Pay-What-You-Wish & Free Admission
Your legal right as a New York State resident. Pay what you wish at the Met, AMNH, and more. No card, no coupon, no app.
How pay-what-you-wish works
The legal basis
Under New York State law and the Met's 1878 founding lease with NYC, museums on City-owned land must provide free or pay-what-you-wish admission. The 1970 Parks Department authorization formalized this as "suggested admission."
What to do
Show your NY State ID (driver's license, state ID, IDNYC, or other proof of residency) at the admissions desk. Say "I'm a New York resident, pay-what-you-wish please." They'll hand you a ticket. You can say "$0" and no one will question it.
Pay-what-you-wish museums
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Pay-what-you-wish for NY State residents and NY/NJ/CT students
Included: All permanent galleries, most exhibitions, same-day entry to both The Met Fifth Avenue and The Met Cloisters
You MUST purchase PWYW tickets IN PERSON at the admissions desk — cannot buy PWYW online unless you have a NY State billing address. Out-of-state visitors pay $30. Children under 12 always free. The Met Breuer is now Frick Madison (not covered by Met PWYW). The Met Cloisters is included.
American Museum of Natural History
Pay-what-you-wish for NY, NJ, and CT residents (General Admission only)
Included: All 45 permanent exhibition halls, including the fossil halls (dinosaurs), Hall of Ocean Life, Hall of Human Origins, Rose Center for Earth and Space, Gilder Center, and several included special exhibitions
Must reserve PWYW tickets online in advance (select NY/NJ/CT resident checkbox). Non-residents pay $30 General Admission. You can also enter free during the last hour (4:30pm-5:30pm) if slots available. Children under 3 free.
Brooklyn Museum
Pay-what-you-wish (suggested contribution) for ALL visitors — no residency requirement
Included: All permanent collection galleries including Ancient Egyptian Art, American Art, Arts of Asia, The Dinner Party by Judy Chicago, Visible Storage and Study Center
Suggested contribution is $20 adults, $14 seniors/students. You can pay less or nothing. Children under 19 always free. Also offers Museum & Garden combo pass with Brooklyn Botanic Garden.
Queens Museum
Pay-what-you-wish for ALL visitors — no residency requirement
Included: All galleries and exhibitions, including the Panorama of the City of New York (9,335 sq ft scale model), and all current exhibitions
Suggested contribution: $8 adults, $6 seniors/students. Free for children 12 and under, IDNYC holders, and members. Always free (PWYW means you can pay any amount including $0).
El Museo del Barrio
Pay-what-you-wish (Pay-What-You-Can) for ALL visitors — no residency requirement
Included: All galleries and exhibitions of Latin American, Caribbean, and Latino art
Suggested contribution: $9 adults, $5 students/seniors. Children under 12 and members free. Admission also grants entry to Museum of the City of New York on same day. Located on Museum Mile in East Harlem (El Barrio).
The Frick Collection
Pay-what-you-wish Wednesdays 1:30-5:30pm for ALL visitors — limited availability
Included: Full access to permanent collection galleries and special exhibitions (same as regular admission)
Regular admission: $30 adults, $22 seniors, $17 students. Free for ages 10-18. PWYW Wednesdays require advance online reservation. Louis Vuitton First Fridays (first Fri of month, 5:30-9pm, excl Jan/Sep) are also free. Recently reopened after renovation at its historic 70th St mansion (no longer at Frick Madison/Breuer building).
Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Pay-what-you-wish Winter Weekdays (Tuesday-Friday, December-February) for ALL visitors; free Community Tickets every day
Included: Full access to 52 acres of gardens, conservatories, and greenhouses
Regular admission: $22 adults, $16 seniors (65+)/students (12+ with ID), children under 12 free. Winter Weekdays (Dec-Feb, Tue-Fri): pay what you wish for all visitors. Community Tickets: a portion of each day's tickets available free to anyone who needs them — reserve at bbg.org/tickets, supported by JPMorgan Chase. Has Museum & Garden combo pass with Brooklyn Museum. Free for members year-round.
Staten Island Museum
Pay-what-you-wish for ALL visitors — suggested donation
Included: All exhibitions covering art, natural science, and local history of Staten Island
Suggested donation. Part of Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden. The grounds of Snug Harbor are free dawn to dusk.
Museum of Arts and Design (MAD)
Pay-what-you-wish Thursdays 6-8pm for all visitors
Included: All galleries and exhibitions of contemporary craft, art, and design across all media — jewelry, ceramics, glass, fiber, wood, metal
General admission $20 adults, $16 seniors, $14 students. Under 12 free. PWYW Thursdays 6-8pm — groups must book in advance. Free docent tours at 11:30am Wed, 2:30pm Thu, 11:30am & 2:30pm Fri-Sun.
Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum
Pay-what-you-wish daily 5-6pm for all visitors
Included: All galleries and exhibitions of contemporary and historic design. The Cooper Hewitt is the only museum in the US dedicated exclusively to historic and contemporary design.
General admission $22 adults, $16 seniors, $10 students/disabled visitors. Under 18 always free. PWYW daily 5-6pm — no advance booking needed for PWYW hour. Part of the Smithsonian Institution. The museum occupies the historic Andrew Carnegie Mansion.
Always free museums
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Pay-what-you-wish for NY State residents and NY/NJ/CT students
You MUST purchase PWYW tickets IN PERSON at the admissions desk — cannot buy PWYW online unless you have a NY State billing address. Out-of-state visitors pay $30. Children under 12 always free. The Met Breuer is now Frick Madison (not covered by Met PWYW). The Met Cloisters is included.
Brooklyn Museum
Pay-what-you-wish (suggested contribution) for ALL visitors — no residency requirement
Suggested contribution is $20 adults, $14 seniors/students. You can pay less or nothing. Children under 19 always free. Also offers Museum & Garden combo pass with Brooklyn Botanic Garden.
Queens Museum
Pay-what-you-wish for ALL visitors — no residency requirement
Suggested contribution: $8 adults, $6 seniors/students. Free for children 12 and under, IDNYC holders, and members. Always free (PWYW means you can pay any amount including $0).
Museum of the City of New York
Pay-what-you-can for NYC residents (in-person only); Free for everyone on Wednesdays
Suggested general admission: $23 adults, $18 seniors (65+) with ID, $14 students (19+) with ID. Ages 18 and under always free. NYC residents: pay what you can (in person at ticket counter only — online tickets are full price). Free for everyone on Wednesdays (tickets at counter). Also offers free entry to El Museo del Barrio with same-day admission sticker.
MoMA PS1
FREE for ALL visitors (as of January 1, 2026; through 2028). Previously PWYW/free for NY residents only.
MoMA PS1 went completely free for all visitors on Jan 1, 2026 for 3 years (2026-2028), funded by a $900K gift from Sonya Yu. It is now NYC's largest free museum. Previously was free for NY residents only ($10 for others). Located in Long Island City, Queens. Also free admission with MoMA main building ticket within 14 days.
Bronx Museum of the Arts
ALWAYS FREE — no admission fee ever charged
Completely free every day — no suggested donation, no pay-what-you-wish, just free. A Cultural Institutions Group (CIG) member. Located on the Grand Concourse.
National Museum of the American Indian (Smithsonian)
ALWAYS FREE — Smithsonian Institution, never charges admission
Part of the Smithsonian Institution — always free. Located in the historic Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House building. Near Battery Park and the Staten Island Ferry terminal.
The Jewish Museum
Free admission every Saturday; regular hours PWYW on select days
Free every Saturday and select Jewish holidays. Regular admission $22 adults, $12 seniors, $8 students. Under 18 always free. Free Saturday admission made possible by Mildred and George Weissman and other donors. Advance timed tickets recommended.
Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum
Pay-what-you-wish daily 5-6pm for all visitors
General admission $22 adults, $16 seniors, $10 students/disabled visitors. Under 18 always free. PWYW daily 5-6pm — no advance booking needed for PWYW hour. Part of the Smithsonian Institution. The museum occupies the historic Andrew Carnegie Mansion.
Asia Society Museum
Free admission Fridays for all visitors
Regular admission $15 adults, $10 seniors/students. Under 16 always free. Free Fridays — supported in part by NYC DCLA and City Council. Free for SNAP/EBT cardholders (up to 4 guests). Free for ICOM, AAM, and select institutional members. Also free for Hunter College and Columbia University students/faculty.
Tips for pay-what-you-wish
Don't feel guilty
This is a legal right, not charity. These museums receive public funding and are required to offer this.
Culture Pass overlap
Some museums like the Met are also on Culture Pass. Culture Pass gives you a reservation to skip the line. Pay-what-you-wish is walk-up. Use whichever is more convenient.
Bring out-of-state friends to Culture Pass venues
They can't use pay-what-you-wish, but you get a guest with Culture Pass. Get them in free.
The Met on weekday mornings
Go on a weekday morning. Say "pay-what-you-wish" at the desk. Best free experience in the city.