Sponsored Post: What is your favorite thing to do for free in NYC?

Federal Hall has great exhibits (free admission) and free lectures on American history from some of the top historians in the city, the state, and the world. The special programing in August for Battle Week includes some of the best American history classes any history student can ever take. It's a true hidden gem in the city!

Philharmonic in the Parks!

Summer movies in Bryant Park and Brooklyn Bridge Park.

West Street/West Side Hwy bikelane.

Philharmonic in the Parks!

skateboarding in union square!

Checking out the free talks (art, politics, etc.), performances, exhibits and films at any of the city's universities.

Walking through Central Park, and riding (xooter) down Riverside Park. Or walking just about anywhere and watching people. People are pure entertainment, almost everywhere.

Forget the free (crowded, annoying, brat-filled) museum days! I'd rather pay on an off-hours regular day! Besides, if you go to the Metropolitan Museum of Art enough, you can justify paying barely anything every now and then when you're broke.

Oh yeah, how could I forget the free kayaking on the Hudson! (At either Houston, 56th or 72nd Sts.)

It WAS the Pool Parties at McCarren Park Pool, far & away. I still love Summerstage & Celebrate Brooklyn though. Midsummer Night Swing in Lincoln Center is nice, too.

And movies in Bryant Park are way overcrowded & totally overrated. Leave that to the tourists who don't know any better. Instead, I prefer the free movies at Brooklyn Bridge Park, Riverside Park (at 70th St) & the Riverflicks at Piers 46 & 54.

You can't beat MoMA Free Fridays. And there's always something interesting to find in the hoards of free galleries all over town. (I love the ones in West Chelsea.)

When all else fails, I love walking along the piers by the Hudson River.

I guess it's better to be broke in the city during the summer.

-> Walking through the West Village on a spring, summer or fall day

-> Going to Washington Square Park and watching the doggies in the dog runs. First big dogs, then little dogs.

-> Walking along Hudson River Park in the early morning or at sunset.

-A day at Pier 40 which offers huge field space, free kayaking from Downtown Boathouse and rowing of Whitehall Gigs from Village Community Boathouse

I always send out of town guests on a little tour of the Gramercy Park Area. The two completely different apartment houses on the east side of the Park, the white one with the statues of men in armor has real flame burning in their gas lamps and you need to look up at the stained glass ceiling of the entrance to the brown one. Peeking into the windows of The National Arts Club is fun, particularly now during the holidays when it is all lit up. And those lovely old brownstones on the west side of the park with their intricate ironwork.

The top floor of Filene's on Union Square offers an incredible view over Union Square. And they even have chairs set up right next to the floor to ceiling window.

-Free days at museums.

-Walking and biking in Central Park, the Hudson River Park and Prospect Park...any park really.

-The New York Botanical Garden (esp. when it's free-I am sensing a link among all the things that I like...)

-Browsing at the Strand Bookstore and St. Mark's Books.

-Checking out galleries in Chelsea.

-Visiting new neighborhoods (which I don't do enough of).

Ice skating at Bryant Park is free when you bring your own skates. It's superb.

I'll agree with everyone on Central Park and walking over the Brooklyn Bridge.

And during the holiday season, looking at all the holiday windows is fun.

There's also Friday nights at MoMA, which are free.

The Brooklyn Botanic Garden is great, and from November 20 – February 29, Weekdays and Saturdays, 10-12 (the latter with some limitations) are free .

I second the suggestion of the Met. That is probably the "art deal" of the century. I also like visiting the Cloisters, which also has a "suggested" contribution.

While I prefer the Met and the Cloisters of the following choices, they're all great free places to go (AFAIK):

http://www.ny.com/museums/free.html

exploring central park is a great way to spend a day without spending money.

Staten Island Ferry in summer.

Free exhibits at MTA store in Grand Central.

On a very cold day, dipping into the Waldorf Astoria's lobby to warm up and relax on the couches (and make fun of people).

The most amazing free thing in this city is the Red Hook Pool in the summer. The parks are great, of course, but when I'm at that pool, I can't stop thinking, "I can't believe this is FREE!"

Window shopping / Fantasy Apartment hunting.

That or Prospect Park.

Reading on a blanket on sheep's meadow in Central Park on a warm summer day

Seeing the early ASSSSCAT on Sunday night at UCB and getting $50 of comedy for $0

Taking the Staten Island ferry just for the hell of it and to get a nice view of lady liberty

Central Park is probably one of my favorite things about this city. Specifically on a snowy day. Also, just wandering around different neighborhoods when I don't have to be anywhere in particular.

Walking along Brooklyn Bridge

Reading in Bryant Park

Coney Island (summer or winter!)

Also: walk in Central Park or Prospect Park. Go to the Metropolitan Museum (payment optional!) or walk along the Promenade in Brooklyn Heights. Or go gallery hopping in Chelsea.

Castle Belvedere in Central Park

summer movies in Bryant Park

the view of the Brooklyn and Williamsburg Bridges from the South Street Seaport

NYC Downtown Boathouse, which permits free kayaking

The Easter "parade" outside St. Patrick's on Fifth Avenue. Cute kids, elaborate costumes, and a car-free avenue.

Riverside Park! Trees, water, and a beautiful sunset.