Unlike London or Washington DC, New York’s major museums are mostly private and charge admission. But nearly every one offers free or pay-what-you-wish windows — you just need to know when. Time Out has the full rundown of 23 institutions across all five boroughs.

Manhattan museums with free entry:

  • Metropolitan Museum of Art — Pay what you wish for New York State residents (show ID at the ticket counter)
  • American Museum of Natural History — Suggested donation for NY state residents (special exhibits extra)
  • MoMA — Free first Friday of the month, 5:30-8:30pm for NY state residents (reserve online in advance)
  • Guggenheim — Pay what you wish Sundays and Tuesdays, 4-5:30pm ($1 minimum)
  • Whitney Museum — Free Fridays 5-10pm and second Sunday of every month; visitors 25 and under are always free
  • Frick Collection — Pay what you wish Wednesdays, 1:30-5:30pm ($5 minimum online, no minimum in person)
  • Morgan Library & Museum — Free Fridays, 5-8pm (reservations required, released one week ahead)
  • New York Historical — Pay what you wish Fridays, 5-8pm
  • Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum — Pay what you wish 5-6pm daily
  • National Museum of the American Indian — Always free, no ticket required
  • Hispanic Society of America — Always free (donations suggested)
  • American Folk Art Museum — Always free (advance reservation suggested)
  • Jewish Museum — Free on Saturdays and select Jewish holidays; children under 18 always free
  • Neue Galerie — Free first Friday of the month, 5-8pm (first-come, no children under 12)
  • International Center of Photography — Reduced $5 admission Thursdays 5-8pm; free third Thursday of the month

Brooklyn:

  • Brooklyn Museum — Free First Saturdays, 5-10pm on select months (advance registration required)

Queens:

  • Queens Museum — Pay what you wish daily (suggested $8)
  • Museum of the Moving Image — Free Thursdays, 2-6pm
  • Queens County Farm Museum — Free except on special event days

Bronx & Manhattan:

  • Bronx Museum of the Arts — Always free
  • El Museo del Barrio — Pay what you wish daily (suggested $9)
  • Asia Society — Free Fridays, 6-9pm (except July 1 through Labor Day)

Lower Manhattan:

  • 9/11 Memorial & Museum — Free Mondays, 5:30-7pm

Many of these require advance reservations (MoMA, Whitney, Morgan Library, Brooklyn Museum) or proof of NY state residency (Met, AMNH, MoMA). Check individual museum websites before heading out — especially the ones that require timed entry slots.