Planning a trip to New York City? Whether you’ve visited before or this is your first time, there are a number of must-visit museums in NYC you won’t want to miss. And I’m not talking about the more popular ones, like The Met and American Museum of Natural History—although those are worth a visit, too.
Here are six lesser-known NYC museums to add to your itinerary:
1. Museum of the City of New York
Located on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, the Museum of the City of New York celebrates the city’s rich history through a series of permanent and rotating exhibitions. You’ll experience NYC’s vibrant art, pop culture, photography, and history—and the impact they’ve had on the world.
Admission costs $23 for adults, with discounts for students and seniors. Visitors under 18 get in free. Plus, everyone gets in free on Wednesdays.
2. Tenement Museum
The Tenement Museum—found on the Lower East Side—centers on New York City’s deep history of welcoming immigrants, migrants, and refugees.
Unlike many other museums, you must book a time slot—as you can only experience the exhibits via a guided walking tour. That’s part of the Tenement Museum’s charm: through the power of immersive storytelling, you'll step back in time and visit the actual homes (and neighborhoods) where real families lived in—many over 100 years ago.
Admission costs $30. Tours typically last 60 to 75 minutes.
Tip: Forward your museum tickets and other bookings to TripIt to create a seamless NYC itinerary.
3. New York Transit Museum
If you’ve ever marveled at the city’s iconic subway system, the New York Transit Museum is for you. Hiding out in a decommissioned subway station in Brooklyn, the Transit Museum invites guests to learn how the subway tunnels were built over 100 years ago, the stories of who built the subway system, and how technology continues to evolve mass transit today. Best of all, you can visit a rotating exhibit of 20 vintage subway cars—some dating back to 1907.
The cost of entry is $10 for adults; $5 for seniors, children, and visitors with a disability. The museum is open Wednesdays through Sundays, 10 AM to 4 PM. The last entry is at 3:15 PM.
4. El Museo del Barrio
Founded in 1969, El Museo del Barrio celebrates Caribbean and Latin American art and culture in the U.S. Featuring a permanent collection, rotating exhibitions, educational programming, and special events, El Museo provides myriad opportunities for visitors to learn about the impact of Latino art and artists.
While offering pay-what-you-can admission, the museum suggests a $9 entry fee for adults and $5 for seniors and students. Children under 12 are free. Pre-booked, timed-entry tickets are encouraged.
Tip: You can visit El Museo del Barrio for free when you show your same-day ticket for the Museum of the City of New York. (Hint: they’re neighbors!)
5. The Frick Collection
Following a multi-year renovation, The Frick Collection has reopened to the public. First established in 1935, the museum features the personal art collection of steel magnate Henry Clay Frick. As the museum grew, new works were added to the collection—and today displays works from renowned artists such as Rembrandt, Goya, Velázquez, Vermeer, and Whistler.
Advance timed tickets are required (except for members) and cost $30 for adults. Seniors and visitors with disabilities pay $22 for entry; student tickets cost $17. Entry for kids ages 10-18 is free.
Another reason to visit? Westmoreland, the museum’s new second-floor café, overlooks the tranquil 70th Street Garden. It’s open to members and ticketed guests only.
6. The Morgan Library & Museum
Bibliophiles, this one’s for you. What began as the personal library of private banker J. P. Morgan is now The Morgan Library & Museum—an independent research library and museum in the heart of Murray Hill. Visitors can view the many works of art, as well as explore the original rooms of the library that contain rare books, manuscripts, and journals from some of America’s literary legends (think: Poe and Thoreau).
Admission is $25 for adults; $17 for seniors; and $13 for students. Children 12 and under are free. Visitors can also take advantage of the museum’s Free Fridays program. Get in free between 5 and 8 PM with a pre-booked reservation.
