Take advantage of Museum and Attractions freebies and discounts.
Entertaining your family is a lot less expensive when you have some advance planning and insider knowledge. Visit some of Boston’s top spots at discounted rates or absolutely free! Be sure to take advantage of the following great deals and discounts. The below offerings are subject to change or may require advanced reservations. Always check with an entity for restrictions and updates before heading out.
Visting the Arnold Arboretum is always free, and it’s open sunrise to sunset every day of the year. Check out the Tree of the Month letterbox activity or borrow a free backpack that contains materials for touring the grounds. 125 Arborway, Boston; 617-524-1718; arboretum.harvard.edu.
Cambridge Science Festival is a 10-day festival of STEM (science, technology, engineering and math), held in April at various locations, that makes science accessible and fun for kids. Many of the events are free. cambridgesciencefestival.org.
The Discovery Museum, which include the Children’s Discovery Museum and the Science Discovery Museum, are free on the first Friday of the month from 4:30-8:00 p.m. during the school year and every Friday night during the summer. More than 20 free evenings are also available to audiences with special needs. Check website for details. 177 Main St., Acton; 978-264-4200; discoverymuseums.org.
Faneuil Hall Marketplace – Street performers entertain here year-round, and you’ll find free concerts and performances in the summer and during the holidays. 1 Faneuil Hall Square, Boston; 617-523-1300; faneuilhallmarketplace.com.
Free Friday Night Flicks and Concerts at the Hatch Memorial Shell screens kid-friendly films at sundown on Friday nights and offers free concerts throughout the summer. For more information, go to the mass.gov website and type “Hatch Shell events” into search bar. Hatch Memorial Shell, 47 David G. Mugar Way, Boston; 617-626-4970; mass.gov.
Free Fun Fridays grant free admission to various museums and attractions each Friday throughout the summer months. Visit highlandstreet.org/freefunfridays.html for participating locations each week.
At the Harvard Museum of Natural History, Massachusetts residents (with proof of residency like a driver’s license or utility bill) get in free on Sundays from 9 a.m. to noon and on Wednesdays from 3-5 p.m. 26 Oxford St., Cambridge; 617-495-3045; hmnh.harvard.edu.
Institute of Contemporary Art – Families (up to two adults accompanied by children ages 12 and under) get in free every Thursday night from 5 p.m. – 9 p.m. of each month. Tickets are first available at 10 a.m. the morning of. Advanced tickets recommended. Children under age 18 are always free. 100 Northern Ave., Boston; 617-478-3100; icaboston.org.
At the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, if your name is “Isabella” you’ll get free admission forever to this museum. Children under age 18 and military families also get in free, and there’s free admission to the museum if you show ID proving it’s your birthday. Advanced secured tickets recommended. (Adjustments are made if your birthday falls on a day the museum is closed.) 25 Evans Way, Boston; 617-566-1401; gardnermuseum.org.
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum – Admission is always free for kids ages 12 and under. Columbia Point, Boston; 617-514-1600; jfklibrary.org.
Massachusetts State House – Free tours are available with an advance reservation on weekdays from 10 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. 24 Beacon St., Boston; 617-727-3676; https://malegislature.gov/StateHouse/Tour
MIT Museum – Cambridge public library card holders and Cambridge residents enjoy free admission. Kids under age 5 are always free. The Hart Gallery, open 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., at 55 Massachusetts Ave., is always free. 265 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge; 617-253-5927; web.mit.edu/museum.
At the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston admission is free for kids under age 7. 465 Huntington Ave., 617-267-9300; mfa.org.
The Paul Revere House – Admission is free for children under age 5 and only $1 for kids ages 5-17. 19 North Square, Boston; 617-523-2338; paulreverehouse.org.
The Peabody Essex Museum – Admission is free for Salem residents and $10 after 5 p.m. 161 Essex St., Salem; 978-745-9500; pem.org.
The Sports Museum – Admission is always free for kids ages 6 and under. TD Garden, 100 Legends Way, Boston; 617-624-1234; sportsmuseum.org.
Stone Zoo. See the Franklin Park Zoo listing.
Summer in the City is a free, family-friendly outdoor performance series held each summer in Cambridge. Area parks offers a wide array of FREE, multicultural, interactive arts programs, performances, and activities both day and night for children, families, and the entire community; www.cambridgema.gov
USS Constitution Museum – Admission to the museum, which is dedicated to the world’s oldest commissioned warship still afloat, is by suggestion. Visits and guided tours of Old Ironsides are free to all. Charlestown Navy Yard, Building 22, Charlestown; 617-426-1812; ussconstitutionmuseum.org.
Discount Tickets and Passes
ArtsBoston/Bostix – ArtsBoston is a nonprofit arts promotion organization that offers special deals and discounts for Boston-area performances; 617-262-8632; artsboston.org.
Association of Children’s Museums (ACM) Reciprocal Program – When you support your local children’s museum by purchasing a premium family membership, you get 50 percent off general admission for up to six people at participating museums. Nearly 200 museums across the U.S. and Canada participate in the program. Membership card holder must be present to receive the discount. https://childrensmuseums.org
Bank of America Museums on Us – Get free general admission to 225 museums locally, i.e., Ecotarium, MFA, Peabody Essex, and nationwide on the first full weekend of every month by presenting your Bank of America Card. museums.bankofamerica.com.
Blue Star Museums is a partnership of Blue Star Families, the National Endowment for the Arts and more than 1,000 museums nationwide that offers free admission to active military personnel and their families from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Numerous Massachusetts venues participate in the program, including the Museum of Fine Arts, Museum of Science and The Discovery Museum; https://www.arts.gov/initiatives/blue-star-museums
Boston CityPASS – Get a booklet of tickets to four of Boston’s top attractions. It’s good for nine consecutive days, making it great for vacation weeks. Purchase the pass online to these attractions: New England Aquarium and Museum of Science, then choose two more attractions such as Boston Harbor City Cruises and Franklin Park Zoo. Adults, $79; children ages 3-11, $67; citypass.com/boston.
Go Boston Card – If you’re looking to visit several attractions over the course of a few days, the Go Boston Card grants you multi-attraction passes to more than 40 venues, including New England Aquarium, Boston Duck Tours, Museum of Science, Fenway Park and more, allowing you to pay one price, save up to 55 percent and even skip ticket lines. To view options or purchase, visit https://gocity.com/en/boston
Your Public Library – Many local libraries offer passes for patrons to sign out that offer significant savings on admission prices at many area museums and attractions. Visit your local library to see if it participates in the program and to find out if passes are available for a specific date.