Affiliate Disclosure: This article contains links to some of the spots I recommend. If you purchase through these links, I receive a commission at no cost to you.

I love the Bronx. It’s easily New York’s most underrated borough, and it has more excitement and things to do than most U.S. cities.

So whether you live in NYC and are thinking, “You know what, damn, I’ve never made it up to the Bronx’s Little Italy, the Bronx Zoo, or the Botanical Garden,” or whether you’re visiting the city and looking for something off the beaten path, I’ve got you covered.

Since NYC is a transit city, let’s talk about how to do these car-free. Yes, they’ll often be slower than hailing a rideshare, but it’s NYC, so getting there by bike, bus, and train is part of the adventure. I’ve lived in the Bronx for only two years, but I’ve been able to explore the borough a lot, often on my bike.

And if you’re looking for free things to do in the Bronx, then a lot of these are free or low-budget. Van Cortlandt Park, Pelham Bay Park, and most of the neighborhood walks below cost you nothing but a transit swipe. These are all daytime activities too.

Let’s Start With The Obvious Ones

The Bronx is known regionwide for a few things. Almost every child growing up in Westchester County went to the Bronx Zoo as a kid, and people travel from all over the region for these.

1) Arthur Avenue: The Real Little Italy

It’s so much better than Little Italy in Manhattan. Little Italy in Manhattan is now a tourist trap that happens to have decent Italian food. The Bronx Little Italy is where ethnic Italians still sit outside and drink espresso, where local markets have ingredients imported from Italy, and where the actual best Italian restaurants in the city are.

In addition to great Italian food, it’s a great place to sit outside and get an afternoon espresso, and a nice area to walk around. If you do any Bronx walking tours, make sure they hit Arthur Avenue.

You have transit options to get here. The Fordham Metro North stop is a bit of a walk, but you’ll get to see more of the Bronx that way. Same with the 4 and B/D trains. the B and D stop at Fordham Road, and from there it’s a short walk down to Arthur Avenue.

There are also Citi Bike docks right there. Biking in the Bronx can mean putting your life into the hands of city drivers, but if you’re used to urban biking, you’ll be fine.

2) The Bronx Zoo

This is probably the most famous tourist attraction in the Bronx.

It’s a world-class zoo and the best in the region. I don’t have much to add to this conversation about it. If you go in the fall, definitely take the Asia Monorail.

To get here by subway, take the 2 or 5 train to West Farms Square/East Tremont Avenue. From there it’s about a 5-10 minute walk to the Southern Boulevard entrance.

My Twist: Combine It With a Bike Ride Through Starlight Park

Starlight Park is one of the most remarkable stories in the Bronx. It’s a relatively new park, made possible through decades of activism to clean up the Bronx River.

Now, it’s a beautiful park to walk, run, bike, and explore. So here’s my recommendation: take the 6 train to Hunts Point. Get a coffee at Boogie Down Grind. Take Citi Bikes from there through Starlight Park and dock near the Zoo.

I wrote a whole article about Starlight Park, so you can get more details there.

3) The New York Botanical Garden

The Botanical Garden is another gem. It’s close to the Zoo, which means you can pair them, but I’d argue each deserves its own visit.

The garden itself is 250 acres of forests, wetlands, and formal gardens.

You can go at any time of year, but the springtime Orchid Show and the early winter Holiday Train Show are the two famous events.

To get here, the B or D train to Bedford Park Boulevard is your best subway bet, then about a 10-minute walk east to the main gate. Metro North’s Harlem line also stops right at the garden, which is a nice option if you’re coming from Grand Central.

The Deep Cuts

All right, now let’s go into ones that may be less well-known.

4) Pelham Bay Park + City Island

Is City Island a deep cut? Not for New Yorkers, but for people who don’t live here, I don’t think most people know about it.

City Island is a small island connected to the Northeast Bronx that literally feels like a small suburban fishing village. If anything, it reminds me of Maine. But yes, it’s part of the Bronx.

It’s where you can get famous and incredible seafood.

The only way to get to City Island is to go through Pelham Bay Park, the biggest park in the city, which is why I recommend pairing these together. It has trails, a lagoon, a beach at Orchard Beach, and enough space that you can walk for hours without backtracking. If you want some nature, there’s a nice loop of several miles through the park’s trails.

From there, you can catch a local bus or take a long walk to City Island.

To get there, you take the 6 train to the end at Pelham Bay Park. Then, if you want to go right to City Island, there’s a bus that’ll take you there.

Or you can take one of the other buses that’ll drop you off in different parts of the park. If you’re determined to get some mileage in, you can even start your “hike” right from the subway stop and walk through the park to City Island on foot.

5) Wave Hill Garden in Riverdale

When people say they live in Riverdale, there’s a one in three chance the person will respond with, “Oh, well that’s not the Bronx.” Technically, yes, Riverdale is the Bronx, but it’s an upscale, suburban-like neighborhood with big mansions like you’d see in Westchester County.

Nestled around some of these mansions is Wave Hill, a 28-acre public garden and cultural center perched on a ridge above the Hudson River.

It’s one of those places that makes you feel like you’ve accidentally wandered into a European estate.

There are about a dozen distinct gardens, woodland paths, and art galleries. No matter the season, the Pergola Overlook looking out over the Hudson is worth the trip on its own.

The Riverdale Metro North stop is the closest option. From the 1 train, it’s about a 30-minute walk. It’s long, yes, but it’s a nice way to see the neighborhood.

As of writing, Citi Bikes haven’t made it to Riverdale, but they are coming soon. That will make it much easier to get from the subway stop to the garden and other places in Riverdale.

6) Hike the John Muir Trail in Van Cortlandt Park, Then Get Irish Food in Woodlawn

Unlike Central Park, Van Cortlandt Park has not been manicured into submission. There are trees that are over 300 years old. The John Muir Trail is the park’s only east-west route, cutting about 1.5 miles through three ecologically distinct forests. You’ll pass through stands of red oak, sugar maple, and tulip trees, a frog-filled marsh, and the old Croton Aqueduct.

Pair with Irish Food in Woodlawn

You can start in Riverdale by taking the 1 train to 242nd Street and walk north on Broadway to the trailhead.

The trail ends in Woodlawn. From the trailhead, you’re only a few blocks to some famous Irish food spots and pubs.

I wrote a whole article on hiking in Van Cortlandt Park.

7) Lunch in Little Yemen

When the Yemeni Civil War began in 2014, it set off a humanitarian crisis that displaced millions. Yemeni families already in the U.S. brought relatives to safety, and many landed in the Bronx. Over time, the area became one of the most concentrated Yemeni communities in the country.

Today there are over 500 Yemeni-owned businesses in the area. You’ll find halal markets, hookah cafes, delis, and restaurants serving dishes you won’t easily find elsewhere in the city. White Plains Road, Bronxdale Avenue, and Morris Park Avenue are the streets to walk. You really can’t go wrong on any of them. The food is the draw, but the neighborhood itself is worth the visit.

Take the 5 train to Bronx Park East, which puts you right in the neighborhood.