Published by Jeremy. Last Updated on March 8, 2024.
Disclaimer: Our site uses demographic data, email opt-ins, display advertising, and affiliate links. Please check out our Terms and Conditions. Pricing, operating hours, or menus may have changed since our initial visit and may not be reflected in subsequent updates. Please confirm these directly with any business or attraction prior to visiting.
We love our great Pittsburgh museums and try to visit them as often as possible.
But we'll be the first to admit that sometimes the admission costs can be fairly expensive. While this often drives us to purchase a membership for year-round access, often at the cost of just two or three visits to any museum in a year, we know this luxury is not available to everyone.
So, in this one, we thought we'd look at popular museums that typically charge admission and share more details on when you can potentially visit for free or for a significantly discounted ticket!
Note: Free or discounted opportunities at area museums can change rather quickly. As always, we recommend reconfirming the offer directly with each museum before visiting to ensure the opportunity is still available. Likewise, this article only focuses on traditionally ticketed attractions that offer free or discounted opportunities to visit. For some of our favorite free things to do in Pittsburgh, including some museums that are perpetually free, click the previous link.
Carnegie Museums of Art and Natural History Late Afternoon Discount
We have to admit, the Carnegie Museums of Art and Natural History have many (and we do mean many) ways to save on admission. While several require you to be a member of specific institutions (such as AAA, a military member or veteran, a college student, a teacher, a Teen Membership option, and more), perhaps the best discount to be used by all is their Late Afternoon Discount on weekdays.
In this one, visitors who arrive at the museum after 3 pm can receive significantly discounted tickets, typically about half off by using the code AFTER3 at checkout. However, it is worth noting that the museum typically closes at 5 pm most days, so if you plan to take advantage of this one, we recommend arriving as close to 3 pm as you can!
The Carnegie Museum of Art and Natural History is located at 4400 Forbes Avenue in Oakland. More information about discount opportunities can be found here.
Andy Warhol Museum Good Fridays
The Andy Warhol Museum in the North Side has a Good Fridays series. The museum is open late (5 pm to 10 pm) and offers half-priced admission during those hours! So, if you're looking to check out Warhol's vast collection for less, this is a great time to visit.
As with most museums, arrange timed entry tickets in advance, as this one can be quite popular!
The Andy Warhol Museum is located at 117 Sandusky Street in the North Side. More information on Good Fridays can be found here.
Phipps Discounts for EBT Holders
Phipps Conservatory wants to ensure that all Pittsburghers have access to the beautiful gardens and offers generous discounts to Pennsylvania EBT card holders. Holders of an EBT card can visit the botanical gardens with up to four people in total for just $3 each. Even better? They also offer a Museums for All Membership package for just $25 per year which gives museum access for two adults and up to four children per year.
Those who hold an EBT card typically do not need to reserve tickets in advance, but they do need a photo ID showing the same address as the cardholder.
Phipps Conservatory is located at 1 Schenley Drive in Oakland. More information about discounts can be found here.
National Aviary's Neighbor Nights
The National Aviary in the North Side offers a monthly Neighbor Nights series, typically on the third Thursday of the month, where the facility is opened from 5 to 7 pm for free.
Admission during normal operating hours remains ticketed and the free admission begins only after regular hours end at 5 pm. As capacity is limited, advanced registration is recommended to be made over the phone.
The Aviary is located at 700 Arch Street in the North Side. More information about Neighbor Nights can be found here.
RAD Days – Annual Free Admission at Local Museums
Allegheny County's Regional Asset District (RAD) offers a unique opportunity each year known as RAD Days. The concept is branded as a “thank you to taxpayers,” and it typically offers free access to museums and other events throughout the county!
Admittedly, the occurrence of RAD Days each year is not as predictable as other discounts on this list. In 2023, for example, RAD hosted a 3 for Free campaign where visitors could check out the Heinz History Center, the Andy Warhol Museum, and the Children's Museum for free throughout August. Other specials have been found over several weeks in September and October, too.
As the promotions for RAD Days can vary both in what museums are featured and dates, we simply recommend keeping an eye on the RAD website to see if and when new opportunities are announced. As always, we'll likely share them on our Pittsburgh event calendar, too!
Do you know of more Pittsburgh museums offering significant discount opportunities for visitors? Comment below to share!