Museum · Boston
Museum of Science, Boston: free entry days, tickets & hours
Hands-on science museum on the Charles River dam with hundreds of exhibits, the Lightning show, the Hayden Planetarium and the Mugar Omni Theater.
Independent guide, not the official Museum of Science website. Official links are under Sources.
Museum of Science is free for some visitors, not for everyone.
- Free for: children under 3; active-duty US service members, all year; veterans on Veterans Day (11 November); EBT and WIC cards: up to 4 free Exhibit Halls admissions per day (any state's EBT card); and more below.
- Otherwise: adult Exhibit Halls admission — $33.
- Pre-registration suggested (City of Boston).
Calendar
Free days at Museum of Science
For Boston-resident students and their guests
- SUN1NOVSunday, 1 November 2026 · in 4 days
- SUN8NOVSunday, 8 November 2026 · in 11 days
- SUN6DECSunday, 6 December 2026 · in 6 weeks
- SUN13DECSunday, 13 December 2026 · in 7 weeks
For veterans
- WED11NOVWednesday, 11 November 2026 · in 2 weeks
- THU11NOVThursday, 11 November 2027 · in 13 months
Closures and public holidays are already taken out. Group-only days need proof of eligibility.
Before you go
How to actually get in for free
- Boston Family Days: free for Boston-resident students (K-12, Boston Pre-K) plus two guests, 1st and 2nd Sundays (through Dec 2026): Pre-registration suggested (City of Boston).
- Veterans get in free on Veterans Day, Wed 11 Nov 2026. Bring a DD Form 2 or DD214.
- EBT cardholders from any state get up to four free Exhibit Halls admissions a day.
- You no longer need a timed ticket. Just pick your visit date.
- Many local libraries lend passes for free or discounted admission. Ask your library.
All free options
Who gets in free, and when
| Free option | Who | Conditions | Book? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free forFree for children under 3 | children under 3 | — | No |
| Free forFree for active-duty US service members, all year | military members and families | Service member only. Guests need their own admission. Show your ID at the Exhibit Halls entrance. | No |
| Free dayFree for veterans on Veterans Day (11 November) | veterans | Present DD Form 2 or DD214 at the Exhibit Halls entrance. | No |
| Free forEBT and WIC cards: up to 4 free Exhibit Halls admissions per day (any state's EBT card) | EBT cardholders (Museums for All) | Massachusetts EBT and WIC via Card to Culture. EBT cards from other states also qualify via Museums for All. ConnectorCare cardholders: free for the cardholder only. Bring the card and show it at the Exhibit Halls entrance. | No |
| Free dayBoston Family Days: free for Boston-resident students (K-12, Boston Pre-K) plus two guests, 1st and 2nd Sundays (through Dec 2026) | Boston-resident students and their guests | Show the Program Pass at the box office or call 617-723-2500. | Yes |
Official prices
Museum of Science ticket prices
| Adult Exhibit Halls admission — Child 3-11 $28, senior 60+ $29, under 3 free. Theater shows are extra. | $33 |
| Planetarium, Omni or 4-D show add-on with Exhibit Halls admission — $5 for members. | $6 |
Prices from the official website, checked Oct 2026. Free options are listed above.
Worth timing your visit?
What a free day saves
Based on the official price (adult exhibit halls admission). Free days are busier — if your dates don't line up, a timed ticket is the trade-off.
Tickets & tours
Best-rated tickets and tours: Museum of Science
Ratings and prices from the booking partners; prices may change.
Practical
Opening hours & how to get there
| Mon | 09:00–17:00 |
|---|---|
| Tue | 09:00–17:00 |
| Wed | 09:00–17:00 |
| Thu | 09:00–17:00 |
| Fri | 09:00–17:00 |
| Sat | 09:00–17:00 |
| Sun | 09:00–17:00 |
Exhibit Halls daily 9am-5pm. Planetarium and Omni shows run until 10pm (last show) on Friday and Saturday. Closes at 2pm the day before Thanksgiving and on Christmas Eve.
1 Science Park, Boston, MA 02114, USA
Also free nearby
Make a free afternoon of it
Worth paying for nearby
Paid highlights within walking distance
FAQ
Museum of Science: common questions
Is Museum of Science free?
Museum of Science has no free entry for everyone. Also free: children under 3; active-duty US service members, all year; veterans on Veterans Day (11 November); EBT and WIC cards: up to 4 free Exhibit Halls admissions per day (any state's EBT card); and more below. Otherwise the official ticket costs $33.
When are the free days at Museum of Science for Boston-resident students and their guests?
Upcoming free dates for Boston-resident students and their guests: Sun 1 Nov, Sun 8 Nov, Sun 6 Dec and Sun 13 Dec. Bring proof of eligibility; booking rules are listed above.
When are the free days at Museum of Science for veterans?
Upcoming free dates for veterans: Wed 11 Nov and Thu 11 Nov. Bring proof of eligibility; booking rules are listed above.
Who gets free entry to Museum of Science?
Children under 3. Military members and families — service member only. Guests need their own admission. Show your ID at the Exhibit Halls entrance.. EBT cardholders (Museums for All) — massachusetts EBT and WIC via Card to Culture. EBT cards from other states also qualify via Museums for All. ConnectorCare cardholders: free for the cardholder only. Bring the card and show it at the Exhibit Halls entrance..
Do I need to book for free entry to Museum of Science?
Pre-registration suggested (City of Boston).
How much is a ticket to Museum of Science?
Adult Exhibit Halls admission costs $33 on the official site.
Visitor reviews
What visitors say about Museum of Science
No reviews yet. Been here? Tell others how it went — especially on a free day.
Write a review
Sources
Where this comes from
- mos.org/visit/hours · checked Wednesday, 28 October 2026
- mos.org/visit/ways-to-save · checked Wednesday, 28 October 2026
Every free rule is checked against the official source and re-checked on a schedule. Spotted a change? Tell us.