Lifestyle adjustments and a transition into senior adulthood (or that of your loved one) can be stressful, but it doesn’t have to be! We’ve compiled 12 popular attractions and experiences in the New York City area that offer senior discounts.
Key Takeaways
- There are a variety of noteworthy senior discounts for New York City attractions and experiences, whether you’re a native New Yorker or visiting for vacation.
- Discounts include tourist attractions, museums, zoos and aquariums, and more.
- Each experience defines “senior” differently (i.e. age requirements and eligibility, proof of age) and offers different types of deals and discounts.
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1. Statue of Liberty
Seniors over 62 years of age can receive discounts on tickets to visit the Statue of Liberty.
Options include round trip ferry tickets to visit the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, tickets to see the interior of the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty, tickets to climb the stairs and access the crown of the Statue of Liberty, or tickets for a guided 90-minute Hard Hat Tour of Ellis Island.
For all Statue of Liberty options, seniors pay approximately $25 instead of approximately $32. For the Hard Hat Tour on Ellis Island, seniors pay $75 instead of $81.50.
2. Top of the Rock Observation Deck
For general admission to the Top of the Rock Observation Deck, seniors over 62 pay $38 instead of $40. The Top of the Rock offers an incredible view of Manhattan from 70 floors up, at both indoor and outdoor observation decks.
Located at Rockefeller Center, the Top of the Rock offers convenient access to visit the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, live television show tapings, the Rockefeller Center skating rink, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and the shops and restaurants on 5th Avenue.
3. MOMA
For general admission to the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA), seniors over 65 pay $14 instead of $20.
Be sure to bring a valid ID. This ticket gives you access to all exhibitions, including Monet’s Water Lilies as well as work by Warhol, Basquiat, Kusama, and many more renowned modern artists. The MOMA Design Store is also on-site, offering unique gifts and decor.
4. The Metropolitan Museum of Art
For general admission at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (also known as “The Met”), seniors pay $22 instead of $30.
Moreover, for New York State residents (with driver’s license or other valid ID), the amount paid is up to you, so you may choose to pay less than the general admission prices if you wish.
The historic Met museum boasts an impressive collection of art spanning 5,000 years, as well as a handful of cafés and a rooftop garden bar.
5. New York Aquarium
Older adults 65 and over pay $29.95 instead of $32.95 (peak) or $27.95 instead of $29.95 (off-peak) for general admission to the New York Aquarium.
Further reduced tickets can also be purchased online Mondays at 3pm for the following Wednesday afternoon.
The aquarium offers Aquatheater shows as well as special experiences such as penguin encounters and shark feeding. The U.S.’s oldest continually operating aquarium, NYA is located on Coney Island in Brooklyn (with convenient access to the beach and boardwalk).
6. Bronx Zoo
Admission to the Bronx Zoo, including unlimited Star Attractions (i.e. butterfly garden, monorail), starts at $33.25 instead of $37.75 for seniors 65 and older. The Bronx Zoo offers an impressive array of animals to see, as well as experiences like a high-ropes course, wildlife theater, live animal feedings, and a carousel.
7. New York Botanical Gardens
© King of Hearts, wikimedia.org
Seniors over 65 pay $31 instead of $35 for admission to the New York Botanical Gardens, including daytime access to the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory and Tram Tour, as well as additional experiences like the Everett Children’s Adventure Garden and outdoor collections.
Located in the Bronx, these peaceful gardens offer special events like a farmer’s market and interactive art exhibitions.
8. American Museum of Natural History
For general admission to the American Museum of Natural History, seniors over 60 pay $22 instead of $28. For New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut residents (just enter your zip code to buy tickets online), the amount paid is up to you, so you may pay less than the general admission price if you wish.
This historic museum (almost 150 years old) offers a wide array of exhibitions, including the famous dinosaur fossil collections, the famous blue whale model, a planetarium, collections of gemstones and minerals, and more.
9. Intrepid Sea, Air, and Space Museum
Seniors over 65 pay $34 instead of $36 for access to the Intrepid Sea, Air, and Space Museum, and access for veterans is totally free.
Exhibitions include the historic USS Intrepid aircraft carrier, a space shuttle pavilion, the only American guided missile submarine open to the public, an immersive multimedia experience on the impact of kamikazes, the world’s fastest jets, rotating special exhibitions, and more.
10. 9/11 Museum
Admission to the 9/11 Museum is free for 9/11 family members, community members, and museum members, active and retired U.S. military, those receiving SNAP benefits, and everyone on Mondays. FDNY, NYPD, and PAPD members can receive $16 tickets.
General admission for seniors over 65 is $27 instead of $33. Discounted senior tickets are also available for guided or audio tours of the museum and outdoor memorial, as well as packages that include other nearby experiences (like the One World Observatory, the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and more).
The museum offers exhibitions and public programs memorializing 9/11 and exploring its continuing impact on the world.
11. Tenement Museum
The Tenement Museum offers guided tours and experiences, including recreated tenement apartments from the 19th and 20th Centuries and walking tours of the Lower East Side neighborhood.
Seniors, students, and adults all pay $30 for general tour admission, but discounts are available for those with disabilities, teachers (New York teachers receive free admission on Sundays), military, Lower East Side neighborhood residents (10002 zip code), and members of museum and conservation organizations like AAM, MANY, and National Trust. Digital exhibits are also available for free online.
12. Senior Metrocard Discount
Need a ride to your destination? Seniors over 65 can receive MTA Metrocards for a reduced fare of $1.35 instead of $2.90 on public transportation. You can apply for a discounted Metrocard online, by mail, or in person.
Reduced-fare Metrocards can be refilled at regular Metrocard vending machines found in every station or at mobile sales buses and vans.
The Metrocard covers travel via NYC’s bus and subway system in all five boroughs, and includes transfers (including transfers from a bus to a subway or vice versa). It’s a crucial tool for many senior New Yorkers (and all New Yorkers).
