A trip to The Big Apple can get expensive, but it doesn’t have to be. Whether you’re traveling with friends or entertaining a large family, there are plenty of things to do on the cheap.
Here are New York City’s top 5 free museums:
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National Museum of the American Indian
Located within the historic Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House, the National Museum of the American Indian celebrates the diverse history of Native Americans. They offer many permanent exhibits and, depending on the time of your visit, a variety of temporary exhibits. Admission is free for locals and tourists alike and includes live performances of Native dance and music.
Queens Botanical Garden
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Although it started out as a small garden for the 1939 New York World Fair, the Queens Botanical Garden has grown into one of the largest and most celebrated botanical gardens in the country. It’s so large that it offers several suggested tours, depending on the season and your interests.
Although admission to the museum is typically $4 for adults and $3 for children, your group can score free admission if you plan your visit on Wednesdays between 3-6 p.m. and Sundays between 4-6 p.m.
American Museum of Natural History
This is definitely one of the most popular tourist destinations in the city. The American Museum of Natural History has four floors filled with exhibits and artifacts. It’s a museum that you could spend an entire day visiting and not see everything. They are best known for having a huge dinosaur fossil and an entire whale skeleton.
There is a suggested donation of $22 for adults and $12.50 for children, but guests aren’t required to donate in order to visit. Also, the museum offers special exhibits and features like IMAX movies for an additional cost.
Metropolitan Museum of Art
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Located in the Upper East Side of Manhattan, the Metropolitan Museum of Art sees as many as 5 million visitors each year. They have an exhaustive collection of fine art, and a day trip here is an art lover’s dream.
From one of the largest collections of Rembrandt paintings to an exhibit of Tiffany stained glass, there is something here for every taste. The museum has a suggested donation of $25 for adults and children under 12 are free; however, the donation amount is only a suggestion and any donation will grant you admission.
Children’s Museum of the Arts
If you’re visiting with young children, the Children’s Museum of the Arts is a must-see. They offer hands-on exhibits targeted toward children between the ages of 5 to 15. Be sure to dress your children in comfortable clothing that you wouldn’t mind them getting paint, clay, or dirt on.
Typically, admission to the museum is $11 for adults and children over 1, but if you plan your visit for Thursday between 12-6 p.m., the admission price is pay-as-you-wish.
There’s so much to see and do in New York City that you could visit for an entire month and not do the same thing twice. Just a quick look through a New York City travel guide yields hundreds more places to visit.
Harbor Cruise
To see a unique view of NYC you should take a cruise around the harbor. Here you can get a narrated tour and get all the inside history of the city. If you want a little romance, take a NYC dinner cruise. There is nothing like seeing the big apple at night from the water!
