About NYCFreeGuide

NYCFreeGuide is a map-and-list guide to New York City museums that are always free or pay what you wish. It's built for New Yorkers looking for something to do this weekend without spending money. Right now it lists 80 museums, galleries and historic sites across all five boroughs.

What the badges mean

Always Free No charge, ever, for the group listed on the museum's page.

Pay What You Wish There's a suggested price, but any amount is accepted. Some museums offer this only to NYC or New York State residents, so check who qualifies on each page.

We don't list museums that are free only on certain days or hours yet (like Friday nights at some big museums).

Where the data comes from

Our starting list is the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA) list of museums with free and suggested admission (last updated July 2026). Before any museum goes live, we check its admission policy, address and hours on the museum's own website and record the date. Every museum is re-checked monthly.

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Photos come from Wikimedia Commons and are credited on each image under their licenses.

Confirm before you go

Admission policies, hours and exhibitions change, and galleries often close between shows. Always confirm with the museum before your visit. Spotted something wrong? Tell us and we'll fix it within 48 hours.

Featured listings

Some listings may be marked Featured. These are paid placements, always labeled, and shown first. Payment never changes the admission information we publish.

Contact

Businesses interested in a Featured listing or newsletter sponsorship can reach us through the contact form.