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NYC Free Museum Days & Discounts, September 2025

A monthly guide to New York's top museums, visiting tips, and updated schedules

c
curator
May 01, 2025
Museum Visit Tips
  • Arrive early to avoid long lines (especially at popular museums)
  • Bring valid ID for resident discounts
  • Some free days may have limited access to special exhibits
  • Always check the museum's official website before visiting

New York City houses some of the world's most impressive museums, from the iconic Met to the innovative MoMA. But admission prices can add up quickly for culture enthusiasts. Fortunately, most NYC museums offer free or pay-what-you-wish days that make these cultural treasures accessible to everyone.

Our September 2025 guide highlights all the opportunities to visit NYC's top museums either completely free or at a price you choose. We've organized everything by museum to help you plan your cultural visits.

Monthly Specials

Here are the recurring monthly events you can plan for:

The Noguchi Museum

  • 🗓 Free First Fridays (Sep 5)
  • → Tickets released two weeks in advance at 12pm (starting Aug 22)

Brooklyn Museum

  • 🗓 Free First Saturdays 5-9pm (Sep 6)

Whitney Museum of American Art

  • 🗓 Free Second Sundays (Sep 14)

Special Hours

Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum

  • 🗓 Daily 5-6pm, Pay-as-you-wish

9/11 Memorial & Museum

  • 🗓 Free Mondays 5:30-7pm
  • → Tickets available online at 7am each Monday & first come, first serve

Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum

  • 🗓 Mondays & Saturdays 4-5:30pm, Pay-as-you-wish

Museum of the Moving Image

  • 🗓 Free Thursdays 2-6pm

The Frick Collection

  • 🗓 Wednesdays 2-6pm, Pay-as-you-wish

Whitney Museum of American Art

  • 🗓 Free Fridays 5-10pm

The Morgan Library & Museum

  • 🗓 Free Fridays 7-9pm

NY Residents & Students

MoMA The Museum of Modern Art

  • 🗓 Free Fridays 5:30-8:30pm (NY residents only)

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

  • 🗓 Daily, Pay-as-you-wish (NY residents & NY/NJ/CT students only)

American Museum of Natural History

  • 🗓 Daily, Pay-as-you-wish (NY residents only)

Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum

  • 🗓 50% off general admission (NYC residents only)