The Free List / OPENING
NYC museums open on Tuesday
Tuesday museum options include the National Museum of the American Indian, the Met Fifth Avenue and Guggenheim. MoMA PS1 and Queens Museum are closed on their ordinary Tuesday schedules. Guggenheim’s afternoon pay-what-you-wish window covers only part of its opening day.
Your planning questions
Ordinary opening hours
NMAI: 10am–5pm. Met Fifth Avenue: 10am–5pm. Guggenheim: 10:30am–5:30pm, with pay what you wish from 4–5:30pm. The morning at Guggenheim uses a different admission category.
NMAI official New York visit information · Guggenheim official tickets and hours · Met official hours
Plan by location and budget
If you want a no-charge daytime option, start with NMAI. If you prefer an Upper East Side museum visit, compare the Met’s eligibility rules with Guggenheim’s limited afternoon offer. A normal opening day and a free-entry window are separate facts.
Holiday exceptions matter
These hours were checked September 5, 2026. The Met closes on Thanksgiving, December 25, January 1 and the first Monday in May. NMAI closes December 25. Check the official location page again for special closures before a holiday trip. The list is selected, not an inventory of every open NYC museum.
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.
| Museum | Admission | When | Hours | Booking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| National Museum of the American Indian | free | every day | 10am-5pm daily | not required |
| 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 | required / recommended |
| Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum | pay what you wish | Tuesday and Sunday 4pm–5:30pm | Tue and Sun 4–5:30pm | required / recommended |
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
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
Check the date before you go
Calendar calculated for 2026-10-09. Newest policy check among these museums: 2026-09-05. 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.