Free Museum Days in San Antonio
San Antonio is home to world-class museums. The only thing better than a visit to one of them is a FREE visit. Below are the days and times for free San Antonio museums. If you don’t see your favorite local museum’s free days and times included below, please list them in the comments.
The Witte Museum
3801 Broadway, San Antonio, TX 78209
The Witte Museum offers free general admission every Tuesday from 3:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Take advantage of enhanced activities and programming just for free Tuesday! The Witte Museum showcases science, health, natural history, and the heritage of the early South Texas people. Free Admission to the Witte Museum includes entrance to all permanent exhibits, the South Texas Heritage Center, and the HEB Body Adventure, a permanent, three-story experience, which offers interactive exhibits that teach kids and families how their bodies work and how they can stay fit and healthy. Free Knowledge Free Tuesdays at the Witte Museum are generously supported by Bolner’s Fiesta Products, Inc., BBVA Compass Bank, Macy’s, and NFA Wealth Management.
The Witte Museum is a Museums on Us participant and offers one free general admission on the first weekend of every month to Bank of America and Merrill Lynch cardholders.
The DoSeum
2800 Broadway, San Antonio, TX 78209
The brand-new, state-of-the-art DoSeum hosts Free Family Night on the first and third Tuesday of every month. Only the first 1,500 guests will be admitted so arrive early. Parking is free but limited. No outside food is allowed and umbrella strollers only inside the museum. The cafe will be open with food and drinks for sale. HEB supports Free Family Nights at The DoSeum.
The DoSeum is a Museums on Us participant and offers one free general admission on the first weekend of every month to Bank of America and Merrill Lynch cardholders.
San Antonio Museum of Art
200 West Jones Avenue, San Antonio, Texas 78215
Free admission to the San Antonio Museum of Art is offered twice a week on Tuesdays from 4:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. and Sundays from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Children 12 and under are always free. The San Antonio Museum of Art has additional free offerings each month that include:
First Sundays for Families: from 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. kids, 12 and under, receive free admission (after 12:00 p.m., adults are $10 each) and they can participate in activities, listen to music, and enjoy snacks, all centered around that month’s artistic theme.
Free Family Flicks: outdoor (weather permitting) family movies – bring your lawn chairs and blankets and watch a movie under the stars at SAMA near the banks of the San Antonio River.
The San Antonio Museum of Art is a Museums on Us participant and offers one free general admission on the first weekend of every month to Bank of America and Merrill Lynch cardholders.
Alamo Colleges, Trinity University, University of the Incarnate Word (and affiliated Brainpower Connection Schools), and University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio students, faculty and staff receive free general admission to the Museum with their school IDs through Corporate Sponsorships.
H-E-B, Valero Energy Corporation, and The Capital Group Companies employees also receive free general admission with their company ID through Corporate Sponsorship.
McNay Art Museum
6000 North New Braunfels, San Antonio, Texas 78209
Kids and teens (19 and under) always receive free admission (and free admission to special exhibitions) at The McNay. Adults receive free admission on the first Sunday of every month and every Thursday evening from 4:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
The McNay is a Museums on Us participant and offers one free general admission on the first weekend of every month to Bank of America and Merrill Lynch cardholders.
The McNay has additional free offerings each month that include:
Free Family Days at The McNay, are offered three times a year. The next free Family Days are during Spring Break this March and they’re completely free for everyone! Join the McNay on March 15-17 from 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. for free admission, free activities, and lots of fun.
Family Art Play (free for kids to attend and free for parents with museum admission) is usually offered about once a month on Sundays. The next Family Art Play is Cube your Face.
Institute of Texan Cultures
801 E. Cesar E. Chavez Blvd., San Antonio, TX 78205
Focusing on the people who call Texas home and celebrating their beautiful and varied heritages, the UTSA Institute of Texan Cultures offers free admission for everyone on the second Sunday of each month, from 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Briscoe Western Art Museum
210 W. Market Street, San Antonio, Texas 78205
Briscoe Western Art Museum offers free admission, year-round, to children 12 and under and to all active military and their families (up to 4 people).
During Free Tuesday Nights at the Briscoe Western Art Museum, everyone receives free admission from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. to enjoy special programs, music, and more (and, free parking is available on Tuesdays in city-owned garages beginning at 5:00 p.m.).
Every Saturday from 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m., the Briscoe offers Story Time Stampede for kids, presented by the San Antonio Public Library in the Kampmann Library Portal (on-site at the Briscoe Museum). is offered for kids every Saturday from 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m
Barney Smith’s Toilet Seat Art Museum
239 Abiso Ave, San Antonio, Texas 78209
Free admission every day, by appointment, is offered to this unique museum located in the heart of Alamo Heights. Please call Barney at (210) 824-7791 to request a day and time to visit.
The Alamo and the San Antonio Missions
300 Alamo Plaza, San Antonio, TX 78205
The San Antonio Missions are now the first World Heritage Site in the state of Texas and the 23rd in the nation. And, everyone can visit them for free, every day!
Visit the Alamo from 9:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. every day of the year, except Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. (During the summer the Alamo stays open until 7:00 p.m.)
The San Antonio Missions are open from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. every day except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Day.
- Mission Concepción: 807 Mission Rd, San Antonio, TX 78210
- Mission San José: 6701 San Jose Dr, San Antonio, TX 78124
- Mission San Juan: 9101 Graf Rd, San Antonio, TX 78214
- Mission Espada: 10040 Espada Rd, San Antonio, TX 78214
The Quadrangle and the Ft. Sam Houston Museum
The Quadrangle is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; on weekends and federal holidays, it’s open from noon to 6:00 p.m. The Ft. Sam Museum is located inside the historic Quadrangle on Liscum Road. Museum hours are 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Tuesday thru Friday, and 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturdays. Visitors without a valid government should use the Walters Street gate off of IH-35. Visitors must obtain a pass by stopping in the Visitor Control Center and presenting a form of identification. Admission to both is free.
Holocaust Memorial Museum of San Antonio
12500 NW Military Hwy, San Antonio, Texas 78231
There is no admission fee to visit the Holocaust Memorial Museum. It is open Monday – Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. and Sunday, 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. While there is no admission fee, a suggested donation of $1 per student and $3 per adult is recommended. Holiday hours may apply. Enter through the main entrance of The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Jewish Campus at 12500 N.W. Military Highway. The Holocaust Memorial Museum is located on the upper level.
San Antonio: The Saga
San Fernando Cathedral, Main Plaza, 115 N. Main, 78205
(more of an outdoor, audio-visual history experience than a museum)
Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays at 9:00 p.m., 9:30 p.m., and 10:00 p.m.
This free video art installation, created by Xavier De Richemont, plays three times a night, weather permitting, on Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays on the facade of San Fernando Cathedral.
Free museum visits for active-duty military service members
Active duty members of the military and up to five members of their families, receive free admission to participating local museums from Memorial Day – Labor Day, courtesy of Blue Star Museums. Participating San Antonio museums include:
- Blue Star Contemporary Art Museum
- Briscoe Western Art Museum
- Casa Navarro State Historic Site
- Holocaust Memorial Museum of San Antonio
- Institute of Texas Cultures
- San Antonio Museum of Art
- Villa Finale: Museum & Gardens