New York · MUSEUMS

The 15 Best Museum Tickets in New York

41 tours  ·  from $30

On a wet January afternoon the museum is not the fallback, it is the plan. The 15 below cover the Met, MoMA, the Natural History halls and the smaller collections, with entry prices and skip-the-queue options.

NYC: Empire State Building Tickets - Observatory & Museum - The museum makes the visit more than a view
Empire State Building Tickets, Museums, New York City Tours, NYC Observation Deck Tickets, Tickets, Tour Reviews

NYC: Empire State Building Tickets – Observatory & Museum

1.Empire State Building Tickets – Observatory & Museum

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 25,757 reviews · 45 minutes - 2 hours · from $47Our pick

Visit the Empire State Building’s 86th Floor Observatory, explore its interactive museum, and add the 102nd Floor for wider views through floor-to-ceiling windows. Allow 45 minutes to 2 hours. Choose a regular or Express ticket, with wheelchair access and free entry for children under six.

“We were lucky to have booked on a clear night with almost no queues. Booking process was easy and the staff were so helpful and friendly. A great experience for us all.”

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New York City: American Museum of Natural History Ticket - Start with the dinosaurs, then work downward
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New York City: American Museum of Natural History Ticket

2.American Museum of Natural History Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 15,447 reviews · 1 day · from $37

Spend a full day at New York’s American Museum of Natural History, across from Central Park. Your ticket covers 40-plus permanent halls, the Rose Center, and the Gilder Center. Upgrade for timed special exhibitions, butterfly access, films, or space shows. Use the free Explorer App to navigate.

“It was great and definitely worth a visit. The exhibits were fascinating. I highly recommend booking tickets beforehand and having the barcode ready as it makes entry quick and easy. The map we received at the beginning was a bit confusing but I think that was probably just us. Overall a fantastic experience that I would strongly recommend”

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NYC: Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) Entry Ticket - Why the Fifth Floor Makes the Best First Stop
MoMA Tickets, Museums, New York City Tours, Tickets, Tour Reviews

NYC: Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) Entry Ticket

3.Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) Entry Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 12,540 reviews · 1 day · from $30Best value

Spend a full day exploring MoMA’s six floors in Midtown Manhattan. Your $30 ticket covers the permanent collection, special exhibitions, films, art-making labs, and free multilingual audio guides. Start on the fifth floor for major paintings, then work down to modern design, contemporary art, and the sculpture garden.

“We loved Jett! He was our guide and I have never had a guided tour of any museum, he elevated the experience for us by telling us backstories in the most engrossing way. We especially enjoyed his sense of humor, he squeezed in tiny jokes during the tour which made the tour more fun. Absolutely loved it! 10/10.”

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9/11 Memorial & Ground Zero Tour with Optional 9/11 Museum Ticket - St. Paul’s Chapel and the first hours after 9/11
9/11 Memorial and Ground Zero Tours, Museums, New York City Tours, Tickets, Tour Reviews, Tours

9/11 Memorial, Ground Zero Tour with Optional 9/11 Museum Ticket

4.9/11 Memorial, Ground Zero Tour with Optional 9/11 Museum Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 6,381 reviews · 2 to 4 hours (approx.) · from $39Top rated

Walk from the Oculus to St. Paul’s Chapel, the FDNY Memorial Wall, and the 9/11 Memorial pools with a guide such as Sean, Paul, or Amy. The $39 walking tour lasts about 90 minutes, with optional self-guided or VIP museum entry afterward.

“We enjoyed this tour. Our guide, Tim Douglass, was knowledgeable and very personable. Tim was able to provide a personal perspective.”

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9/11 Memorial Museum Admission Ticket - In Memoriam and the names behind the numbers
9/11 Memorial and Ground Zero Tours, Museums, New York City Tours, Tickets, Tour Reviews

9/11 Memorial Museum Admission Ticket

5.9/11 Memorial Museum Admission Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 6,376 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $36

Visit the 9/11 Memorial Museum beneath the memorial pools on a self-guided, timed-entry ticket. Allow at least two hours for artifacts, first-person accounts, multimedia displays, and the In Memoriam and September 11, 2001 exhibitions. You may stay until closing, but re-entry is not allowed.

“There’s so much to take in it’s almost overwhelming. The strength of this city has to be the most amazing thing. It’s sad, heartbreaking and moving. The reality of that day hits differently when you’re there. I’m so glad to have seen this in person.”

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All-Access 9/11: Ground Zero Tour, Memorial and Museum, One World Observatory - Choosing between the museum options
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All-Access 9/11: Ground Zero Tour, Memorial and Museum, One World Observatory

6.All-Access 9/11: Ground Zero Tour, Memorial and Museum, One World Observatory

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4,886 reviews · 2 to 5 hours (approx.) · from $109

Meet a local guide for an outdoor walk past the Oculus, FDNY Memorial Wall, Survivor Tree, and 9/11 Memorial pools. Then explore the museum on your own or with a VIP guide before riding to One World Observatory. Guides such as Rob, Meghan, James, and Jake add personal context.

“James out tour guide was 10/10.. very knowledgeable, fun and helpful! Team james had a very moving but enjoyable afternoon :)”

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NYC: Intrepid Museum Entry Ticket - Use the hangar deck to get your bearings
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NYC: Intrepid Museum Entry Ticket

7.Intrepid Museum Entry Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 4,687 reviews · 1 day · from $38

Spend a full day exploring the USS Intrepid, four ship decks, 28 restored aircraft, the Enterprise space shuttle, Apollo exhibits, and the Growler submarine. Your QR ticket provides priority access to the ticket line, though timed entry queues can still last up to 30 minutes.

“So much to see - could have spent a whole day. Friendly staff.”

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NYC: Museum of Ice Cream Entry Ticket - Starting at the Broadway entrance
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NYC: Museum of Ice Cream Entry Ticket

8.Museum of Ice Cream Entry Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 2,619 reviews · 1h 30m · from $40

Spend about 90 minutes at New York’s Museum of Ice Cream, where colorful art, ice cream tastings, playful rooms, a three-story slide, a pink subway, and a giant sprinkle pool turn a museum visit into a hands-on outing for children, adults, families, and couples.

“It was a really fun experience and we loved all the interactive rooms and the ice cream was delicious.”

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NYC: Guggenheim Museum Entry Ticket - What your $30 ticket includes
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NYC: Guggenheim Museum Entry Ticket

9.Guggenheim Museum Entry Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 2,201 reviews · 1 day · from $30

Visit the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum on Fifth Avenue with access to its permanent collection and special exhibitions. Walk Frank Lloyd Wright’s famous spiral, use the downloadable audio guide in 11 languages, and plan for about one to two hours. Tickets cost $30 and include skip-the-ticket-line entry.

“Just love the atmosphere at the Guggenheim. A pretty special place for reflection.”

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American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket - Getting into the museum without losing your morning
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American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

10.American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 1,931 reviews · 3 to 4 hours (approx.) · from $37

Spend as long as you like at New York’s American Museum of Natural History, with general admission to more than 40 permanent galleries, the Rose Center, and the Richard Gilder Center. See dinosaurs, Asian elephants, a 94-foot blue whale, and exhibits tracing the universe’s 13-billion-year story.

“I guess it is what it is, NYC is busy as all heck, so whatever you want to see, you pretty much need to make sure you do it first thing in the morning. The museum was massive and we were one of the first ones in line, but it was packed within maybe 30 minutes, so packed that it was hot and humid in most halls. Definitely would plan to spend a whole day there but maybe out of season. The museum is confusing and you can easily get lost. Make sure to grab a map and highlight and look up exactly what you want to see, so that…”

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Ground Zero 9/11 Memorial Tour & Optional 9/11 Museum Ticket - Meeting inside the Oculus
9/11 Memorial and Ground Zero Tours, Museums, New York City Tours, Tickets, Tour Reviews, Tours

Ground Zero 9/11 Memorial Tour & Optional 9/11 Museum Ticket

11.Ground Zero 9/11 Memorial Tour & Optional 9/11 Museum Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,584 reviews · 90 - 210 minutes · from $39

Meet your English-speaking guide in the Oculus for a 90-minute Ground Zero walk, including St. Paul’s Chapel, Ladder 10, the Memorial pools, and the Survivor Tree. Guides such as Russell, Ray, James, and Sean share personal connections to 9/11. Add a self-guided or VIP museum visit.

“This is a must do so much better than doing it yourself we had a guide from NYC who has lived through 911 and told us his story he was fantastic 100% worth doing !!”

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Whitney Museum of American Art Admission Ticket - What your $30 ticket gets you
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Whitney Museum of American Art Admission Ticket

12.Whitney Museum of American Art Admission Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 1,579 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $30

Book a mobile ticket to the Whitney Museum in Manhattan’s Meatpacking District. Explore Hopper, O’Keeffe, Pollock, Calder, living artists, temporary shows, outdoor terraces, and Hudson River views. Free daily tours are offered, but you can also set your own pace in about two hours.

“The exhibit was extensive and beautiful. The Whitney’s architecture is also beautiful with its views. As a former guide at The Breakers in Newport, I conducted tours through Gertrude Vanderbilt’s childhood room. Once had the granddaughter of artist Raimundo Madrazo in my tour. Madrazo’s painting of GVW is in the room at The Breakers. I respect The Whitney as the creation of Gertrude Vanderbilt.”

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Museum of Ice Cream New York City Admission Ticket - The sprinkle pool, slide, and play areas
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Museum of Ice Cream New York City Admission Ticket

13.Museum of Ice Cream New York City Admission Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 1,154 reviews · 1 to 2 hours (approx.) · from $49

At New York’s Museum of Ice Cream, you move through 12 colorful rooms with games, photo spots, edible slime crafts, ice cream stations, and the famous sprinkle pool. Plan on one to two hours. Children under 16 need an adult, and children 2 and under enter free.

“Unlimited ice cream. My nephew enjoyed all the kids activities. I think this might be very boring as a date, just take your kids”

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Intrepid Museum Admission Ticket - Space Shuttle Enterprise in its own pavilion
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Intrepid Museum Admission Ticket

14.Intrepid Museum Admission Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,027 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $38

Step aboard the USS Intrepid, see Space Shuttle Enterprise, and enter the Growler guided-missile submarine. This self-guided visit includes films, aircraft, hands-on exhibits, and access to the flight deck. Plan on at least 90 minutes, though three hours gives you time to see the ship properly.

“The museums were fantastic. The Viator ticket? Not so much. It caught me in a never ending loop of Open the viator app, get a code sent to email, enter the code, open the viator app. It took the supervisor at the ticket booth to override and actually print me tickets. Which she did, and was nice about it.”

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Metropolitan Museum Guided Group Tour - Starting on the Met’s famous steps
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Metropolitan Museum Guided Group Tour

15.Metropolitan Museum Guided Group Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,013 reviews · 2 to 3 hours (approx.) · from $65

Meet your English-speaking guide at the Met for a 2 or 3-hour walk through major galleries, from the Temple of Dendur and Greek sculpture to Henry VIII’s armor and Madame X. Guides such as Katie, Rob, Stephan, and Jett add stories, humor, and art context. You may continue exploring afterward.

“Stephan was so knowledgeable. I learned alot and saw parts of the museum I had never seen in previous visits!!!”

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New in Museums

★ 4.0Mercer Labs Museum of Art and Technology Admission TicketFrom $56133 reviews
★ 4.4The Met Museum Guided Tour with Skip-the-Line EntryFrom $59149 reviews
★ 5.0World Trade Center Tour with 911 Museum & Observatory All AccessFrom $128159 reviews
★ 5.0Private 9/11 Memorial and Ground Zero Tour with Museum TicketsFrom $125171 reviews
★ 4.59/11 Memorial Tour with Skip-the-Line Museum TicketFrom $65168 reviews
★ 4.2Museum of Sex Entry TicketFrom $44179 reviews
★ 4.0SPYSCAPE Museum and ExperienceFrom $39221 reviews
★ 4.69/11 Memorial Tour and Museum Ticket Priority EntryFrom $65266 reviews
★ 4.9Ground Zero Walking Tour and 9/11 Museum TicketFrom $83260 reviews
★ 5.0New York Private 9/11 Memorial Tour with Optional Museum TicketFrom $82280 reviews
★ 4.5Museum of BroadwayFrom $44306 reviews
★ 4.59/11 Memorial and Ground Zero Walking Tour with Optional 9/11 MuseumFrom $109299 reviews
★ 4.2Whitney Museum TicketFrom $30315 reviews
★ 5.09/11 Memorial Tour with Optional Museum and One World AccessFrom $36330 reviews
★ 5.0“The Met” Metropolitan Museum of Art Tour Semi-Private 8ppl MaxFrom $132384 reviews

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