How to Access Free Internet in New York?

1/ Internet at Your Hotel

• All hotels in New York now offer WiFi access. Simply ask for the password at the front desk when you arrive. In most cases, you don’t even need to ask—the password is printed directly on the cardboard sleeve that holds your room key card.
• Keep in mind that at some hotels, free WiFi is available only in common areas and may cost extra in rooms. If that’s the case, just head to the lobby or restaurant to browse without paying anything.

2/ Internet in the Subway

• Since 2017, all New York subway stations offer free WiFi to passengers. Note that this is WiFi in the stations themselves, not on the trains. Still, it’s very handy for browsing while you wait, checking your next direction, or sending a quick message on the New York Forum or the Destination New York Facebook group.
• To use the subway WiFi, connect to the network SSID TRANSITWIRELESSWiFi. Then open your browser and follow the sign-up steps.

3/ Internet in Parks

• All public parks in New York have internet access. Simply find a hot spot, connect to the park’s network, and open your browser.
• Several parks offer completely free access. You’ll find 3 free hot spots in the south end of Central Park: on the Sheep Meadow lawn, around the Central Park Zoo, and around Rumsey Playfield. At the southern tip of Manhattan, you can connect free of charge in Battery Park, which has 2 hot spots. In the East Village, head to Tompkins Square Park. The High Line, the elevated park with planted gardens, also offers internet access. Note that Bryant Park provides limited free access.
• In Brooklyn, you can also enjoy free WiFi while taking in the skyline view from the Brooklyn Heights Promenade.

4/ Internet at Landmarks, Attractions and Museums

• Many landmarks and attractions in New York offer free internet access. No WiFi code needed—just connect to the open network from your phone.
• Places with WiFi include the observation deck at Top of the Rock, the Empire State Building, and One World Observatory. These observatories are happy to have you share photos on social media. 😉
• WiFi is also available in all New York museums, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, the American Museum of Natural History, and the Guggenheim Museum. Simply connect to the open network.
• New York’s libraries also offer free internet access. Visit the prestigious New York Public Library, the city’s main library, located on Bryant Park at the corner of 42nd Street and Fifth Avenue.

5/ Internet in Restaurants and Shops

• Many restaurants and bars in New York offer WiFi to customers. Sometimes you just find the restaurant or bar’s network and connect. Sometimes you need to ask for the password.
• Another way to find free WiFi is while shopping in New York. Several stores have free WiFi, starting with Apple Stores. You’ll also find free WiFi in some Whole Foods supermarkets and major department stores like Macy’s and Bloomingdales.

6/ What If There’s No Free WiFi Nearby?

• Before you travel to New York, check whether your phone plan includes data abroad at no extra cost. Many carriers offer a mobile data allowance that works internationally without exceeding your plan.
• Another option is to buy a USA SIM card. These prepaid cards let you browse the internet in the US at a reasonable price. This fills the gaps when free WiFi isn’t available.