New York isn't known for its affordability, but you have to give this city some credit when it comes to its free museum offerings. From pay-what-you-wish admissions to weekly free days, you can visit some of the world's most iconic museums and see some of the most acclaimed exhibits without spending a penny.

Whether you want to experience a new museum or want to return to see unexplored areas, meandering through art galleries without breaking the bank is just one of the many reasons we love New York. Check out our list of where and when you can visit some of the city's top museums on a discount.

How to Visit NYC Museums for Free

Daily Free Museum Admissions

American Folk Art Museum

Bronx Museum

Godwin-Ternbach Museum at Queens College

International Print Center

Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology

National Museum of the American Indian

Queens Museums

Socrates Sculpture Park

Sculpture Center

Storefront for Art & Architecture

Studio Museum Harlem

Waterfront Museum

 

Daily Pay-What-You-Wish Museum Admissions

American Museum of Natural History

• Pay-what-you-wish admission for NY, NJ, and CT residents with valid ID.

Brooklyn Museum

• Pay-what-you-wish for all. They also offer monthly free days (see next section).

The Met Cloisters

• Pay-what-you-wish for New York State residents and NY, NJ, and CT students with valid ID.

El Museo del Barrio

• Pay-what-you-wish admission for all.

Metropolitan Museum of Art

• Pay-what-you-wish for New York State residents and NY, NJ, and CT students with valid ID.

P.S.1 MoMA

• Free for all New Yorkers; pay-what-you-wish for everyone else.

Queens Botanical Garden

• Free from December through March. They also offer weekly free days (see next section).

 

Weekly Free Museum Admission Days

Brooklyn Children's Museum

• Free admission every Thursday from 2–5 pm

Queens Botanical Gardens

• Free admission every Wednesday from 3–6 pm and Sundays from 9–11 am (April–December 15).

Asia Society Museum 

• Free admission every Friday from 6–9 pm.

The Frick Collection (Currently Frick Madison)

• Pay-what-you-wish admission every Thursday from 4–6 pm

Guggenheim Museum

• Pay-what-you-wish on Saturdays from 6–8 pm

International Center of Photography

• Pay-what-you-wish on Thursdays 6–9 pm ($5 minimum donation)

The Jewish Museum

• Free admission every Saturday and on select Jewish holidays

The Morgan Library and Museum

• Free admission every Friday from 5–7 pm.

Museum of Arts and Design

• Tickets half-off general admission every Thursday

Museum of Jewish Heritage

• Free admission every Thursday from 4–8 pm.

Museum of Moving Image

• Free admission every Thursday from 2–6 pm.

New Museum

• Pay-what-you-wish admission every Thursday from 7–9 pm.

New York Botanical Garden

• Free admission every Wednesday to NYC residents all day and to all other visitors between 10–11 am.

New-York Historical Society Museum and Library

• Pay-what-you-wish admission every Friday from 6–8 pm.

The Rubin Museum of Art

• Fridays from 6–10 pm.

Whitney Museum of American Art

• Free admission every Friday from 5–10 pm.

 

Monthly Free Museum Admission Days

Brooklyn Museum

• Free admission every first Saturday from 5-11 pm (February–August and October).

Japan Society

• Free admission every first Friday of every month from 4–7 pm.

MoMA

• Free admission for New York City residents every first Friday of every month from 4–8 pm.

Neue Gallerie

• Free admission every first Friday of every month from 5–8 pm.

Noguchi Museum

• Free admission every first Friday of every month. Free for NYC public school students and Columbia University students every day.

Whitney Museum of American Art

• Free admission every second Sunday of every month.

 

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