Free NYC Museums

These New York City museums are either always free, free on specific days of the week or free for select hours. Find one near you, and take advantage of their generosity.

Note that this takes into account general admission only; certain events and special exhibitions may still require a fee.

 

BRIC house, exterior
BRIC House. Photo: Liz Ligon
 

Sometimes Free

The following museums typically require paid admission but open their doors for free on specific days or times—though again, some do charge for admission to specific events or sections. Be sure to consult their websites or call ahead if you hope to see a specific exhibition.   

 

Museum at Eldridge Street gives free tours on Mondays from 10am to noon, located in Manhattan
Museum at Eldridge Street. Photo: Julienne Schaer
 

 

Mondays

Museum at Eldridge Street (pay what you will, 10am to 5pm, tours) 

 

9/11 Memorial & Museum is free from 5pm to close on Tuesdays located in lower manhattan
9/11 Memorial & Museum. Photo: Marley White
 

 

Tuesdays

9/11 Memorial & Museum (5pm to close)
Morgan Library and Museum (McKim Rooms only, 3 to 5pm)
Wave Hill (9am to noon)

 

Bronx Zoo located in Fordham pay what you will for grounds access on Wednesdays
Bronx Zoo. Photo: Julienne Schaer
 

 

Wednesdays

Bronx Zoo (pay what you will for grounds access; does not include admission to special exhibitions like the Butterfly Garden, Congo Gorilla Forest and JungleWorld)
Frick Collection  (pay what you wish, 2 to 6pm)
Museum of Jewish Heritage (4 to 8pm)
New York Aquarium (pay what you will, 3pm to close; 4pm to close in summer)
New York Botanical Garden (free grounds access; does not include entry to the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, special exhibitions like the Orchid Show and Holiday Train Show, Everett Children’s Adventure Garden, Rock and Native Plant Gardens or Tram Tour)
Queens Botanical Garden (April to October, 3 to 6pm; all day rest of year)
Van Cortlandt House Museum
Staten Island Zoo (2 to 4:45pm)

 

Brooklyn Children musuem
Brooklyn Children’s Museum. Photo: Julienne Schaer
 

 

Thursdays

Brooklyn Children’s Museum (2 to 6pm)
Museum of Arts and Design (pay what you will, 6 to 9pm)
New Museum (pay what you will, 7 to 9pm) 

First Thursday of the Month
Museum of Chinese in America

 

MoMA
Courtesy, The Museum of Modern Art
 

 

Fridays

Asia Society (September to June, 6 to 9pm)
Brooklyn Botanic Garden (March to November, before noon)
Historic Richmond Town (1 to 5pm)
Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum (April to October, 5 to 9pm)
Japan Society (6 to 9pm)
Morgan Library and Museum (7 to 9pm)
Museum of Modern Art (4 to 8pm)
Museum of the Moving Image (4 to 8pm)
New York Hall of Science (2 to 5pm)
The New-York Historical Society (pay what you will, 6 to 8pm)
Rubin Museum of Art (6 to 10pm)

First Friday of the Month
Children’s Museum of Manhattan (5 to 8pm) 
Frick Collection (6 to 9pm, except September and January)
Neue Galerie (6 to 9pm)
The Noguchi Museum

 

jewish museum, exterior
The Jewish Museum. Photo: Alex Lopez
 

 

Saturdays

The Jewish Museum
New York Botanical Garden (free grounds pass, 9 to 10am)
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum (pay what you will, 5 to 8pm)
Wave Hill (9am to noon)

First Saturday of the Month
Brooklyn Museum (5 to 11pm)

 

morgan library and museum
The Morgan Library and Museum. Photo: Graham Haber
 

 

Sundays

Brooklyn Children’s Museum (4 to 7pm)
The Morgan Library and Museum (McKim Rooms only, 4 to 6pm)
New York Hall of Science (10 to 11am)
Queens Botanical Garden (April to October, 9 to 11am)

 

Brooklyn Botanical Garden is free on weekdays from November through February.
Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Photo: Tagger Yancey IV
 

Seasonal

Brooklyn Botanic Garden (December to February, Tuesday to Friday)
Queens Botanical Garden (November to March, Tuesday to Sunday)

Source: NYCgo.com Staff, NYCgo