Dramatic hanging gardens and swings that are works of art. Sculptures, artwork and exhibits you’ve only read about or seen on TV. Interactive activities for kids that evoke their creativity or maybe even inspire what they’ll be when they grow up. You can discover it all at museums in Greater Miami & Miami Beach. The best part: Some of the museums are always free to visit, while many others offer complimentary days where everyone can roam free and even take part in special activities.

Here’s a list of days at Miami museums when it won’t cost you a penny for admission and you’ll walk away with the added value of new knowledge and creativity. (Plus, you can save that money for a stop in the museum’s gift shop or restaurant.)

Free Every Day

Lowe Art Museum

The Lowe Art Museum offers free general admission thanks to the generosity of the Beaux-Arts volunteer organization. Reserve your timed tickets online. Tucked away on the beautiful campus of the University of Miami in Coral Gables, the museum was created in 1952 and is considered Miami’s oldest museum. It offers an extensive collection of Western and non-Western art. Browse the galleries of Renaissance and Baroque, Ancient and Native American, African, and Asian art along with a stunning studio glass collection and traveling exhibits. Don’t miss the outdoor sculptures sprinkled around the museum and campus.

ICA Sculpture Garden — Don't forget to explore the sculpture garden outside

Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA)

With a location in the artsy Miami Design District, the Institute of Contemporary Art is free all year long to the public, though you should reserve your timed ticket online before you go. The intimate museum is packed with contemporary art and offers three floors of exhibitions along with a roomy outdoor sculpture garden in which to wander. The museum is easy to navigate and can usually be toured within an hour, and there’s a daily free tour at 1 p.m.

Once you’re done with your visit, take a walk around the neighborhood to see the abundant public art. Even the seven-story Museum Garage across the street is art. It’s enveloped in eclectic facades by noted artists and architects.

Bass Exterior — Take part in family activities at The Bass

Free on Select Days

The Bass

Free for everyone: Third Thursday of each month from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Family Day: Last Sunday of each month (except in December) from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

On Family Days at The Bass, parents and kids can engage in free activities, such as art projects, scavenger hunts and take-home art challenges. Admission is always free for Miami Beach residents, City of Miami Beach employees, museum members and children ages 6 and under. In addition, there’s no admission charged for active-duty and retired military or persons with disabilities and one caretaker. Visitors will be wowed by the Old Masters in the permanent collection along with such contemporary greats as Ugo Rondinone. Venture outside to see Rondinone’s “Miami Mountain,” a tower of brightly colored boulders that stands tall in Collins Park.

Boy on PAMM's swing — Swing on a chair & enjoy the view of Biscayne Bay at the PAMM

Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM)

Free for everyone: Second Saturday of each month

Admission is free all day at the Pérez Art Museum Miami on PAMM Free Second Saturdays, when the focus is on families making art together. Kids and their parents can take guided tours of the museum, meet guest artists and see films or performances. Hands-on art activities that are often themed around current exhibitions are available from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Museum members, children age six and younger, active U.S. military and veterans, healthcare professionals, first responders, Florida educators, and visitors with disabilities and their caretakers are always free. The PAMM is perched above the sparkling turquoise waters of Biscayne Bay, and you’ll be in awe of its collection of modern and contemporary international art of the 20th and 21st centuries. The building itself is a work of art with dramatic hanging gardens and suspended swinging chairs with epic bay views. Dine at the Verde waterfront restaurant and bar and enjoy the beautiful view.

Miami Children’s Museum

Free for children with disabilities and their families: Second Saturday of each month

Miami Children’s Museum offers a free-with-RSVP Sensory Friendly Saturday. Museum members always get in free of charge. Parents will learn as much as their kids will at this interactive museum, where education is made fun and traveling exhibits change often. Endless activities and hands-on exhibitions are spread out over two floors – from testing out their musical abilities to learning to shop at the grocery store to learning the importance of earning and saving at an oversized piggy bank exhibit. The museum is located on Watson Island between Downtown Miami and Miami Beach.

HistoryMiami Exterior — Learn about Miami's diverse past and present at HistoryMiami Museum

HistoryMiami Museum

Free for everyone: Second Saturday of each month from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Always free for visitors with disabilities and their caregivers

HistoryMiami Museum's Free Family Fun Days are jam-packed with activities, offered from noon to 4 p.m., that highlight the history and cultures of the area. Children younger than six always get in free with online tickets. HistoryMiami members are admitted free except during special events. A trip to Miami isn’t complete without a visit to HistoryMiami Museum, an affiliate of the prestigious Smithsonian Institution dedicated to preserving and celebrating the community’s diverse past and present. The museum extends over two buildings, and you’ll learn about everything from the history of the Tequesta Indians, one of the first native peoples in what is now Miami, to the city’s signature Art Deco style. HistoryMiami also offers amazing tours, such as an informative and beautiful boat ride to Stiltsville (on a separate ticket that departs from Bayside Marketplace) that shows off the gems of Miami.

Wolfsonian Tour — Visit the Wolfsonian during its Free Fridays special

The Wolfsonian-FIU

Free for everyone: Fridays from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

At The Wolfsonian-FIU, members, Florida residents, children younger than six, visitors with disabilities and their accompanying caregiver, and students, faculty and staff of the State University System of Florida always get in free. Located in the heart of South Beach, the museum is rooted in the 1850s to the 1950s — a century of growth and change — and you’ll be in awe of the more than 200,000 objects inside. Think household appliances that sped the pace of work to designs that bridged cultures; architectural plans fueled by ambition; and propaganda that helped turn the tides of war.

MOCA Jazz — Enjoy art & jazz on the last Friday of the month at the MOCA

Museum of Contemporary Art North Miami (MOCA)

Free for everyone: Last Friday of the month

Located in North Miami, the Museum of Contemporary Art North Miami's most popular night is the last Friday of the month, known as Jazz at MOCA, a free outdoor concert that the local community and visitors look forward to so they can hear some of Miami’s top jazz musicians perform. Before or after the concert, guests can browse the museum at no cost (but donations are encouraged). MOCA admission is always free for members, children younger than 12, veterans, North Miami city employees and residents, and caregivers accompanying people who are disabled. This small museum has a big heart, offering innovative exhibitions of contemporary art. When you’ve finished your museum visit, consider taking some time to explore the area surrounding the museum, which is dotted with rows of antiques and furniture stores.

Coral Gables Museum

Free for everyone: Second Saturday of the month

During Family Day at the Coral Gables Museum, there are educational sessions, creative activities and performances for children. Museum members, children younger than six and military families always get in free. This is your chance to literally walk through history: The museum is housed in the city’s 1939 WPA police and fire station. Visitors can explore the former jail cells and courtroom. This museum is a celebration of Coral Gables’ storied past and culture.

Gold Coast Railroad Museum

Free for everyone: First Saturday of the month

All aboard for the Gold Coast Railroad Museum's Free First Saturday event, when all guests can enjoy a day of fun, games, special events and, of course, trains. Admission is always free for members of the military and children age two and younger. AAA members get BOGO tickets. In addition, tickets are discounted with a valid admission receipt or member ID from Zoo Miami. The stars of this show: trains! The museum showcases railroad history and is home to more than 40 historic and restored railcars, including the "Ferdinand Magellan" Presidential Railcar, along with a model train room and numerous interactive displays, such as Thomas the Tank Engine play tables for aspiring young train lovers. The museum is located in South Dade.

See all Miami museums.

Free Museum Days at These Miami Museums

Thank you for your submission !

STAY IN THE KNOW WITH ALL THINGS GREATER MIAMI & MIAMI BEACH

STAY IN THE KNOW WITH ALL THINGS GREATER MIAMI & MIAMI BEACH

THANK YOU!