Highest rated free activities in New York, according to Tripadvisor

It’s incredibly expensive to be American. While workers in the United States have seen an 80% increase in wages over the past fifty years, these gains have not caught up with the ever-rising cost of living, according to a 2024 report from Consumer Affairs. Between 1970 and 2022, the national consumer price index increased by more than 500%, while wages increased by only 80%.

That imbalance has put enormous pressure on the average American. The number of cost-strapped households in the U.S. reached an 11-year high in 2022, according to an analysis of Census Bureau data by the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies. In June 2024, Redfin reported that the average sales price of a home in the US reached an all-time high of $394,000.

It’s no wonder that maintaining savings, paying off debt and mortgages, and regular expenses take priority over vacations. But not everything that is fun has to come at a high price. There’s even a whole host of completely free things to do in New York.

Think about the most common items on a vacation itinerary: sightseeing, sightseeing, or taking a nature walk. Or maybe you just want to relax and want some peace and quiet. Whether you’re a history buff or like to dip your toes in cold water, you can find all this and more without swiping your credit card or crossing state lines.

To help you find your next free activity, Stacker has compiled a list of the top-rated free activities in New York based on data from Tripadvisor. Tripadvisor ranks places using a combination of metrics, including overall ratings, reviews, and number of page views. As a result, an activity with an overall rating of 5 out of 5 may score lower than an activity with a 4 out of 5. Data is as of June 12, 2024.

Read on and start planning a weekend of free fun near you!