Subscribe to our newsletters to get stories like this delivered directly to your inbox, and discover all the free events and activities near you in our Guide to Free Things To Do in NYC with Kids.

How To Visit Great Museums Without Spending a Dime

One of the best perks to city living is the wide variety of cultural experiences at our fingertips, and with a little careful planning, you can visit many of NYC's museums for free. Below, you'll find our list of the best family-friendly museums in NYC that you can visit for free. This list includes museums that are free at all times, or free on certain days. Keep in mind, though, that many of NYC's biggest names in culture offer residents pay-what-you-wish admission, including The Met and the American Museum of Natural History, so the amount you pay is up to you—and your budget.

What Are the Best Kid-Friendly Always-Free Museums in NYC?

American Folk Art Museum – Upper West Side

Always free
Located just steps from Columbus Circle and Central Park, this makes a great cost-free diversion on a day out. The focus here is less on fine art and more on handicrafts and self-taught artisans.
Good to know: Hours are limited at this free museum in NYC; it's only open Wednesdays-Sundays.

Bronx Museum of the Arts – Concourse, the Bronx

Always free
This museum champions contemporary art and artists with a focus on those from its surrounding South Bronx neighborhood.
Good to know: A renovation is ongoing in the south wing, which will open later this year, but there's still plenty to see. Take a look at its event calendar for a variety of programming year-round.

MoMA PS1 – Long Island City, Queens

Always free
It was big news when MoMA PS1 announced it was going to offer free admission for all in the new year, and we're here for it.
Good to know: Stop by the desk in the lobby to nab your Family Art Guide—complete with colored pencils—full of drawing exercises, prompts to get you thinking about the art you see, and fun PS1 facts to help guide your visit.

The Museum at FIT – Chelsea

Always free
Home to a garment and accessories collection of more than 50,000 items, this museum traces fashion from the 18th century to the present day.
Good to know: Small but mighty, this museum often closes when it installs a new exhibit, so be sure to check hours before you venture out.

National Museum of the American Indian – Financial District

Always free
A Smithsonian institution right in NYC, visitors can trace the heritage of Native Americans at this museum housed in the historic Alexander Hamilton US Custom House.
Good to know: Don't miss the kid-friendly ImagiNATION Activity Center.

SculptureCenter – Long Island City, Queens

Always free
This gallery-like space hosts exhibitions from underrecognized and emerging artists with a focus on contemporary work.
Good to know: Make a day of your visit here by exploring the beautiful Long Island City waterfront while you're in the neighborhood.

The Skyscraper Museum – Battery Park City

Always free
This architecture-focused, non-profit museum is dedicated to studying the skyline past, present, and future. Though museum admission is free; timed-entry tickets are required.
Good to know: Inventive, family-friendly programming is offered on weekends, while adults can attend after-hours talks.

Queens County Farm Museum – Floral Park, Queens

Always free
The only living farm museum in NYC, the Queens County Museum is free nearly year-round; on special event days, the museum does charge admission fees.
Good to know: Pack a picnic to enjoy during your farm visit. There's limited programming during the week.

When Are the Free Museum Days in NYC?

9/11 Memorial and Museum – World Trade Center

Free day: Mondays; reserve your ticket online beginning at 7am each week.
Good to know: Those who live, work, or study in the NYC area can attend for free on the first Sunday of each month from 4-7pm.

Brooklyn Children's Museum – Crown Heights, Brooklyn

Free day: Thursday afternoons from 2-5pm. Reservations should be booked in advance.
Good to know: This Crown Heights institution is widely recognized as the first children's museum in the nation.

Brooklyn Museum – Prospect Heights, Brooklyn

Free day: First Saturdays offer free admission at the Brooklyn Museum.
Good to know: Start your visit in the Toby Devan Lewis Education Center for hands-on fun.

Bronx Zoo – Bronx Park, the Bronx

Free day: Wednesdays; reservations are required and open the preceding Monday at 5pm.
Good to know: Free admission does not cover any Star Attractions or offer a parking discount. The zoo is accessible by several bus and transit lines.

Cooper Hewitt Museum – Upper East Side

Free day: Daily, but only by grabbing tickets on-site from 5-6pm.
Good to know: Part of the Smithsonian family, there are several other ways to receive free or discounted admission at all times.

The Jewish Museum – Upper East Side

Free day: Saturdays; timed-entry reservations are recommended.
Good to know: A significant expansion and remodeling has just been completed, bringing a brand-new family wing to the space.

MoMA – Midtown West

Free day: Friday nights are free for New York state residents. Tickets must be booked online in advance.
Good to know: Two can't-miss, hands-on makerspaces here include the Heyman Family Art Lab (ground floor) and the Creativity Lab (second floor). We also love the outdoor sculpture garden when kids need a break from quiet gallery browsing.

The Morgan Library & Museum – Midtown East

Free day: Fridays from 5pm-8pm; reservations are required. Children 12 and younger are always free.
Good to know: If you have a bibliophile, J. Pierpont Morgan's Library is a towering ode to the written word that's not to be missed.

Museum of the Moving Image – Astoria, Queens

Free day: Thursdays from 2-6pm; no reservations are required.
Good to know: The Jim Henson exhibit is a must-see for kids and kids-at-heart. Be sure to check out the screening schedule in advance of your visit.

New York Aquarium – Coney Island, Brooklyn

Free day: Wednesday afternoons are pay-what-you-wish from 3pm to last entry, which varies by season. Reservations are required, and the Wednesday Ticket Store opens at 3pm Monday.
Good to know: Make a day of it and visit all the other Coney Island attractions before your aquarium visit.

New York Botanical Garden – Bronx Park, the Bronx

Free day: Wednesdays; free grounds admission for NYC residents all day. Non-NYC residents can enter for free from 10-11am on Wednesdays.
Good to know: Grounds access does not include admission to the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, special exhibits, or the tram tour.

NYSCI – Flushing, Queens

Free day: Fridays from 2-5pm; reserve tickets online in advance beginning at 10am on Friday mornings.
Good to know: Some exhibits, including the Science Playground and Rocket Park Mini Golf are not included.

Kids can contemplate larger-than-life sculptures at the Noguchi Museum for free. Photo by Jody Mercier

The Noguchi Museum – Long Island City, Queens

Free day: First Fridays offer free admission all day; reservations are not required.
Good to know: Children under age 12 are always free, as are all NYC public school students. Visit in the springtime to see the stunning blooms in its sculpture garden. 

Queens Botanical Garden – Flushing, Queens

Free day: Free admission daily from mid-December through March. Admission is free on Wednesdays from 3-6pm and Sundays from 9-11am the rest of the year.
Good to know: Check the calendar for fun, family-friendly events.

Staten Island Zoo – New Brighton, Staten Island

Free day: Wednesdays after 2pm
Good to know: Find the zoo's free parking lot off of Clove Road.

Whitney Museum – Meatpacking District

Free day: Fridays from 5-10pm, plus all day on the second Sunday of each month.
Good to know: Those under age 25 are always free at the Whitney, and we love its Youth Insights and Open Studio programs for teens.

Are There Any Hidden Gem or Off-the-Beaten-Path Free Museums in NYC?

Museum of the City of New York – East Harlem

Free day: Wednesdays
Good to know: This is one of our favorite underrated NYC museums. Kick off your visit with Timescapes, a narrated 28-minute video detailing the history of NYC.

Wave Hill – Riverdale, the Bronx

Free day: Thursdays
Good to know: This 28-acre pubic garden offers stunning views. Return on the weekend for fun, hands-on programming for families.

Socrates Sculpture Park – Long Island City, Queens

Free at all times
This outdoor art park hosts always-changing, large-scale installations in a beautiful waterfront green space.
Good to know: Make this the jumping-off point for a low-cost Queens art crawl.

Which Free Museums Are Best for Different Ages?

Best Museums for Toddlers and Preschoolers

Our favorite free museums for NYC's littlest culture curators include the Brooklyn Children's Museum and the free admission days at the Bronx Zoo and New York Aquarium. Another not-to-be-missed kid-pleaser is the 81st Street Studio inside The Met. Admission to this play space is free; while you're there, ask for an 81st Street Studio Family Field guide, and your group (a tot plus up to four guests) can use it for free admission to the main Met exhibits!

Best Museums for Elementary-Aged Kids

Curious elementary-age kids will get a kick out of a visit to the Museum of the City of New York, which really brings local lore to life! The colorful (and recognizable) pieces in MoMA's collection are also catnip for this age group, and we love the hands-on art activities here, too.

Best Museums for Tweens and Teens

The best museums for teens are definitely the ones they want to visit on their own! The Whitney and Brooklyn Museum are both big draws for NYC's biggest kids, but encourage your teens to cull this list of great museum programs for teens to find something that sparks their curiosity and prompts them to visit without you dragging them along. Some museums not included on this list offer free teen programming, which also grants teens gratis admission.

How To Make the Most of Free Museum Days

As is key to most outings with kids, a little planning goes a long way toward making the most out of a family day at the museum. When possible, we suggest arriving early in the day to avoid long lines. You may not want to arrive right at opening, but within the first hour is a good rule of thumb. Keep in mind that midday hours on weekdays might be a draw for field trips!

Pack snacks and water to share—but beware you may not be able to enjoy them in the museum, so scope out a nearby park or bench for a break before or after your visit.

Always check the museum calendar for family-friendly programs and plan your visit to coincide. It's also a good idea to check in with the information desk to grab a map or family guide. Kids will be more engaged in your visit if you allow them to lead the way!

Keep your expectations in check, too: You don't have to see it all (especially since you got in for free!) Pick a gallery or two to explore and be ready to call it quits when the kids get antsy.

Speaking of that exit plan: It's always great to pair a museum visit with a trip to a nearby playground (check out our NYC Kids' Playground Guide here!)

FAQs for Free Museum Days in NYC

• What museums are always free in NYC?
  Many New York City museums are completely free, including MoMA PS1, The Bronx Museum, The Skyscraper Museum, The Museum at FIT, and more. See our complete list above.
• When are free museum days in NYC?
  Pull out your calendar and get to planning—with a little advance work, you can find a free museum day in NYC nearly any day of the week! Some museums offer a free day each week, while other NYC museums offer one free day, afternoon, or evening a month.
• Are free museums in NYC good for kids?
  Even museums many would dub as "grown up" can be good for kids, assuming you've set your expectations correctly! Any museum that focuses on a topic your kid is interested in is a good museum for them. If you're not sure what kind of museum will draw your kid in, look at museum calendars for special family-friendly programs that might break the ice and introduce a new passion.
• Do I need tickets or reservations for free museum days?
  Some popular free museum days, like admission to the Bronx Zoo and New York Aquarium, require planning and reservations. Most of NYC's always-free museums are open for you to walk in at your convenience, however.
• What’s the best time to visit free museums with kids?
  You know your kids—and their routine—best. You'll likely get the most out of a museum visit when your kids are well-rested and have a full tummy. So plan it around their schedule and be ready to pull the plug when they lose interest. You can always revisit another day or discover a new free museum to explore.

This article was first published in September 2012.