American Museum of Natural History tickets open the doors of one of New York’s most beloved museums: more than forty halls with giant dinosaurs, the blue whale model suspended in the hall of ocean life, and the new Gilder Center that opened in 2023. Tickets start from $39, give access to all the permanent halls and let you skip the line with priority entry. You can find this ticket together with the other New York museum tickets.
American Museum of Natural History tickets at a glance
- Price: from $39 per person; from $37 for visitors over 65; children aged 3 to 11 from $24
- What it includes: general admission to all permanent halls, the Gilder Center and the Rose Center spaces, with priority entry
- What costs extra: the Hayden Planetarium Space Show, temporary exhibitions, the Butterfly Vivarium and Invisible Worlds, which require an add-on
- Visit length: from 3-4 hours up to a full day
- Hours: every day 10:00 am-5:30 pm, last entry at 4:30 pm; closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day
- Pay what you wish: for New York State residents with ID only, on general admission only, suggested amount $25
- Where: Central Park West and 79th Street, Upper West Side, Manhattan
- Getting there: subway lines B and C, 81st Street-Museum of Natural History station
- Accessibility: museum is fully wheelchair accessible
- Pass: included in the New York CityPASS and the New York Pass
- Cancellation: free up to 24 hours before
Below you will find everything you need before booking: how much the tickets cost and how pay what you wish works, what the ticket really includes, what to see between dinosaurs and the Gilder Center, and what to know about hours, photos and access.
Natural History Museum Ticket Prices and How Pay What You Wish Works
General admission starts from $39 for adults, drops to $37 for visitors over 65 and is $24 for children aged 3 to 11.
Pay-what-you-wish admission does exist, but it is only for New York State residents with ID, and it applies to general admission only: the suggested amount is $25 for adults. If you are visiting from out of state you pay the full price, so it is worth booking in advance to secure your date and time and skip the line. The table below sums up general admission prices by visitor category.
| Visitor | Price |
|---|---|
| Adults | from $39 |
| Over 65 | from $37 |
| Children (aged 3 to 11) | from $24 |
The museum is also included in the New York CityPASS and the New York Pass: if you plan to visit several attractions, consider the New York tourist passes, which can lower the overall cost of admission.
Book Smartly
Booking online in advance secures access on the date and time you prefer, skipping the line at the ticket office. With Il Mio Viaggio a New York you get a physical office near Times Square at 324 W 47th St and your voucher within 24 hours, valid as a ticket in digital or printed format.
What the Natural History Museum Ticket Includes
The general admission ticket gives you full access to the museum’s permanent halls:
- Dinosaur halls on the fourth floor, with the Titanosaur and original fossils such as the Tyrannosaurus rex.
- Milstein Hall of Ocean Life with the blue whale model suspended from the ceiling.
- Mignone Halls of Gems and Minerals with the Star of India star sapphire.
- Gilder Center and Rose Center, including the spaces of the center dedicated to Earth and space.
The Hayden Planetarium Space Show, temporary exhibitions, the Davis Family Butterfly Vivarium and the Invisible Worlds immersive experience require a separate ticket.
What to See with American Museum of Natural History Tickets
The visit begins in the Theodore Roosevelt Rotunda, where a towering Barosaurus skeleton greets you, one of the most photographed scenes in the museum. From there you can head up to the dinosaur halls, walk through the famous dioramas with animals recreated in their habitats, and stop beneath the blue whale, the symbol of the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH).
If you love big museums, you can pair your visit with Guggenheim tickets too, in the famous spiral building a short way down Fifth Avenue.
What to Know Before Booking
- Hours: open every day from 10:00 am to 5:30 pm, with last entry at 4:30 pm; closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
- Two entrances: the historic one on Central Park West and the new Gilder Center entrance on Columbus Avenue, at 79th Street, fully accessible.
- When to go: to avoid the crowds, choose a weekday morning; weekends and U.S. school holidays are the busiest times.
- With children: it is one of the most family-friendly museums, with dinosaurs, animals and interactive labs.
- Photos: allowed for personal use, without flash or tripod; outside food is not permitted, but you will find cafes and restaurants inside.
Please Note
Temporary exhibitions and planetarium shows change through the year, and hours and access may vary on holidays. After your purchase, check that you received the ticket by email within 24 hours, including your spam folder. Always verify the latest information before your visit.
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