New York City practical info: free museum days, tax-free, lost passport and phrases

Free entry ¹⁷

Museums and sights that are free, always or on certain days. From each place’s official page.

Always free

MuseumSolomon R. Guggenheim Museum
Pay what you wish Tuesdays and Sundays 4-5:30 pm (minimum $1)
Pay what you wish, minimum $1 (suggested $10). On December 28 and 30 pay what you wish is 5-6:30 pm. Occasional 'Saturday on the House' free days, dates to be confirmed.
Booking: Advance reservations strongly recommended; limited tickets on-site
Source: guggenheim.org
MuseumWhitney Museum of American Art
Free Friday nights 5-10 pm and the second Sunday of every month
Booking: Free admission requires advance tickets (capacity limited); Second Sunday tickets released a month in advance
Source: whitney.org
MuseumThe Frick Collection
Free first Friday of the month 5:30-9 pm (except January and September); pay what you wish Wednesdays 1:30-5:30 pm
First Fridays not in January and September. Wednesday slot is pay what you wish (online minimum $5; less only onsite, not guaranteed). Only children 10 and older admitted.
Booking: First Fridays: free timed tickets encouraged, walk-ups welcome
Source: frick.org
Museum9/11 Memorial & Museum
Free admission Mondays (limited tickets released online Monday 7 am ET; last entrance 5:30 pm)
Tickets limited, released each Monday 7 am ET.
Booking: Free Monday tickets released on the website each Monday from 7 a.m. ET, first come first served
Source: 911memorial.org
MuseumThe Morgan Library & Museum
Free Friday evenings from 5 pm
End time not confirmed.
Source: worldmuseumguide.org
MuseumBrooklyn Museum
General admission pay what you wish every day (at the Admissions Desk)
Pay what you wish only at the Admissions Desk in person (online/kiosk tickets charge the suggested $20); ticketed exhibitions extra. First Saturdays (free, 5-10 pm) run only in select months with registration; 2026 season (Feb-Aug) is over, 2027 dates not announced.
Booking: First Saturdays require advance registration
Source: freemuseumdays.com
Place of worshipMuseum at Eldridge Street
Pay what you wish on Mondays and Fridays
Pay what you wish, not free. Closed Saturdays and some Jewish holidays.
Source: eldridgestreet.org
MuseumPoster House
Free every Friday (open 10 am-9 pm) and the third Sunday of every month
Source: posterhouse.org

Tax-free shopping

The US has no VAT. New York City sales tax (8.875%) is added at the till, and we found no official refund scheme for tourists.

Step by step

Clothing and shoes under USD 110 per item have no sales tax.
If the shop ships your purchase outside New York State, New York sales tax is not charged.

Official sources: tax.ny.gov, portal.311.nyc.gov

Lost passport

If your passport is lost or stolen, here is what to do.

If you are a citizen of another country

Contact your own country’s embassy or consulate in this city. Your foreign ministry’s website lists its address.

If you are a Turkish citizen

Book an appointment with the Turkish mission in this city at konsolosluk.gov.tr and go in person.
If you need to get home, ask for a temporary passport. It is free, valid for one trip to Türkiye or to the country you live in, and usually valid for one month.
Bring your Turkish ID card (if it is lost too, a photo document such as a driving licence), a biometric photo 50 x 60 mm taken in the last six months, and your ticket home.
For a lost passport you do not need a police report.
The temporary passport ends with that trip. Apply for a new passport in Türkiye or at the mission in the country you live in.

Turkish mission here

Turkish Consulate General in New York

821 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 10017, USA

Call: +1 212 351 7200

Out of hours: +1 646 204 0011

[email protected]

Website · Book an appointment

Consular call centre of the Turkish foreign ministry, open 24/7: +90 312 292 29 29

Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Türkiye, konsolosluk.gov.tr (Passport: lost passport, temporary passport).