Many museums in (and near Boston) have a designated day where they open their doors for free. We listed the ones we thought you'd love to know.
Museum | Free Days |
Arboretum (Boston) | Every day Mom Tip: The Arboretum is an outdoor museum of trees and perfect for nature walks. Street parking is available along the Arboretum. |
Boston Children's Museum (Boston) | First & Second Sundays All PreK-12 students that live in Boston get free admission on the first and second Sundays of the month until 2026. Non-public school students (e.g homeschoolers) have to register with the city for a pass. |
Boston Fire Museum (Boston) | Saturdays 10:00am - 4:00pm Mom Tip: Visit the Boston Children's Museum on the same day -- it's next door. Parking is metered and paid lots are available. |
BU Coit Observatory (Boston) | Wednesday nights -- 7:30pm October to March, and 8:30pm April to September. Tickets required and can be reserved online. Parking is metered. |
Discovery Museum (Acton) | Every Friday night through the summer, from 4:30 to 8:00pm, and the first Friday night of each month during the school year Reservations are required. |
Franklin Park Zoo (Boston) | First & Second Sundays All PreK-12 students that live in Boston get free admission on the first and second Sundays of the month until 2026. Non-public school students (e.g homeschoolers) have to register with the city for a pass. |
Harvard Arts Museum (Cambridge) | Tuesday to Sunday Parking is metered, but free on Sundays. |
Harvard Museum of Natural History (Cambridge) | Sundays 9:00am - 12:00pm, and Wednesdays 3:00pm - 5:00pm (September to May) Mom Tip: The museum has life-size models of animals that can be scary to little ones; Parking is metered, but free on Sundays. |
Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) (Boston) | Thursday Nights from 5:00pm to 9:00pm (although a $5 or more donation is suggested). Tickets available at 10:00am the day of. The museum is also free the last Saturday of every month for families. Families are considered children under 12, with up to two adults. Parking is metered and paid parking lots are available. First & Second Sundays All PreK-12 students that live in Boston get free admission on the first and second Sundays of the month until 2026. Non-public school students (e.g homeschoolers) have to register with the city for a pass. |
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum (Boston) |
Parking is metered, but free on holidays. First & Second Sundays All PreK-12 students that live in Boston get free admission on the first and second Sundays of the month until 2026. Non-public school students (e.g homeschoolers) have to register with the city for a pass. |
JFK Presidential Library & Museum (Boston) | First & Second Sundays All PreK-12 students that live in Boston get free admission on the first and second Sundays of the month until 2026. Non-public school students (e.g homeschoolers) have to register with the city for a pass. |
Museum of African American History (Boston) | First & Second Sundays All PreK-12 students that live in Boston get free admission on the first and second Sundays of the month until 2026. Non-public school students (e.g homeschoolers) have to register with the city for a pass. |
Museum of Fine Arts (Boston) |
Mom Tip: Ask for a sketch pad at the front desk. First & Second Sundays All PreK-12 students that live in Boston get free admission on the first and second Sundays of the month until 2026. Non-public school students (e.g homeschoolers) have to register with the city for a pass. |
Museum of Science (Boston) | First & Second Sundays All PreK-12 students that live in Boston get free admission on the first and second Sundays of the month until 2026. Non-public school students (e.g homeschoolers) have to register with the city for a pass. Parking lot is not free. |
New England Aquarium (Boston) | First & Second Sundays All PreK-12 students that live in Boston get free admission on the first and second Sundays of the month until 2026. Non-public school students (e.g homeschoolers) have to register with the city for a pass. Parking lot is not free. |
Peabody Museum of Archaeology & Ethnology (Cambridge) | For Massachusetts residents every Sunday morning from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm (year-round) and on Wednesdays from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm (September through May). Proof of residency required. |
Please know free days can change at any time. We try our best to keep our list updated, but please refer to each institution for the most up-to-date information.
Last updated 1/14/25
Are Free Days Crowded?
It depends. Weekends and holidays are generally crowded because more people are out of work and/or school. If tickets or registration is required, there is probably a limited capacity, so it may not be as crowded. It also depends on how popular the museum is. For example, the Discovery Museum is frequently packed with families, but the Boston Fire Museum is often empty.
If you love free stuff, we think you'll enjoy our calendar. It features free and close to free things to do in and near Boston. You can check it out here.
Until next time...
Love The Journey,
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