New York City Museums with FREE Admission and Pay What You Wish Days

We created this list of New York City museums with free admission in 2013. We update this at least twice a year so you’ll always have the most up-to-date information on free museums in New York City. We are currently updating this for 2024. Which free museums in NYC will you visit with your kids?

Excuse me, do you realize the name of this website is JERSEY Family Fun?

I do!  I really do. But it would be wrong to not look across the Hudson for activities from time to time. Especially since some of us are nearby. New York has a reputation for being expensive (it can be), congested (it is), and generally hard to navigate with children. But I’m here to convince you that it can be a quick getaway and totally appropriate to go with the family and not spend an arm and a leg.

Jersey Family Fun plans to get you into New York City on the cheap – starting with this list of New York City museums with FREE Admission! These free New York City attractions are great things to do in New York City.

Some of these New York City museums have FREE admission, and some have a suggested admission. That suggested admission is just that; a way of getting a set donation from everyone that comes through the door. You will often hear it called Pay What You Wish. It is your decision as to what to give for entry. Some also offer select days when admission is completely free. Keep reading and start making an itinerary of free things to do in NYC!

New York City Museums with FREE Admission every day or Pay What You Wish:

There are over 10 free museums in NYC for free places to go in New York City.

American Folk Art Museum

The premier institution devoted to the aesthetic appreciation of traditional folk art and creative expressions of contemporary self-taught artists from the United States and abroad. The museum preserves, conserves, and interprets a comprehensive collection of the highest quality, with objects dating from the eighteenth century to the present. You can visit the American Folk Art Museum website at folkartmuseum.org.

• Admission is always free but advanced ticketing is encouraged.

Queens Museum (pay what you wish)

The Queens Museum is dedicated to presenting the highest quality visual arts and educational programming for people in the New York metropolitan area, and particularly for the residents of Queens, a uniquely diverse, ethnic, cultural, and international community. Exhibits include NY Worlds Fair items, a panorama of the City of New York, and a collection of Tiffany glass. You can visit the Queens Museum website at queensmuseum.org.

• Timed entry ticket reservations required.
• Admission is pay what you wish and free admission for select ages and groups.

American Museum of Natural History (pay what you wish)

The American Museum of Natural History is one of the world’s preeminent scientific and cultural institutions. Since its founding in 1869, the Museum has advanced its global mission to discover, interpret, and disseminate information about human cultures, the natural world, and the universe through a wide-ranging program of scientific research, education, and exhibition. You can visit the American Museum of Natural History website at www.amnh.org.

• Timed entry ticket reservations are required.
• Only NY, NJ, and CT residents have the option for “pay what you wish” tickets.
• Please be sure to check what exhibits are available to visitors who opt for “pay what you wish” admission.

Bronx Museum of Arts 

The Bronx Museum of the Arts is an internationally recognized cultural destination that presents innovative contemporary art exhibitions and education programs and is committed to promoting cross-cultural dialogues for diverse audiences. You can visit the Bronx Museum of Arts website at www.bronxmuseum.org.

• Admission is free.

El Museo del Barrio (pay what you wish)

El Museo del Barrio’s purpose is to collect, preserve, exhibit and interpret the art and artifacts of Caribbean and Latin American cultures for posterity. To enhance the sense of identity, self-esteem and self-knowledge of the Caribbean and Latin American peoples by educating them in their artistic heritage and bringing art and artists into their communities. To provide an educational forum that promotes an appreciation and understanding of Caribbean and Latin American art and culture and its rich contribution to North America. You can visit the El Museo del Barrio website at www.elmuseo.org.

• “Pay what you wish”
• Visitors are strongly encouraged to reserve timed-entry tickets in advance.
• Children under 12 are free.

The Jewish Museum

The Jewish Museum in New York City is at the intersection of art and Jewish culture for people of all backgrounds. Through exhibitions, programs, and collection of nearly 30,000 works of art, ceremonial objects, and media, visitors can journey through 4,000 years of art and Jewish culture from around the world. You can visit the Jewish Museum website at www.thejewishmuseum.org.

• Free for members every day.
• Free for everyone on Saturdays.
• Admission is free on select Jewish holidays.
• Timed tickets are recommended.
• Visitors under 18 years old are always free!

Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology

The Museum at FIT is the only museum in New York City solely dedicated to the art of fashion.  Best known for its innovative and award-winning exhibitions, the museum also has a permanent collection of more than 50,000 garments and accessories dating from the 18th century to the present, with particular strength in 20th-century designer fashion. You can visit the Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology website at www.fitnyc.edu/museum.

• Admission is free.

National Museum of the American Indian—Smithsonian Institution

The National Museum of the American Indian–New York, the George Gustav Heye Center, is located within the historic Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House. The museum’s permanent and temporary exhibitions—as well as a range of public programs, including music and dance performances, films, and symposia—explore the diversity of the Native people of the Americas. You can visit the National Museum of the American Indian—Smithsonian Institution website at www.nmai.si.edu.

• Entrance to the museum is free and tickets are not required.

MoMA PS1 (pay what you wish)

MoMA PS1 is one of the oldest and largest nonprofit contemporary art institutions in the United States. An exhibition space rather than a collecting institution, MoMA PS1 devotes its energy and resources to displaying the most experimental art in the world. A catalyst and an advocate for new ideas, discourses, and trends in contemporary art, MoMA PS1 actively pursues emerging artists, new genres, and adventurous new work by recognized artists in an effort to support innovation in contemporary art. You can visit the P.S.1 MoMA website at www.momaps1.org.

• Timed entry ticket reservations are required.
• Listed admission prices are “suggested”.

Museum of the City of New York (pay what you wish)

The Museum of the City of New York celebrates and interprets the city, educating the public about its distinctive character, especially its heritage of diversity, opportunity, and perpetual transformation. Founded in 1923 as a private, nonprofit corporation, the Museum connects the past, present, and future of New York City. It serves the people of New York and visitors from around the world through exhibitions, school and public programs, publications, and collections. You can visit the Museum of the City of New York’s website at www.mcny.org.

• By purchasing tickets online you agree to pay the full admission price.
• “Pay what you wish” admission is available at the ticket counter only.
• Individuals under the age of 19 are free.

Socrates Sculpture Park

Socrates Sculpture Park is the only site in the New York Metropolitan area specifically dedicated to providing artists with opportunities to create and exhibit large-scale sculpture and multi-media installations in a unique outdoor environment that encourages strong interaction between artists, artworks and the public. The park’s existence is based on the belief that reclamation, revitalization and creative expression are essential to the survival, humanity and improvement of our urban environment. You can visit the Socrates Sculpture Park website at socratessculpturepark.org.

• Admission is free.

Staten Island Museum (pay what you wish)

New York City’s only general interest museum, engages visitors with interdisciplinary exhibitions and educational programs that explore the dynamic connections between natural science, art and history based on its diverse collections. The Museum is dedicated to making its current and future collections broadly accessible for educators, students, researchers and the general public by providing authentic experiences in the field and at the Museum. You can visit the Staten Island Museum website at www.statenislandmuseum.org.

• Admission prices are suggested.
• It appears that “pay what you wish” admission must be done in person.

Studio Museum in Harlem (pay what you wish)

The nexus for artists of African descent locally, nationally and internationally and for work that has been inspired and influenced by black culture. It is a site for the dynamic exchange of ideas about art and society. – You can visit the Studio Museum in Harlem website at http://www.studiomuseum.org.

• The Studio Museum in Harlem doe snot list any admission prices on their webpage. Please contact them for more information.

Yeshiva University Museum

Yeshiva University Museum (YUM) is located in the heart of New York City’s Chelsea neighborhood in the Center for Jewish History (CJH). The Museum is comprised of four beautiful galleries, an exhibition arcade, an outdoor sculpture garden, a children’s studio workshop and Discovery Center, and a suite of administrative offices. The Museum’s exhibitions examine Jewish communities, culture, and history and present the work of emerging and established artists who treat Jewish themes and perspectives.

Visit their website at yumuseum.org

• Free admission.

New York City Museums with FREE Admission days or hours:

New York City Museums with FREE Admission during select times

• Brooklyn Museum, First Saturday (February – June, August, and October, 5 PM – 11 PM
• Neue Galerie First Friday, 5 PM – 8 PM (children under 12 not admitted)
• Noguchi Museum, First Friday of the month (with advance reservation)
• Brooklyn Botanic Garden, all day, December – February

 

Get in FREE to More New York City Museums

Didn’t see what you were looking for? Don’t give up yet – visit your library! Many NJ libraries offer free museum passes. Read Your NJ Library Card Can Mean FREE Admission to Local Museums for a listing of the New York City museums you can visit free with your library museum pass!

Click over to see the rest of our Family Travel to New York City series.

To arrange a feature on your location contact Jennifer Auer, Jersey Family Fun publisher.