New York City Museums
...many Museums are actually FREE? Yes, they are!
Did you know it is possible to see two New York City museums every day for a year and still not cover them all? NYC Museums range from the world-renowned Metropolitan Museum of Art NYC and American Museum of Natural History NYC, to the more specialized, such as The New York City Police Museum or the Museum of American Finance.
NYC Insider Tip
Suggested Donation vs. Admission Price
Many New York City Museums are non-profit organizations. Their goal is to make art and culture affordable to everyone. As non-profits, they ask for a "suggested donation" or contribution to access the museum, rather than an admission price. Pay attention when evaluating sightseeing passes, if the "price" is suggested donation or an actual admission cost. Please do donate as these Museums are priceless and the money donated goes back into the NYC Museums, so we can all enjoy them.
Most New York City Museums also offer Free or "Pay-What-You-Wish" days and times. Some are listed at NYC Museums and on the NYC Museums and Tours cheat sheet in the NYC Print Guide and free Mini Guide.
Most Popular New York City Museums
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New York City Museums -MoMA
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Museum of Modern Art NYC |
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Admission included with New York CityPass, New York Pass and a choice on the New York Explorer Pass
Plan your day at MOMA with the interactive MoMA tool highlighting the best days to visit and best touring plan, based on your preferences.
NYC Insider Ways to Visit the MoMA
1) MOMA Thursday Nights: see all the museum attractions with an added bonus of live music and cash bar cocktails in the The Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Sculpture Garden. The summer music selection showcases Brazil and China. Performances at 5:30 and 7:00 pm. The Garden Cart sells gelato and sorbetto from Il Laboratorio del Gelato and Terrace 5 is open for light refreshments inside the Museum on the fifth floor. Regular NYC Museums admission applies.
2) The Modern - This is not a typical New York City Museum cafe. Everything from the food to the atmosphere and scenery is exquisite. The Modern is part of Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group, which also owns Union Square Cafe, Gramercy Tavern, Eleven Madison Park, Tabla and many other of NYC's top rated restaurants. The dining room overlooks the sculpture garden in the middle of the museum and food itself is practically art. Of all the dining in New York City Museums, this is likely the nicest
3) Target Free Fridays: Like many New York City Museums, MOMA offers free admission every Friday evening from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m.
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NYC Museums - The Met
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Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art NYC |
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"Suggested Contribution" made with New York CityPass, New York Pass or a choice on the New York Explorer Pass
NYC Insider Ways to Visit the Met
1) Friday and Saturday night, 6-8 pm, The Met hosts a classical string quartet above the Great Hall. The atmosphere is magical and it doesn't get more quintessential New York.
The MET Roof Garden Café
You can purchase cocktails and appetizers at the Balcony Bar, and if you get there early enough, grab one of the little tables with candles. You still get to see some beautiful art and no ticket purchase is necessary.
During the summer, make sure to check out the Martini Bar on the Roof Garden Café.
Metropolitan Museum of Art Rooftop Café 2011 |
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April 26 – October 30, 2011 |
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Skyline Views, Art and Cocktails - what more can you ask for? Every summer, the Met opens the Martini Bar on the Roof Garden Café, an 8,000-square-foot, informal, outdoor setting with breathtaking panoramic views of the Manhattan skyline and Central Park. |
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New York City Museum Hours
Monday: Closed (Except Met Holiday Mondays)
Tuesday–Thursday: 9:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
Friday and Saturday: 9:30 a.m.–9:00 p.m.
Sunday: 9:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day
Read all about Jean's Art Lovers Tour of NYC Museums
NYC Museums - Guggenheim Museum NYC
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Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum NYC |
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Admission included as a choice on New York CityPass (or Top of the Rock), included with the New York Pass or as a choice on the New York Explorer Pass
NYC Insider Ways to Visit the Guggenheim Museum
1) First Fridays at the Guggenheim: What better way to kick off a weekend than with cocktails and the City’s hottest DJs deep in the dramatic swirls of the gorgeous Guggenheim Museum? The galleries to visitors to explore the breathtaking exhibitions of contemporary art in this monumental Frank Lloyd Wright-designed building, $25.
2) Pay-What-You-Wish: Saturday evenings from 5:45–7:45 pm
3) Guggenheim Museum Soho: always free. 575 Broadway (at Prince St). Closed Tues/Wed.
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American Museum of Natural History
NYC
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Museum of Natural History Suggested Contribution (museum only): $16, $9 ages 2-12;
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Only New York CityPass includes the Planetarium.
Many New Yorkers think this is the best of all the New York City Museums. The Planetarium is well worth the price. Anyone who grew up in NY fondly remembers their class trips and Saturdays with their parents at the Planetarium. Check out the spectacular new Space Show, "Journey to the Stars," narrated by Whoopi Goldberg, that premiered July 4, 2009. Show times approximately every half hour.
New York City Museums - Statue of Liberty
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If visiting the Statue of Liberty and getting inside the Statue of Liberty Museum and/or climbing Lady Liberty's Crown is important to you, then stop right here and reserve your Statue of Liberty tickets (Monument Access Pass), either with or without $3.00 Crown Access now! |
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9-11 Ground Zero Memorial and Museum |
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The 9/11 Memorial will be dedicated on the 10th anniversary of 9/11 and be open the public on September 12, 2011. Free tickets to view the Memorial will be available beginning Summer 2011. |
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Ground Zero Museum Workshop
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Ground Zero Museum Workshop $25 adults, $19 seniors, $19 kids (under 4 free) Daily Guided Tours (Reservations Required): |
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The Ground Zero Museum Workshop is a non-profit state museum with artifacts, photos, history, stories, remnants and more. The ticket proceeds are used to cover the museum's operating costs and also shared with FDNY and 9/11 charities. The actual Ground Zero site does not lend itself to tours, although they do have a walking tour, which is excellent, but not child-friendly. To really get a feel for what happened on that day, this New York City Museum is a must-see. There are a lot of child-friendly sections since much of this museum is dedicated to showing the children of victims, who were too young to understand at the time, what happened on 9/11/01 and the days immediately following. You may want to go to the WTC site as well, which is currently a construction zone for the new WTC Towers. NYC Insider Way: seeing the faces and names of family and friends who were lost on 9/11. This is one area where you are definitely better off not being a NYC Insider! Please do go, pay the full price of admission, and pay your respects to the innocent people who were lost that tragic day, and to those who fought to save them. |
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Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum
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Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum $19.50 adults, $15.50 seniors, $14.50 kids (under 2 free). Included in New York Pass and a choice on New York Explorer Pass. |
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The Intrepid is a such a great New York City Museum attraction - and not to stereotype - but especially for boys and men. However, the Intprepid offers something for the whole family and was one of my favorite NYC things to do as a kid. The Museum is centered on the aircraft carrier Intrepid (CVS-11), one of the most successful ships in US history and features a range of interactive exhibits and events providing a snapshot of heroism, education, and excitement and one of the most unique attractions in New York City. With outdoor movies in the summer, Kids Week in February and special Veteran's Day activities, the Intrepid has something for everyone all year round. Best For: Kids or anyone really interested in War history and transportation. (PS – this is my Dad’s all-time favorite thing to do in NYC, except eating, of course). NYC Insider Way: Sorry, but private events, such as weddings and charity balls, are the true insider way to have this spectacular museum to yourself for a night. |
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Other New York City Museums
The Paley Center for Media (formerly Museum of Television and Radio)
The New York City Police Museum - The NYPD's tribute to 165 years of service features exhibits on its history and the tools of its trade, including vintage uniforms, squad cars and firearms. More notorious artifacts are also on view, including a gun used by one of Al Capone's minions in the 1928 murder of Frankie Yale. Visitors can participate in a simulated police gunfight, see a model jail cell and a 9/11 memorial.
Museum of the City of New York
The New Museum - Founded in 1977, the New Museum is a leading destination for new art and new ideas. It is Manhattan's only dedicated contemporary art museum and is respected internationally for the adventurousness and global scope of its curatorial program. Lower East Side
Like the rest of New York City, many of our less famous Museums are some of the best kept secrets. Examples include, The Frick Collection, The Morgan Library, The Cooper Hewitt, The New York Historical Society, The Museum of The City of New York and International Center for Photography.
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Recent New York City Museums News
Two for One Admission at Eight NYC Museums
Get Two for One Admission at Eight New York City Museums through May 31, 2011. The New York City Museum Discovery Pass includes 2 for 1 admission to American Folk Art Museum, Asia Society Museum, International Center of Photography, Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art, Museum of Arts and Design, Museum of Chinese in America, Noguchi Museum and Rubin Museum of Art. Download your New York City Museum Discovery Pass today and start saving!
Kids Week at the Intrepid Museum |
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February 19 - 27, 2011 |
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See 9 (Nine) New York City Museums for $25 |
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Get $50 of Museum Entries for just $25 with the Downtown Culture Pass! See how the Brooklyn Bridge was made at the Skyscraper Museum, uncover what makes the NYPD New York's finest at the New York City Police Museum, find out just exactly what default swaps are at the Museum of American Finance (in photo at left). Must sees include the Tribute WTC Visitor Center and the 9/11 Memorial Preview Site. Also included: Museum of Jewish Heritage and National Museum of the American Indian. |
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How It Works: For a limited time, spend $25 (regularly $50) and get two adult passes to explore eight of Lower Manhattan's museums. Or, $30 gets you two adult and two children's tickets (an $80 value). Each pass gives you access to eight of the Financial District's treasured cultural institutions. You can head straight to the Downtown Culture Pass or, if you missed the limited time deal, the Downtown Culture Pass is always a bargain. |
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NYC Museums free days and times for every New York City Museum
New York City Museums free days and times downloadable chart.
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NYC Museums
See the best, interesting and FREE ways to visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art NYC, Guggenheim Museum NYC, Museum of Modern Art NYC, Museum of Natural History NYC and and more.
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NYC Sample Sale
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