If you want to have fun without spending a dime, the free things to do in Greenwich Village are incredible.
This beautiful neighborhood in Manhattan is packed with fun activities that are completely free. From visiting beautiful parks to seeing interesting sights to going to a fun festival, there’s something for everyone’s liking!
So if you’re traveling on a budget in New York City, you definitely shouldn’t miss out on Greenwich Village. I made this Greenwich Village free things to do guide to help you find the most fun activities in the neighborhood if you don’t want to spend anything!
Free Things To Do in Greenwich Village
Go to Little Island
You can go to Little Island. This is a beautiful public park that you can find in Hudson River Park.
Little Island is an artificial island that is located at Pier 55 and that is located inside the Hudson River.
The island was opened in the year 2021 and stands on concrete structures that vary in height. Because of this, the island has a somewhat hilly landscape.
The island is a great place to hang out or go for a stroll if you want to relax for free in Greenwich Village.
Besides that, there are often events at Little Island that you could attend!
Go for a Stroll at Jackson Square
Jackson Square Park is one of the oldest parks in New York City and Greenwich Village.
Checking out the park for a relaxing stroll can be a great free activity.
The park was opened in the year 1888, but the history of the park goes back much further.
The park has a lot of benches, there is a fountain, and the park boasts a lot of trees, which makes it a great place to relax.
Address: 8 Ave &, Greenwich Ave, New York, NY 10014
Do a Self-Guided Tour of Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village has a lot of great spots that you can be great to explore.
From the neighborhood’s theaters to its waterfront views to its historic buildings, there’s a lot of beauty that can be great to see.
You could join a guided tour of the city, but you can also do a self-guided tour of Greenwich Village NYC.
This is a type of tour that you can do without a guide. Instead of that, you use your phone and download a route from the internet. This route guides you to all kinds of great places in the neighborhood and gives information. This can be a lot of fun to do, especially when you do it with some friends, and it’s perfect if you’re looking for free things to do in Greenwich Village!
See the Washington Square Arch
The Washington Square Arch is a memorial arch that can be found at Washington Square Park in Greenwich Village.
The arch’s history dates back to the year 1891 and it is made to commemorate the inauguration of George Washington as the President of the United States.
The arch consists of marble and has a height of 74 feet and a width of 57 feet, and it is an impressive monument to see.
Moreover, the arch has a sculpture of George Washington on it and various other sculptures. Furthermore, the arch depicts many figures and has text on it.
Visit Hudson River Park
Hudson River Park is a large waterfront park that you can find on the Hudson River. The park has a length of 4.5 miles and can be found from 59th Street to Battery Park.
The park is great if you want to relax with a blanket and this makes for a perfect free activity in Greenwich Village. Also, it is a great spot in the city to go for a walk or a relaxing bicycle ride, as there are bicycle and pedestrian paths in the park.
Furthermore, Hudson River Park contains tennis fields, batting cages, and other types of facilities for recreational outdoor activities.
Moreover, the park is great for its views of the Hudson River!
Go for a Stroll at Washington Mews
Washington Mews is another great place to check out when you are in Greenwich Village.
This is a private gated street that you can find close to Washington Square Park.
You can find a lot of historic buildings at Washington Mews. For example, there are several buildings that were built around 1850.
When you are in Greenwich Village, it can be a lot of fun to go for a stroll and check out Washington Mews. Especially when you are checking out the beautiful sites at Washington Square Park as well.
Attend the Washington Square Music Festival
Lots of events take place in Greenwich Village, and some of them are free. One of the best free events in Greenwich Village is the Washington Square Music Festival.
This is a festival during which you can listen to music during free concerts in Washington Square Park.
This is an annually recurring festival, and the concerts have been taking place since 1953.
Amazing musicians perform at the festival and the genres of music that you can listen to are very diverse. For example, you can sometimes enjoy classical music, jazz, and other genres.
The concerts take place on the Main Stage in Garibaldi Plaza, but in case of bad weather, the concerts might take place at an alternative location that is more suitable.
Go to Washington Square Park
Washington Square Park, where you can also find the Washington Square Arch and the Washington Square Music Festival that I talked about above, is a beautiful park that you can find in Greenwich Village.
It is one of the most famous public parks in NYC and has a lot of beautiful trees and flowers.
Furthermore, there is a large fountain in the park and there are lots of benches and tables, and there are statues at the park as well. Moreover, the park has special tables with chess boards in them and you can also play chess with other people at this place.
The park’s history dates back to the beginning of the 19th century, but before that, the land was used for other purposes.
Nowadays, the park is perfect if you want to relax, and doing so is one of the best free things to do in Greenwich Village!
Explore Greenwich Street
Greenwich Street is a wonderful street that you can find in the neighborhood.
The street extends from Gansevoort Street to Ninth Avenue and is a north-south street.
Greenwich Street is a very old street that dates back to the 18th century and it contains many historic buildings. It is a great street for a relaxing stroll.
In addition to that, the street is also great because of its many restaurants.
Take Photos at Beautiful Spots in Greenwich Village
Here’s a great free activity that can be a lot of fun to do in Greenwich Village.
For this activity, you only need a phone or a camera!
The neighborhood of Greenwich Village is home to lots of beautiful spots. From incredible public parks to interesting squares to historic buildings to viewpoints, it is a charming area in New York City.
It can be a lot of fun to go for a long walk in the neighborhood and look for the most beautiful spots, you can then take photos at those places!
Also, you might discover great street art when you are walking in the neighborhood.
Going for a walk in the city and taking photos is a great way to discover the neighborhood in a much more in-depth way in contrast to when you were just walking in the area to get to your destination. Also, in the end, you’ll end up with great photos that you can look back at!
Go to Abingdon Square
Abingdon Square is a beautiful area and going there is a great free thing to do in Greenwich Village. This is one of the oldest squares in New York City and dates back to the year 1831.
The square is very historic and it also contains a sculptor which dates back to 1921.
Moreover, events take place at the square. For example, in spring it is possible to see beautiful tulips and there are also light displays in winter.
The square is great for a relaxing stroll!
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Greenwich Village Free Things To Do Tips
Here’s a tip for when you are planning on going to any of the parks that I listed in this article of Greenwich Village free things to do: Bring a blanket with you.
Relaxing in the parks is a great way to have a great time completely for free, and a blanket will make your time much better!
Free Things To Do in Greenwich Village Map
This was my guide to the free things to do in Greenwich Village. I hope I helped you decide what to do!