These New York City museums 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. As well, some museums require advance reservations even for free admission—best to check the website of your intended destination before your visit.
Always Free
African Burial Ground Memorial Site
American Folk Art Museum
BRIC House
The Bronx Museum of the Arts
Federal Hall National Memorial
General Grant National Memorial
Hamilton Grange
The Harbor Defense Museum
MoMA PS1 (free for NYC residents)
Museum of Chinese in America (through January 8, 2023)
Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology
National Museum of the American Indian
New York Public Library, Stephen A. Schwarzman Building
New York Public Library for the Performing Arts
New York Transit Museum Annex & Store, Grand Central Terminal
Queens County Farm Museum (except during special events)
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture
Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden (grounds and botanical garden only)
Socrates Sculpture Park
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.
Mondays
9/11 Memorial & Museum (3:30 to 5pm)
Museum at Eldridge Street Synagogue (pay what you wish)
Tuesdays
The Morgan Library and Museum (J. Pierpont Morgan’s Library only, 3 to 5pm)
Wednesdays
Bronx Zoo (park entry only; does not include admission to special exhibitions like the Butterfly Garden, Congo Gorilla Forest and JungleWorld nor the activities at the Bronx Zoo Treetop Adventure)
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 October, 3 to 6pm)
Van Cortlandt House Museum
Staten Island Zoo (2 to 4:45pm)
Thursdays
Brooklyn Children's Museum (2 to 5pm)
Frick Madison (temporary home of the Frick Collection; pay what you wish, 4 to 6pm)
Museum of Jewish Heritage (4 to 8pm)
Museum of the Moving Image (2 to 6pm)
New Museum (pay what you wish, 7 to 9pm)
Wave Hill
Fridays
Asia Society and Museum (September to June, 6 to 9pm)
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; note, museum reopens in mid-October 2022)
The New-York Historical Society (pay what you wish, 6 to 8pm)
Rubin Museum of Art (6 to 10pm)
First Friday of the Month
Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) (NYC residents only, 4 to 8pm)
Neue Galerie (4 to 7pm)
The Noguchi Museum
Saturdays
The Jewish Museum
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum (pay what you wish, 6 to 8pm)
First Saturday of the Month
Brooklyn Museum (5 to 11pm; does not apply to January, July, September or December)
Sundays
The Morgan Library and Museum (J. Pierpont Morgan’s Library only, 3 to 5pm)
Queens Botanical Garden (April to October, 9 to 11am)
Seasonal
Brooklyn Botanic Garden (pay what you wish, December to February, Tuesday to Friday)
Neue Galerie (pay what you wish, through October 24, 2022)
Queens Botanical Garden (November to March, Tuesday to Sunday)