These New York City museums, memorials and art-filled attractions are either always free, free on specific days of the week or free for select hours. Find ones that interest 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. Many spots have a pay-what-you-wish policy, though with a suggested admission price; in any case, donations are always encouraged. As well, some museums require advance reservations even for free admission—best to check the website of your intended destination before your visit.
BRIC House. Photo: Liz Ligon
Always Free
African Burial Ground Memorial Site
American Folk Art Museum
Bernard Museum of Judaica (Temple Emanu-El)
BRIC House
The Bronx Museum of the Arts
Castle Clinton National Monument
Center for Architecture
Center for Brooklyn History
Climate Museum
Drawing Center
Federal Hall National Memorial
Fort Wadsworth
General Grant National Memorial
Hamilton Grange
The Harbor Defense Museum
High Line
Hispanic Society of America Museum & Library
Institute for the Study of the Ancient World
Kehila Kedosha Janina Synagogue and Museum (open Sun 11am to 4pm)
Lenfest Center for the Arts & Wallach Art Gallery
Little Island
MoMA PS1 (free for NYC residents; suggested admission otherwise, effectively “pay what you wish”)
Museum of Chinese in America
Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology
Museum of Reclaimed Urban Space (suggested donation)
National Museum of the American Indian
New York Public Library, Stephen A. Schwarzman Building
New York Public Library for the Performing Arts
New York Public Library – Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture
New York Transit Museum Annex & Store, Grand Central Terminal
Nicholas Roerich Museum
Queens County Farm Museum (except during special events)
Rose Museum at Carnegie Hall
Salmagundi Club (public galleries)
SculptureCenter
Sheila C. Johnson Design Center (Parsons School of Design)
The Skyscraper Museum
Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden (grounds and botanical garden only)
Socrates Sculpture Park
South Street Seaport Museum
Swiss Institute of Contemporary Art
Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace
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 or if you are visiting with an organized group. Consult the websites or call ahead if you hope to see a specific exhibition or are making arrangements for a group visit. Note too that certain institutions require advance ticket reservations even for the free admission dates.
Museum at Eldridge Street. Photo: Julienne Schaer
Mondays
9/11 Museum (5:30 to 7pm; also, free all day to NYC residents every first Monday of the month beginning June 2024)
Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum (pay what you wish, 5 to 6pm)
Museum at Eldridge Street Synagogue (pay what you wish)
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum (pay what you wish, 4 to 5:30pm)
The Morgan Library & Museum. Photo: Graham Haber
Tuesdays
Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum (pay what you wish, 5 to 6pm)
The Morgan Library and Museum (J. Pierpont Morgan’s Library only, 3 to 5pm)
Bronx Zoo. Photo: Julienne Schaer
Wednesdays
Bronx Zoo (park entry only; does not include admission to special exhibitions like the Butterfly Garden, Congo Gorilla Forest and JungleWorld)
Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum (pay what you wish, 5 to 6pm)
New York Aquarium (3pm to close)
New York Botanical Garden (free grounds access 10 to 11am; free grounds access all day to NYC residents; does not include entry to the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, special exhibitions or Tram Tour)
Queens Botanical Garden (April to mid-December, 3 to 6pm)
Staten Island Zoo (2pm to close)
Van Cortlandt House Museum (all day)
Brooklyn Children's Museum. Photo: Julienne Schaer
Thursdays
Brooklyn Children's Museum (2 to 5pm)
China Institute and Gallery (5 to 8pm)
Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum (pay what you wish, 5 to 6pm)
Museum of Jewish Heritage (4 to 8pm)
Museum of the Moving Image (2 to 6pm)
Wave Hill (all day)
Third Thursday of the Month
International Center of Photography (6 to 9pm; free)
Courtesy, Museum of Modern Art
Fridays
China Institute (5 to 8pm)
Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum (pay what you wish, 5 to 6pm)
The Morgan Library and Museum (5 to 7pm)
Museum at Eldridge Street Synagogue (pay what you wish)
New York Hall of Science (2 to 5pm)
The New-York Historical Society (pay what you wish, 6 to 8pm)
Poster House (all day)
Rubin Museum of Art (6 to 10pm)
Whitney Museum of American Art (5 to 10pm)
First Friday of the Month
Japan Society (7 to 9pm)
Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) (NYC residents only, 4 to 8pm)
Neue Galerie (5 to 8pm)
The Noguchi Museum (all day)
The Jewish Museum. Photo: Alex Lopez
Saturdays
Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum (pay what you wish, 5 to 6pm)
Governors Island (the island is always free, but the ferry from Battery Maritime Building is also free Saturdays before noon)
The Jewish Museum
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum (pay what you wish, 4 to 5:30pm)
First Saturday of the Month
Brooklyn Museum (5 to 11pm; does not apply to January, September, November or December)
Governors Island. Photo: Julienne Schaer
Sundays
Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum (pay what you wish, 5 to 6pm)
Governors Island (island is always free, but ferry from Battery Maritime Building is also free Sun before noon)
Kehila Kedosha Janina Synagogue and Museum (11am to 4pm)
The Morgan Library and Museum (J. Pierpont Morgan’s Library only, 3 to 5pm)
Queens Botanical Garden (April to mid-December, 9 to 11am)
Second Sunday of the Month
Whitney Museum of American Art (all day)
Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Photo: Tagger Yancey IV
Seasonal
Brooklyn Botanic Garden (pay what you wish, December to February, Tuesday to Friday)
Queens Botanical Garden (November to March, Tuesday to Sunday)
