The Free List / PLANNING
Pay-what-you-wish museums in NYC
Pay what you wish does not always mean zero-cost admission, and the rules differ by museum. The Met limits its suggested-admission offer by residence or student status; Guggenheim limits its offer by time. Queens Museum publishes a different policy. Compare those conditions before choosing a ticket.
Your planning questions
Choose by the restriction you can meet
Start with eligibility, then your available day. A visitor who cannot use the Met’s resident or regional student offer can still compare Guggenheim’s Tuesday and Sunday afternoon windows with Queens Museum. A New York State resident has more flexibility at the Met. A timed offer does not make the whole day pay what you wish.
When your budget is exactly zero
Use the free-admission comparison for options such as the National Museum of the American Indian and MoMA PS1. If you want a Friday evening, compare Whitney’s all-visitor free offer with MoMA’s New York State resident offer. Check tickets before traveling; a free price is not a guarantee of remaining capacity.
Make a backup plan
Choose a second museum whose eligibility and opening day also work for your group. Do not treat a sold-out ticket page as permission to walk in, or a suggested donation as a confirmed zero-dollar ticket. The official admission links below are the final place to check the amount and booking options.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Queens Museum | pay what you wish | Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday | Wed-Fri 12-5pm; Sat-Sun 11am-5pm | not required |
Plan your visit
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
Flushing Meadows / pay what you wish
Queens Museum
NYC Building, Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens, NY 11368
Pay-what-you-wish always
Admission hours: Wed-Fri 12-5pm; Sat-Sun 11am-5pm
Tickets and restrictions: Reserve a timed ticket before visiting. Last gallery entry 4:30pm. Closed Mon–Tue. Children 12 and under and IDNYC cardholders qualify for free admission; bring applicable ID.
Official admission source · 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.