.

Free Summer Concerts and Music

If you want to see today’s hottest pop superstars, and are able to brave long lines and early wake up times, then the Today Show Summer Concert Series or Good Morning America Summer Concert Series might be for you, both every Friday morning from May to August.

For dozens more free concerts check the NYC Parks guide to Free Outdoor Concerts in NYC and also check all the local neighborhood sites, such as Union Square, Meatpacking District, Tribeca, Battery Park City and Governors Island.

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Free Summer Arts and Culture

While there are plenty of times throughout the year to see a NYC Museum Free, summer has some extra special bonuses for saving. You can’t beat the Annual Museum Mile Festival in June, which opens up Museum Mile to the public for free. The Metropolitan Museum of Art is always a suggested donation for locals, but what better way to spend a summer evening than with skyline views, beautiful art and hand-crafted cocktails at the Met Roof Martini Bar? To reward those who so bravely serve our country, check out Free NYC Museum Admission for Military Families all Summer.

Interested in free, outdoor Opera? Grab yourself a blanket and picnic and head to the Metropolitan Opera Summer Recital Series and the Metropolitan Opera Summer HD Festival.

For the MOST quintessential, classic NYC experience every New Yorker should experience at least once, Shakespeare in the Park is a don’t miss! Tickets are free, but do require waiting on long lines, unless you win the ticket lottery. Not to worry, for those willing to pay a reasonable line sitting fee, NYC Insider has you covered with guaranteed tickets.

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Free Summer Movies in NYC

Watching a movie under the stars is a great thing to do in summer just about anywhere. But in NYC, we throw in a view of the Brooklyn Bridge or NYC Skyline, the sound of the water lapping, the scenery of Central Park or just the fact that you’re on the Flight Deck of a war ship!

Each free summer outdoor movie festival has it’s own theme, allowing you watch classics, kid-friendly films or the latest blockbusters.

• Bryant Park Film Festival – Classic Movies, Mondays
• Intrepid Museum Summer Movie Series – Tuesdays (and Fri of Memorial Day Weekend). Family friendly Sea, Air and Space themed movies (Note: Movies are FREE, entry to the museum is not)
• Central Park Film Festival – August, theme varies by year
• Riverflicks FREE Movies in Hudson River Park – Wed Adults, Fri Kids, mix of recent blockbusters and classics
• More Outdoor Movies NYC

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Free Summer Sports and Fitness Around NYC

Think the US Tennis Open is expensive? Think again! The FREE Qualifying Rounds at the US Tennis Open are a fantastic way to see the world’s greatest tennis players practice and compete completely free and take place every year from Tues-Fri, the week before the start of the US Open.

You can also catch the AVP New York City (Volleyball) Open in June and General Admission is free.

Rather be active? Summer sports, fitness classes, bootcamps and more abound throughout the city. Catch some yoga, running, training or bootcamp every Thursday at Fitness in the (Union) Square. Check out Yoga, Tai Chi, Circuit Training, Tennis and much more at the NYC Parks Calendar for FREE Fitness Activities all over NYC, including NYC Summer Streets, when you can walk, bike, run or blade from Central Park to Brooklyn Bridge on Park Avenue. Prefer to be active along the water (me too!)? Then Healthy on the Hudson is for you. More free workouts: South Street Seaport, Brooklyn Bridge Park, Free Yoga.

Did you know there is Free Kayaking on the Hudson and free Beach Volleyball every weekend all summer long? There are so many awesome activities all along the West Side Highway (WSH) all summer. Once you’re on a bike, the WSH is one of the best ways to see and experience NYC.

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NYC Free Tours All Summer

New York walking tours are offered free by almost every neighborhood organization in Manhattan. As you know, New Yorkers LOVE to brag…especially about how much we love our City…so why not take advantage of those who want to brag to you?

The summer is an especially great time to explore every nook and cranny of NYC outdoors, and on foot. There likely isn’t an inch of NYC you can’t cover on a Free New York City Walking Tour, so feel free to find your guide to Central Park, Lower Manhattan, Greenwich Village, Times Square, Movie and TV locations, Wall Street, Lower East Side, NY Public Library, Grand Central Station…and more!

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NYC Free Summer Fairs and Festivals

There are free fairs and festivals just about every day all summer throughout NYC. Some are geared towards specific cultures and groups, like the Puerto Rican Day Parade, Pride Week and Fleet Week.

While others, such as the American Crafts Festival at Lincoln Center, Taste of Times Square, River to River Festival and Annual Downtown Dance Festival in Battery Park appeal to a wider audience.

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NYC Insider Free Picks by Month

June Free NYC Events – Annual Museum Mile Festival, Shakespeare in the Park, Philharmonic in the Park, Taste of Times Square, Pride Week, Midsummer Night Swing (watching is free), Metropolitan Opera Summer Recital Series, Bryant Park Film Festival, River to River Festival, Intrepid Museum Summer Movie Series, Bryant Park Film Festival

July Free NYC Events – July 4th Fireworks, Shakespeare in the Park, Midsummer Night Swing, Met Museum Roof Martini Bar, FREE Broadway (and Off Broadway) in Bryant Park, Riverflicks Movies in Hudson River Park, Free Fitness in New York City, Lincoln Center Festival

August Free NYC Events – U.S. Tennis Open Qualifying Rounds, Central Park Film Festival, Metropolitan Opera Summer HD Festival, Met Museum Roof Martini Bar, Shakespeare in the Park, Bryant Park Film Festival

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More Things to do in New York City

100 Safe Things to do in NYC Today (Summer 2021)

Explore and Indulge Like a Real NYC Foodie

There is no shortage of pizza, bagels, street vendors, cupcakes, craft beer and cocktails, rooftops and mini food parks to explore and so many more food choices in the five boroughs, along with wonderful guides who can't wait to show you them all!!!!

Best New York City Hotel Rooftops

NYC Hotel Rooftops offer some of the best skyline views in the whole City, along with cocktails and food, views, pools, cabanas, sundecks and retractable roofs. Our top picks for the most surreal views and cocktails include:

See More: Best New York City Hotel Rooftops

Museums

Most every museum is open with reduced capacity, safety protocols  and most have reservations required. Check out the new Museum of Ice Cream (SoHo), Guggenheim, MoMA, Whitney and so many more museums from which to choose.

Attractions & Sightseeing

Most every NYC attraction is open with reduced capacity, safety protocols and reservations required. Whether you want to sightsee from the sky or selfie with celebs @ Madame Tussauds, you can be safe and explore.

Go HIGH or Go Home

Top of the Rock, Empire State Building, One World Observatory or Edge? Which is best and, if we have to choose, which should we visit? There is no easy answer, but here are some facts to help guide your choice.

• Empire State Building - (86 and 102 floors) Best for patient movie and history buffs who need to check it off their bucket list. Recently redone indoor 102nd Floor Observatory
• Top of the Rock - (67-70 floors) Best for sweeping 360° vista views, including of the Empire State Building and Central Park. Shorter lines and cheaper than the ESB.
• One World Observatory - (100-102 floors) Best for homage to the Twin Towers. Modern and high tech, with phenomenal views
• Edge - (100-101 floors) opened March 2020, highest outdoor observation deck, glass bottom floor, deck extends 80 feet away from building (photo)

Go Even HIGHER on NYC's Most Popular Helicopters

Secret NYC Insider Tours

Explore our subways secrets with a local guide, go behind-the-scenes at the Basilica of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral, uncover surprising gems and historical tales of Grand Central Station, cocktail your way through Manhattan’s best and most secretive speakeasies and much more!

Fun Things to Do in NYC

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Sightsee from the Sky

Top of the Rock, Empire State Building, One World Observatory or Edge? Which is best and, if we have to choose, which should we visit? There is no easy answer, but here are some facts to help guide your choice.

• Empire State Building - (86 and 102 floors) Best for patient movie and history buffs who need to check it off their bucket list. Recently redone indoor 102nd Floor Observatory
• Top of the Rock - (67-70 floors) Best for sweeping 360° vista views, including of the Empire State Building and Central Park. Shorter lines and cheaper than the ESB.
• One World Observatory - (100-102 floors) Best for homage to the Twin Towers. Modern and high tech, with phenomenal views
• Edge - (100-101 floors) opening March 2020, highest outdoor observation deck, glass bottom floor, deck extends 80 feet away from building (photo)

See All: Top New York City Tourist Attractions

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Take in ALL the Tours, Landmarks and Attractions and SAVE

NY Sightseeing Pass, New York Pass, NY Explorer Pass, CityPASS Compared

See All: New York City Pass Comparison Chart

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Secret NYC Insider Tours

Explore our subways secrets with a local guide, go behind-the-scenes at the Basilica of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral, uncover surprising gems and historical tales of Grand Central Station, cocktail your way through Manhattan’s best and most secretive speakeasies and much more!

Things to do in New York with Kids

One of the best parts of NYC is that what is fun for kids is usually just as much fun for adults. If you are joining us in NYC for a family vacation, then please read all about our local kid's favorites, along with special tips just for visitors.

See All: Visiting New York with Kids.

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FREE Things to do in New York City

There are tons of free things to do in New York all day, every day! Tours, attractions, museums, events, shows, sports, movie and more. Kids, adults, outdoors, indoors, active, lazy...you name it!

See All: Free Things to Do in NYC - weekly calendar of all free walking tours, free museum admissions, free things to do by season and more

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New York City Shopping Guides

New York City Nightlife

How do you make the most of your time in the city that never sleeps?? Some of the best 'only in NYC' nightlife experiences include skyline views, dinner cruises, Museums and attractions open late til 2am, rooftops, night tours, comedy clubs and more. Some of our top NYC Nightlife picks:

See all our Top Picks: New York City Nightlife

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Save HUGE $$$$ in NYC

Romantic Things to Do in NYC

There are tons of things to do on your romantic New York City vacation. Attractions open late with skyline views, Central Park Tours, VIP Experiences, a helicopter ride. Some of the most popular romantic ways to see NYC include:

See more romantic things to do at: Romantic New York City Vacation and Valentine's Day in NYC

Explore and Indulge Like a Real NYC Foodie

There is no shortage of pizza, bagels, street vendors, cupcakes, craft beer and cocktails, rooftops and mini food parks to explore and so many more food choices in the five boroughs, along with wonderful guides who can't wait to show you them all!!!!

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Spot Celebrities in NYC

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Get Out of Town for a Day

NYC is within 3 hours of so many other cities and areas you can visit for just one day. The weather in April makes is pretty easy to head to Washington DC, Boston, Philadelphia, Niagara Falls, the Hamptons, Woodbury Common Shopping Outlets and more quite easily.

Whether you live in NY or are visiting, and no matter how much you love NYC, escaping for a day is a treat for everyone. Top choices for 1-day Out of Town:

See All: Day Trips Out of New York City

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