How To Get Into Major Miami Attractions For Free
From time to time we will be passing on tips and tricks to help you in any way we can. If you are on a budget and have been holding off dropping by one of Miami's bigger attractions, we have a great tip on free admissions.
The Miami-Dade Public Library System offers Museum Passes available for locals with a current library card. Best of all, they are free and allow up to a family of four to gain admission. Vizcaya, PAMM, the Bass (art museum), History Miami, & the Miami Children's Museum, among others, participate in the program.
For many families, admission for four to Vizcaya or Zoo Miami would be a large expense that may be outside their budget. However, free, we can all afford. Restrictions and exclusions, such as black-out dates, may apply. How do you get some passes for you or your family? I am glad you asked.
Rules For The Passes
- Pass is good for an individual or up to a family of four.*
- Pass is good for one visit.
- Pass is not renewable or available for reserve.
- Pass is valid for seven days from the time of check out and will remain on the customer's record for the duration of the seven day checkout.
- Passes are available on a first‑come, first‑served basis; check availability.
- Pass will not be replaced if lost or stolen.
- Only one pass may be checked out at a time.
- Limited number of passes per branch.
*Restrictions may apply including blackout dates or separate admission to special event/exhibits.
- At the Deering Estate, a family of four is two adults and two children ages 4‑14.
- At the Fruit & Spice Park, a family of four is two adults and two children ages 6‑11.
- At Zoo Miami, a family of four is two adults and two children ages 3‑12.
Note: Call for blackout dates, age limits for children, and other exclusions and restrictions. Passes are usually only for regular business hours, not for special events. On a few of the attractions, passes are available on selected days only and some access may be limited.
Participating Museums in the MDPLS Museum Pass Program
The Bass Art Museum
2100 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL
305-673-7530
Coral Gables Museum
285 Aragon Ave, Coral Gables, FL
305-603-8067
The Curtiss Mansion
500 Deer Run, Miami Springs, FL
305-869-5180
The Deering Estate
16701 SW 72 Ave, Miami, FL 33157
305-235-1668
Fruit & Spice Park
24801 SW 187 Ave, Homestead, FL
305-247-5727
History Miami Museum
101 West Flagler St, Miami, FL
305‑375‑1492
Jewish Museum of Florida
301 Washington Ave, Miami Beach, FL
305-672-5044
Lowe Art Museum
1301 Stanford Dr, Coral Gables, FL
305‑284‑3535
Miami Children's Museum
980 MacArthur Cswy, Miami, FL
305‑373‑5437
Museum of Graffiti
299 NW 25 St Miami, FL
786-580-4678
Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum
10975 SW 17 St, Miami, FL
305‑348‑2890
Phillip & Patricia Frost Museum of Science
1101 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL
305‑434‑9600
Pérez Art Museum Miami
1103 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL
305‑375‑3000
Vizcaya Museum & Gardens
3251 South Miami Ave, Miami, FL
305‑250‑9133
The Wolfsonian
1001 Washington Ave, Miami Beach, FL
305‑531‑1001
Zoo Miami
1 Zoo Blvd, 12400 SW 152 St, Miami, FL
305‑251‑0400
You are required to pick up your museum passes in person at a branch. Since passes are limited, you may want to check at other branches if your branch is out of the passes you are looking for. Branches will not hold passes for you.
Finding your closest branch is easy. Click on this link for the Miami-Dade Public Library Systems (MDPLS) "Find a Library Branch Near You" page.
Get a Library Card
If you don't have a library eCard you can click on this link for the Miami-Dade Public Library Systems "Getting Your Library Card" page. You can also download the MDPLS app at the above link. This app will allow you to have a digital version of the eCard on your phone. If you are a non-resident or live outside the MDPLS taxing district, you can contact MDPLS for purchasing a card at: customercare@mdpls.org.
There are limited number of passes for each museum. They are harder to get as the weekend approaches. At the beginning of the week, most passes are easier to find. To search which museum passes are available at any given time, you can click on this link for the Miami-Dade Public Library Systems "MDPLS Main Catalog Search" page.
The MDPLS is a great program for anyone on a budget. Just remember that passes are limited and must be checked out in person. View online to see if there are passes available before you make the drive to a branch. Once checked out, you have a week to use them. There are some restrictions, so always call to verify if any restrictions apply to the museum you will be visiting. Museums and attractions are often added or dropped from the list, so check with the MDPLS website for current lists and rules.
There you have it. I hope this helps. If you have any other tips or tricks for our readers, feel free to comment below or drop us an email.