Free Museums
National Museum of Mathematics
Enjoy free general admission to MoMath (635 Sixth Avenue) on select days each month.
American Folk Art Museum
New York City's only museum dedicated to folk & self-taught artists.
Queens Museum
Arts museum and education center in Flushing; admission is always free.
National Museum of the American Indian
A Smithsonian museum (with a counterpart in Washington DC, where many museums are free).
Socrates Sculpture Park
Outdoor sculpture park in Queens with lots of free events and programming.
Whitney Museum
Free for visitors under 25; also free Friday nights and on Second Sundays (see dedicated listings).
Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden
Staten Island campus: free entry to main outdoor grounds and gardens, dawn to dusk, seven days a week.
Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art
The world's only dedicated LGBTQIA+ art museum; free with a suggested admission of $10.
American Museum of Natural History
NY residents can pay what they wish for General Admission (main museum and Gilder Center; special exhibits excluded).
Brooklyn Museum
Pay what you wish for general admission (main museum only). See First Saturdays for monthly free evenings.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Pay what you wish for New York residents and for students from NY, NJ, and CT.
El Museo del Barrio
Pay what you can; check listings for community free days and partner programs.
Museum of the City of New York
Pay what you can in person for New York State residents; Wednesdays are free for everyone.
Staten Island Museum
Pay what you wish general admission; confirm current policy before you visit.
Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Pay what you wish on winter weekdays (December–February); confirm hours on their site.
Poster House — First Friday
First Friday of each month: free admission all day, extended hours and programming (often 10am–9pm).
Neue Galerie — First Friday
Select first Fridays monthly, 5–8pm, free on a first-come, first-served basis.
The Noguchi Museum — First Friday
First Friday pay-what-you-wish; reserve in advance—it fills up quickly.
Intrepid Museum — Free Fridays
Last Friday of each month, April–September, 5–9pm, with films, speakers, stargazing, and more.
The Frick Collection — First Friday
Free admission 5:30–9pm on the first Friday of the month (excluding January and September).
Brooklyn Museum — First Saturdays
Free evening each month (Feb–Jun, Aug, Oct) with programming, 5–11pm—reserve tickets in advance.
Whitney Museum — Second Sundays
Second Sunday each month: free all day with activities; advance ticket recommended.
9/11 Memorial & Museum — Sunday (NYC residents)
Free for New Yorkers Sundays 4–7pm; verify ID/residency rules before visiting.
Bank of America Museums on Us
First full weekend each month: free general admission for eligible cardholders at participating museums (e.g. Met, Intrepid, El Museo, Jewish Museum).
9/11 Memorial & Museum — Monday evening
Free admission 5:30–7pm Mondays; policies and tickets change—check the official site.
New York Aquarium
Limited free tickets Wednesday afternoons after 3pm; availability varies.
The Frick Collection — Wednesday PWYW
Pay what you wish Wednesdays 1:30–5:30pm (when the museum is open).
Museum of the Moving Image
Free general admission Thursdays 2–6pm; no reservation required.
The Museum of Modern Art — Uniqlo Friday Nights
Free for New York State residents Fridays 5:30–8:30pm; reserve tickets starting the week before.
