Whether you’re looking to dive into Greater Miami & Miami Beach’s rich history, gaze at artwork and exhibits by renowned artists or introduce the kids to culture disguised as fun, you can discover it all at the destination’s many museums. And culture doesn’t have to cost a thing. Some museums are always free to visit, while others offer certain days when free admission is coupled with special activities. Here’s a list of free museum days in Miami.

Sculpture in front of the Lowe Art Museum — Don't miss the art outside at the Lowe Art Museum

Free Every Day

Lowe Art Museum: Where The Beauty Is Inside and Out

Tucked away on the beautiful University of Miami campus in  Coral Gables, the Lowe Art Museum offers free general admission thanks to the generosity of the Beaux Arts volunteer organization. Created in 1952, it’s considered Miami’s oldest museum and offers an extensive collection. You’ll want to roam the galleries filled with 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 campus. 

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

Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) Miami: Contemporary Art & An Outdoor Sculpture Garden

The Institute of Contemporary Art Miami has a prime location in the art-filled  Miami Design District, and admission is free all year long (although you should reserve tickets before you go). This intimate museum is packed with innovative contemporary art and offers three floors of permanent and roving exhibitions plus an outdoor sculpture garden in which to wander. The museum is easy to navigate and can usually be toured within an hour. Once you have finished enjoying 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.

Art outside of the Frost Art Museum — Enjoy best-in-class art at Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum

Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum: Extraordinary Works of Art Plus Special Events

You don’t have to attend school to enjoy the world-class art of the Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum, located at Florida International University. Free to the public, the museum is a Smithsonian affiliate and offers more than 6,000 pieces of permanent art from a variety of time periods and cultures. The collection of photographs and art includes American printmaking from the 1960s to 1970s, pre-Columbian objects from 200 to 500 A.D., and a growing number of works from Caribbean and Latin American artists. Along with revolving exhibitions, the museum often hosts special programming and interactive events with no admission fee.

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

Free on Select Days

Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM): Modern & Contemporary Art and Fun For the Entire Family

Free for everyone: Second Saturday of each month

In Downtown Miami, perched above the sparkling waters of Biscayne Bay, Pérez Art Museum Miami is packed with an awe-inspiring 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 picturesque bay views. Admission is free all day on PAMM Free Second Saturdays, when the focus is on families bonding over art. Along with guided tours of the museum, there’s often the chance to meet guest artists and see films or performances. Hands-on art activities, often themed around current exhibitions, are available from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Museum members, children ages 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.

Coral Gables Museum Facade — Check out free Family Days for special children's activities and performances

Coral Gables Museum: Take A Walk Through History

Free for everyone: Second Saturday of each month

Family Day  on the second Saturday of each month at the  Coral Gables Museum features guided tours, educational sessions, creative activities and performances for the entire family. This is your chance to walk through history: The museum is housed in Coral Gables’ 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. Museum members, children six and under, and military families always get in free.

Child creating art at Miami Childrens Museum — Try the hands-on exhibitions for kids at Miami Children’s Museum

Miami Children’s Museum: An Interactive Museum Where Learning Is Fun

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

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

Ugo Rondinone's Miami Mountain at The Bass — Go outside of The Bass to see Rondinone’s “Miami Mountain”

The Bass: Miami Beach’s Contemporary Art Museum

Free for everyone: Third Thursday of each month from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. & last Sunday of each month (except December) from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

On free  Family Days at The Bass, parents and kids can tour exhibitions and engage in activities such as art projects, scavenger hunts and take-home art challenges. Visitors will be wowed by contemporary greats such as Ugo Rondinone. Venture outside to see Rondinone’s “Miami Mountain,” a tower of brightly colored boulders that stands tall in Collins Park. On the Third Thursday at The Bass each month, admission is free for everyone from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. Admission is always free for Miami Beach residents, City of Miami Beach employees, museum members and children ages six and under. In addition, there’s no charge for active-duty and retired military or persons with disabilities and one caretaker.

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

Museum of Contemporary Art North Miami (MOCA): Enjoy Live Jazz With Your Art Viewing

Free for everyone: Last Friday of each month

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. This free outdoor concert, with some of Miami’s top jazz musicians performing in the museum’s plaza, is a longtime event that the local community and visitors look forward to. Before or after the concert, guests can browse the museum at no cost (donations are encouraged). This small museum offers innovative exhibitions of contemporary art. MOCA admission is always free for members, children younger than 12, veterans, North Miami city employees and residents, veterans, and caregivers accompanying people who are disabled.

Wolfsonian Tour — Tour The Wolfsonian during the Free Fridays special

The Wolfsonian-FIU: Go Back To The Future

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

At The Wolfsonian-FIU, everyone gets in free on Fridays. Located in the heart of South Beach, the museum is rooted in the 1850s to the 1950s – a period 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. Staff of the State University System of Florida always get in free.

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

HistoryMiami Museum: Where Miami’s History Comes To Life

Free for everyone: Second Saturday of each month

Grab the gang and head to HistoryMiami Museum in Downtown Miami for free admission on the second Saturday of each month and Family Fun Days, which are jam-packed with activities from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The museum is an affiliate of the prestigious Smithsonian Institution and is dedicated to preserving and celebrating the community’s diverse past and present. Extending over two buildings, it showcases everything from the history of the Tequesta Indians, one of the first native people in what is now Miami, to Miami Beach’s signature Art Deco style. HistoryMiami members and children younger than six always get in free.

Exterior of Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU — Explore Jewish exhibits and history at Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU

Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU: A Jewel Nestled in Miami Beach

Free for everyone: Every Saturday

Located in South Beach, the Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU is the only museum which preserves the art, culture, and history of Florida's Jewish communities. The museum is housed in the architectural marvel that was once the first synagogue in Miami Beach. Visitors can explore history spanning early Florida, Miami Beach's golden age, and the civil rights movement. The museum features unique artists through its permanent collection as well as temporary exhibits. Admission is complementary each Saturday for everyone, and daily for members and FIU faculty, staff, and students.

Gold Coast Railroad Museum: The Most Fun You’ve Ever Had At A Museum

Free for everyone: First Saturday of each month

All aboard the Gold Coast Railroad Museum for Free First Saturdays, when everyone can enjoy a day of fun at the museum in South Dade. 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. There are also train rides around the property for a fee. Admission is always free for members of the military and children ages two and younger. AAA members get BOGO tickets. In addition, tickets are discounted with a valid admission receipt or member ID from Zoo Miami.

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