Most major museums have dedicated days & hours where there is free entry. See below for a list of top museums with free or pay what you wish entry.
Free (Daily):
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American Folk Art Museum: New York City’s only museum dedicated to folk & self-taught artists
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Museum at FIT: Fashion museum at FIT campus, admission is always free
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Queens Museum: Arts museum and education center located in Flushing, admission is always free.
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The Bronx Museum: Contemporary arts museum in the Bronx, admission is always free.
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National Museum of the American Indian: A Smithsonian museum with a counterpart in Washington DC (where most museums are free!)
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Socrates Sculpture Park: Outdoor sculpture park (that also has a lot of free events & programming!)
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MoMA PS1: This Long Island City offshoot of the MoMA is now free for everyone as of January 1, 2026!
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Whitney Museum: Free for anyone under 25 (plus free Friday nights and second Sunday)
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Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden: Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden (in Staten Island) has free of charge entry to its main outdoor grounds and gardens, open 7 days a week from dawn to dusk.
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Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art: The only dedicated LGBTQIA+ art museum in the world, free with a suggested admission of $10
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Free (Monthly):
Friday:
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Poster House First Friday: On the first Friday of each month you can visit Poster House for free all day. In addition to free museum admission, the series will keep the museum open with extended hours and special programming on the first Friday of every month (10am - 9pm).
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Neue Galerie First Friday: The museum is open late to the public free of charge on select Fridays of every month from 5 to 8 p.m. Admission will be granted on a first-come, first-served basis.
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Noguchi Museum: First Friday (Pay What You Wish). You must reserve a ticket in advance - and it fills up quickly!
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Intrepid Museum: Free Fridays are the last Friday of every month from April to September 5-9pm. There will be special programming, including a summer movie series, guest speakers, stargazing, and more.
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Japan Society: Free admission 4-7pm on the first Friday of the month
Saturday:
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Brooklyn Museum First Saturdays: The Brooklyn Museum has hosted First Saturdays for 25 years. This is a free evening each month (Feb - Jun, Aug, Oct) with special programming and late hours from 5-11pm.
Sunday:
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Whitney Museum Second Sundays: The second Sunday each month will be free all day at the Whitney and include special programming and activities. Advance ticket recommended.
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9/11 Museum: Free on Sunday for New Yorkers between 4-7pm
Tuesday
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Guggenheim: Pay What You Wish admission 4-5:30pm
Wednesday
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New York Aquarium: Limited free tickets every Wednesday afternoon after 3pm
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Bronx Zoo: Free tickets every Wednesday
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Museum of the City of New York: Wednesday admission is free for everyone
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Frick Museum: Pay What You Wish on Wednesdays from 1:30-5:30pm
Thursday
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Wave Hill: Free admission on Thursdays to this beautiful public garden & culture center in the Bronx
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Museum of the Moving Image: Free general admission every Thursday 2-6pm (no reservation required)
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Brooklyn Children’s Museum: Free admission every Thursday 2 - 5pm courtesy of Amazon (reserve tickets or walk in)
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Museum of Jewish Heritage: Free on Thursdays from 4-8pm
Friday
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Museum of Modern Art Uniqlo Nights: New as of January 10th: the MoMA is now free for all New York State residents every Friday from 5:30-8:30pm! There are drop-in drawing classes, live music, a popup bar, and more. Reserve your tickets starting the week before
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Whitney Museum Free Fridays: Friday nights from 5-10pm aree free at the Whitney and include special programming and activities. Advance ticket recommended.
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Morgan Library & Museum: Weekly free admission 5-7pm
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Museum at Eldridge Street: Free admission on Mondays and Fridays
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New York Hall of Science: Free admission Fridays 2-5p
