Lodgeur Guide: Visit Houston Museums and Zoo for Free
Visitors enjoying free Thursday at MFAH, Houston. The Museum District is a walkable hub of Houston’s best free cultural experiences.
Explore Houston’s Museum District without spending a dime. Many of the city’s top cultural attractions—including the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston Zoo, The Health Museum, and the Menil Collection—offer free museum daysthroughout the week. While Thursdays have traditionally been the go-to for free admission, several museums now offer free entry on different days or during special hours.
The Houston Museum District stretches from Downtown Houston through Montrose and into Museum Park, making it easy to discover some of the best free things to do in Houston. Some museums are always free, while others waive admission on specific days or times.
Free Museum Days: Tuesdays
Houston Museum of Natural Science: Free Tuesdays, 5–8 p.m. Always free for children under 3. Tip: Don’t miss the interactive Matter & Motion exhibit and its hidden Alchemy Hall—free with admission. Special exhibits, the Cockrell Butterfly Center, and Planetarium require extra tickets.
Houston Zoo: Free on the first Tuesday of each month. Reservations required. Tip: Free tickets are released online the week before—book early!
Free Museum Days: Thursdays
Museum of Fine Arts, Houston: Free Thursdays, 11 a.m.–9 p.m. Tip: Special exhibits and screenings may have fees. Library card holders under 18 and students with art assignments get free weekend entry.
Children’s Museum Houston: Free Thursdays, 5–8 p.m. Tip: Parking is tight for this popular night. Arrive early and stop first at the kids-oriented Health Museum next door (free from 2 p.m.). Don’t miss the SECRET Spy Mission Game for kids ages 8–12.
The Health Museum: Free Thursdays, 2–7 p.m. Best for children under 12. Reservations required.
Bayou Bend Collection & Gardens: Free on Family Days, usually the third Sunday of each month. Tip: Check their calendar for exact dates. Parking is limited. Kids can enjoy self-guided detective hunts for ages 6–9 and 10–12.
Free First Weekend of the Month – Museums on Us
Bank of America, Merrill, or Bank of America Private Bank cardholders enjoy free entry to select museums during the first full weekend of every month.
Houston’s world-class museums always have something new on the calendar. From hands-on family explorations to adults-only soirees, creative workshops to scientific talks, there’s no shortage of engaging experiences awaiting across H-Town.
The Houston Museum of Natural Science
Cockrell Butterfly Center
Up-close access to butterflies
The new Alchemy Hall at HMNS
HMNS and the Cockrell Butterfly Center have a full calendar this spring:
Weekends in May – Touch Tank Feeding Experience: Interact with marine life such as cownose rays, epaulette sharks, and sea urchins during this hands-on aquatic experience. $5 per person (add-on to general admission)
May 14 – Senior Social: Audubon’s Birds of America: Guests aged 50+ enjoy breakfast and a guided tour of Audubon’s iconic bird illustrations in this exclusive morning event. $20 per person (includes breakfast and exhibit entry)
May 23 – Extreme Animals Alive!: Explore live creatures with extreme adaptations and interactive exhibits about survival in harsh environments. $12 per person (add-on to general admission)
May 25 – HMNS Farmers Market: Shop fresh produce, local honey, and handmade goods at the Sundial Plaza. Free admission
Want to keep exploring all of the events happening at the Houston Museum of Natural Science? Check out all of the upcoming curated experiences in space science, natural history, anthropology and more on the Museum’s website!
Houston Zoo
May 2 – Feast with the Beasts: Sample cuisine from Houston’s best restaurants while enjoying drinks and live music featuring The Deltaz, The Jukebox Heroes, and Shosty throughout the Zoo from 6:30-10:00 PM. This 21+ event offers $149 general admission (includes two drinks) or $299 VIP tickets with early entry and exclusive perks. Tickets must be purchased in advance with all proceeds supporting wildlife conservation.
Museum of Fine Arts
April 23–27 – College Week: College students enjoy free admission and special events across all MFAH buildings.
April 25–26 – Live Collage Portraits by James Gallagher: Watch artist James Gallagher create live collage portraits in the Audrey Jones Beck Building.
April 25 – Tour & Toast: “Toshiko Takaezu: Worlds Within”: Join a guided tour of this ceramic-focused exhibition followed by a toast.
April 25 & May 30 – Happy Hour Fridays: Enjoy drinks and music in the Nancy and Rich Kinder Building from 5–8 p.m.
May 29 – Lotería Game Night: Play an art-inspired version of lotería at the Nancy and Rich Kinder Building.
Through July 6, 2025 – Picturing Nature: The Stuart Collection of 18th- and 19th-Century British Landscapes and Beyond: Journey through the golden age of British landscape art at MFAH’s stunning new exhibition “Picturing Nature.” Discover over 70 masterpieces from the Stuart Collection, showcasing how artists like Turner, Constable, and Gainsborough transformed landscape painting in 18th and 19th century Britain.
Through Sept. 1, 2025 – David Hockney: The Four Seasons, Woldgate Woods: Step into an immersive video installation where nature meets innovation. David Hockney’s “The Four Seasons, Woldgate Woods” transforms a simple Yorkshire country road into a mesmerizing year-long journey through time and perception. Using nine cameras to capture different angles and exposures, Hockney creates a unique viewing experience that mirrors how our eyes naturally wander and explore. Watch as one road tells four distinct stories through spring, summer, autumn, and winter.
Find the full list of current and upcoming exhibitions and galleries on MFAH’s Now on View Page.
The Children’s Museum Houston
The Children’s Museum has a full slate of special events planned. Lodgeur’s little ones are most excited about these events (included in admission):
April 1 to May 17 – EcoStation Junior Master Gardener Certification: Learn about native plants, home gardening, and garden bed management in EcoStation. This 6-week program is designed for students in grades 3-5. Attend all six sessions on either Tuesdays or Saturdays from 10 to 11 am to earn JMG certification. Advanced registration is not required, but participation is limited to 12 participants ages 6+ on a first-come, first-served basis.
April 26 – Día del Niño: Celebrate children with a full day of fun, including folkloric dance performances, hands-on crafts like paper flower making, interactive music sessions, and piñata-breaking festivities.
May 2 – FamJam Fridays!: Parents unwind with free coffee and snacks while toddlers explore Tot*Spot’s climbing structures, sensory walls, and interactive play zones designed for developmental growth.
May 3 – Cinco de Mayo Celebration: Dive into Mexican culture with cascarones (confetti egg) decorating, colorful papel picado cutting, festive mariachi performances, and dance showcases by Las Americas Ballet Folklorico.
May 4 – May the Fourth Be With You!: Star Wars fans craft their own lightsabers, build model spaceships, and take photos with costumed characters from a galaxy far, far away.
May 4 – Lemonade Day: Kids run their own lemonade stands outside the museum, learning entrepreneurship, money management, and customer service.
May 9, 16, 23, 30 – Picnic Science Series: Bring a picnic and join outdoor science fun with erupting volcanoes (May 9), DIY slime (May 16), color-changing chemistry (May 23), and solar-powered art (May 30).
May 10 – STEM-tastic Celebration!: Kids can launch rubber band helicopters, explore UV light constellations, participate in a STEM Challenge Course, and experiment with giant bubble-making.
May 11 – Handmade with Love: Mom’s Special Craft: Create beautiful handmade gifts for moms, such as decorated flower pots and personalized cards, during this heartfelt Mother’s Day event.
May 15 – Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Celebration: Experience a celebration of Asian and Pacific Islander cultures with origami workshops, Chinese calligraphy demonstrations, traditional dance performances, and cultural storytelling.
May 15–18 – East Asian Art Program: Join origami folding, brush painting workshops, and tea ceremony demonstrations.
May 17 – Rafael López Reading Marathon: Stories with Megan!: Enjoy interactive readings of Rafael López’s vibrant books, followed by art activities inspired by his illustrations, including collaborative mural painting.
May 24 – CMH Birthday Kick-Off Party!: Celebrate the museum’s 45th birthday with a confetti cannon launch, DJ dance party, face painting, and birthday-themed crafts for all ages.
May 31 – Bubble Party: Splash into summer with giant bubble machines, bubble wand crafting stations, and bubble-blowing contests.
For more events in the Houston Museum District and beyond, check out our Houston Events guide.
Where to Stay and How to Get to Houston’s Museums
La Colombe D’Or is a 5-star boutique hotel in nearby Montrose, with a beautiful upscale restaurant and cocktail bar. Their 32 rooms start at $500 per night.
Lodgeur is the largest “hotelier” in Midtown, with 64 furnished apartments in Mid Main Lofts starting at $79 per night. Lodgeur sits next to the METRORail Red Line, so you can visit the Museum District without a car.
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