Free Museums in NYC

New York City has some of the best museums in the country, and something that not a lot of people know is that many of them are free, either all the time or on certain days! The great thing about visiting museums in NYC is that you can do it year-round & in any weather. This guide includes museums in Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn, & even one in Queens! It includes some of the classics (hello, The Met!) and some you may have never heard of.

American Folk Art Museum

It is always free. This museum focuses on artists who have become artists through personal experience, not through formal teaching.

The Bronx Museum of the Arts

Always free. This museum is internationally recognized for its presentation of contemporary art exhibitions and education.

Bronx Zoo

General admission is always free on Wednesdays. This zoo is one of the largest in the United States.

Brooklyn Botanic Garden

Always free 8 am-noon on Fridays from March to November 3rd. This 52-acre garden holds over 14,000 different species of plants. It's a great way to get "out" of the city for a day.

Brooklyn Children's Museum

Pay as you wish on Thursday afternoons from 2 pm - 6 pm and Sundays from 4 pm to 7 pm. This was the first children's museum in the United States.

New York Aquarium

Pay as you wish on Wednesday afternoons from 3 pm to 5 pm from Memorial Day to Labor Day, and 3 pm to 3:30 pm the rest of the year. This is the oldest aquarium in the United States.

New York Botanical Garden

Located in Queens. Free grounds admissions on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 10 am to 11 am. This garden is located on a 250-acre site with over 1 million plant species. 

New York Hall Of Science

Free admission on Fridays from 2 pm to 5 pm and Sundays from 10 am to 11 am. Spend the day rethinking & reinventing the way you see things through science. This museum is pretty hands-on and great for kids! 

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Always pay as you wish. This museum is probably the number 1 must-do museum when visiting NYC.

American Museum of Natural History

Suggested admission. Special exhibits & experiences cost extra. This museum is great for kids & adults. 

MoMA PS1

Always free. This is one of the largest institutions in the United States solely dedicated to modern art. 

Museum of the City of New York

Always free. If you want to learn about New York from a museum, this is a great place to go. You'll find historical artifacts & art that reflect the history of the city.