If you have a family, I don’t have to tell you that going to an attraction, museum, event or anything really can add up quickly when you have to pay for 3…4…5…6… whatever amount of people.
I’ve compiled a list of Boston museums, attractions, and more where kids can get in free until a certain age. Kids getting in free can definitely help the budget and can make an attraction worth visiting!
I hope you find this helpful when planning for fun family-friendly activities in the future! Don’t forget to check the Discount Attractions page for a lot more discounts at each of these places as well. If there was a really great deal (like free admission with your BPL card) I tried to make a quick note of it too.
Here’s where kids can get free admission to various museums and attractions in the Greater Boston area. It’s in order from youngest to oldest age first as well as different areas in the Greater Boston area:
Boston, MA:
Boston Children’s Museum: Children under 12 months are free ($16 per person otherwise, but Friday nights from 5-9pm are $1 admission). Saturday-Thursday 10am to 5pm and Fridays 10am to 9pm.
Swan Boats: Children under 2 are free ($3.50 for adults). 10-5pm from June 21-Labor Day
Franklin Park Zoo: Children under 2 are free ($19.95 for adults). 10-4pm daily in winter.
Museum of Science: Kids under 3 free ($23 per adult, $20 for ages 3-11, but free with BPL advanced reservation). Hours vary on season but open at 9am daily year round.
New England Aquarium: Kids under 3 free ($27 per adult, $18 for ages 3-11, but free with BPL advanced reservation for non-summer months)
Fenway Park Tours: Children under 3 are free ($18 for adults). 10-5pm winter hours.
Boston Harbor Islands Ferry: Children under 3 are free ($17.50 roundtrip ticket). Closed during winter months.
Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum: Children under 4 are free ($31 for adults, discount if purchased online) 10-4pm daily in winter, 10-5pm in summer
The Paul Revere House: Children under 5 are free ($3.50 for adults, $1 for kids 5-17). Opens at 9:30am daily.
Mapparium: Children under 5 are free ($6 for adults). 10-4pm Tuesday-Sunday, closed Mondays and Holidays.
Old South Meeting House: Children under 5 are free ($6 for adults). 9:30-5pm April-October & 10-4pm November-March.
Edward M. Kennedy Institute: Children under 6 are free ($16 for adults). Open 9-5pm Tuesday-Saturday & 10-6pm on Sundays.
The Sports Museum: Children under 12 are free ($12 for adults). Hours vary.
MBTA: Children under 12 ride free with an adult, max 2 children per adult.
JFK Library & Museum: Children 12 and under are free ($14 for adults). Open daily 9-5pm.
Museum of African American History: Children 12 and under are free ($5 general admission). Hours vary.
Museum of Fine Arts: Youth 17 and under can receive free admission at the MFA after 3pm weekdays, weekends, and public school holidays (otherwise $10 kids admission); Kids 6 and under are always free ($25 per person otherwise). Saturday-Tuesday 10-4:45pm and Wednesday-Friday 10-9:45pm
Institute of Contemporary Art: Free Admission for Youth 17 and younger ($15 for adults & free on Thurs nights). Tues, Wed, Sat & Sun 10-5pm & Thurs & Fri 10-9pm
Isabella Gardner Stewart Museum: Visitors under 18 are free ($15 for adults). Daily 11-5pm except until 9pm on Thursdays, closed Tuesdays.
Old State House: Youth 18 and under are free ($10 for adults). Weekdays 9-5pm, until 6pm in the summer.
Cambridge, Brookline & Somerville, MA
LEGOLAND (Somerville, MA): Children under 3 are free (starts at $15 for adults, discount tickets for LEGOLAND available). 10am-7pm Sundays-Thursday and 10-9pm on Fri & Sat
Harvard Museum of Natural History (Cambridge, MA): Children under 3 are free ($12 for adults). Daily 9-5pm.
Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology (Cambridge, MA): Children under 3 are free ($12 for adults). Daily 9-5pm.
Larz Anderson Auto Museum (Brookline, MA): Children under 6 are free (adults are $10). Tuesday-Sunday 10-4pm, closed Mondays.
Harvard Art Museum (Cambridge, MA): Free for Youth under 18 ($15 for adults, free for Cambridge residents). Daily 10-5pm.
MIT Museum (Cambridge, MA): Children under 5 are free ($10 for adults and $5 for kids under 18). Daily 10-5pm, holidays may vary.
North of Boston
Peabody Essex Museum (Salem, MA): Free for youth 16 and under ($18 for adults). 10-5pm daily, closed on Mondays
Stone Zoo (Stoneham, MA): Children under 2 are free ($15.95 for adults). 10-4pm daily in winter.
The House of Seven Gables (Salem, MA): Children under 5 are free ($12.50 for adults). 10-5pm and 10-6pm daily from July-October
American Textile Museum (Lowell, MA): Children under 6 are free (adults are $10). Open Wednesday-Sunday 10-4pm.
Salem Witch Museum (Salem, MA): Children under 6 are free (adults are $11). Open daily from 10-5pm and 10-7pm in July & August.
South of Boston
The Children’s Museum in Easton (Easton, MA): Children under one are free ($9 per person otherwise). Tuesday-Friday 9-5pm & Weekends 12-5pm.
South Shore Children’s Museum (Hanover, MA): Children under one are free ($5 per person otherwise). Tuesday-Sunday 10-6pm.
Roger Williams Zoo (Providence, MA): Children 1 and under are free ($14.95 for adults). 10-4pm daily for winter & 10-5pm in summer months.
South Shore Natural Science Center (Norwell, MA): Children under two are free ($7 per adult & $3 for ages 2-15). Monday-Saturday 9-5pm & Sunday 11-4pm.
Edaville Railroad (Carver, MA): Children under 2 are free. (Tickets are $26-$29 otherwise). Hours vary.
Heritage Museums & Gardens (Sandwich, MA): Children 2 and under are free ($18 for adults). 9-5pm daily from April 16, 2016 to October 10, 2016
Buttonwood Park Zoo (New Bedford, MA): Children under 3 are free ($8 for adults). 9-5pm daily, closes at 4pm in winter months
Battleship Cove (Fall River): Children under 3 are free. (Adults are $18). 9-5pm daily, except closes at 4pm daily in January-March.
USS Salem (Quincy, MA): Children under 4 are free (adults are $8). Reopening Spring 2016.
The Hall at Patriot Place (Foxboro, MA): Children under 5 are free (adults are $10). Monday-Friday 10-5pm, Saturday 10-9pm and Sunday 10-7pm.
Plimouth Plantation (Plymouth, MA): Children under 5 are free ($25.95 for adults). Closed during winter months.
New Bedford Whaling Museum (New Bedford, MA): Children 5 and under are free ($14 for adults). Hours vary.
Fuller Craft Museum (Brockton, MA): Children under 12 are free ($10 for adults). Tuesday-Sunday 10-5pm, open until 9pn on Thursdays.
Adams National Historical Park (Quincy, MA): Children under 16 are free ($10 for adults). Daily 9-5pm, closed in winter months.
West of Boston
Discovery Museums (Acton, MA): Children under 1 are free (adults are $12.50). Tuesday-Sunday 9-4:30pm, closed Mondays.
Drumlin Farm (Lincoln, MA): Children under 2 are free (adults are $6). Hours vary.
Ecotarium (Worcester, MA): Children under 2 are free (adults are $14). Tuesday-Saturday 10-5pm, Sunday 12-5pm
Southwick’s Zoo (Mendon, MA): Children 2 and under are free (adults are $25). Closed during winter months.
Old Sturbridge Village (Sturbridge, MA): Children 2 and under are free (adults are $28, ages 3-17 are $14). Hours vary.
Garden in the Woods (Framingham, MA): Children under 3 are free ($12 for adults). Closed during winter months.
Worcester Art Museum (Worcester, MA): Children 3 and under are free ($14 for adults). Hours vary.
Concord Museum (Concord, MA): Children under 5 are free ($10 for adults). Hours vary.
Fruitlands Museum (Harvard, MA): Children under 5 free ($14 for adults, $6 for kids 5-13). Hours vary.
deCordova Sculpture Park & Museum (Lincoln, MA): Children under 12 are free. ($14 for adults). Hours vary.
Danforth Art Museum (Framingham, MA): Children under 17 are free ($11 for adults). Hours vary.
Don’t forget to check the Discount Attractions page for more discounts and saving offers for local attractions– I promise I will update it soon too! You may also like the Free Museums by day of the week post as it breaks down the Free Museum Days in Boston in a quick and easy way.
Also, check your local library for local museum passes and discounts if you live outside of Boston, and check the Boston Public Library for free and discount museum passes. A reminder– any Massachusetts resident can become a Boston Public Library cardholder in addition to your own local library so make sure to make both libraries for discount and free attractions in the area!
Please let me know in the comments if I missed any fun and free attractions for kids in the Greater Boston area! Thanks!
