In New York City, you can easily spend several hundred dollars on cultural entertainment, and even a family museum visit can add up to a hefty sum. But the city wouldn’t be so special if it didn’t offer plenty of free or pay-what-you-want museums.
Below are ratings of museums, where you don’t have to pay for admission, museums with free days, and partially free museums, where a fee is recommended at the entrance, but it’s not mandatory.
Always free museums in New York
American Folk Art Museum
the only museum in New York City dedicated to folk art.
Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace, New York
Theodore Roosevelt Jr. — the 26th President and 25th Vice President of the United…
Tour of Alexander Hamilton’s House (Hamilton Grange)
If you ask Americans to name someone who embodied the American Dream, many will…
Center for Architecture in New York
The Center for Architecture in New York City is a unique cultural space dedicated…
Art at Americas Society in New York
Art at Americas Society in New York City is a compact yet conceptually powerful…
Museum of Street Art (MoSA) in New York
The Museum of Street Art (MoSA) is a collection of graffiti art from 20…
Socrates Sculpture Park in New York
New York City boasts numerous museums, but few know about a place where art…
Herbert & Eileen Bernard Museum of Judaica in New York
The Herbert & Eileen Bernard Museum of Judaica in New York is a cultural…
Salmagundi Club in New York
Founded in 1871, the Salmagundi Club in New York originally served as a meeting…
National Museum of the American Indian in New York
The National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) in New York tells the story…
General Grant National Memorial in New York
The General Grant National Memorial is the largest mausoleum in North America. The memorial…
The Africa Center in New York City
The Africa Center in New York City is a space dedicated to celebrating African…
The Drawing Center in New York
The Drawing Center in New York is a space dedicated exclusively to the art…
The Skyscraper Museum in New York City
If you still find yourself looking up at every skyscraper while walking through the…
The Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology (Museum at FIT)
Founded in 1969 as the Design Laboratory, the Museum at FIT holds more than…
The Earth Room, New York
New York City is full of unusual places, but one of the most paradoxical…
“The Broken Kilometer” — a must-see in New York
There’s an absolute must-see spot in New York for art lovers that, strangely, not…
Mmuseumm: The Most Unusual Museum in New York
Mmuseumm is an ultra-trendy spot with a tiny yet fascinating collection of art objects.…
The “Hum” Installation in Times Square, New York
Can artificial noise in a square that’s already one of the noisiest in the…
Center for Jewish History in New York
The Center for Jewish History in New York is one of the leading research…
Museums that are free on certain days and hours
Monday:
National September 11 Memorial & Museum
National September 11 Memorial & Museum opened in 2011. Visiting it is one of…
Eldridge Street Synagogue
The Eldridge Street Synagogue in New York City is the first synagogue in America…
Wednesday:
Museum of the City of New York (MCNY)
Located in the heart of Manhattan, the Museum of the City of New York…
Thursday:
Museum of the Moving Image in New York
The Museum of the Moving Image is a true paradise for cinephiles. Its exhibitions…
Friday:
Whitney Museum of American Art
Founded in 1931 by sculptor and art collector Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, the Whitney Museum…
Japan Society – Japanese Cultural Center in New York City
The Japan Society in New York City is a serene and elegantly designed cultural…
The Morgan Library & Museum
The Morgan Library & Museum in New York began not as a public institution,…
Neue Galerie New York Museum
The Neue Galerie New York is a small but remarkable museum on Fifth Avenue,…
Poster House in New York
The Poster House in New York City is the first museum in the United…
Eldridge Street Synagogue
The Eldridge Street Synagogue in New York City is the first synagogue in America…
Saturday:
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York City
The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum is one of the oldest and most visited modern…
Brooklyn Museum
The Brooklyn Museum is one of the oldest and largest art museums in the…
Jewish Museum in New York
Jewish Museum in New York is a unique museum on Fifth Avenue dedicated to…
Sunday:
Whitney Museum of American Art
Founded in 1931 by sculptor and art collector Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, the Whitney Museum…
Poster House in New York
The Poster House in New York City is the first museum in the United…
Partially free or pay-what-you-want museums in New York
The following museums welcome donations of $5-$10, but you can still get in for free.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York (The Met)
Since its founding in 1870, The Metropolitan Museum of Art — known worldwide simply…
Staten Island Museum in New York
The Staten Island Museum is officially the oldest cultural institution on the island, and…
Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art, New York
The Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art is the only museum in the world entirely dedicated…
Museum of Reclaimed Urban Space (MoRUS) in New York
The Museum of Reclaimed Urban Space (MoRUS) in New York is located in the…
Nicholas Roerich Museum in New York
New York is a bottomless treasure trove of culture, and it can be quite…
American Museum of Natural History
The American Museum of Natural History is one of the largest and most famous…
El Museo del Barrio in New York City
Located in East Harlem, El Museo del Barrio showcases the vibrant art and culture…
Museum of the City of New York (MCNY)
Located in the heart of Manhattan, the Museum of the City of New York…
Queens Museum: a Cultural Hub that Brings Together History, Art, and Community
The Queens Museum is more than just a place where artworks and historical artifacts…
MoMA PS1 — A Hub for Contemporary Art in New York
Located in Long Island City, Queens, MoMA PS1 is one of New York’s leading…
Brooklyn Museum
The Brooklyn Museum is one of the oldest and largest art museums in the…
Brooklyn Botanic Garden in New York
The Brooklyn Botanic Garden is the kind of place that reveals itself differently with…
Visitor Tips
Book in advance. Many free hours require online registration.
Arrive early. Entry is often on a first-come, first-served basis.
Check for updates. Schedules may change depending on the season and holidays.
