Vote now! Readers' Choice Awards Best Free Museums of 2027

With admission prices at the country's destination museums topping $37 per ticket, strolling through galleries on a Sunday afternoon suddenly becomes an event. If you're vacationing with the family, that cost times four or more can put a serious dent in the fun fund. So it can be amazing to stumble upon a museum that costs nothing to get in, and, believe it or not, there are some seriously stellar ones, from the gargantuan Smithsonian in Washington, D.C., to a university-based arts center and small-town gems.

Our panel of experts picked these institutions as standout choices for those who want culture without the cost. Every museum on this list offers free general admission, though some ask you to reserve a free timed ticket, and special exhibitions or parking may cost extra. But now we need your help! Keep reading, vote for your favorite free museum, and help us crown another Readers' Choice Award winner according to you.

Voting period ends on December 2, 2026. We'll announce the winners on December 10.

Vote for the best free museums!

Nominee 1: American Folk Art Museum

New York, New York

Admission is always free at the American Folk Art Museum, located at 2 Lincoln Square on Columbus Avenue, just across from Lincoln Center. Although exhibitions change regularly, the museum is devoted to folk art and the work of self-taught artists, offering what our experts described as a different way to encounter American culture.

Its compact size makes it an easy stop before a concert or performance, or a quick cultural break during a day on the Upper West Side.

Nominee 2: Baltimore Museum of Art

Baltimore, Maryland

The Baltimore Museum of Art keeps general admission free every day; you just need to reserve a ticket before heading into the galleries. The museum's biggest draw is its Matisse holdings, aka the Cone Collection of more than 600 works by Henri Matisse, which Baltimore collectors Claribel and Etta Cone bequeathed to the museum. Fans should know that the BMA holds one of the largest groups of his art in the world.

Our experts highlighted how easy it is to walk right in and see those works alongside contemporary art, sculpture, and paintings spanning centuries. The museum sits beside Johns Hopkins University's Homewood campus, with on-site lots and metered street parking nearby. Special exhibitions usually require a separate ticket, but the permanent collection alone can easily fill an afternoon.

Nominee 3: Cantor Arts Center at Stanford University

Stanford, California

Walk on in at Stanford U's Cantor Arts Center, the West Coast university's resident art museum. Founded in 1891, the same year the university opened, it holds more than 42,000 works spanning 5,000 years, offering visitors a wide range of disciplines in a single trip.

One of our panelists called it a personal favorite for its variety and urged visitors not to miss the sculpture gardens, which include a large collection of bronzes by Auguste Rodin. Parking on campus is limited, so plan accordingly or arrive by rideshare.

Nominee 4: Chicago Cultural Center

Chicago, Illinois

The Chicago Cultural Center occupies the building that opened in 1897 as Chicago's first public library. Today, it hosts rotating visual art exhibitions, performances, and events. Still, the real showstopper is overhead: Preston Bradley Hall's Tiffany dome, which the city describes as the largest Tiffany glass dome in the world. Measuring about 38 feet across, it contains roughly 30,000 pieces of glass set in an ornate cast-iron frame.

As our panel noted, anyone can see it just by walking in and heading up a few flights—no tickets required for the building or its exhibitions.

Nominee 5: Cincinnati Art Museum

Cincinnati, Ohio

Set in Eden Park, the Cincinnati Art Museum has a vast, wide-ranging collection spanning American and European painting, photography, fashion, and more, giving repeat visitors plenty to discover.

Our panel also appreciated its long and intriguing history as a civic institution built to make fine art accessible to everyone.

General admission to the permanent galleries and parking are both free here, so you won't have to drop a cent. However, special exhibitions start at $8.

Nominee 6: Cleveland Museum of Art

Cleveland, Ohio

Set around a light-filled atrium that gives the whole building an open, airy feel, the Cleveland Museum of Art's international collection spans thousands of years of artistic history. Visitors can move from medieval knights in armor to Jewish ceremonial objects to modern works in a single afternoon.

Our panel pointed to the sheer breadth of the collection as the main draw, along with interactive digital galleries that let visitors explore artworks in new ways. Parking in the on-site garage costs extra, so budget-minded travelers may want to factor that in or arrive by transit.

Nominee 7: Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art

Bentonville, Arkansas

The permanent collection at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is always free to view, making it one of the easiest cultural detours in northwest Arkansas. Opened in 2011 and designed by architect Moshe Safdie, the museum sits in a wooded Ozark ravine, with glass-walled bridges and pavilions that put the surrounding forest on display alongside the art.

Our reviewers pointed to how naturally the building blends into the landscape, as well as the strength of the American art collection and the museum's innovative programming. Outside, five miles of sculpture and walking trails wind through the 134-acre grounds and connect to downtown Bentonville, so it's easy to make a full day of it on foot. Temporary exhibitions may carry a separate fee.

Nominee 8: The Getty Center

Los Angeles, California

Perched on a hilltop above Los Angeles, the Getty Center charges no admission fee, though visitors do need a free timed-entry reservation. A tram carries guests from the parking structure up to a campus of sunlit pavilions holding European paintings, sculpture, decorative arts, and photography—including Vincent van Gogh's Irises.

Our reviewers noted that the architecture, gardens, and sweeping views of the Los Angeles basin are as much a part of the experience as the art, so plan time to wander outside. Although admission is free, patrons must pay for parking.

Nominee 9: Minneapolis Institute of Art

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Known locally as Mia, the Minneapolis Institute of Art holds more than 100,000 artworks spanning roughly 5,000 years and six continents. You don't need tickets or reservations for the permanent collection.

Our panel highlighted the collection's reach, and one nominator described Mia as a favorite place to get lost for an afternoon, wandering from authentic Japanese tearooms to modern photography.

Special exhibitions require a paid ticket, though visitors who can't afford one can request a free ticket through the museum's access programs. On-site parking costs extra, and the museum is also reachable by public transit.

Nominee 10: National Gallery of Art

Washington, D.C.

Everything is free at the National Gallery of Art, not just the permanent collection, but special exhibitions and public programs, too, which is wild considering its 160,000-piece collection spans antiquity to today. The museum spreads its holdings across two buildings on the National Mall. The West Building covers art from the 11th to the early 20th century, including Leonardo da Vinci's Ginevra de' Benci, the only painting by the artist on view in the Americas. The East Building focuses on modern and contemporary art.

The East Building has its own roof terrace, and next door, the 6-acre Sculpture Garden displays more than 20 modern sculptures around a central fountain. Our experts consider it an essential stop on any budget trip to the capital, and you don't have to pre-schedule passes or tickets to get in.

Nominee 11: National Museum of Mexican Art

Chicago, Illinois

Founded in 1982 in Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood, the National Museum of Mexican Art has always been free to visit and relies on donors to keep its doors open to everyone. Its four galleries cover roughly 3,600 years of creativity, from ancient works to contemporary pieces by Mexican and Mexican American artists.

Our panel praised the depth of the collection and the colorful, meaningful exhibitions that explore Mexican art, history, and cultural traditions. The museum offers docent-led tours in English and Spanish and suggests setting aside at least an hour for a visit. Before leaving, browse the gift shop, which stocks goods from across Mexico.

Nominee 12: National Museum of the American Indian

New York, New York

Part of the Smithsonian, the New York branch of the National Museum of the American Indian occupies the Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House, a historic landmark at One Bowling Green in lower Manhattan, steps from Battery Park.

Our experts appreciated how the museum explores the histories, cultures, and artistic traditions of Indigenous peoples throughout the Americas, and how the grand architectural setting frames that story. Visitors can scan QR codes for free audio guides in English and Spanish, and families can visit the imagiNATIONS Activity Center. Because it's free, the museum is an easy add-on to a day exploring the southern tip of Manhattan.

Nominee 13: National Museum of the United States Air Force

Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio

The National Museum of the United States Air Force bills itself as the world's largest military aviation museum. Located on Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio, it displays more than 360 aerospace vehicles and missiles across more than 19 acres of indoor exhibit space in four hangar-style buildings.

The newest building houses Presidential, Space, Research and Development, and Global Reach galleries, where visitors can walk through historic presidential aircraft.

Our experts were struck by the sheer scale—one nominator spent two days here and still didn't see everything—and noted that free parking adds to the value. Exhibits trace aviation history back to the Wright brothers. Admission is free; only the theater and flight simulators cost extra.

Nominee 14: Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art

Kansas City, Missouri

Our reviewers singled out the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art's Asian art galleries, as well as its Egyptian antiquities and Monet paintings. Still, those are just highlights from a collection of more than 45,000 works spanning 5,000 years. Outside, Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen's giant shuttlecock sculptures dot the lawn and make for a memorable photo stop.

If you're visiting soon, note that the modern Bloch Building is undergoing maintenance into early 2027, so the contemporary galleries are closed. The American, Ancient, European, Chinese, Japanese, and Modern galleries remain on view. It's completely free to get in (parking is $20), but you have to register at the check-in desk.

Nominee 15: North Carolina Museum of Art

Raleigh, North Carolina

At the North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh, admission to the permanent People's Collection in both the East and West buildings is free, as is entry to the 164-acre Museum Park. The collection ranges from classical antiquities and European oil paintings to contemporary works. Make a day of it: Start with a morning in the galleries, then spend an afternoon on the park's art-filled trails, open daily from dawn to dusk. Some special exhibitions, concerts, films, and classes charge admission, but a full day of art and nature here doesn't have to cost anything.

Nominee 16: Saint Louis Art Museum

St. Louis, Missouri

St. Louis is a dynamic city, and one of its cultural offerings—the Saint Louis Art Museum—sits atop Art Hill in Forest Park. There's no charge to see its collection of European, American, Asian, and ancient art. Our reviewers highlighted the opportunity to spend hours with Impressionist paintings and ancient artifacts without paying anything at the door or for parking in the two lots along Fine Arts Drive. Ticketed exhibitions are free on Fridays.

Nominee 17: San Antonio Art League + Museum

San Antonio, Texas

Free to visit, the San Antonio Art League + Museum occupies a building on King William Street that dates to 1896 and was originally a carriage house for a doctor's home before its conversion into a duplex in 1926. Today, it holds a collection of more than 600 works by Texas artists, spanning paintings, drawings, prints, photographs, ceramics, and sculpture.

Our reviewers enjoyed the building's history, the always-unique artwork, and the fun of the sculpture garden. The organization also hosts an annual juried art exhibition, which reached its 96th edition in 2026. Plan a morning visit and pair it with a stroll through the surrounding historic neighborhood.

Nominee 18: Smithsonian Institution

Washington, D.C.

Washington's best-known free attraction is really a whole collection of them. The Smithsonian Institution runs 17 museums in the D.C. area, plus the National Zoo, and charges no admission at any of them. Eleven of those museums sit on the National Mall, so visitors can walk from the Hope Diamond and the T. rex at the National Museum of Natural History to the National Museum of American History in minutes.

Most require no tickets, but a few need free passes. The National Air and Space Museum asks every visitor for a timed-entry pass, and the zoo requires free entry passes as well, though parking there costs $30 if booked in advance or $40 on the day.

Nominee 19: Toledo Museum of Art

Toledo, Ohio

Things are getting exciting at Buckeye State cultural gem, the Toledo Museum of Art. All galleries in the main Greek Revival building are closed for a sweeping reinstallation—the museum's first full gallery redesign in more than 40 years. Although the reopening is scheduled for fall 2027, our experts wanted to make sure it made this list because there are still things to see at this free museum, including the Glass Pavilion, which remains open, and our panel described it as the cherry on top of a visit. Designed by the Japanese architecture firm SANAA, the pavilion is a work of art in itself and hosts daily free glassblowing demonstrations. Visitors can also explore the Sculpture Garden and Library until renovations are completed.

Vote for the best free museums!

Our Experts

Jo Clark

Clark has often been heard to say, “I’ll eat anything that doesn’t eat me.” A travel writer, photographer, podcaster, and food-and-wine enthusiast, she explores destinations one bite, sip, and story at a time. Her work appears in a variety of publications, including RecipesTravelCulture, where she shares discoveries ranging from roadside gems to unforgettable culinary experiences. She keeps her passport up to date, her suitcase close at hand, and her camera ready. Follow her adventures at @JoGoesEverywhere.

Terri Colby

An award-winning travel writer and photographer, Terri Colby is a long-time Chicago journalist who has traveled the world and revels in its natural wonders. Her work has appeared in myriad publications, including the Chicago Tribune, Forbes, MSN, and AAA magazines. Follow her blog at Sleeping Around the World.

Susan Lanier-Graham

Lanier-Graham is an award-winning food, wine, and travel writer with more than three decades of experience exploring destinations around the world. She has visited luxury resorts, boutique properties, and hidden gems across six continents, bringing a discerning eye to every stay. As publisher of Wander With Wonder, she leads an award-winning digital publication that inspires readers to discover exceptional travel experiences. Her work blends firsthand insight with a passion for storytelling, offering trusted recommendations on where to stay, dine, and explore. Susan’s expertise helps travelers confidently choose destinations that transform trips into unforgettable, experience-rich journeys.

Julie Diebolt Price

Julie Diebolt Price is a seasoned photographer, author, ghostwriter, and syndicated travel writer with over 35 years of experience and footsteps on four continents and 48 states. Her diverse career spans travel, documentary, corporate, stock, and event photography. As a business entrepreneur, she draws on her extensive experience across various industries to teach aspiring photographers and business owners the essentials of success. See her work on Photo Travel Write.

Theresa Russell

Theresa Russell is an award-winning writer and photographer who shares her lived experiences with her readers. Having set foot in all 50 U.S. states, seven continents, and many foreign countries, she shares her knowledge to help others plan smarter, safer, and more meaningful adventures, whether on land or at sea.

Ryan Slough

Slough is an award-winning travel journalist, photographer, and co-founder of Wanderers Compass. A U.S. Army Reserve Master Sergeant with more than 20 years of service, he has traveled to more than 60 countries across six continents. Ryan’s work combines firsthand experience with practical insights to help readers make informed travel decisions while encouraging respectful and immersive exploration. His writing and photography have been featured in numerous national and international publications, and he co-hosts the Wanderers Compass podcast alongside Joelle Machia.

Cori Solomon

Cori Solomon, an award-winning freelance writer and photographer based in Los Angeles, focuses on travel, art, food, wine, and pets. She often highlights the story behind the restaurant, chef, winery, winemaker, or artist. Her background in real estate and art both play a role in her writing, whether it is the architectural splendor of a building, a historical-artistic rendering, or the artistry of a winemaker or chef. Since Cori often travels with her dog, Salukis, she has a keen eye for pet-friendly stories. Follow her adventures on The Written Palette.

Reviewed Editors & Experts

Reviewed editors and experts have hard-earned insights from a broad range of backgrounds, and our nomination panel includes independent researchers, subject-matter experts, and editorial team members. We provide unbiased, experiential editorial coverage on products, brands, and companies across the U.S.