Think New York City’s museums are too expensive to visit? Think again. There are free museums in New York City open to students all year round.
Whether you’re interested in art museums, fashion exhibits, or even a harbour defence museum, you’ll find something that suits you in this great city.
While New York does not have a policy that scraps entry fees to museums and galleries for all visitors, there are places for you to see art and other treasures if you’re on a tight student budget.
Below is a list of must-see free museums in New York City, why we love them and how you can book your free tickets:
4 free museums in New York City every international student should know
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1. American Folk Art Musuem
Step into the American Folk Art Museum to discover and appreciate folk art (art which reflects the cultural life of a community) at your own pace.
Its collection includes more than 8,000 works of art from four centuries and nearly every continent. Here, you’ll find compelling portraits, dazzling quilts, and works in various mediums.
The American Folk Art Museum also houses the nation’s premier collection of American folk art from the 18th century.
Opening hours:
Daily: 11.30 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. (Closed on Mondays)
See full opening hours.
Admission is free. You can also book your free tickets here.
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2. The Bronx Museum
If you’re looking for free museums in New York City with loads of attitude and rich cultural history, head to the Bronx Museum.
This is where you can know more about the place that made Jennifer Lopez, Cardi B and Fat Joe who they are.
Founded in 1971, the Bronx Museum focuses on contemporary art — the kind that shows the “stories, voices, and visions of artists who seek a more just and equitable world.”
While it has contemporary and 20th-century works created by American artists, you can also find art and design from Latin America, Africa, and Asia.
Admission is free, but the museum suggests visitors reserve their free tickets in advance.
Opening hours:
Daily: 1.00 p.m. to 6.00 p.m. (Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays)
They are closed to the public on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.
Reserve your tickets here.
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3. The Museum at FIT
Located near Empire State Building, this museum is associated with the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), a public college dedicated to all things fashion.
The Museum at FIT (MFIT) is best known for its innovative and award-winning special exhibitions.
Take London Fashion, for example. It was the first major exhibition in the US which received the first Richard Martin Award for Excellence in the Exhibition of Costume from the Costume Society of America.
You can spend hours browsing through the galleries of avant-garde garments, designer dresses and historical clothing. You can even find the dress Michelle Obama wore during the 2009 inauguration.
Admission to one of our favourite free museums in New York City is free.
Opening hours:
Daily: Noon to 8 p.m. (Wednesday to Friday), 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Saturday to Sunday)
They are closed on Mondays, Tuesdays, and the following legal holidays: Independence Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.
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4. National Museum of the American Indian
Rated as one of the best free museums in New York City, the National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) is part of the Smithsonian Institution, the world’s largest museum complex.
This museum has a vast collection of Native artefacts, including objects, photographs, archives, and media covering the entire Western Hemisphere, from the Arctic Circle to Tierra del Fuego.
One of the current exhibitions features photographs that explore an issue that is connected to the lives of Native people in a specific community.
One photographer reveals how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the Navajo Nation — capturing how individuals, families, healthcare workers, and officials have responded to the pandemic.
Entrance to the museum is free, and you do not need to buy any tickets.
Opening hours:
Daily: 10.00 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed on Christmas)