From playgrounds to museums, gardens, and ferries, explore NYC without spending a dime.
At a Glance:
- Free museum days and cultural experiences for families
- Playgrounds and parks across all five boroughs
- Zoos, botanical gardens, and hands-on learning
- Iconic NYC walks and ferry rides
- Art, music, and nature workshops for kids
Spring break is just around the corner, and while the kids are excited for time off, parents around the city are looking for ways to keep them busy without spending a small fortune. Exploring New York City can quickly add up, but there are so many purely fun and educational activities throughout the city that don’t cost a dime. My mom showed me that as a kid (oh, how she could sniff out a good bargain!), and it’s something I’ve done with my kids, too.
Check out our curated pick of museums, zoos, gardens, parks, libraries, and much more!
Tip: If you have an IDNYC card, you can get free year-round access to a long list of museums and cultural institutions—just click on “Museums and Cultural Institutions” to see all the places you can visit for free.
Psst… Check Out Things to Do with the Kids This Weekend in NYC
All Boroughs
Kids’ Week Activities
The New York Parks Department offers a range of free activities for kids during spring break. Held at various parks throughout New York City, kids can enjoy interactive workshops about Earth Day, upcycling, fishing, amphibians, nature, watercolors, and much more. While all of the programming is free, parents do have to register in advance.
Visit a Local Museum
Brooklyn Children’s Museum, 145 Brooklyn Ave, Brooklyn
The Queens Museum, Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens
National Museum of the Native American, 1 Bowling Green
Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 5th Ave.
Enjoy a day of culture and interactive play at one of NYC’s many museums. While many have a paid option, there are numerous free days that you can take advantage of.
The Brooklyn Children’s Museum with Community Access Thursdays, every Thursday from 2-5 pm.
The Queens Museum offers pay-what-you-wish admission and free admission to kids under age 12, and the National Museum of the Native American is always free.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art has pay-what-you-wish admission for New York State residents, and NY, NJ, and CT students.
Explore a New Playground
The beauty of NYC is that we have access to so many incredible parks, and they are all free! You can also use it as a chance to explore a new neighborhood and check out a nearby playground along the way. Some favorites include Inwood Hill Park with its natural forest and land marsh (Payson Ave. & Seaman Ave, NYC); the five-acre Domino Park (1200 Kent Ave, Brooklyn); and the Bronx River Greenway (1490 Sheridan Blvd, Bronx). My personal favorite is Prospect Park playground at 9th St., right next to the bandshell.
Local Libraries
The New York Public Library, the Brooklyn Public Library, and the Queens Public Library are some of our favorite resources for fun activities, and there are great libraries in every borough! Each calendar is packed with fun activities during spring break, such as baby storytime, teen poetry workshop, open play, family read-aloud, and much more.
Psst… Check Out the Best Libraries in New York for Kids
Manhattan
Check Out Little Island
Pier 55, Hudson River Park, West 13th St.
Little Island is located along the Hudson River, and this fun, uniquely designed park has some beautiful views of the water and a great playground where kids can run around, explore, and just be kids. There are free audio tours where you and your kids can learn more about the neighborhood and the pier, or just stroll and explore at your own pace.
The park also has plenty of interactive stuff for kids to try, like musical instruments, a spinning disk, dance chimes, a twirling chair, and even hula hoops. It is open from 6 am-11 pm.
Visit the Museum of the City of New York
1220 Fifth Ave at 103rd St.
Learn more about New York and its streets at the Museum of the City of New York. This includes exhibitions featuring New York City artists and storytellers. For spring break week, kids can enjoy art activities, storytimes, music, and more. The museum has a pay-what-you-wish admission policy. However, this is only available at the ticket counter.
Enjoy a Picnic and Playground Visit at Central Park
Did you know that Central Park is home to 21 playgrounds? Explore one (or a few) that you haven’t been to during spring break. It’s an ideal spot to have a picnic lunch. Other favorites include the Heckscher Playground with its climbing rocks and full playground, the toddler-friendly Tarr-Coyne Tots Playground, and the Ancient Playground with its Egyptian-themed architecture. Check out the complete list of playgrounds.
Take a Trip to Governors Island
Accessible by ferry from the Battery Maritime Building at 10 South St. in Lower Manhattan
Enjoy a day exploring Governors Island with your kids. It has free tickets for kids ages 12 and under, as well as for IDNYC holders and residents of NYCHA housing. Adults pay $5. Here, kids can have fun on its many playgrounds, view public art, ride bikes, or simply explore.
Walk the High Line
West Side of Manhattan (Meatpacking District to Hudson Yards)
Spring is the perfect time to enjoy a stroll along the High Line, where you’ll find a mix of nature and public art along this former train line, as well as docent-led tours. Older kids can likely walk the entire High Line, but if you have younger kids, you might want to pick a section to explore. There is also elevator access on Gansevoort Street, 14th Street, 23rd Street, 30th St. Southwest, and the Moynihan Connector at 31st St. and Dyer Ave. The High Line is open every day from 7 am-10 pm.
Visit Fort Tryon Park and The Met Cloisters
99 Margaret Corbin Drive, Fort Tryon Park
Take a trip to Washington Heights to explore the magic of Fort Tryon Park and The Met Cloisters. Here, you can spend a day in nature and/or at a local playground and immerse yourself in the world of medieval art. The Cloisters are free for kids under age 12, and they have a pay-what-you-want admission policy for New York residents.
The Museum at FIT
227 West 27th St.
The Museum at FIT has a permanent collection of more than 50,000 garments and accessories, and is perfect for kids who are into fashion. The Museum at FIT is open from Wednesday to Friday, noon – 8 pm, and Saturday – Sunday, 10 am – 5 pm.
The Bronx
Visit the Bronx Zoo
2300 Southern Blvd, Bronx
There’s always something fun going on at NYC’s zoos. The Bronx Zoo has free visiting hours on Wednesdays. However, you have to register on Monday at 5 pm during the week of your visit. Additionally, these tickets are only for the park (no rides), and there is a maximum of four tickets per order. Kids must be three and up, and you need to register online before you go.
The zoo has over 265 acres, where you and your kids can learn about different animals, enjoy a range of educational activities, and experience fun exhibits like the Children’s Zoo, World of Birds, Tiger Mountain, and more.
Spring at the New York Botanical Garden
2900 Southern Blvd, Bronx
Visit the New York Botanical Garden to see its collection of budding plants on its 250 acres, including the famous cherry blossoms. They offer community passes for Bronx residents every Tuesday–Sunday and holiday Mondays. This includes access to the outdoor gardens and collections. Bronx residents must show proof of their residency. Additionally, ground access passes are free on Wednesday for NYC residents.
Visit Wave Hill
4900 Independence Avenue, Bronx
Enjoy a day of nature and discovery at Wall Hill. Located in the Bronx, you might feel as if you are out of New York City as you enjoy 28 acres of gardens above the Hudson River. Wave Hill also regularly hosts arts and culture events, as well as crafting events for families. Free admission is offered every Thursday
Brooklyn
Walk the Brooklyn Bridge
Runs between Lower Manhattan, near City Hall Park, and the DUMBO/Brooklyn Heights neighborhoods in Brooklyn
On a nice day, there is nothing like a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge. It can get crowded, but the views of the skyline and the water are everything you imagine, and the walk itself takes about 30 minutes each way. If you have the time, you can make a day of it by wandering around Lower Manhattan, DUMBO, or Brooklyn Heights afterward. There are great playgrounds nearby and plenty to see along the way, so you can take your time and just enjoy being out in the city.
Prospect Park’s Audubon Center
101 East Dr., Brooklyn
The Audubon Center at Prospect Park offers free programming to kids of all ages. They also have an animal center where kids can learn more about animals and their habitats, and touch and/or pet them. It’s also a 15-20 minute walk from the Prospect Park Zoo.
Visit the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens
455 Flatbush Avenue, and 990 Washington Avenue, Brooklyn
The Brooklyn Botanic Gardens offers free tickets to kids 12 and under, as well as community tickets, where tickets are free for those who may need them. Enjoy access to its beautiful grounds to view its spectacular trees, plants, flowers, and Japanese ponds and gardens.
Queens
Visit the Socrates Sculpture Park
32-01 Vernon Blvd, Queens
Take a day trip to Long Island City to view a collection of sculptures and art exhibits at Socrates Sculpture Park, where admission is always free. In addition to exhibitions, there are incredible views and grounds to discover. The park is open 365 days a year from 9 am to sundown.
Queens Botanical Garden
43-50 Main Street, Flushing
At Queens Botanical Gardens, kids can enjoy art in the garden and access its 39 acres, including a view of cherry blossoms and spectacular flowers in their annual beds. Admission is free every Wednesday from 3 pm-6 pm and Sundays from 9 am-11 am.
Staten Island
Take a Trip on the Staten Island Ferry
Access to the Staten Island Ferry is always free! Take your kids on a boat ride from Manhattan to Staten Island (or vice versa) to enjoy incredible sights as well as a cool and different way to travel. The ferry runs approximately every 15-30 minutes from St. George on Staten Island and Whitehall Street in Manhattan. Check out the complete ferry schedule.
Visit the Staten Island Zoo
614 Broadway, Staten Island
Take a trip to the Staten Island Zoo, where kids can learn about reptiles, foxes, lemurs, and more. The zoo offers free admission every Wednesday after 2 pm. Kids ages two and under are always free.
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