The Free List / BOROUGH
Free museums in Manhattan
Start with NMAI for general free admission. For Friday evenings, compare Whitney, Morgan and MoMA’s resident offer. Frick, New Museum, Historical, the Met and Guggenheim offer pay what you wish under different time or eligibility conditions; the Met ticket also covers the Cloisters that day.
Quick answer
Free means no admission charge for the stated offer. Free with eligibility requires qualifying proof. Pay what you wish is shown separately and can require a payment. Special programs may have their own tickets.
Admission at a glance
National Museum of the American Indian
free — Always free (Smithsonian)
Offer hours: 10am-5pm daily
Advance booking not required. Official admission and tickets
Policy checked 2026-09-05.
Museum of Modern Art
free with eligibility — Uniqlo Free Fridays -- free for NY State residents 5:30-8:30pm
Offer hours: 5:30pm-8:30pm
Reservations required. Official admission and tickets
Policy checked 2026-09-05.
Whitney Museum of American Art
free — Free Friday evenings 5-10pm for all visitors. Free 2nd Sunday of every month. Visitors 25 and under always free.
Offer hours: Fri 5-10pm; 2nd Sun 10:30am-6pm
Advance booking recommended. Official admission and tickets
Policy checked 2026-09-05.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
pay what you wish — Pay-what-you-wish for NY State residents and students from NY/NJ/CT
Offer hours: Sun-Tue, Thu 10am-5pm; Fri-Sat 10am-9pm; Closed Wed
Advance booking not required. Official admission and tickets
Policy checked 2026-09-05.
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
pay what you wish — Pay what you wish every Tuesday and Sunday, 4–5:30pm.
Offer hours: Tue and Sun 4–5:30pm
Booking requirement: Still verifying. Official admission and tickets
Policy checked 2026-09-05.
New Museum
pay what you wish — Pay-what-you-wish Thursdays 7-9pm. Youth ages 18 and under enter free during regular hours.
Offer hours: Thu 7-9pm
Reservations required. Official admission and tickets
Policy checked 2026-10-09.
The Morgan Library & Museum
free — Free Fridays 5-8pm for everyone. Separate free historic-library-only access Tuesdays and Sundays 3-5pm excludes special exhibitions.
Offer hours: Fri 5-8pm
Reservations required. Official admission and tickets
Policy checked 2026-10-09.
New-York Historical Society
pay what you wish — Pay as you wish Friday evenings 5-8pm.
Offer hours: Fri 5-8pm
Booking requirement: Still verifying. Official admission and tickets
Policy checked 2026-10-09.
The Met Cloisters
pay what you wish — Pay-what-you-wish for New York State residents and NY/NJ/CT students. Tickets include same-day admission at both Met locations.
Offer hours: Sun-Tue, Thu-Sat 10am-5pm; closed Wednesday
Advance booking not required. Official admission and tickets
Policy checked 2026-10-09.
The Frick Collection
pay what you wish — Pay-what-you-wish Wednesdays 1:30-5:30pm. Free admission for ages 10-18; children under 10 are not admitted. First Fridays are a separate monthly program, not weekly admission.
Offer hours: Wed 1:30-5:30pm
Advance booking recommended. Official admission and tickets
Policy checked 2026-10-09.
Asia Society and Museum
free — Free Museum admission all day Friday for all visitors
Offer hours: Fri 11am-5pm
Booking requirement: Still verifying. Official admission and tickets
Policy checked 2026-09-16.
The detailed table scrolls horizontally on small screens.
| Museum | Admission | When | Hours | Booking conditions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| National Museum of the American Indian | free | every day | 10am-5pm daily | No tickets required. Closed December 25. |
| Museum of Modern Art | free with eligibility | Friday 5:30pm–8:30pm | 5:30pm-8:30pm | NY State ID required. Advance reservation required. Enter through 53rd St entrance. |
| Whitney Museum of American Art | free | Friday 5pm–10pm; second Sunday 10:30am–6pm | Fri 5-10pm; 2nd Sun 10:30am-6pm | Tickets required; capacity is limited. Advance reservations recommended. Friday free admission is for everyone. |
| The Metropolitan Museum of Art | pay what you wish | Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday | Sun-Tue, Thu 10am-5pm; Fri-Sat 10am-9pm; Closed Wed | NY State residents and NY/NJ/CT students only; minimum $0.01 per ticket. NY billing address required online; NJ/CT students buy in person with student ID. Advance tickets not required. |
| Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum | pay what you wish | Tuesday and Sunday 4pm–5:30pm | Tue and Sun 4–5:30pm | Use the official pay-what-you-wish ticket option. Check ticket availability before traveling. |
| New Museum | pay what you wish | Thursday 7pm–9pm | Thu 7-9pm | PWYW tickets must be reserved online in advance. Limited onsite PWYW tickets are not guaranteed. Regular hours Tue-Sun 11am-6pm; Thursday until 9pm; closed Monday. |
| The Morgan Library & Museum | free | Friday 5pm–8pm | Fri 5-8pm | Friday reservations required; tickets released one week ahead. Ordinary hours Tue-Sun 10:30am-5pm, Friday until 8pm; closed Monday, Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year's Day. |
| New-York Historical Society | pay what you wish | Friday 5pm–8pm | Fri 5-8pm | Ordinary hours Tue-Thu and Sat-Sun 11am-5pm; Friday 11am-8pm; closed Monday. Advance booking requirement: Still verifying. |
| The Met Cloisters | pay what you wish | Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday | Sun-Tue, Thu-Sat 10am-5pm; closed Wednesday | NY State residence or NY/NJ/CT student proof required; minimum $0.01 per ticket. NJ/CT students buy in person. Advance tickets not required. Closed Thanksgiving, December 25 and January 1. |
| The Frick Collection | pay what you wish | Wednesday 1:30pm–5:30pm | Wed 1:30-5:30pm | Timed tickets recommended. Online PWYW has a $5 minimum; different contributions including less than $5 are available onsite Wednesday, subject to capacity. Regular hours Mon, Wed-Sun 10:30am-5:30pm; closed Tuesday. First Friday event dates: Still verifying. |
| Asia Society and Museum | free | Friday | Fri 11am-5pm | Still verifying |
Plan your visit
Financial District / free
National Museum of the American Indian
1 Bowling Green, New York, NY 10004
Known closure: 2026-12-25 through 2026-12-25. Christmas Day closure. Official closure notice · checked 2026-10-09
Always free (Smithsonian)
Admission hours: 10am-5pm daily
Tickets and restrictions: No tickets required. Closed December 25.
Official admission source · Policy source checked 2026-09-05 · Full venue page
Midtown / free with eligibility
Museum of Modern Art
11 W 53rd St, New York, NY 10019
Known closure: 2026-11-26 through 2026-11-26. Thanksgiving closure. Official closure notice · checked 2026-10-09
Known closure: 2026-12-25 through 2026-12-25. Christmas Day closure. Official closure notice · checked 2026-10-09
Uniqlo Free Fridays -- free for NY State residents 5:30-8:30pm
Admission hours: 5:30pm-8:30pm
Tickets and restrictions: NY State ID required. Advance reservation required. Enter through 53rd St entrance.
Official admission source · Tickets / registration · Policy source checked 2026-09-05 · Full venue page
Meatpacking District / free
Whitney Museum of American Art
99 Gansevoort St, New York, NY 10014
Free Friday evenings 5-10pm for all visitors. Free 2nd Sunday of every month. Visitors 25 and under always free.
Separate offer: Free with age eligibility. Ages 25 and under. During ordinary museum opening hours; not limited to Friday or second Sunday. Tickets required. Official eligibility details · checked 2026-09-05
Admission hours: Fri 5-10pm; 2nd Sun 10:30am-6pm
Tickets and restrictions: Tickets required; capacity is limited. Advance reservations recommended. Friday free admission is for everyone.
Official admission source · Tickets / registration · Policy source checked 2026-09-05 · Full venue page
Upper East Side / pay what you wish
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
1000 5th Ave, New York, NY 10028
Known closure: 2026-11-26 through 2026-11-26. Thanksgiving closure. Official closure notice · checked 2026-10-09
Known closure: 2026-12-25 through 2026-12-25. Christmas Day closure. Official closure notice · checked 2026-10-09
Known closure: 2027-01-01 through 2027-01-01. New Year’s Day closure. Official closure notice · checked 2026-10-09
Pay-what-you-wish for NY State residents and students from NY/NJ/CT
Admission hours: Sun-Tue, Thu 10am-5pm; Fri-Sat 10am-9pm; Closed Wed
Tickets and restrictions: NY State residents and NY/NJ/CT students only; minimum $0.01 per ticket. NY billing address required online; NJ/CT students buy in person with student ID. Advance tickets not required.
Official admission source · Tickets / registration · Policy source checked 2026-09-05 · Full venue page
Upper East Side / pay what you wish
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
1071 5th Ave, New York, NY 10128
Pay what you wish every Tuesday and Sunday, 4–5:30pm.
Admission hours: Tue and Sun 4–5:30pm
Tickets and restrictions: Use the official pay-what-you-wish ticket option. Check ticket availability before traveling.
Official admission source · Tickets / registration · Policy source checked 2026-09-05 · Full venue page
Lower East Side / pay what you wish
New Museum
235 Bowery, New York, NY 10002
Pay-what-you-wish Thursdays 7-9pm. Youth ages 18 and under enter free during regular hours.
Admission hours: Thu 7-9pm
Tickets and restrictions: PWYW tickets must be reserved online in advance. Limited onsite PWYW tickets are not guaranteed. Regular hours Tue-Sun 11am-6pm; Thursday until 9pm; closed Monday.
Official admission source · Tickets / registration · Policy source checked 2026-10-09 · Full venue page
Murray Hill / free
The Morgan Library & Museum
225 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10016
Known closure: 2026-11-26 through 2026-11-26. Thanksgiving closure. Official closure notice · checked 2026-10-09
Known closure: 2026-12-25 through 2026-12-25. Christmas Day closure. Official closure notice · checked 2026-10-09
Known closure: 2027-01-01 through 2027-01-01. New Year’s Day closure. Official closure notice · checked 2026-10-09
Free Fridays 5-8pm for everyone. Separate free historic-library-only access Tuesdays and Sundays 3-5pm excludes special exhibitions.
Admission hours: Fri 5-8pm
Tickets and restrictions: Friday reservations required; tickets released one week ahead. Ordinary hours Tue-Sun 10:30am-5pm, Friday until 8pm; closed Monday, Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year's Day.
Official admission source · Tickets / registration · Policy source checked 2026-10-09 · Full venue page
Upper West Side / pay what you wish
New-York Historical Society
170 Central Park West, New York, NY 10024
Pay as you wish Friday evenings 5-8pm.
Admission hours: Fri 5-8pm
Tickets and restrictions: Ordinary hours Tue-Thu and Sat-Sun 11am-5pm; Friday 11am-8pm; closed Monday. Advance booking requirement: Still verifying.
Official admission source · Tickets / registration · Policy source checked 2026-10-09 · Full venue page
Fort Tryon Park / pay what you wish
The Met Cloisters
99 Margaret Corbin Dr, New York, NY 10040
Known closure: 2026-11-26 through 2026-11-26. Thanksgiving closure. Official closure notice · checked 2026-10-09
Known closure: 2026-12-25 through 2026-12-25. Christmas Day closure. Official closure notice · checked 2026-10-09
Known closure: 2027-01-01 through 2027-01-01. New Year’s Day closure. Official closure notice · checked 2026-10-09
Pay-what-you-wish for New York State residents and NY/NJ/CT students. Tickets include same-day admission at both Met locations.
Admission hours: Sun-Tue, Thu-Sat 10am-5pm; closed Wednesday
Tickets and restrictions: NY State residence or NY/NJ/CT student proof required; minimum $0.01 per ticket. NJ/CT students buy in person. Advance tickets not required. Closed Thanksgiving, December 25 and January 1.
Official admission source · Tickets / registration · Policy source checked 2026-10-09 · Full venue page
Upper East Side / pay what you wish
The Frick Collection
1 East 70th Street, New York, NY 10021
Known closure: 2026-11-26 through 2026-11-26. Thanksgiving closure. Official closure notice · checked 2026-10-09
Known closure: 2026-12-25 through 2026-12-25. Christmas Day closure. Official closure notice · checked 2026-10-09
Known closure: 2027-01-01 through 2027-01-01. New Year’s Day closure. Official closure notice · checked 2026-10-09
Pay-what-you-wish Wednesdays 1:30-5:30pm. Free admission for ages 10-18; children under 10 are not admitted. First Fridays are a separate monthly program, not weekly admission.
Admission hours: Wed 1:30-5:30pm
Tickets and restrictions: Timed tickets recommended. Online PWYW has a $5 minimum; different contributions including less than $5 are available onsite Wednesday, subject to capacity. Regular hours Mon, Wed-Sun 10:30am-5:30pm; closed Tuesday. First Friday event dates: Still verifying.
Official admission source · Tickets / registration · Policy source checked 2026-10-09 · Full venue page
Upper East Side / free
Asia Society and Museum
725 Park Ave, New York, NY 10021
Known closure: 2026-11-26 through 2026-11-26. Thanksgiving closure. Official closure notice · checked 2026-10-09
Known closure: 2026-12-25 through 2026-12-25. Christmas Day closure. Official closure notice · checked 2026-10-09
Known closure: 2027-01-01 through 2027-01-01. New Year’s Day closure. Official closure notice · checked 2026-10-09
Free Museum admission all day Friday for all visitors
Admission hours: Fri 11am-5pm
Tickets and restrictions: Museum open Wed-Sun 11am-5pm. SNAP/EBT cardholders free anytime with up to 4 guests; visitors with disabilities plus one guest and ages 16 and under always free.
Official admission source · Policy source checked 2026-09-16 · Full venue page
A weekend in Manhattan
The National Museum of the American Indian works for a daytime Saturday or Sunday visit. For Saturday evening, compare the Met’s admission rules. Sunday brings Guggenheim’s short pay-what-you-wish window and Whitney’s monthly second-Sunday offer.
Neighborhood walks
Check the date before you go
Calendar calculated for 2026-11-07. Newest policy check among these museums: 2026-10-09. Policy verification dates appear with each museum and do not change merely because the calendar rebuilds. Holidays, ticket capacity and special closures can override regular hours. This is a curated selection, not a complete list of every NYC museum; see all venues.
Choose the next step
- Thanksgiving museum openings — Check confirmed openings, closures and unannounced schedules for 2026-11-26; ordinary weekdays do not confirm holiday opening.
- Christmas Day museum openings — Check confirmed openings, closures and unannounced schedules for 2026-12-25; ordinary weekdays do not confirm holiday opening.
- New Year’s Day museum openings — Check confirmed openings, closures and unannounced schedules for 2027-01-01; ordinary weekdays do not confirm holiday opening.
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day museum openings — Check confirmed openings, closures and unannounced schedules for 2027-01-18; ordinary weekdays do not confirm holiday opening.