Free Museums in New York City
The Met, MoMA (Fridays for NY residents), and several other NYC museums offer free admission on specific days or are always free.
4 places · 1 free · Updated Oct 2026
Starry Night, Campbell's Soup Cans, Les Demoiselles d'Avignon -- they're all here. Free for NYS residents Friday evenings 5:30-8:30pm (UNIQLO Free Fridays -- reserve online, bring proof of residency). Kids under 16 always free. Six floors.
2 million works, 5,000 years of art. NYS residents pay what they wish -- minimum $0.01, making this effectively free for locals. One ticket covers same-day entry to Met Fifth Avenue, Met Breuer, and the Cloisters. The rooftop garden bar (seasonal) has the Central Park views.
Frank Lloyd Wright's spiral rotunda is the real draw -- the building itself is the most famous exhibit. Walk the continuous ramp past modern and contemporary art. Pay what you wish on Saturdays from 4-6pm. Kids under 12 always free. The current cafe has good views.
American art from the 20th and 21st centuries in a Renzo Piano building at the foot of the High Line. The outdoor terraces have Hudson River views. Pay what you wish Friday evenings 5-10pm. Kids under 18 always free. The permanent collection includes Hopper, O'Keeffe, and Basquiat.