Free Things to Do for a Tourist in New York City: Attending TV Show Tapings

With a variety of tourist activities you can do when visiting New York City, deciding which ones to include in your itinerary can become quite a challenge. Narrowing down options in reference to your interests and available budget can help in making the best choices. If you want to attend TV program tapings for free, there are a number of these shows shot in the city everyday. Each production has its own rules when giving out free tickets or opening their gates to the public even without tickets.

There are those that require people to stand in line during the day of the taping. Others make it possible for people to get tickets in advance. It is always best to confirm updated information with the production ahead of time. This list provides some of the most accessible and popular shows that you can check out.

"The Today Show"

The NBC morning news and lifestyle program "The Today Show" is open to a live studio audience without ticket requirements. People gather outside the plaza within its taping location at the ground floor of the 49th Street and Rockefeller Center. This show regularly airs Monday to Friday, from 7:00 to 11:00 a.m.

"The Early Show"

CBS' morning program "The Early Show" airs live from 7:00 to 9:00 a.m., Mondays through Saturdays, at the Trump International Plaza's General Motors Building. This is located along the 59th Street and Fifth Avenue. This outdoor-set TV show does not require tickets to be part of the studio audience.

"Good Morning America"

Shot in Times Square along 44th Street and Broadway, the ABC morning news and lifestyle program "Good Morning America" is open to the public for its weekday shows slated from 7:00 to 9:00 a.m. Admission requires reserving tickets, which should be requested online. The dedicated contact number 212-580-5176 must be used for large-group ticket acquisition.

"The Rachael Ray Show"

The syndicated program "The Rachael Ray Show" is taped every Tuesdays through Thursdays at noon and at 4:00 p.m. Ticket requests are done via the show's website. It is also possible to get standby tickets by arriving at 10:15 a.m. for a noon taping or 2:15 p.m. for a 4:00 p.m. taping. A business casual attire and a photo ID are required for the studio audience. Each person may only attend one taping per season.

"The Martha Stewart Show"

Tickets for the long-running syndicated program "The Martha Stewart Show" are best reserved at least one month in advance via its official website. When planning to attend this lifestyle show as part of the studio audience, it is best to check the website first as there are some episodes that are considered "special audience" events that only accommodate a specific group of people (like sisters, teachers, or artists). A one-hour taping is usually scheduled from Mondays through Wednesdays, one at 10:00 a.m. and another at 2:00 p.m.