Museums in Boston
Photo: Beyond My Ken (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Boston’s museums are some of the best in the country, and several are free or cheap if you time it right. Here’s each one, with hours and prices from its own site.
| Museum | Where | Hours | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Museum of Fine Arts | Fenway | Open until 10 PM Thu–Fri | $30 adults; $5 after 5 PM third Thursdays |
| Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum | Fenway | Free Thursdays 5–9 PM | Kids 17 and under always free |
| ICA | Seaport | Tue–Sun; to 9 PM Thu–Fri | $20 adults; free Thu 5–9 PM; 18 and under free |
| Museum of Science | Science Park | 9 AM–5 PM daily | See its site |
| New England Aquarium | Waterfront | 9–5 weekdays, 9–6 weekends | $39.95 adults, $30.95 kids 3–11 |
| Boston Children’s Museum | Fort Point | 9 AM–4 PM, closed Tuesdays | $24, under 1 free |
| Harvard Art Museums | Harvard Square | Tue–Sun 10 AM–5 PM | Free |
Art museums
- Museum of Fine Arts, 465 Huntington Avenue. The big one, open until 10 PM on Thursdays and Fridays. Adult tickets are $30, but on the third Thursday of the month it’s pay what you wish after 5 PM ($5 minimum).
- Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, 25 Evans Way. Free for everyone on Thursdays from 5 to 9 PM (tickets open two days ahead), and always free for kids 17 and under.
- ICA, on the Seaport waterfront. $20 for adults, free for 18 and under, and free for everyone on Thursday nights.
- Harvard Art Museums, Harvard Square. Free every day it’s open, Tuesday to Sunday, 10 AM to 5 PM.
Science, sea life and kids
- Museum of Science, at Science Park on the Charles. The exhibit halls are open 9 AM to 5 PM every day; check its site for prices and ways to save.
- New England Aquarium, 1 Central Wharf. Open 9 AM to 5 PM on weekdays and until 6 PM on weekends. Adults are $39.95, seniors $37.95, kids 3 to 11 $30.95, and 2 and under free; New England residents get a discount. Weekends and holidays sell out, so book ahead.
- Boston Children’s Museum, 308 Congress Street. Open 9 AM to 4 PM, Wednesday through Monday (closed Tuesdays), and from 10 AM on the first Saturday of the month. Tickets are $24 for adults and kids alike, and babies under 1 are free.
How to save
Thursday night is the cheapest night in Boston for art: the ICA and the Gardner are free from 5 to 9, and the MFA is $5 on the third Thursday. All the details, plus the museums’ free holidays, are on our free museum nights page.
Rainy day? See rainy day ideas. Bringing kids under 21 out at night? Try our all-ages guide.
Frequently asked questions
Which Boston museums are free?
The Harvard Art Museums are always free, the ICA and the Gardner are free on Thursdays from 5 to 9 PM, and the Gardner is always free for kids 17 and under.
Which Boston museum is open late?
The MFA stays open until 10 PM on Thursdays and Fridays, and the ICA until 9 PM on those nights.
How much is the New England Aquarium?
General admission is $39.95 for adults, $37.95 for seniors 60 and up, $30.95 for kids 3 to 11, and free for 2 and under.
Checked October 16, 2026 against each museum’s own site: MFA, Gardner, ICA, Museum of Science, New England Aquarium, Boston Children’s Museum, Harvard Art Museums. Hours change on holidays, so check before you go.