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If it were up to them, children might be inclined to spend endless stretches of time buried in their iPads—but there's a big, beautiful, fascinating world out there to explore. And that is particularly true in New York City, home to countless museums of all kinds.
While museum admission fees can add up when you're traveling with kids, several of these world-class institutions—including museums, zoos, botanical gardens, working farms, and more—welcome kids for free. (Age limits vary, of course.) Even better, some stops on our list are free or pay-as-you-wish for all visitors on select days—or in some cases, all the time.
To help you keep track and plan your culture-packed days for families and children of all ages, we've compiled a list of the best museums in New York City that offer free access for kids of certain ages—and in some cases, if you plan it right, adults too.
1
Museum of Ice Cream
There's no sweeter place to explore than the Museum of Ice Cream, where children under two get in free.
The museum features 12 interactive exhibits that take visitors through the history of ice cream, from a diner set-up to an exploration of toppings. Kids can play in an ice cream-themed playground that includes a three-story slide and a photo-worthy sprinkle pool. Don't forget to take advantage of the unlimited ice cream!
558 Broadway, Manhattan
2
Brooklyn Botanical Garden
Children under 12 always get in free at this 52-acre urban retreat that houses more than 12,000 kinds of plants and more than 30 specialty gardens, including the sprawling Cherry Esplanade you see here and the hands-on Discovery Garden that was built with little visitors in mind. Pro tip: Winter weekdays through February are pay-what-you-wish for everyone.
990 Washington Avenue, Brooklyn
3
Metropolitan Museum of Art
NYC's most-visited museum, the Met, is free for children under 12, and admission is pay-what-you-wish for residents of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, as well as students. Families are invited to participate in Storytime (ages 18 months to six), Art Treks (ages seven to 11), Family Afternoons (all ages), and more.
1000 Fifth Avenue, Manhattan
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4
Museum of the Moving Image
Kids under three get free admission at the Museum of the Moving Image—and all other visitors can score free general admission every Thursday between 2 and 6 p.m. (with reservations required).
The museum is billed as the only spot in the country devoted entirely to the history, art, and technology of movies, television, and digital media. Sesame Street fans, take note: It houses the Jim Henson exhibition, which includes more than 40 puppets.
3601 35th Avenue, Astoria, Queens
5
New York Botanical Garden
Even kids can appreciate the beauty of nature! All-Garden passes at NYBG—which include access to the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory and the Tram Tour—are free for children under two all the time. If you're interested in solely exploring the grounds of this gorgeous 250-acre space, on Wednesdays, grounds admission is free all day for all New York City residents and to all other visitors between 10 and 11 a.m. That will grant you access to outdoor gardens and seasonal pop-up programming for kids.
2900 Southern Boulevard, Bronx
6
American Museum of Natural History
A day at this museum is a no-brainer for curious little ones—and if they're under three, they get in for free. (Admission is pay-what-you-wish for residents of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.)
One of the biggest collections of fossils (seriously, don't miss the dinosaur halls) and insects aside, kids won't want to miss the Great Blue Whale located in the Milstein Hall of Ocean Life—though they couldn't if they tried, as it's nearly 100 feet long!
200 Central Park West, Manhattan
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7
Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)
Kids 16 and under get into the iconic MoMA in Midtown Manhattan for free—and New York City residents have free access on the first Friday of every month, from 4 to 8 p.m. (Reserve in advance!)
Children can peruse the museum with audio and activity guides created especially for them, and parents and kids can bond at Family Gallery Talks with monthly themes.
22-25 Jackson Avenue, Queens
8
Sugar Hill Children's Museum for Art and Storytelling
Children under eight (the museum's recommended age range) can get into the Sugar Hill Children's Museum for Art and Storytelling for free.
Located in the heart of Harlem, the museum allows children to explore various art mediums through interactive exhibits and Studio Labs, which offer opportunities to participate in guided sessions or try their hand at free-styling their own pieces.
898 St. Nicholas Avenue, Manhattan
9
Intrepid Museum
Entry is always free for kids four and under—and everyone else can score the same deal on select free Fridays, which are announced via the museum's online events calendar.
This immersive museum located in and around the Intrepid aircraft carrier teaches kids history and STEM lessons and invites them to admire iconic installations, like the world's first space shuttle, the world's fastest commercial airliner, a submarine, a supersonic spy plane, and more. Keep your eyes peeled for special kids programming throughout the year.
West 46th Street and 12 Avenue, Pier 86, Manhattan
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10
New York Aquarium
Admission is always free for children two and under—but if you really want to save, everyone gets in free after 3 p.m. on Wednesdays. (Heads up: Advance timed tickets are required, and ticketing for free Wednesday afternoons opens on Monday at 3 p.m.)
Located on 14 seaside acres on Coney Island, this aquarium houses more than 8,000 animals, including sharks, sea lions, sea otters, and more. The PlayQuarium is particularly fun for little ones, complete with an interactive Touch Pool.
602 Surf Avenue, Brooklyn
11
Wave Hill
Admission to this nonprofit cultural institution, situated on 26 acres that overlook the Hudson River, is free for children under six every day and for all visitors on Thursdays. Parents and kids can participate in the Family Art Project program together on most Saturdays and Sundays or go on nature-filled strolls throughout the gardens.
4900 Independence Avenue, Bronx
12
Color Factory
Budding artists will love the sensory experience at the Color Factory, where kids under two get in free.
Start with a stroll through the confetti park, where the colors change to reflect the current season. Kids can also explore art installations showcasing hidden New York City gems, and dance their hearts out in a silent disco room that comes complete with a curated playlist. There are plenty of photo ops and city-exclusive merchandise in each of the museum's 14 exhibits.
251 Spring Street, Manhattan
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13
The Met Cloisters
Located on a hill at the very northern tip of Manhattan is the Met's second location: the Cloisters, where kids under 12 get in free with an adult. Students, as well as residents of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut can pay what they wish.
The Cloisters' medieval architecture evokes the Middle Ages, so kids get the feeling of being in an ancient castle. For kids three through 11 and their families, interactive gallery activities bring medieval artworks to life.
99 Margaret Corbin Drive, Manhattan
14
Brooklyn Children's Museum
Only babies under one can get in free here, but admission is free for everyone on Thursdays between 2 and 5 p.m. (Tickets are best reserved ahead of time.)
Billed as the world's first children's museum, this iconic institution has been around since 1899. It boasts three floors of interactive exhibits and cultural and science programs for infants as little as six months old and kids up to age 10. The popular Totally Tots exhibit, for children ages zero to 6, is complete with nine sensory play areas—and the climbable Nest, located on the rooftop, is perfect for outdoor fun in warm weather.
145 Brooklyn Avenue, Brooklyn
15
Museum of the City of New York
Anyone under 20 gets in free at the Museum of New York, which also offers pay-what-you-wish admission for everyone else.
Young historians can stroll through exhibits exploring the evolution of the city's history, from humble origins as a Dutch village to one of the biggest cities in the world. Exhibits are frequently updated with new installations, covering everything from fashion to sports with a city spin.
1220 5th Avenue, Manhattan
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16
Bronx Zoo
A visit to the Bronx Zoo is always free for children under two—but up to four adults can get free park entry on Wednesdays, as long as you snag tickets the Monday prior, at 5 p.m.
We don't have to tell you why kids will love it here: Sprawling over 265 acres, this is the largest urban zoo in the country, with more than 6,000 species. Don't miss the tree house that gives children three and up what they aptly call a "giraffe's-eye view" of the zoo grounds.
2300 Southern Boulevard, Bronx
17
New York City Fire Museum
Admission to the New York City Fire Museum is free for children under two, while tickets for kids ages three to 17 are $6.
The museum chronicles the history of firefighting in New York, with hundreds of objects—including vintage vehicles, old-school uniforms, and an array of photographs and art—devoted to volunteer firefighters.
278 Spring Street, Manhattan
18
New York Transit Museum
A trip to the New York Transit Museum—where admission for children under two is free and kids three to 17 can get in for just $5—is the perfect pick for any youngster who delights in a subway ride.
The museum is devoted to preserving New York's vast transit history and is located in a decommissioned subway station for an authentic feel. Visitors can explore over 20 vintage subway cars and learn about trolleys, buses, and other methods of transit through photos, videos, and other interactive elements.
99 Schermerhorn St, Brooklyn
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19
New York Hall of Science
Children under two always get in free at NYSCI, and general admission is free every Friday from 2 to 5 p.m. Families can explore 450 exhibits, demonstrations, workshops, and STEM activities, including science-driven mini golf, an eco-friendly indoor skating rink, and the largest science playground in the United States.
4701 111th Street, Flushing, Queens
20
Guggenheim Museum
Kids under 12 always get into the Guggenheim Museum for free, where the circular Frank Lloyd Wright building's architecture is just as fun to discover as the space's collection of fine art. If you plan to visit on a Monday or Saturday, the museum offers pay-you-what-you-wish hours (with a minimum of $1).
The museum also offers educational and inspirational programs aimed specifically at kids, teens, and families, where kids get the chance to create masterpieces of their owns. Kids' audio guides are also available.
1071 Fifth Avenue, Manhattan
Alesandra Dubin
Contributing Writer
Alesandra is a digital travel and lifestyle journalist based in Los Angeles whose work has appeared in Good Housekeeping, Woman’s Day, Prevention, Insider, Glamour, Shondaland, AFAR, Parents, TODAY and countless other online and print outlets. Alesandra has a masters degree in journalism with an emphasis on cultural reporting and criticism from NYU, and a bachelor’s degree from UC Berkeley. An avid traveler, she trots the globe with her husband and their twins.
Madison McGee
Lifestyle Editor
Madison McGee is a lifestyle editor for Hearst Magazines. She can usually be found reading, exploring New York’s many indie bookstores, cheering on the Baltimore Ravens and the Ole Miss Rebels, or wishing she was lying on the beach.
