9/11 Museum hours, tickets, free entry and the best time to avoid crowds

How free Monday tickets work

On Mondays from 5:30pm to 7pm the museum offers free admission. Free tickets are released online each Monday starting at 7am ET on a first come, first served basis, and they go quickly. With only an hour and a half, and last admission 60 minutes before closing, the window is short: arrive at the start and head for the essentials.

• Log on at 7am sharp on the Monday you want to go.
• Decide what you most want to see: you can't see everything in 90 minutes.
• Other free admission: 9/11 family members, members, emergency services and military personnel with valid ID. On the first Sunday of each month, 4pm to 7pm, admission is free for people who live, work or study in the New York area (ID required).

Best time to visit without crowds

• Opening time (9am) on a weekday is the quietest slot.
• Avoid school holidays, weekends and the days around 11 September.
• The free Monday evening draws a crowd; if you want calm, pay for a regular ticket.
• The outdoor Memorial, open until 8pm, is a good way to end the day.

Where to buy and what costs extra

Buy only from the official website to avoid reseller mark-ups. Timed tickets must be purchased in advance. The official audio guide costs $11 and includes an ASL option; as an alternative, the AnyArt app tells you the story of artworks and monuments when you point your camera. Guided tours and bundles such as the New York CityPASS are priced separately.