New York is one of the greatest cities to visit, especially if you’re interested in art and entertainment. However, being among the most exciting cities in the world makes many NYC activities quite expensive. Since bus travel is one of the best ways to save money while traveling to New York, we thought that you might also enjoy a guide to free things to do while you’re visiting.
Did you know you can visit some of NYC’s best museums for free on certain days? It’s tough to keep track of all the free museum days and open parks in the city, so we’ve put together this guide to help you find a free park and museum for each day of your trip!
Some of the establishments listed below do not offer free admission in favor of pay-what-you-wish options. However, having the chance to pay just $2 to visit some of the most famous museums in the world is such a bargain that we consider it free. And you can spend that extra cash at the best bars on the East Side if you’re feeling thirsty or splurge on some solo activities in NYC.
Free Admission Every Day
Bronx Museum
1040 Grand Concourse, Bronx, NY 10456
Admission is always free. The museum is closed on Mondays & Tuesdays.
Museum at Fashion Institute of Technology
227 W 27th Street, New York, NY 10001
Admission is always free. The museum is closed on Sundays, Mondays & legals holidays.
National Museum of the American Indian
1 Bowling Green, New York, NY 10004
Admission is always free. The museum is closed on December 25.
(Steve Soblick / Flickr)
Free Admission
Brooklyn Botanic Garden
990 Washington Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11225
BBG members enjoy free general admission throughout the year, while children under 12 are always admitted at no cost. Additionally, a portion of daily tickets are available free of charge to those in need through the Community Tickets program. From December to February, visitors can also take advantage of Pay-What-You-Wish Winter Weekdays, available Tuesday through Friday.
Free Admission on Wednesday
Bronx Zoo
2300 Southern Blvd, Bronx, NY 10460
Wednesday admission is by pay-what-you-wish donation, though you’ll need to make a reservation ahead of time.
Children 2 and under: always free.
New York Botanical Garden
2900 Southern Blvd, Bronx, NY 10458
Admission is free to residents all day, all other visitors between 10-11am. Children under 2: always free
You can pay what you wish to enter the world-famous Bronx Zoo on Wednesdays. (Joe Schulz / Flickr)
Free Admission on Friday
Asia Society Museum
725 Park Avenue (at 70th Street), New York, NY 10021
Starting on Labor Day, admission will be free on Fridays from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The Morgan Library & Museum
225 Madison Avenue (at 36th Street), New York, NY 10016
Admission is free on Fridays from 7 pm to 9 pm, with a reservation.
Children 12 and under: always free
Museum of Modern Art
11 W 53 Street, New York, NY 10019
Admission is free on Fridays from 4 pm to 8 pm for residents
Children 16 and under: always free (this policy does not apply to children in groups)
New York Historical Society
170 Central Park West (btwn 76th & 77th Street), New York, NY 10024
Fridays from 5 pm to 8 pm: pay as you wish
Children 4 and under: always free
Whitney Museum of American Art
99 Gansevoort Street, New York, NY 10014
Fridays from 5 pm to 10 pm are free
Visitors 18 and under: always free
(mifl68 / Flickr)
Free Admission on Saturday
Brooklyn Botanic Garden
990 Washington Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11225
Admission is free on Saturdays from 10 am to 12 pm, as well as all day on Tuesdays
Children under 12 & school groups: always free
Seniors: always free on Fridays
Brooklyn Museum
200 Eastern Pkwy, Brooklyn, NY
Admission is free on the first Saturday of each month (except September) from 5 pm to 11 pm
Visitors 19 and under: always free
Visitors 62 and over: always free
The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
1071 5th Avenue (at E 89th Street), New York, NY 10128
Saturdays from 4–5:30 pm: pay what you wish
Children under 12: always free
The Jewish Museum
1109 Fifth Avenue (at E 92nd Street), New York, NY 10128
Admission is free all day on Saturdays
Thursdays from 5 pm to 8 pm: pay what you wish
New York Botanical Garden
2900 Southern Blvd, Bronx, NY 10458
Admission is free on Saturdays from 9 am to 10 am, as well as all day on Thursdays.
Children under 2: always free
If you’re looking for other smart ways to save while visiting New York, check out our piece on 5 easy ways to enjoy NYC without going broke.
Now that you have all the information you need to travel to New York on a budget, it’s time to book your bus or train ticket to NYC. At Wanderu, we make that not only easy but also really affordable!
