5 Fun Brooklyn Freebies You Won't Want to Miss

With 30 miles of shoreline, heading to the beach is a natural, but you’ll find many fun and free things to do in Brooklyn, arguably New York City'a most famous borough.

Head for the Bridge

The Brooklyn Bridge is more than just the city’s most famous landmark, it leads to a park that’s an ideal place to find free things to do in Brooklyn. Try your hand at bocce ball, a classic European pastime, at Brooklyn Bridge Park, Pier 2. You might even get a few pointers from an experienced local. Wiggle your toes in the sand at the Pier 4 Beach, stroll the greenway that runs through the park or take a free Saturday paddle at the boathouse. And, of course, walk across the bridge to Manhattan for the fabulous skyline views.

Swim or Sled

Beat the summer heat with a dip in Sunset Park’s outdoor pool or one of 14 other free swimming pools in the borough. When snow falls and swimming is the last thing on your mind, head to Prospect Park or Fort Greene Park to make snow angels, go sledding with sleds provided by the city’s Parks Department, or simply sip hot chocolate on snow days.

Stop and Smell the Flowers or Feed the Chickens

More than a dozen gardens sharing five acres overlook the New York harbor at Narrows Botanical Gardens. Breathe in the fragrance of roses in two gardens featuring old world and modern roses. Linger in the Zen Garden or gaze into the waters of the lily pond. Wander a willow grove or check out local flora at the native plant sanctuary. Plant life isn’t the garden’s only inhabitant—visit the turtle sanctuary, koi pond, chicken coop and beehives.

Get in the Groove

Spend a Friday or Saturday night at a free live performance at the Brooklyn Academy of Music with three locations in the borough. Listen to musical artists from the local area and beyond, or let opera and theatrical performances whisk you away to another time and place. BAMCafe Live happens beneath dramatic red-lighted archways at the academy’s Lepercq Space in the Peter Jay Sharp Building.

Pay Your Respects

Stroll through Green-Wood Cemetery to visit one of the oldest cemeteries in the nation. Visit the graves of Leonard Bernstein, Horace Greely and other notables, or just stroll the lush 478 acres. Download Green-Wood Cemetery’s free app for iOS or Android to make the most of your visit. You’ll get the lowdown on the park's beautiful arches, memorials, monuments and interesting inscriptions. You can even search the online database to find any of your ancestors lying at rest on-site.

Look at the Birdie

Grab your binoculars and head to Prospect Park to catch a glimpse of some of the 250 species of birds that call it home. Birding prospects peak in spring as birds return from winter homes as far away as South America. On weekends, head to the Audubon Center in the park’s boathouse to pick up a Discovery Pack for the kids. They’ll get their own binoculars, magnifying glass, nature games and a journal to record their findings.

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