If you’re looking for free things to do in Brooklyn, then you’re in the right place.
You can have a lot of fun in Brooklyn if you’re traveling on a budget. That’s because Brooklyn is packed with very fun activities that are completely free.
From listening to music to seeing art to visiting unique sights, the things you can do without spending a dime will definitely surprise you!
I made this Brooklyn free things to do guide to help you find the best activities if you’re on a budget! I made sure to include a large variety of activities so there’s something for everyone’s liking.
Free Things To Do in Brooklyn
See the Murals at the Bushwick Collective
The Bushwick Collective is an outdoor art gallery and an art collective that you can find in the Bushwick neighborhood.
It started in the year 2012 when local building owners in the neighborhood provided empty walls on their buildings for street artists to use.
Various street artists, including well-known ones, made beautiful street art on these walls, and these murals are interesting to see when you are in Brooklyn. What’s great is that you can see them for free.
Also, there is an annual concert that takes place here. In the past, several famous musicians performed at this party.
Go to a Free Lunchtime Concert at the Brooklyn Academy of Music
The Brooklyn Academy of Music, one of Brooklyn’s best music venues and a large performing arts venue, is located at 30 Lafayette Avenue and various other addresses in the borough.
This is a venue where you can attend a lot of different types of events. From concerts to films to dance performances, you can enjoy great shows at BAM.
What’s great is that there is an annual free lunchtime concert series at BAM’s MetroTech Commons.
This is a concert series that takes place during the summer months, and during it, you can listen to R&B, world music, gospel, soul, jazz, and a variety of other genres of music. Moreover, the concert series showcases performances by both established as well as emerging artists.
Address: 30 Lafayette Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11217
Do a Free Tour of the Brooklyn Brewery
The Brooklyn Brewery is a brewery that is located at 79 North 11th Street in Brooklyn. This is a brewery that creates craft beers.
You can find a tasting room here where you can pay and try out various beers.
A great free activity in Brooklyn that you can do at the Brooklyn Brewery is doing a free guided tour of the brewery.
During this experience, you’ll see the brewery from the inside and learn about the brewing process from a guide, which can be very interesting! Also, you can get all kinds of interesting facts about the brewery when you do a tour here.
In addition to that, you can get free samples of beer during the tour.
Address: 79 N 11th St, Brooklyn, NY 11249
Go to the New York Skyline Lookout
The New York Skyline Lookout is one of the best places for checking out the skyline of Manhattan and you can find this place in Brooklyn.
The viewpoint is located in Brooklyn Bridge Park.
From here, you can get a view of the East River, Manhattan’s skyline, and the Brooklyn Bridge. You can even see the Statue of Liberty from here on a clear day.
It is also a great place for taking pictures of the city.
Furthermore, you can combine going here with exploring Brooklyn Bridge Park. This is a beautiful park with great nature, a wonderful concert venue, and the historic Jane’s Carousel, which is a restored carousel from the year 1922.
Go to the New York Aquarium on Wednesday after 3 PM
The New York Aquarium is a lovely aquarium that you can find in Coney Island, very close to Luna Park. You can go here for free on Wednesdays after 3 PM which is one of the most incredible free things to do in Brooklyn.
This is the country’s oldest aquarium that is still in operation. The New York Aquarium was founded in 1896, but in 1957 it moved to its current location.
The Wildlife Conservation Society operates the zoo, which is an organization that also operates the Central Park Zoo, the Bronx Zoo, and several other zoos in New York City.
At the aquarium, you can see about 300 different species of animals, including harbor seals, penguins, and sharks. It is also possible to do special wildlife experiences here, such as “wild encounter” experiences during which you can see animals up close and learn about them.
Address: 602 Surf Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11224
Explore Dumbo
Dumbo is a wonderful neighborhood in the borough that is great to explore when you are looking for free activities in the borough.
Dumbo, which is an acronym for “down under the Manhattan Bridge overpass”, is a great neighborhood that is along the East River.
The neighborhood is great for a stroll and there are many spots that can be great to explore. For example, one of the most popular streets in the neighborhood is Washington Street. This is a street from which you can get an amazing view of the Brooklyn Bridge, and it is for this reason that the bridge is a very popular spot for photography as well.
In addition to that, one can see a lot of historic architecture in Dumbo and a part of the beautiful Brooklyn Bridge Park is located here.
Go to the Brooklyn Museum on the First Saturday During Some Months of the Year
The Brooklyn Museum is a great museum that you can find in the Prospect Heights neighborhood. The museum usually charges an admission fee, but on the first Saturday of the months of February to August and October, you can go here for free from 5 till 11 PM.
The Brooklyn Museum is a very large art museum that has a collection of about 500,000 objects.
These objects come from all around the world and from many periods in time. For example, you can find a lot of American art at the museum, including art from the Colonial period.
In addition to that, there are works by very famous artists at the museum, including works by Georgia O’Keeffe, Edgar Degas, and Max Weber.
Address: 200 Eastern Pkwy, Brooklyn, NY 11238
Go for a Stroll at the Brooklyn Heights Promenade
The Brooklyn Heights Promenade is a walkway that is located along the East River. You can go here for free and enjoy amazing views of the skyline of Manhattan and the New York Harbor.
You can find a lot of beautiful nature along the walkway, which makes it an even better place for a relaxing stroll or run.
Also, you can find a lot of benches here which are great if you want to have a relaxing time.
Go to Grand Army Plaza
Grand Army Plaza, located in Prospect Heights, is a public plaza that you can see for free in Brooklyn.
You can find the plaza to the north of Prospect Park and the Grand Army Plaza connects to several streets, such as Flatbush Avenue and Vanderbilt Avenue.
You can see many sculptures and monuments at Grand Army Plaza, including one of the most iconic statues in NYC.
The most impressive monument that you can see here is the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Arch, which is a triumphal arch that is dedicated to soldiers who fought in the American Civil War.
Furthermore, you can find the John F. Kennedy Monument, the Bailey Fountain, and several busts and other types of statues here.
Visit the Brooklyn Botanic Garden in Winter During Weekdays
One of the best free activities in Brooklyn is going to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. You can do so for free during weekdays in the winter season, which is during the months of December, January, and February. During these days, you pay what you wish. There is an admission fee during other months of the year.
The Brooklyn Botanic Garden is a beautiful botanical garden that has an area of 52 acres.
In the garden, you can find thousands of different species of plants, and you can see these in a variety of specialty gardens. Each garden focuses on a particular type of plant. For example, there is a Japanese garden and there is a garden where you can see native plants from the New York metropolitan area.
Also, there are often special events at the garden.
Do a Free Walking Tour of Brooklyn
A great way to discover Brooklyn for free is by doing a free walking tour of the city.
There are several organizations that organize free walking tours of the neighborhood through which you can get to know the best spots in Brooklyn.
One of these organizations is “Free Tours by Foot”. You can do the “Brooklyn Bridge, Brooklyn Heights and DUMBO Tour”, which is a 3-hour dour for which you can pay as you wish.
The tour takes place 7 days per week and during it, a local guide shows you some of the borough’s highlights.
For example, you can see one of NYC’s most iconic bridges, the Brooklyn Bridge, during this tour. Also, you’ll explore the neighborhoods of Dumbo and Brooklyn Heights during this tour.
Visit The Green-Wood Cemetery
The Green-Wood Cemetery is a cemetery that is located between several neighborhoods in the western part of Brooklyn.
The cemetery’s history dates back to the year 1838 and it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The cemetery has about 600,000 graves and lots of trees can be seen here. Moreover, there are many different monuments and mausoleums in all kinds of styles at the cemetery, and the cemetery has gates that were designed in the Gothic Revival style.
Furthermore, many famous people are buried here, including politicians, generals from the Civil War, and artists.
Address: 500 25th St, Brooklyn, NY 11232
Enjoy a Free Summer Concert at the Amphitheater at Coney Island Boardwalk
The Coney Island Boardwalk, or the Riegelmann Boardwalk, is a boardwalk that is almost 3 miles long and is located along the shore of Coney Island next to the Atlantic Ocean.
It is a wooden boardwalk that connects several attractions in the Coney Island neighborhood. For example, you can find the New York Aquarium and Luna Park here.
You can also find the Ford Amphitheater at Coney Island on the boardwalk.
This is a venue that opened in 2016 and where various events take place.
If you’re looking for free things to do in Brooklyn, you can go here in the summer to attend free concerts.
Address: 3052 W 21st St, Brooklyn, NY 11224
See Brooklyn Bridge
One of the most iconic bridges, the Brooklyn Bridge, can be found in Brooklyn. This bridge connects the boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn and is a designated National Historic Landmark.
The Brooklyn Bridge was created in the year 1883 and spans the East River. At the time of its opening, the bridge was the longest suspension bridge in the world with a length of over 6,000 feet. Moreover, the bridge has towers that are each 278 feet tall.
It can be great to see the Brooklyn Bridge when you are in the borough. You can cross the bridge, check it out from Brooklyn Bridge Park or see the bridge from the Dumbo neighborhood.
Go for a Walk at Domino Park
Domino Park is a beautiful park that you can find in Williamsburg along the East River and very close to the Williamsburg Bridge. The park is situated on the former Domino Sugar Refinery and that’s also why the park is called Domino Park.
At Domino Park, you can find several lawns that make the park one of New York City’s best picnic spots. You can lay down a blanket here and enjoy a picnic. This is also one of Brooklyn’s most romantic activities!
Furthermore, there are benches, walking paths, and great nature.
In addition to that, you can enjoy a great view of the East River, the skyline of Manhattan, and the Williamsburg Bridge when you are exploring the park.
Do a Self-Guided Tour of Brooklyn
A great free activity in Brooklyn to discover the borough is doing a self-guided tour, which is a specific type of tour that you can load on your phone and that will guide you to various places in Brooklyn.
You have a lot of options to choose from when you want to do this kind of tour, and there are several organizations that create these tours that you can find on the internet.
For example, you could do a self-guided tour that covers Brooklyn Heights or the Dumbo neighborhood.
Also, you might consider doing a tour that will take you to historic landmarks in the borough, such as the various bridges.
Take Photos of Beautiful Spots in Brooklyn
Brooklyn is a very diverse borough with a lot of beautiful places that you can check out.
If you like photography, a great activity that you can do completely for free is taking photos in Brooklyn.
For example, you can take photos of the various bridges in the brought such as the Brooklyn Bridge and the Williamsburg Bridge.
Also, you can check out some of the parks of the borough for photography, such as Brooklyn Bridge Park and Domino Park.
There are also many viewpoints, such as viewpoints of the Manhattan skyline that are great for photography.
The borough is also home to beautiful buildings and structures, such as the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument, the main branch of the Brooklyn Public Library, and the building of the Brooklyn Academy of Music.
Go for a Walk in Brooklyn Bridge Park
Brooklyn Bridge Park is a great park to check out when you are in Brooklyn and looking for free activities.
This is a beautiful park that is located along the East River and it has an area of 85 acres. You can find the park next to the Brooklyn Bridge.
When you are here, you can get an amazing view of the Brooklyn Bridge, the skyline of Manhattan, and the East River.
Moreover, the park has a lot of walking paths and there are many great spots for relaxation in the park.
What’s great too, especially when you are in Brooklyn with children, is that you can find Jane’s Carousel here.
This is a historic carousel from 1922 that can be found inside a glass pavilion to keep it safe. The carousel has several wooden horses and two wooden carriages that are great for children to ride.
Go to a Free Event at Industry City
Industry City is a creative hub that you can find at Sunset Park along the waterfront of Brooklyn.
This used to be a warehousing, shipping, and manufacturing complex. Nowadays, Industry City is a fun place for a lot of reasons. You can find many unique shops here, there is a food hall, and there is much more to do.
There also are many events at Industry City that can be great to attend. For example, there are often live music performances that you can go to for free. Furthermore, you can sometimes join a free workout here, and there are many other types of events that make for great free things to do in Brooklyn.
See the Manhattan Bridge
The Manhattan Bridge is an amazing bridge and you can see it from Brooklyn.
It is a suspension bridge that crosses the East River and it connects the Dumbo neighborhood of Brooklyn with Manhattan’s Chinatown.
The Manhattan Bridge opened in 1909 and 6 years later a triumphal arch was added on the Manhattan side of the bridge. This is one of the 3 triumphal arches in New York City.
The bridge is made from steel and has a beautiful design, which makes it a great landmark if you want to take photos. Moreover, the bridge is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Also, an interesting thing to know about the bridge is that when it was opened many didn’t like the name of the bridge because it was too general.
Check Out Prospect Park
Prospect Park is a large urban park that you can find close to the Prospect Heights neighborhood. The park is located next to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Grand Army Plaza, and the Brooklyn Museum. So you can combine a visit to all of these places.
The park is very old and dates back to the year 1859, and the park is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
You can beautiful nature in the park and the park is also home to many attractions and structures. For example, you can find the Prospect Park Zoo here.
Also, there are a lot of sports facilities in the park.
Attend BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn!
BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! is an annually recurring festival that takes place in summer and it is a great free event to attend.
During this multi-stage festival, you can experience a lot of great entertainment completely for free.
For example, you can go here to listen to great indie bands, well-known jazz artists, and artists of many other genres. Besides that, there are dance shows, film screenings, virtual reality experiences, and there is much more.
The festival takes place in Prospect Park and the first edition of the festival took place in 1979.
Go to Brooklyn Children’s Museum During Some Days of the Week
The Brooklyn Children’s Museum is an old museum that dates back to the year 1899, and it is one of the first children’s museums in the world.
This is a great museum to check out with children in Brooklyn, and what’s great is that this is possible during the Amazon Free Hours. You can check out the website of the Brooklyn Children’s Museum when these are.
At the Brooklyn Children’s Museum, there are various interesting exhibits that allow children to learn new things in a fun and physical way.
Each exhibit focuses on a particular theme. For example, there is one exhibit that is called “World Brooklyn”. Here, children can find miniature versions of shops that are based on shops that can be found in the borough.
Address: 145 Brooklyn Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11213
See the Williamsburg Bridge
The Williamsburg Bridge is a beautiful bridge and seeing it, which is a free thing to do in Brooklyn, can be great.
The Williamsburg Bridge is a suspension bridge that was built in the year 1903, and at the time of its opening, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world.
It is possible to see the bridge from the nearby Domino Park, and it is also possible to ride or walk across the bridge. The bridge has 8 lanes for cars, there are 2 tracks, and there are pedestrian and cycling paths.
Explore the Grand Army Plaza Greenmarket
The Grand Army Plaza Greenmarket is a year-round market that was founded in 1989.
The market is located at the entrance to Prospect Park and very close to several other of this article’s free places, such as Grand Army Plaza and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden (in winner).
At the market, there are many vendors selling fresh products, and there is a lot to choose from. What’s great is that you can both buy raw ingredients here as well as get ready-to-eat food.
Furthermore, sometimes you can attend special events, such as demos, at the market.
Go for a Walk at Coney Island
Coney Island is a great neighborhood to explore in Brooklyn.
You can find a lot of fun attractions here, such as the New York Aquarium and Luna Park.
Also, you can find the Coney Island Boardwalk here, which is a wooden boardwalk that has a length of close to 3 miles.
This is a great place for a relaxing walk, especially if you combine it with going to other places in Coney Island. Also, you can enjoy a great view of the beach and the ocean when you go for a walk here.
Explore the Fulton Street
Fulton Street is an east-west street in Brooklyn that is very long. The street used to be connected to Fulton Street in Manhattan using steam ferries of the inventor Robert Fulton.
You can find the Fulton Mall here as well, which is a pedestrian street where you can find more than 200 stores.
Also, you can see historic buildings here, such as The Offerman Building, which is a building in the Romanesque Revival style that dates back to the year 1893.
Because of all of the things that you can see in the street, going for a walk here is a great experience!
See the Christmas Lights of Dyker Heights
Dyker Heights is a neighborhood that is a very special place to visit during the Christmas season. That’s because of the neighborhood’s amazing Christmas lighting displays.
All throughout the neighborhood, you can find houses with amazing over-the-top Christmas decorations during this part of the year.
For example, you can see a lot of colorful lights when you go here, there are large Santa decorations and there are many places where you can listen to Christmas carols.
What’s great is that because these decorations are on normal houses, you can see them for free making this one of the best free things to do in Brooklyn during the Christmas season.
Explore Brooklyn Flea
Brooklyn Flea is the largest flea market in the borough and the market is one of the best attractions in New York City. The market can be great to explore when you are in the city because there’s so much to see.
At the Brooklyn Flea, you can see hundreds of vendors that sell many different types of items. For example, you can go here for jewelry, arts, crafts, and much more.
It is an outdoor market that takes place at the Dumbo Archway at 80 Pearl Street.
Address: 80 Pearl St, Brooklyn, NY 11201
Go to a Free Event at the Brooklyn Public Library
The Brooklyn Public Library is the library system of the borough and it has several branches throughout Brooklyn.
The library is great to visit if you love books, but there’s so much more that you can go here for.
Many free events take place at the library.
For example, you can go to the library for interesting workshops through which you can acquire new skills.
Also, you can go to free book discussions at the library, which can be interesting as well.
Furthermore, there are both events for adults as well as for children, so there is a great free event to attend for everyone!
Go to the Open Air Fair
The Open Air Fair is a market that takes place in the Greenpoint neighborhood.
A lot of things take place at the market.
For example, you can often go here and listen to live music for free.
Furthermore, you can find a lot of vendors here that sell a large variety of items. It can be a lot of fun to go here for a stroll while checking out the offerings of the vendors.
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Brooklyn Free Things To Do Tips
There are a lot of fun activities in this Brooklyn free things to do guide and I’m sure you are going to have a great time doing them.
However, you can often make your time much better by combining these activities with getting food or drink somewhere. This doesn’t have to be expensive, but it can make your experience much better! For example, you can go to a bakery and get a delicious treat without spending a lot.
Free Things To Do in Brooklyn Map
As you see, there are plenty of free things to do in Brooklyn. I hope you found some activities you like!