Recently named one of the “world’s best cities,” Boston is home to some truly impressive museums, but those admission fees can add up if you’re looking to experience them all. However, if you time your visit right, you can get free or discounted admission to 7 of Boston’s world-class museums.
1. The Museum of Fine Arts, Back Bay
All US active duty military or veterans and up to five of their guests receive free admission to the MFA. University students and faculty also receive free admission with a valid ID. If neither of these sound like you, are you a Bank of America cardholder?
Then you qualify for the MFA x Bank of America ” Bank of America’s Museums on Us Program.” Any BOA cardholder qualifies for free admission on the first weekend of every month or a $7(reduced price) ticket to limited-edition exhibitions.
Admission to the Museum is free to all Massachusetts residents on the following days:
- Monday, January 16, 2023 (Martin Luther King Jr. Day)
- Monday, May 29, 2023 (Memorial Day)
- Monday, June 19, 2023 (Juneteenth)
- Monday, October 9, 2023 (Indigenous Peoples’ Day)
Find it at 465 Huntington Ave in Boston.
2. The Institute of Contemporary Art, Seaport
At the ICA, youth 18 and under always receive free museum admission. Plus, every Thursday night the museum offers free admission to everyone, which is available online at 10am on the day of the event. If you snag those tickets quickly, it’s an excellent weekday activity!
Find ICA at 100 Northern Ave in Boston.
3. Harvard Museum of Natural History, Harvard Square
You can qualify for free admission at The Harvard Museum of Natural History if you have a current Harvard ID, you’re a Massachusetts teacher (K-12), or if you present an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card. With an EBT or WIC card not only do you qualify for free admission, but so do up to 5 of your guests!
Find it at 26 Oxford Street in Cambridge.
4. Peabody Museum Of Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard Square
The Peabody Museum is free for people with Harvard IDs (+1 guest). Similar to the Museum of Natural History, it’s also free for Massachusetts residents every Sunday morning from 9 AM to 12 PM and Wednesday afternoons (except in Summer) from 3 PM to 5 PM. And similar to other museums, its free for EBT/WIC cardholders, active-duty military, veterans, and K-12 educators.
Find it at 11 Divinity Avenue in Cambridge.
5. Boston Children’s Museum, Seaport
Boston Children’s Museum, dedicated to all things educational, offers $1 (almost free!) admission every Sunday from 1:30- 4:30 PM courtesy of TJX! There are also a variety of free discounts for certain qualifying IDs and half price tickets to check out and reserve your visit!
Find it at 308 Congress Street in Boston.
6. Harvard Art Museum, Harvard Square
Harvard’s Art Museums offer free admission to all on Sundays! Free admission is also available for Harvard ID holders and their plus one, youth under 18, Cambridge residents with proof of residency, and all Massachusetts residents on Saturdays from 10 AM to noon! It’s a great spot to get an art history education.
Find it at 32 Quincy Street in Cambridge.
7. Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Fenway
The first Thursday of every month, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum offers free admission from 3 PM to 9 PM! Half garden, half museum, this ethereal beauty is one of Boston’s overlooked gems!
Find it at 25 Evans Way in Boston.
8. Worcester Art Museum, Worcester (1 hour from Boston)
The Worcester Art Museum offers free admission on the first Sunday of each month from 10 AM to 4 PM. Students, active military, veterans, institutional partners, and youth 17 and under also qualify for free admission! Experiencing this museum is the perfect way to spend a Sunday afternoon!
Find it at 55 Salisbury Street in Worcester.