SAVE $ ON MUSEUMS
Enjoy free/low-cost culture with these tips for saving at NYC's fabulous family-friendly museums, where kids are often free or discounted everyday.
* Also see our guide to always-free gallery shows & public art.
* Follow us on Instagram & subscribe to our email list for temporary deals (like 2-for 1 NYC Must-See Week Jan 17-Feb 12).
* Consider a membership at your local favorite - usually around $100 and totally tax-deductible - for a climate-controlled spot to roam all year long plus perks like discounts at the fabulous gift shops and cafes.
* See our kid-friendly museum guide & museum map for more tips.
COMMUNITY HOURS
Check out museums for as little as a penny during certain hours. Some require advance reservations; click-though for more info.
ALWAYS PAY-WHAT-YOU-WISH
* American Folk Art Museum
* American Museum of Natural History (NY, NJ & CT residents)
* Cooper Hewitt Design Museum (5-6 pm daily)
* El Museo Del Barrio
* Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York State residents)
* The Met Cloisters (New York State residents)
* MoMA Sculpture Garden & First Floor
* National Museum of the American Indian
* Queens Museum
* Skyscraper Museum
MONDAY
* Museum at Eldridge Street (10 am–5pm)
Thursday
* Brooklyn Children's Museum (2 pm–5 pm)
* Museum of the Moving Image (2-6 pm)
* New Museum (7 pm–9 pm)
Friday
* Museum at Eldridge Street (10 am–5pm)
* MoMA (4 pm-8 pm first Friday of the month for NYC residents)
* New York Hall of Science (2 pm–5 pm)
* The Morgan Library & Museum (5–7 pm)
* New-York Historical Society (6 pm–8 pm)
* The Poster House (10 am–6 pm)
* Rubin Museum (6 pm–10 pm)
* Whitney Museum (7–10 pm)
SATURDAY
* MoMA (10:15 am-5:30 pm, during & after Family Gallery Talks on some Saturdays)
* Jewish Museum (11 am–6 pm)
* Guggenheim (6 pm–8 pm)
SUNDAY
* The Poster House (10:30 am-12:15 pm during Poster Kids on select Sundays)
* Rubin Museum Family Sundays (1 pm–3 pm)
PASSES
CULTURE PASS
NYC library card holders can get free admission to dozens of cultural institutions. Reserve passes online; browse available passes by date or venue. Westchester libraries have a similar programs.
IDNYC
IDNYC cardholders are eligible for free one-year memberships or discounted tickets at a number of participating institutions.
CORPORATE MEMBERSHIPS
Many corporations and financial insitutions donate to museums, then offer free admission to employees/patrons. Check with yours; Bloomberg, American Express and Chase all have programs.