Cheap things to do in NYC: Your guide to bargains

Thanks to the Culture Pass initative, library card holders can access more than 40 major New York attractions for free, regardless of economic circumstances. It's a pretty sweet deal, and it doesn’t matter which borough you reside in. Imagine visiting popular destinations like the Brooklyn Botanical Garden or the Whitney without having to pay a cent? That's right—you are about to become fancy and, frankly, more knowledgeable. 

Did you know most museums offer free hours or days and pay-what-you-wish admission? You just have to know where and when they are. We’ve got the info you need in our guide to all the free museum days and cheap admission in NYC you should know about.

NYC & Co.’s Must-See Week happens January to February each year, offering 2-for-1 tickets to dozens of NYC cultural institutions, from museums to concert halls, as well as Broadway tickets and hotel deals. Winter Outing also includes NYC Restaurant Week pre-fixe menus at nearly 500 restaurants! That is the time to go all out for cheap.

NYC's libraries are a treasure trove of free resources from books to digital files and photos, but there's much more you can actually get for free from the New York, Queens and Brooklyn Public Libraries. Sure, you can download some 30,000 books from the NYPL, rent movies on DVD, and check out their respective free exhibits like the Lenapehoking at Brooklyn Public Library and the Polonsky Exhibition of The New York Public Library's Treasures, but you can also access lesser-known benefits and perks.

What’s better than a fabulous cocktail at one of New York City’s best bars? A fabulous cocktail at a discounted price, of course. New Yorkers love a deal, including bottomless brunches and outstanding cheap eats. You can always hit up a dive bar for drinks on the affordable side, but for good times and great prices, check out these happy hours in NYC.

Satisfying “cheap eats” for $10 and under are noteworthy in New York. In a city where it costs $5.80 just to get to work and back by subway, finding something to fill you up for a little less than twice that much can be a cheerless relief. If said item is also actually tasty, it reintroduces some levity back into the occasion.

So the next time you’re choosing between a four-bedroom in Anytown, USA or excellent slices, chopped cheese, fried chicken sandwiches, falafel or tacos, have a look here and know that you made the right choice.

Discount Broadway and Off-Broadway shows tickets are everywhere, and modern technology makes it easier than ever to find cheap seats, even at the last minute. If you play your cards right, you can even score seats for sold-out hits like Hamilton. Here are the five best ways to score cheap Broadway tickets.

There's no need to just go to museums to see the city's best art. You can peruse it all by going from gallery to gallery. You’ll find the best galleries in NYC concentrated in Chelsea, but also Brooklyn and Queens to the Upper and Lower East Sides of Manhattan.

Visit NYC’s legendary art galleries and you’ll see some of the best artists from around the world. These galleries are at the forefront of the latest trends in art and design, so you know you’re catching a glimpse of the cutting edge. 

New York City is full of incredible art—even on its streets and in its parks. Sculptures, murals, and photographs can be found in its parks, sidewalks and on its buildings at places like the High Line, Central Park, the Metropolitan Museum Of Art, Cadman Plaza in Brooklyn and Socrates Sculpture Park in Queens and other NYC locales. Best of all, it costs you nothing to pay a visit.

If you crave an escape from the city that won’t land you in debt, head to the ever-changing urban oasis of Governors Island, NY which combines park, adult playground and outdoor art space into a single lovely haven for adventure. One of the best things to do in summer is ride the ferry and visit the car-free attraction, so use our handy guide to plan your trip. 

It may be pocket-size, but that pocket is full of goodies. There are readings, poetry, comedy and art. Best of all, there’s free music in the Pullman-car-shaped performance space in the back, with acts on the cusp of wider recognition appearing frequently. It's definitely a top choice for cheap entertainment.

A century ago, this site vied with Niagara Falls as New York State’s greatest tourist attraction. Filled with Victorian mausoleums, cherubs and gargoyles, Green-Wood is the resting place of some half-million New Yorkers, among them Jean-Michel Basquiat, Leonard Bernstein and Boss Tweed. But there’s more to do here than grave-spot: Check out the massive Gothic arch at the main entrance or climb to the top of Battle Hill, one of the highest points in Kings County and a pivotal spot during the Battle of Brooklyn in 1776. You can see it all for free.

Drink and dine while you catch a flick at Syndicated in Brooklyn. Skip those fancy schmancy theaters with the cushy seats, Syndicated is just as comfy, with first-run movies for less than $10. They even host free sidewalk showings of movies like Royal Tennenbaums, Harry Potter and Bringing Up Baby.

This serene garden features six acres of horticultural beauty. It's also a quiet zone, perfect for contemplation among the well-manicured plants. For a free activity with some fresh air and gorgeous views, the Conservatory is the place to be.

In the fall, look for a bevy of mums. In the springtime, peonies and lilacs surge into bloom.

These days, New Yorkers feel real estate envy for the penthouse apartments foreign millionaires buy their newborn children. But if you want to see what would’ve popped on Pinterest in days of yore, head to the Bronx and take a tour of the Van Cortlandt House Museum. The gray fieldstone mansion, built before the Revolutionary War, served as the influential Van Cortlandt family’s homestead until the late 19th century. None other than George Washington himself spent the night here. Explore the house for just $5.