What NYC Museums Never Tell You That Saves a Bundle

New York museums cost a premium with museums like the Modern Museum of Art (MoMa) running $25 per person. Most museums offer occasional free hours once a month, which also draws intense crowds.

Other museums are always free, like the Bronx Museum of the Arts. However, some of New York’s most coveted museums are suggested donations. The museum hopes you use your discretion when paying, but generally don’t bat an eye if you ask for a $1 donation. You can only request the suggested donation in person, as you cannot purchase one online.

Here’s a shortlist of the New York City museums where you can pay as you wish.

• Metropolitan Museum of Art & The Cloisters
• Museum of the City of New York
• Tibet House
• Brooklyn Museum
• American Museum of Natural History

Museums won’t offer up that you can pay as you wish. Study the ticket pricing at the counter to see if there’s any language about suggested donations. If there’s nothing there, you need to pay full price, though it doesn’t hurt to ask if you’re unsure.

Of course, suggested donation museums still need patrons to help fund the programming, staff and curation. Suggested donation is about paying what you can reasonably afford and doing your part to keep museums running.