Guide to Free Admission for Kids at Boston area Museums
Free Days & Discounts for Kids at Boston Museums
Everyone can appreciate a great deal, and who doesn't love a free pass? When it comes to visiting museums and other attractions with kids, admission can be a pricey issue, unless you know a few shortcuts to getting discounts and passes.
BostonCentral's helpful list of Museums that offer free & discounted admission for kids, is a guide to saving money while you visit your favorite places without breaking the bank.
One of our favorite ways to get terrific discounts is by reserving Museum Passes at your local library. Each branch offers different options, and you can often reserve them online. Some passes you must pick up and return; but most, you can just pick up and the enjoy the savings, as they are disposable.
Luckily there are also many free museum days in the Boston area which will give you FREE admission on certain days. Other venues offer free admission all the time. Check out our list below to save some money on your next adventure.
Boston Museums & Venues that Offer Free Admission
- Arnold Arboretum
- Boston Fire Museum
- Boston University Art Galleries
- Bunker Hill Museum
- Longyear Museum
- Harvard Art Museums
- MassArt Art Museum (MAAM)
- Metropolitan Waterworks Museum
- The MIT List Visual Arts Center
- Museum of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company
- Saugus Iron Works
- The Telephone Museum
- USS Constitution Museum (donations encouraged)
Metropolitan Waterworks Museum
Free admission for kids under 1 year
- Boston Children’s Museum (*on Sundays from 1:30-4:30pm, admission is just $1 pp)
- Children's Museum of NH
- Discovery Museums
- The Children’s Museum of Easton
Free admission for kids under 2 years
- Drumlin Farm
- EcoTarium
- Edaville Family Theme Park
- Fenway Park Tours - children age two and under do not require a ticket for admission.
- Franklin Park Zoo
- Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary
- Roger Williams Park Zoo
- South Shore Natural Science Center
- Stone Zoo
- Swan Boat Rides
Red Panda Exhibit in Boston: Courtesy of Franklin Park Zoo
Free admission for kids under 3
- Battleship Cove
- Canobie Lake Park
- Charles Hayden Planetarium
- Garden in the Woods
- Harvard Museum of Natural History
- Museum of Science
- Mugar Omni Theater
- New England Aquarium
- Seacoast Science Center
- Simons IMAX Theatre at the Aquarium
- The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum
- Southwick’s Zoo
Free admission for kids under 4
Plimoth Plantation
Free admission for kids under 5
- Fruitlands Museum
- Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum
- Concord Museum
- MIT Museum
- Paul Revere House
- Spellman Museum of Stamps and Postal History
- Old South Meeting House
Free for kids under 6
Explore the galleries at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Photo courtesy of MFA
Free for kids under 7
- Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) (17 & under are free after 3pm on weekdays; weekends; and public school holidays. Otherwise admission is $10)
Free for kids under 12
Free for kids under 13
- DeCordova Sculpture Park and Museum
- JFK Presidential Library and Museum
- Museum of African American History
Photo by Natasha Moustache/Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA)
Free for kids under 17
Free for kids under 18
- Harvard Art Museums
- Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum (it's also free for anyone named Isabella as well as if it's your birthday)
Free for kids under 19
A museum in and of itself, the Boston Public Library's Copley Branch is well worth a visit, as it not only features amazing architecture, you'll find a plethora of impressive art adorning the walls including a gallery from John Singer Sargent.
Boston Public School Student Access Program
Starting in February 2024, on the first and second Sundays of each month, Boston Public School (BPS) students and their families will get free admission at the Museum of Fine Arts, the Institute of Contemporary Art, the Museum of Science, the Boston Children’s Museum, the New England Aquarium, and the Franklin Park Zoo. This initiative is a part of Mayor Wu's 2024 State of the State program.
Free Things to Do in Boston
For more ideas about Free Things to do in Boston, visit our handy guide to saving money in Boston without sacrificing fun! Museums are just one great idea for a rainy day in Boston. We've got lot's more activities to keep everyone entertained as well.
Past Boston Museum Exhibits
If you have a passion for art, check out some of our photo journals that highlight some of the more popular traveling exhibits that have visited Boston over the years, including: Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience, at SoWa Power Station, Titian: Women, Myth & Power at Isabella Gardner Museum, Basquiat: Writing the Future of the Hip Hop Generation at the MFA, Love is Calling at the ICA Boston, and Body Worlds at Boston Museum of Science.
Free Summer Movies & Concerts
Seasonally, you can enjoy free summer movies at Boston area parks, as well as free summer concerts - both involve summer outdoor fun for the entire family.
Overall, there are many wonderful Boston Museums worth visiting - check out our handy guide to family fun for more ideas on where to go next.
Plus, many places host open houses on certain holidays, so you can stay in-the-know about holiday happenings in Massachusetts in our helpful guide to family fun in Boston and beyond.
photo credits include stock photos and unknown sources. please contact us with photo credit information.
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Stacey Sao has been the Managing Director of the family-friendly events and activities website, BostonCentral for over 20 years. She continues to enjoy discovering and exploring new places to visit in the Greater Boston area.