Recently, offMetro and The Skint created a list of some of the best free and cheap things to do in Brooklyn. This month, we rode the rails to Queens, seeking Greek food, free fitness classes, and any other affordable fun we could find.
From a mecca for street artists to museums and outdoor sculpture gardens, here are oM’s five favorite free things to do in Queens.
5Pointz | Free
Where: Long Island City
When: Daily
Why: The 200,000-square-foot factory building is known as one of the premier centers of the world’s graffiti scene, but visitors can expect to find musicians, break dancers, filmmakers and all other types of artists within its walls.
How to get there: Take the 7 to 45 Rd – Court House Square and walk north on 23rd Street.
Queens Botanical Garden | Free
Where: Flushing
When: Free on Wednesdays, 3-6pm and Sundays, 4-6pm
Why: You’ve likely never met a greener garden. Set on 39 acres, QBG has grown from an exhibit at the 1939 New York World’s Fair to a premier cultural institution that’s helping further the fight for a more sustainable future for NYC. This urban sanctuary has a stunning new LEED Platinum visitors center, peaceful, flower-lined trails, and various education programs—from composting and tree care workshops to a popular farmers market—making the Queens Botanical Garden a great idea for a quick romantic getaway within the city.
How to get there: No. 7 subway or Long Island Rail Road (Port Washington line) to Main Street/Flushing. Q44 or Q20 bus, or walk 8 blocks south to QBG.
Museum of the Moving Image | Free
Where: Astoria
When: Fridays, free admission, 4pm-8pm
Why: From optical toys to digital art, Museum of the Moving Image appeals to artists and TV lovers alike. Check the site for frequently updated events and exhibits like the New York City Greek Film Festival and Jim Henson’s Fantastic World.
How to get there: Take the R train to Steinway Street. Walk south on Steinway Street and take a right on 35th Avenue.
Socrates Sculpture Park | Free
Where: Long Island City
When: Whenever
Why: The story of this park has all the elements of a New York City success story. Up until 1986, the site was an illegal dumping ground and riverside landfill when a group of artists and local community members decided to transform it into an outdoor exhibition space and garden. This verdant gem of NYC also hosts a free craft bazaar, movie night, theatrical performances, farmers markets, and much more.
How to get there: Monday through Friday take the N or W train to the Broadway stop in Queens and walk eight blocks west on Broadway (toward the East River) to the intersection of Vernon Boulevard. On Saturday and Sunday, take the N train to the Broadway stop.
Queens Museum of Art | Free
Where: Flushing Meadows Corona Park
When: Wednesday – Sunday: 12-6pm, free museum tours on Sundays 2pm, 3pm, 4pm. (Admission is by suggested donation)
Why: QMA is home to the world’s largest architectural scale model, and through January 15, the Wonderstruck in the Panorama: Drawings by Brian Selznick will be on view to give a spectacular behind the scenes look at how the museum’s main attraction was designed and constructed. Join the “Dreamers Unite!” art event and outdoor dance party on October 1 at the Unisphere Fountain.
How to get there: Take the #7 train to Mets-Willets Point and follow the signs to Flushing Meadows Corona Park through the exit ramp of the station into the park. There will be Queens Museum directing you on a fifteen-minute walk through the park to the museum, which is located next to the Unisphere, the giant steel globe. The entrance is on the side facing the parking lot.
Photo: Peter Aaron/Esto
Sarah Knapp is a Brooklyn based entrepreneur whose love for the outdoors and community building led her to the October 2013 creation of OutdoorFest. She has a BA in History, is a Wilderness First Responder and a NY state hiking, camp and boating guide. Her proudest achievement to date is reading the Aeneid in Latin. 
Allison was one of our first top writers and Chief Editor but is no longer working with offMetro. Allison is a native New Yorker, who has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne, Toronto and Los Angeles. She frequently contributed travel pieces to Family Travel Forum, using her own children as guinea pigs as they travel the globe. She never missed a chance to sample local delicacies, as her love for travel goes hand-in-hand with her love for food and wine. 
Josh Laskin is a freelance travel writer and photographer based in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. When he is not at work or on the road, you can find him in the mountains snowboarding, climbing, hiking, fly fishing, mountain biking, and eating bagel bites.
Annie is a travel writer, environmentalist, and surfer based in Venice, CA. She heads up our West Coast team, keeps our grammatical errors in check, and makes sure our California writers always have a plan for their next adventure. Follow Annie’s travels @annelisemcb.
Carly Pifer is a freelance writer who has been known to follow whims inspired by romantic movie scenes or colorful street style shots to India, Japan, Tunisia and Argentina. After stints living in Seoul, Boston, Paris and Los Angeles, writing and searching for something intangible, she landed somewhat steadily in Brooklyn and has begun to find inspiration in her more immediate surroundings. 
Kate E. O’Hara is a New York based freelance writer and photographer who loves all things food—especially the people who make it and market it. Her writing aims to capture the essence of the food experience; the stories that go well beyond a plate of ingredients. In addition to her love of food, Kate is also known to have a hankering for red wine and craft beer. You can also find Kate on Instagram