Museums
While regular admission to the major museums in the area can be on the expensive side, many offer discounts and admission deals.
– Disclaimer! I do not work for any of the following museums, and may not hear about the latest admission price changes. Please check the museum websites for the latest information. If you find any incorrect information, know of any new deals, or know of a museum I missed, please contact me at wickedcheapinboston@gmail.com.
– A note about library passes: The Boston Public Library and many of the other local libraries in the area (Brookline, Cambridge, Somerville, etc) have a museum pass program for anyone with a valid card. Check online for availability – there are a limited number of passes each day so they book fast.
Boston Children’s Museum
Regular Admission
Adults: $14
Children 1-15: $14
Children 0-12 months: FREE
Members: FREE
Discounts
- Free admission for active New England teachers (show valid work ID, union card, or paystub and a photo ID)
- Free admission for U.S. active duty personnel or one of their dependents
- $1 per person every Friday from 5-9pm
- $2 per person for Massachusetts Electronic Benefits Transfer card members
- 50% off admission for any visitor entering after 4pm Saturday-Thursday
- 50% off admission up to 4 people with library pass
- $2 off admission for children who are members of Red Sox Kid Nation
- $1 off admission for WGBH members, up to 4 people
- Included in GoBoston
Membership
- Starts at $150 for a family of four (pays for itself in less than 4 visits)
Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum
Regular Admission
- Adult: $25
- Senior/Student/Military: $22
- Child: $15
Discounts
- Two for one adult tickets for MA residents (must sign up for the Hometown Pass)
- Save $4.05 with Old South Meeting House combo ticket
- $2.50 off admission when ordered online
Commonwealth Museum
Regular Admission
- Free! For everyone!
Harvard Museum of Natural History and the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology
Regular Admission
Adults: $12
Non-Harvard Students with ID: $10
Seniors (65+): $10
Children (3-18): $8
Children under 3: FREE
Members: FREE
Discounts
- Free for Harvard ID holders plus one guest
- Free to MA residents every Sunday morning (year round) from 9:00am-noon and on Wednesdays from 3:00pm-5:00pm (September through May) with proof of residency
- Free for members of ASTC Passport Program institutions
- Free admission for active duty military and their families from Memorial Day through Labor Day
- $4 per person up to four people with library pass
- Included in CityPass and GoBoston
Membership
- Starts at $50 for Individual (Pays for itself in less than five visits) and includes admission to four Harvard museums.
Institute of Contemporary Art
Regular Admission
Adults: $15
Seniors: $13
Students: $10
Youth 17 and under: FREE
Members: FREE
Discounts
- Free admission for all visitors every Thursday evening from 5-9pm
- Free admission for up to two adults accompanied by children 12 and under during Play Dates (offered on the last Saturday of every month except December)
- Free admission for anyone who presents their Electronic Benefits Transfer card
- $5 per person up to two people with library pass
- Included in GoBoston
Membership
- Starts at $65 for individual (pays for itself in less than 5 visits) and $95 for two people (pays for itself in less than 4 visits) and includes member viewing hours, events and discounts.
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
Regular Admission
Adults: $15
Seniors (65+): $12
Children under 18: FREE
Members: FREE
Discounts
- Free admission for any visitor named Isabella (must complete online form)
- Free admission on your birthday
- Free admission for military families
- Free admission for students of the participating universities
- $2 per person for MA residents who present Electronic Benefits Transfer card
- $5 for college students with current ID
- $5 per person up to two people with library pass
- 50% off for Massachusetts Teachers Association members
- $2 off admission with MFA ticket stub within two days of purchase
- $2 off admission for MFA members
- $2 off admission for anyone wearing Red Sox paraphernalia
Membership
- Starts at $70 for one person (pays for itself in under 5 visits) or $95 for two (pays for itself in under 4 visits) and includes members-only exhibition previews and events, free audio guides and members-only tours.
JFK Library and Museum
Regular Admission
Adults: $14
Seniors (62+): $12
Students (with college ID): $12
Youth (13-17): $10
Children under 12: FREE
Members: FREE
Discounts
- $3 per person up to two people with library pass
- $2 off admission for AAA members
- Included in GoBoston
Larz Anderson Auto Museum
Regular Admission
Adults: $10.00
Military, seniors, Students, and Children (6-12): $5
Children under 6: FREE
Members: FREE
Discounts
- Free admission up to 4 people with library pass
- 50% off admission up to two people for AAA members
Membership
- Starts at $30 for Individual (pays for itself in three visits) which includes free admission to lawn events, members only events, and access to the automotive research library.
MIT Museum
Regular Admission
Adults: $10
Youth under 18, students, seniors: $5
Children under age 5: fREE
Discounts
- Free admission on the last Sunday of each month, through June 2014
- Free admission for Bank Of America card holders on the first weekend of the month
- Free admission for Massachusetts Teachers Association card holders
- Free admission for Cambridge Public Library card holders in July and August
- Free admission for Active Military Service People and immediate family (up to 4 people)
Museum of Fine Arts
Regular Admission
Adults: $25
Seniors (65+): $23
Students (18+): $23
Youths 7-17*: FREE*
Children 6 and under: FREE
Members: FREE
*Weekdays after 3pm, weekends, and Boston public school holidays; otherwise $10
Discounts
- Admission by voluntary contribution every Wednesday night after 4pm
- Free admission on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Lunar New Year, Memorial Day and Fall Open House
- Free admission for active-duty military personnel and their immediate family year round
- Free admission for all National Guard and Reserve military personnel and immediate family Memorial Day through Labor Day
- Free admission for students from participating universities with valid student ID
- Free admission for Bank Of America card holders on the first weekend of the month
- Up to four tickets for $3 each for MA residents who present Electronic Benefits Transfer card
- $10 per person for up to 2 people with library pass (available at local public libraries)
- $2 off for members of the International Student Identity Card program
- $2 off when you bring your ticket stub from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum within two days of purchase
- $2 off for members of the Massachusetts Teachers Assocation
- Included in CityPass and GoBoston
Membership
- Starts at $75 for an individual (pays for itself in 3 visits), or $110 for two adults (pays for itself in less than 3 visits) and includes free admission as well as discounts on dining, shopping, parking, and events.
Museum of Science
Regular Admission
| Exhibit Halls | Omni | Planetarium | |
| Adult | $23 | $10 | $10 |
| Senior (60+) | $21 | $9 | $9 |
| Child (3-11) | $20 | $8 | $8 |
| Member | FREE | Same as regular | Same as regular |
Discounts
- Free admission for up to four people with pass from your local library
- Included in CityPass and GoBoston
Membership
- Starts at $85 for two people (pays for itself in less than 2 visits) and includes one-time-use passes for Omni, Planetarium, and guests.
New England Aquarium
Regular Admission
| Aquarium | IMAX Theater | Whale Watch | |
| Adult | $24.95 | $9.95 | $45 |
| Senior (60+) | $22.95 | $7.95 | $40 |
| Child (3-11) | $17.95 | $7.95 | $35 |
| Member | FREE | $8.95 | $37.80 |
Combination tickets also available.
Discounts
- Free admission for all K-12 teachers and school administrators currently employed in a New England school system (must apply for the Teacher Pass Program)
- Free admission for visitors using wheelchairs and visitors with visual impairments
- Free admission for up to four people from September through June with library pass
- 50% off admission for all active duty U.S. military personnel and their dependents (must show orange card)
- $22.95 Aquarium admission, $7.95 for IMAX and $27.95 for Aquarium/IMAX combo for students with valid college ID
- Included in CityPass and GoBoston
Membership
- Starts at $95 for two people (pays for itself in less than two visits) and includes free admission, member exclusive events and discounts.
Old South Meeting House
Regular Admission
- Adults: $6
- Seniors (62+) and students with ID: $5
- Youth (6-17): $1
- Children under 6: FREE
- Members: FREE
Discounts
- Included in the Freedom Trail Ticket – $13.00 for admission to Old South Meeting House, Old State House Museum, and Paul Revere House (savings of $5.00)
- Save $4.05 with Boston Tea Party Museum combo ticket
- Included in GoBoston
- $1 off admission for AAA members
Membership
- $35 for Individual (pays for itself in five visits) and $60 for Family (pays for itself in under five visits) and includes free admission to concerts, lectures and special events.
Old State House Museum
Regular Admission
- Adults: $10
- Seniors (62+): $8.50
- Students: $8.50
- Youth (under 18): FREE
- Members: FREE
Discounts
- Free admission for US Military and veterans
- Free admission for visitors with disabilities (museum is not wheelchair accessible)
- Included in the Freedom Trail Ticket – $13.00 for admission to Old South Meeting House, Old State House Museum, and Paul Revere House (savings of $5.00)
- Included in CityPass and GoBoston
Membership
- Starts at $50 for individual (pays for itself in five visits) and includes free admission to the Bostonian Society research library, shopping discounts and members-only events.
Otis House
Regular Admission
Adults: $8
Seniors: $7
Students: $4
Historic New England Members: FREE
Discounts
- Free admission for Boston residents
Membership
- Starts at $45 for Individual (pays for itself in under 6 visits) and includes free admission to 36 historic properties in New England.
Nichols House Museum
Regular Admission
Adults: $8
Children under 12: FREE
Members: FREE
Discounts
- Free admission for members’ guests
- Two for one admission for National Trust for History Preservation members
Membership
- Starts at $45 for Individual (pays for itself in under 6 visits) and includes invitations to special events.
Paul Revere House
Regular Admission
Adults: $3.50
Seniors and College Students: $3
Children (5-17): $1
Combination tickets with a guided tour of the Pierce/Hichborn House available
Discounts
- Included in the Freedom Trail Ticket – $13.00 for admission to Old South Meeting House, Old State House Museum, and Paul Revere House (savings of $5.00)
USS Constitution Museum
Regular Admission
This is a by-donation museum, the suggested donations are:
- Adults: $5
- Seniors: $3
- Children: $2
Note: The Museum and the USS Constitution are run by different organizations. There are free tours of the USS Constitution Thursday through Sunday.
Discounts
- Included in GoBoston
Membership
- Starts at $30 for and individual and includes a Member Reception and special events. Join at the $100 level for free admission to over 80 maritime museums across the country.
Do you know of another museum in the Boston area that offers some sort of discount? Please post it in the comments section below. Thanks!
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