free things to do with kids downtown nyc manhattan

Free Things to Do with Kids in Downtown NYC (from local mom)

There are so many free things to do with kids in New York City. If you are staying in downtown Manhattan or are exploring downtown Manhattan, there are so many free things to do with kids.

As a local New York mom, whenever I take my kids exploring downtown, I never pay for things. After all, why pay when you can play for free? These are the things that I’ve done downtown NYC with my kids that are free. Below you will find my list of free things to do with kids in downtown New York City.

10 Free Things to Do with Kids in Downtown Manhattan

1. Take the Free Staten Island Ferry

Take the kids on a free ferry ride while you on vacation in New York City. The Staten Island Ferry will get you up close to the Statue of Liberty. It runs daily and takes you from Manhattan to Staten Island.

Where to Board the Staten Island Ferry?

You board the Staten Island Ferry from Whitehall Ferry Terminal (South Ferry) at 4 South Street, New York, NY. You will need to get off at Staten Island and re-board the ferry back to Manhattan.

Is Food Allowed on Board the Staten Island Ferry?

Yes, food is allowed on board the Staten Island Ferry. If you forgot to bring snacks, you can buy food from the concession aboard the ferry boat.

Is the Staten Island Ferry Free Both Ways?

Yes, the Staten Island Ferry is free both ways. The ferry runs every day. You can’t stay on for the round trip ferry ride though, you will need to disembark and wait in the waiting room in Staten Island and re-board the ferry back to Manhattan.

How to Get to the Staten Island Ferry Terminal in Manhattan by Subway?

The Staten Island Ferry Terminal is located at the Whitehall Ferry Terminal (South Ferry) at 4 South Street, New York, NY. You can get there by taking the subway.

Below is a list of subway trains to take to get to the Staten Island Ferry terminal.

  • Take the 1 Train and get off at South Ferry Station (make sure you are on the first 5 cars of the 1 Train otherwise the doors won’t open if you are not in the first 5 cars!)
  • Take the 4 or 5 Trains and get off at Bowling Green Station
  • Take the J or Z Trains and get off at Broad Street station
  • Take the R Train and get off at the Whitehall Street station

2. Play for Free at the Battery (Park)

After getting off the Staten Island Ferry, head over to the Battery which is a large park located next to the Whitehall Ferry Terminal. Let your kids burn off energy at the Battery Playscape which is an urban playground slides, climbing structures and a sandbox. After the playground, treat your kids to a carousel ride. Cool off at the Bosque Fountain, a water playground with 35 jets that shoots up to 15 feet high (closed but check for latest status)

What’s in the Battery Playscape?

The Battery Playscape is a large urban playground with slides, tree houses, climbing structures and a sandbox. The sand box is a lot of fun, your kids can dig for creatures buried in the sand such the giant octopus. Entry to the Battery Playscape is free.

Is the Seaglass Carousel free?

The Seaglass Carousel at the Battery park is not free. The admission fee for the carousel ride is $5 per person. Tickets for the Seaglass carousel can be purchased onsite. The Seaglass Carousel is a fun, whimsical underwater-themed carousel ride that any kid (or adult) will enjoy!

Is the Water Playground at the Battery free?

Yes, Bosque Fountain, the water playground at the Battery is free. It is a great way to cool off on a hot summer day. Your kids will have a blast splashing around. Bring extra clothes, you kids will get wet at the water playground!

How to Get to the Battery by Subway?

The Battery is located at State Street and Battery Place. You can get there by taking the subway.

Below is a list of subway trains to take to get to the Battery. You basically get off where the Staten Island Ferry terminal area is and walk over to the Battery.

  • Take the 1 Train and get off at South Ferry Station (make sure you are on the first 5 cars of the 1 Train otherwise the doors won’t open if you are not in the first 5 cars!)
  • Take the 4 or 5 Trains and get off at Bowling Green Station
  • Take the J or Z Trains and get off at Broad Street station
  • Take the R Train and get off at the Whitehall Street station

3. Visit the 9/11 Memorial for Free

After the Battery, head a few blocks north to the 9/11 Memorial and visit the memorial with kids for free. The 9/11 Memorial is open daily from 10am to 5pm.

Is the 9/11 Memorial Museum Free?

The 9/11 Memorial Museum is not free, only the 9/11 Memorial is free. If you are there on a Monday. The 9/11 Memorial museum has free admissions on Mondays. You will have to plan ahead and get your free tickets to visit the 9/11 Memorial museum online. Children under 7 years old are free.

How to Get to the 9/11 Memorial by Subway?

The 9/11 Memorial is located at 180 Greenwich Street, New York, NY. You can get there by taking the subway.

Below is a list of subway trains to take to get to the 9/11 Memorial.

  • Take the A, C, 1, 2, or 3 trains and get off at Chambers Street
  • Take the A, C, J, Z, 2, 3, 4, or 5 trains and get off at Fulton Street
  • Take the 2 or 3 trains and get off at Park Place
  • Take the E train and get off at World Trade Center
  • Take the R train and get off at Rector Street
  • Take the R train and get off at Cortlandt Street
  • Take the 1 train and get off at WTC Cortlandt

4. Free Activities at South Street Seaport

South Street Seaport is another downtown Manhattan tourist destination with lots of free activities for families and kids. Do Arts and Crafts for free. Join a free Yoga class for kids. Explore the shops and restaurants at South Street Seaport. Visit the South Street Seaport Museum for free! Let your kids run around the pier!

When is the South Street Seaport Museum Free?

South Street Seaport Museum has free admissions on Saturdays and Sundays from 11am-5pm. Please check the South Street Seaport Museum website since free admission days may change.

How do I get Free tickets to South Street Seaport Museum?

Go on the South Street Seaport Museum website to book your free tickets. You must book ahead to get the free tickets for the museum galleries.

Are the South Street Seaport Museum Ship Tours Free?

Yes, the Historic ship tours at South Street Seaport are free. Go on the South Street Seaport Museum website to reserve your spot. Book separately for tours on the Historic 1885 tall ship Wavertree and 1908 lightship Ambrose. There is a waitlist if the tours are full.

How do I get Free Tickets to Arts and Crafts and Kids Yoga at South Street Seaport?

You can go online to the South Street Seaport website to reserve your spot to do the Free kids activities. South Street Seaport’s Seaport Kids program offers free activities for kids on Wednesdays.

Activities can change, some of the free activities are arts and crafts and kids yoga. The South Street Seaport kids program are for kids ages 12 and under.

How to Get to South Street Seaport by Subway?

South Street Seaport is located at 19 Fulton Street (Water Street), New York, NY. You can take the subway and get off at the Fulton street stop. South Street Seaport is a few blocks east towards the East River. Take the A, C, J, Z, 2, 3, 4 and 5 trains, they all stop at Fulton Street.

You can also take the E train to Chambers Street-World Trade Center and from there it is a 10 minute walk to South Street Seaport.

5. Play for Free at the Imagination Playground

Imagination Playground is another free kid-friendly activity in downtown Manhattan. Designed by architect David Rockwell, the Imagination Playground is a fun, interactive playground where kids can go on the slide, swing, climb and build with big foam blocks. There is also water and sand to play with at the Imagination Playground. Plus wheelbarrows and buckets! Your kids will have a great time playing at the Imagination Playground.

How to Get to Imagination Playground by Subway?

Imagination Playground is located in Front Street, John Street and South Street (next to South Street Seaport). You can take the subway and get off at the Fulton street stop. Imagination Playground is a few blocks east towards the East River. Take the A, C, J, Z, 2, 3, 4 and 5 trains, they all stop at Fulton Street.

6. Federal Reserve Bank Free Gold Vault Tour

Touring the gold vault of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York is another free activity in downtown NYC. Kids of all ages will enjoy going to the Federal Reserve storage vaults and seeing the stacks and stacks of gold bars. Public tours are currently suspended, please check the Federal Reserve website for the latest update.

How Long are the Federal Reserve Bank Gold Vault Tours?

The Federal Reserve Bank tours are 1 hour long and are offered Monday to Friday at 1pm and 2pm.

How to Get Tickets to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York Tours?

You need to go online to the Federal Reserve Bank website to get your tickets. Tickets to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York are free.

How to Get to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York by Subway?

The Federal Reserve Bank is located at 44 Maiden Lane, New York, NY. You can get there by taking the subway.

Below is a list of subway trains to take to get to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

  • Take the A, C, J, Z, 2, 3, 4, or 5 trains and get off at Fulton Street

7. Free Federal Hall National Memorial Tour

A visit to the Federal Hall National Memorial is another free activity in downtown New York City. Explore the galleries containing historical items. A highlight of the visit is to view the bible George Washington used to swear his oath of office when he became the first president.

You can take a free guided or free self-guided tour. Kids visiting the Federal Hall can also take part in the Junior Ranger program. The Federal Hall National Memorial is closed, please check for the latest update.

What is the Junior Ranger Program at Federal Hall National Memorial?

The Junior Ranger program is a free program by the U.S. National Park Service. Kids will be asked to complete a workbook/activities about Federal Hall, share their answers with a park ranger, and receive an official Junior Ranger patch and Junior Ranger certificate. Junior Ranger programs are typically for kids between 5 to 13 years old but anyone can participate.

How to Get to the Federal Hall by Subway?

The Federal Hall is located at 26 Wall Street but the entrance is at 15 Pine Street (corner of Nassau and Pine Street), New York, NY. You can get there by taking the subway.

Below is a list of subway trains to take to get to the Federal Hall National Memorial.

  • Take the 4 or 5 (green) subway to the Wall Street stop. Exit at Wall Street and Broadway. Go right (east) on Wall Street.
  • Take the J or Z (brown) subway to the Broad Street stop. Exit at Wall and Nassau Streets. Go right (east) on Wall Street.
  • Take the 2 or 3 (red) subway to the Wall Street stop. Exit at Wall and William Streets. Go left (west) on Wall Street.
  • Take the 1 (red) subway to the Rector Street stop. Exit at Rector and Greenwich Streets. Go right (east) on Rector towards Trinity Place. Turn left on Broadway. Turn right on Wall Street.
  • Take the R (yellow) subway to the Rector Street stop. Exit at Rector and Trinity Place. Go right (east) on Rector towards Broadway. Turn left on Broadway. Turn right on Wall Street.
  • Take the A or C (blue) subway to the Fulton Street stop. Exit at John and Nassau Streets. Go right (south) on Nassau towards Maiden Lane. Turn left on Wall Street.

8. Free Visit to Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace

A visit to Theodore Roosevelt’s childhood home is another free activity that you can do with your kids in downtown Manhattan. Tour the 1848 Brownstone townhouse that the 26th President of the United States called home. You will see the rooms furnished as if Theodore Roosevelt lived there with actual family owned items. The Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace is currently closed, please check the website for the latest update.

How Do I Book a Tour at the Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace?

Guided tours of Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace are offered on a first come, first served basis. Reservations for the guided tour can only be made in person, on the day of the tour. The period rooms can only be seen by guided tours. Guided Tours to the Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace are free.

How to Get to the Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace by Subway?

Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace is located at 28 East 20th Street (between Park Avenue South and Broadway), New York, NY. You can get there by taking the subway.

Below is a list of subway trains to take to get to Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace.

  • Take the 4 or 5 (green), Q or N (yellow), or L (gray) subway to Union Square/East 14th Street.
  • Take the 6 (green) subway to East 23rd Street at Park Avenue South.
  • Take the R (yellow) subway to East 23rd Street at Broadway.

9. The High Line

Your kids will enjoy running around the High Line. The High Line is an elevated park built on a historic freight rail line. It is 1.45 mile that runs from Gansevoort St. to 34th St. on Manhattan’s West Side. Admission to the High Line is free. On Wednesdays, you can join a free docent-led guided tour of the High Line.

How Long is the Guided Tour of the High Line?

The free tour of the High Line are 45 to 90 minutes long. The High Line tour is 45 minutes long during November to April and in the months of May to October the High Line tour is 90 minutes long. The High Line tours are most suitable for older kids with longer attention span.

Where do you Meet for the Guided Tour of the High Line?

The High Line Tours start at the Gansevoort Street Entrance. They only take 20 people and it’s on a first come, first served basis.

Where are the Entrances to the High Line?

Since the High Line is an elevated park, there are stairs and elevators that you can take to get up to the High Line. Entrances to the High Line via stairs are at Gansevoort Street, 14th Street, 16th Street, 17th Street, 20th Street, 23rd Street, 26th Street, 28th Street and 30th Street.

Entrances to the High Line via elevator access are available at Gansevoort Street, 14th Street, 23rd Street, and 30th Street. Park-level access (ramp) are also available at 30th Street at Hudson Yards. The 34th Street gate is closed. Please check the elevator status page before your visit.

How to Get to the High Line by Subway?

There are many access points to get into the High Line since it spans from Gansevoort to 34th street. You can get to the High Line by taking the subway and walking a few blocks (be prepared to walk since the subway station is not near the High Line)

Below is a list of subway trains to take to get to the High Line.

  • Take the C or E (blue), subway to 23rd Street. You will get off at 23rd Street and 8th Avenue, walk 2 (big) blocks west (towards Hudson River) to 10th Avenue and from there you can get into the High Line via the 23rd Street entrance. There is an elevator at the 23rd street entrance to the High Line.
  • Take the A or C or E (blue) subway to 14th Street and 8th Avenue. Walk west and enter at the 14th street entrance to the High Line. There is an elevator at the 14th street entrance to the High Line.
  • Take the L (grey) subway to East 23rd Street at Broadway. Walk west and enter at the 14th street entrance to the High Line. There is an elevator at the 14th street entrance to the High Line.

10. Hudson River Park Playgrounds

Visit the playgrounds at Hudson River Park. Hudson River Park is located on the west side of Manhattan along the Hudson River. Hudson River Park is 4 miles long with many activities from biking to skate parks to kayaking to ball parks to playgrounds! There is even a trapeze school!

There are 3 playgrounds at the Hudson River Park and they are all different from each other featuring different climbing structures and swings. In the summer months, they turn on the water and kids can get wet! The best part about the playgrounds are the views, adults can enjoy the waterfront Hudson River views!

Where are the Playgrounds on Hudson River Park?

There are 3 playgrounds in Hudson River Park. There is a playground in Tribeca at Pier 25, there is another playground a little further north in Greenwich Village at Pier 51 and finally another playground in Chelsea called the Chelsea Waterside Playground.

How do I get to the Hudson River Park Playground in Tribeca at Pier 25?

To get to Hudson River Park Playground at Pier 25, take the 1 (red) line to the Franklin Street station. From there walk 3 blocks west towards Hudson River.

How do I get to the Hudson River Park Playground in Greenwich Village at Pier 51?

To get to Hudson River Park Playground at Pier 51, take the 1 or 2 or 3 (red) line to the 14th Street station. From there walk approximately 5 blocks west towards the Hudson River.

How do I get to the Hudson River Park’s Chelsea Waterside Playground?

To get to the Hudson River Park’s Chelsea Waterside Playground, take the A or C (blue) line subway to 23rd Street station. You will get off at 23rd Street and 8th Avenue, walk 3 (big) blocks west towards the Hudson River.