The Free List / WEEKDAY
Free museums in NYC on Tuesday
On Tuesday, the National Museum of the American Indian is a free option. Guggenheim offers a short pay-what-you-wish afternoon window. MoMA PS1 and the Queens Museum are closed on Tuesdays.
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.
Center for Brooklyn History
free — Free admission. Part of Brooklyn Public Library system.
Offer hours: Mon–Fri 10am–6pm; Sat 10am–4pm; closed Sun
Booking requirement: Still verifying. 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.
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 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. |
| Center for Brooklyn History | free | Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday | Mon–Fri 10am–6pm; Sat 10am–4pm; closed Sun | Still verifying |
| 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. |
| 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. |
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.
Next matching policy dates: 2026-11-10, 2026-11-17, 2026-11-24, 2026-12-01 These are calculated from the policy, not confirmed ticket availability.
Official admission source · Policy source checked 2026-09-05 · Full venue page
Brooklyn Heights / free
Center for Brooklyn History
128 Pierrepont St, Brooklyn, NY 11201
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
Known closure: 2027-01-18 through 2027-01-18. Martin Luther King Jr. Day closure. Official closure notice · checked 2026-10-09
Free admission. Part of Brooklyn Public Library system.
Admission hours: Mon–Fri 10am–6pm; Sat 10am–4pm; closed Sun
Tickets and restrictions: Othmer Library has separate hours. Check library holiday closures.
Next matching policy dates: 2026-11-10, 2026-11-17, 2026-11-24, 2026-12-01 These are calculated from the policy, not confirmed ticket availability.
Official admission source · 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.
Next matching policy dates: 2026-11-10, 2026-11-17, 2026-11-24, 2026-12-01 These are calculated from the policy, not confirmed ticket availability.
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.
Next matching policy dates: 2026-11-10, 2026-11-17, 2026-11-24, 2026-12-01 These are calculated from the policy, not confirmed ticket availability.
Official admission source · Tickets / registration · Policy source checked 2026-09-05 · 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.
Next matching policy dates: 2026-11-10, 2026-11-17, 2026-11-24, 2026-12-01 These are calculated from the policy, not confirmed ticket availability.
Official admission source · Tickets / registration · Policy source checked 2026-10-09 · Full venue page
Check the date before you go
Calendar calculated for 2026-11-10. 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.