New York is filled with more cultural events than anyone could possibly enjoy in a lifetime. But museums and theater can be very expensive. Not to worry — real New Yorkers know the ways around expensive admission fees and budget-busting tickets. Here are some tips to enjoy the best the city has to offer at a price anyone can afford.
- Free Friday Evenings at the Museum of Modern Art (11 W. 53rd Street, Manhattan, between 5th and 6th Avenues. Subway: E/M (5th Ave – 53rd Street), B/D/F (47th-50th Streets / Rockefeller Center))
MoMA, a New York fixture since 1929 and the first art museum in NYC devoted to the modern era, reopened in 2004 after a major renovation and is one of the most celebrated museums in the world. With works by Picasso, Monet, Van Gogh, Andy Warhol, and many others, the museum is a must-visit — but admission isn’t cheap. Normal price at MoMA is $25 ($14 for students), but if you go on Friday evenings (4pm-8pm) you get in for free. Yes, you have to line up early, and the museum might be a bit more crowded than usual, but if you’re looking to save money, it’s hard to beat free. (NOTE: Bank of America and Merrill Lynch credit card holders can also get in for free on the first weekend of every month — to MoMA and other NYC museums, and over 150 museums nationwide.)
(Photo by ana carina lauriano)
- Pay What You Want at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (1000 5th Avenue, Manhattan. Subway: 4/5/6 (86th Street)), the Cloisters (99 Margaret Corbin Drive, Fort Tryon Park, Manhattan. Subway: A (190th Street)), the American Museum of Natural History (79th Street and Central Park West. Subway: B/C (81st Street), 1 (79th Street)), the Brooklyn Museum (200 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn. Subway: 2/3 (Eastern Parkway/Brooklyn Museum)), the Museum of the City of New York (1220 5th Avenue, Manhattan. Subway: 6 (103rd Street)), and more.
Many of New York City’s top museums share a secret: if you squint at the sign, beneath the hefty admission fee, you’ll see the word “recommended.” An 1893 New York State law requires certain museums to be open to the public for free. And even though the cashiers may first quote you the full price of admission, you are permitted to pay whatever you wish to visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Cloisters, the American Museum of Natural History, the Brooklyn Museum, the Museum of the City of New York, and more. A 2013 lawsuit fought for the word “recommended” to appear larger on the signs, and for the museums to have to be more forthcoming about the policy, but the museums won, leaving the “pay what you want” option as still a bit of a New York secret. (Despite what might be a longer subway ride, definitely don’t miss the Brooklyn Museum — its installations and exhibits, including a current temporary exhibition on war photography — are world-class. Plus, you can avoid the crowds at the Met.)
(photo by Rob Young)
- Half-Price Broadway Tickets at TKTS Discount Booths (Times Square: under the red steps at Broadway and 47th Street; Subway 1/2/3/7/N/Q/R/S (42nd Street – Times Square); Downtown Brooklyn: 1 MetroTech Center at the corner of Jay Street and Myrtle Avenue Promenade; Subway A/C/F/R (Jay Street-MetroTech), 2/3/4/5 (Court Street-Borough Hall); South Street Seaport: corner of Front and John Streets (J/Z/2/3/4/5 (Fulton Street), A/C (Broadway-Nassau)) — and even cheaper with last-minute seat-filler subscription services.
Theater-loving New Yorkers know that for same-day Broadway and off-Broadway tickets, the place to go is TKTS. These three booths, located in Times Square, downtown Brooklyn, and at the South Street Seaport, offer tickets at 40% and 50% off for shows that aren’t sold out — virtually every show playing. And while those discounts are terrific, for many shows you can do even better. Depending on the theater, most shows have last-minute student rush tickets available for $20 or $30, or same-day raffles for a handful of cheap seats. But the true theatergoer knows an even bigger secret — a handful of subscription services exist, costing around $100/year, offering tickets to Broadway and off-Broadway shows for as little as $4 per seat. It won’t be the hottest shows, and tickets will often be last-minute, but for shows in previews or that aren’t selling well — or if you’re looking to see lots of shows, and don’t always want to pay a fortune — these services are perfect for you. (Check out theaterextras.com, audienceextras.com, and play-by-play.com — the services are all very similar to each other.)
(photo by JessyeAnne)
- Free Summer Movies in Central Park (Central Park: enter at 72nd Street and 5th Avenue. Subway 6 (68th Street); Bryant Park: 42nd Street and 6th Avenue. Subway B/D/F/M (42nd Street); RiverFlicks (Hudson River Park: West 23rd Street and 11th Avenue. Subway C/E (23rd Street); SummerScreen (McCarren Park at the corner of Bedford Ave and North 12th St., Brooklyn. Subway L (Bedford Ave.); Brooklyn Bridge Park (Pier 1 Harbor View Lawn, Doughty St at Furman St, Brooklyn Heights. Subway A/C (High Street), F (York Street), 2/3 (Clark Street)).
It’s hard to imagine in the dead of winter, but as the weather turns warm, the city becomes a beautiful backdrop to watch a movie. A number of locations throughout the city offer free movies in the park, weekly throughout the spring and summer months when weather permits. Each park releases its schedule closer to the summer, but it’s often a mix of classics and newer films. And, especially for a night out with a group of friends, you can’t beat the price!
(photo by Andre Natta)
Learn more about free and discounted museum admissions, including free Saturday nights at the Guggenheim.
