When it comes to family outings around Tampa Bay, try adding museums to the mix. Museums can be an affordable way to get your family involved in history and you may even find yourself having some fun. Some museums can be pretty interactive.
Museums may also be expensive? Well, not if you know when and where to go or have reciprocal membership. That’s where we come in to help guide you in daily ways you can visit a museum with your family that is absolutely free.
Come explore these daily ways to enjoy museums around the Tampa Bay Area. While some of these museums only offer free admission for specific days, others are free to attend any time you visit, but in either case, always call or check their website to confirm hours and fees as they are subject to change without notice.
Libraries (Daily):
Hillsborough County Library’s Discovery Pass – It provides one-time admission or tour to a local Tampa attraction during a 7-day checkout period. Your checkout receipt serves as your admission or tour pass to the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts and others as they become available. Passes may be reserved through the Hillsborough County library branch. Discovery Passes are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Pinellas County Library Card – Enjoy free access to several museums with the library’s Museum Pass and visit museums like the Great Explorations, the Florida Holocaust Museum, the Museum of Fine Arts, and more.
Library cardholders are able to borrow a free family pass to these institutions for seven days. Each branch only has two passes for each museum, so they’re on a first-come, first-served basis. Check the availability online or by calling. Availability may change at any time.
Explorations V Children’s Museum – In collaboration with the City of Lakeland, freed admission is offered through their Culture Pass for up to 5 people for 1 day. The Culture Pass can be checked out at one of the three Lakeland Library branches. Availability is on a first-come, first-served basis. Call your nearest library or the Museum for details.
Days of the Week: Free & Cheap Museum Admission
Monday – Free Museum Admission
Details: Every Monday the Museum of Art, including special exhibition galleries is free to the public. Regular admission pricing applies if you wish to visit the Circus Museum or Ca’d’Zan. There is a playground on-site and picnic tables so you can bring your own lunch. Located on 5401 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota, FL 34243.
Museums Open Mondays for Free Admission:
1. Florida Botanical Gardens: Come walk the paths along the beautiful gardens. A great outing for the entire family.
Details: Free admission. Open daily from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m., 12520 Ulmerton Rd., Largo, FL 33774
2. Tampa Police Museum in Tampa, FL. celebrates the rich history of the Tampa Police department. The museum is filled with police uniforms, badges, helmets, hats, original mug shots and fingerprint cards of famous criminals, and many other police memorabilia. Make sure to take a photo behind the bars in the museum.
Details. Free admission. Open from Monday-Saturday from 10 a.m.- 3 p.m. Please call ahead to confirm times as times may change due to staff availability. (813) 276-3200, 411 N. Franklin St., Tampa, FL.
3. Museums for All: Through Museums for All, those receiving food assistance (SNAP benefits) can gain free or reduced admission to more than 600 museums throughout the United States simply by presenting their EBT card. See participating locations in Florida.
Tuesday – Free Museum Admission
Glazer Children’s Museum: This museum is ideal for young children. Located in downtown Tampa the museum offers a great interactive style to keep children learning and having fun. Their calendar is packed with fun activities, camps, etc.
Details: Every first Tuesday of the month, the Children’s Board of Hillsborough County sponsors a free museum entrance from Noon to 7 p.m. Food is sold inside the museum. They are also located near the Tampa Museum of Art and the Curtis Hixon Park where there is a splash area and playground for children. 110 W Gasparilla Plaza, Tampa, FL 33602.
Glazer Children’s Museum
Tampa Firefighters Museum in Tampa, FL. is housed in the first Tampa Firefighter Department building. The museum even includes a hands-on, interactive, fire safety and emergency awareness classroom.
Details: The Tampa Firefighters Museum is open by appointment only Mon-Fri (10A-2P)
Located on 720 Zack Street, Tampa, FL 33602.
Museums Open Tuesdays for Free Admission :
- Florida Botanical Gardens in Largo, FL. Open daily from 7 a.m.- 5 p.m.
- Tampa Police Museum, in Tampa, FL. Open from Monday-Saturday from 10 a.m.- 3 p.m. Please call ahead to confirm times as times may change due to staff availability. (813) 276-3200, 411 N. Franklin St., Tampa, FL.
- Museums for All: Through Museums for All, those receiving food assistance (SNAP benefits) can gain free or reduced admission to more than 600 museums throughout the United States simply by presenting their EBT card. See participating locations in Florida.
Wednesday – Free Museum Admission
Heritage Village: Visit the 21-acre outdoor living history museum located in the heart of Pinellas County. Explore 33 historic attractions, including a variety of historic homes, general store, railroad depot, two schools, church, and more.
Details: Free admission from Wednesday- Saturday from 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. and Sunday from 1-4 p.m. Closed Mondays, Tuesdays and all county holidays.
Located on 11909 125th Street N. Largo, FL 33774.
Sulphur Springs Museum in Tampa, FL is dedicated to preserve and celebrate the natural and social history of Sulphur Springs, a community that helped shape Tampa.
Details: Free admission. Donations are accepted. Open on Wednesday-Saturday from 11 a.m.- 4 p.m. Located on 1101 E Ricer Cove St, Tampa, FL 33604.
Museums Open Wednesdays for Free Admission:
- Florida Botanical Gardens in Largo, FL. Open daily from 7 a.m.- 5 p.m.
- Heritage Village in Largo, FL. Open from Wednesday-Saturday from 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. Sundays from 1-4 p.m.
- Tampa Firefighters Museum in Tampa, FL. Open on Tuesday-Saturday from 10 a.m.- 2p.m.
- Tampa Police Museum in Tampa, FL. Open from Monday-Friday from 10 a.m.- 3 p.m. Please call ahead to confirm times as times may change due to staff availability. (813) 276-3200, 411 N. Franklin St., Tampa, FL.
- Museums for All: Through Museums for All, those receiving food assistance (SNAP benefits) can gain free or reduced admission to more than 600 museums throughout the United States simply by presenting their EBT card. See participating locations in Florida.
Thursday – Free Museum Admission
Tampa Museum of Art: This modern building in downtown Tampa is filled with amazing art pieces and sculptures. In addition to docent-led tours, they offer art classes, family events, free art activities, and more.
Details: The Tampa Museum of Art invites everyone to Art on the House every Thursday evening from 4 – 8 pm for Pay-as-you-will admission. You may decide to pay nothing or you may decide to pay any amount of money for admission. You get to choose!
There is a cafe in the museum. They are also located near the Glazer Children’s Museum and the Curtis Hixon Park, where there is a splash area and playground for children. Located on 120 W Gasparilla Plaza, Tampa, FL 33602.
Museums Open Thursdays for Free Admission:
- Florida Botanical Gardens in Largo, FL. Open daily from 7 a.m.- 5 p.m.
- Heritage Village in Largo, FL. Open from Wednesday-Saturday from 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. Sundays from 1-4 p.m.
- Tampa Firefighters Museum in Tampa, FL. Open on Tuesday-Saturday from 10 a.m.- 2p.m.
- Tampa Police Museum, in Tampa, FL. Open from Monday-Friday from 10 a.m.- 3 p.m. Please call ahead to confirm times as times may change due to staff availability. (813) 276-3200, 411 N. Franklin St., Tampa, FL.
- Sulfur Springs Museum, in Tampa, FL. Open on Wednesday-Saturday from 11 a.m.- 4 p.m.
- Museums for All: Through Museums for All, those receiving food assistance (SNAP benefits) can gain free or reduced admission to more than 600 museums throughout the United States simply by presenting their EBT card. See participating locations in Florida.
Friday – Free Museum Admission
Henry B. Plant Museum: Located on the University of Tampa campus, the Museum is housed in the 1891 Tampa Bay Hotel, the Victorian-styled railroad resort is now a National Historic Landmark. The museum contains the actual furnishings enjoyed by the first guests to visit the hotel.
Details:
CANCELED FOR 2021
- First Friday of every month (excluding December) visit the museum from 5-7 p.m. for free admission.
This is a great place to take pictures. The museum looks like a beautiful castle near the water. There is a nearby park for little children to play on. Located on 401 W Kennedy Blvd, Tampa, FL 33606
Henry B. Plant Museum
Museums Open Fridays for Free Admission:
- Florida Botanical Gardens in Largo, FL. Open daily from 7 a.m.- 5 p.m.
- Heritage Village in Largo, FL. Open from Wednesday-Saturday from 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. Sundays from 1-4 p.m.
- Tampa Firefighters Museum in Tampa, FL. Open on Tuesday-Saturday from 10 a.m.- 2p.m.
- Tampa Police Museum, in Tampa, FL. Open from Monday-Friday from 10 a.m.- 3 p.m. Please call ahead to confirm times as times may change due to staff availability. (813) 276-3200, 411 N. Franklin St., Tampa, FL.
- Sulfur Springs Museum, in Tampa, FL. Open on Wednesday-Saturday from 11 a.m.- 4 p.m.
- Museums for All: Through Museums for All, those receiving food assistance (SNAP benefits) can gain free or reduced admission to more than 600 museums throughout the United States simply by presenting their EBT card. See participating locations in Florida.
Saturday – Free Museum Admission
Museums on Us: If you’re a Bank of America cardholder then you are in luck. On the first full weekend of every month, participating museums invite Bank of America members to visit for free. This offer is only good for the cardholder, not their guests.
Details: Visit on the first Saturday or Sunday to get in for free admission with your Bank of America bank card and ID for verification. Free admission only applies to cardmember. Please Note: Participation may change at any time. Please call ahead to confirm.
Current participating museums in the Tampa Bay Area:
- Tampa Museum of Art
- The Florida Aquarium
- Selby Gardens
- Florida Holocaust Museum
- Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg
Museums Open Saturdays for Free Admission:
- Florida Botanical Gardens in Largo, FL. Open daily from 7 a.m.- 5 p.m.
- Heritage Village in Largo, FL. Open from Wednesday-Saturday from 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. Sundays from 1-4 p.m.
- Tampa Firefighters Museum, in Tampa, FL. Open on Tuesday-Saturday from 10 a.m.- 2p.m.
- Sulphur Springs Museum, in Tampa, FL. Open on Wednesday-Saturday from 11 a.m.- 4 p.m.
- Museums for All: Through Museums for All, those receiving food assistance (SNAP benefits) can gain free or reduced admission to more than 600 museums throughout the United States simply by presenting their EBT card. See participating locations in Florida.
Sunday – Free Museum Admission
Open Sundays for Free Admission:
- Florida Botanical Gardens in Largo, FL. Open daily from 7 a.m.- 5 p.m.
- Heritage Village in Largo, FL. Open Sundays from 1-4 p.m.
- Museums on Us: If you’re a Bank of America cardholder then you are in luck. On the first full weekend of every month, participating museums invite Bank of America members to visit for free. This offer is only good for the cardholder, not their guests. Details: Visit on the first Saturday or Sunday to get in for free admission with your Bank of America bank card and ID for verification. Free admission only applies to cardmember. Please Note: Participation may change at any time. Please call ahead to confirm.
Current participating museums in the Tampa Bay Area:
- Tampa Museum of Art
- The Florida Aquarium
- Selby Gardens
- Florida Holocaust Museum
- Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg
- Museums for All: Through Museums for All, those receiving food assistance (SNAP benefits) can gain free or reduced admission to more than 600 museums throughout the United States simply by presenting their EBT card. See participating locations in Florida.