Visiting The Brooklyn Museum (Everything You Need to Know)

If you want to learn more about The Brooklyn Museum, you’re in luck! We’ve created a comprehensive guide to help you plan the perfect visit to The Brooklyn Museum, a great place to visit any time of the year or perfect rainy day activity, not to mention one of the best things to do in Brooklyn.

This guide to the Brooklyn Museum will cover all the important information you need to know before your visit to help you plan and prepare for an incredible day at these Brooklyn gardens, no matter what season you visit.

If you’re an artist or just a lover of art, be sure to check out the coolest indie Brooklyn art galleries too!

About the Brooklyn Museum of Art

The Brooklyn Museum, also known as The Brooklyn Museum of Art, is an art museum located in Brooklyn, New York. With just over 1.5 million works of art and hundreds of thousands of square feet, The Brooklyn Museum is the third largest museum in all of New York City, making it a highly sought-after tourist attraction and one of the best museums in Brooklyn and best museums in NYC to visit.

The art within The Brooklyn Museum exhibits embodies various world cultures and their artistic heritage. The Brooklyn Museum of Art is mainly known for its African art, Egyptian art, and paintings from the 17th to the 20th century. Famous artists on display include Norman Rockwell, Edward Hopper, Edgar Degas, Georgia O’Keeffe, and Mark Rothko to name a few.

The primary purpose of The Brooklyn Museum is to help visitors expand their horizons and expand their world view. If you want to view an art exhibit that opens your eyes to other parts of the worlds’ history, The Brooklyn Museum of Art is a great place to spend a day exploring their permanent collections, temporary exhibits, and special programming.

Brooklyn Museum: Location

The Brooklyn Museum is located at 200 Eastern Parkway next to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, as well as near some of the most popular attractions like Prospect Park, The Prospect Park Zoo, and Grand Army Plaza.

The nearest subway stops that service the surrounding area of Brooklyn Museum are:

• Prospect Park Station (B, Q, S lines) 
• Franklin Avenue/Botanic Garden Station (4, 5 lines)
• Eastern Parkway-Brooklyn Museum Station (2, 3 lines) 
• Grand Army Plaza Station (2, 3 lines) 

To get to Brooklyn Museum you can also use a Citibike bicycle rental using the downloadable app on your phone.

The app will use your location to tell you where the nearest docking station is with how many bikes there are available or how many stalls are open to re-dock your bicycle rental.

There are 3 Citibike stations near Grand Army Plaza and 3 Citibike Stations along Washington Avenue that are within a few minutes walk to any of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden entrances.

Brooklyn Museum: Parking

If you’re driving you’re going to need to know all about Brooklyn Museum parking and the best place to leave your car while you enjoy all the exhibits and what there is to see in the museum.

The most convenient parking for the Brooklyn Museum is the parking lot on-site behind the museum off the Washington Avenue entrance. There are also bike racks here too.

If for any reason this parking lot is closed or full, there are other parking options nearby.

You can find free parking along Flatbush Avenue, but during busier seasons or the weekends, this might be more difficult to find (not impossible, but it might take a little time).

To save you time and for convenience, you can choose to do your Brooklyn Museum parking at one of the nearby parking garages for a fee, typically between $18-30.

Jenuwen Parking Garage at 580-590 Flatbush Avenue is one great option, they have a valet parking garage with attendants on the east side of Prospect Park just a 10-15-minute walk to the Brooklyn Museum entrance.

This option for a Brooklyn Museum parking also has overnight options with special directions, if you’re parking for the day you will need to drop off and pick up your car between the hours of 8:00 am – 8:00 pm on weekdays and 8:00 am – 6:00 pm on weekends.

Another great option for Brooklyn Museum parking in a paid garage is at 906 Union Street on President Street near Grand Army Plaza. This is just a 15-minute walk to the Brooklyn garden entrance and offers quick valet service parking.

If you’re only parking for the day, you will have to drop off and pick up your car between 7:00 and 11:00 pm all days of the week.

Note that this parking garage and option does not allow exotic vehicles to park here, probably for liability and insurance reasons.

Tip: Check out online booking options for your Brooklyn Museum parking in advance with websites/services like Park Whiz. You can book a spot in advance for a quick and guaranteed parking option to save time and the process of having to find a spot during your visit!

Brooklyn Museum: Admission

Admission prices at The Brooklyn Museum range from $10-$25, depending on the ticket. Below are all of the ticket options and who they’re for.

General Admission

Adults – $16

Adults 65+ – $10

Visitors with disabilities (care partner free of charge) – $10

Students 20+ with ID – $10

Ages 19 and under – Free

Members – Free

If you want to visit The Brooklyn Museum of Art more often at a lower price, below are the membership options and what they each include!

Individual – $75

• 1 free ticket per visit
• 1 year of unlimited free admission
• Unlimited free admission to all special exhibitions
• Invites to members-only previews
• 10% discount on The Brooklyn Museum dining & shopping
• 10% discount on all group tours
• Early access or a discount to films and performances
• Discounted registration for all art classes
• Access to the e-newsletter
• 2 complimentary parking passes (one-time use only for each, not valid on First Saturdays)

Dual – $125

• Benefits for two people
• Two complimentary tickets per visit
• 1 year of unlimited free admission for two
• Unlimited free admission for two to all special exhibitions
• Invites to members-only previews
• 10% discount on The Brooklyn Museum dining & shopping
• 10% discount on all group tours
• Early access or a discount to films and performances
• Discounted registration for all art classes
• Access to the e-newsletter
• 2 complimentary parking passes (one-time use only for each, not valid on First Saturdays)

Insider – $250

• All benefits of a dual membership
• Free admission to over 30 other museums
• 4 free one-time-use guest passes

Trendsetter – $500

• All benefits of an insider membership
• 4 free tickets per visit
• Invites to curator-led tours
• 15% off The Brooklyn Museum publications

Groundbreaker – $1,000

• All benefits of a trendsetter membership
• 6 free tickets per visit
• 6 one-time-use parking passes

Brooklyn Museum: Free Days

On the first Saturday of every month, excluding January and September, The Brooklyn Museum lets anyone enter free of charge from 5 PM to 11 PM. All art, movies, and music at the museum are free during these hours!

If you want to learn more about free days for museums in the city as well as the best free museums in NYC, be sure to read our full guide!

Brooklyn Museum: Hours

Sunday: 11 AM-6 PM

Monday: Closed

Tuesday: Closed

Wednesday: 11 AM-6 PM

Thursday: 11 AM-6 PM

Friday: 11 AM-8 PM

Saturday: 11 AM-8 PM

The Brooklyn Museum of Art Shop Hours

Sunday: 2-6 PM

Monday: Closed

Tuesday: Closed

Wednesday: 11 AM-9 PM

Thursday: 11 AM-9 PM

Friday: 11 AM-8 PM

Saturday: 11 AM-8 PM

Brooklyn Museum: Exhibits & Things to See

Although The Brooklyn Museum has many permanent exhibits that are listed below, they also have temporary exhibits that typically last around 4-6 months. However, some may last up to a year! Since the temporary exhibits are always changing in and out, getting a membership to The Brooklyn Museum is a great way to keep up with the new exhibitions and see something new each time you visit the museum.

Aside from the outstanding art, The Brooklyn Museum has a shop where you can find great souvenirs, home decor items, books, and more. They also have two places to dine: The Norm Restaurant and The Cafe. The Norm Restaurant is perfect for fine dining, and The Cafe inside the museum is excellent for a quick snack or drink on the go!

European Art – 3rd Floor

The 3rd floor of The Brooklyn Museum showcases a vast European Art collection that spans from the Early Renaissance to World War 2. With both paintings and sculptures, this art collection shows visitors how Europe built its identity off of faith and architecture.

Ancient Egyptian Art – 3rd Floor

On the 3rd floor of The Brooklyn Museum, visitors can expect to find one of the largest Ancient Egyptian Art collections in the entire world. This expansive collection contains over 1,200 objects that each represent an important moment in history.

A Woman’s Afterlife – 3rd Floor

A Woman’s Afterlife on the 3rd floor of The Brooklyn Museum showcases gender transformation in ancient Egypt. To make rebirth possible for a woman who has died, the ancient Egyptians believed that she must turn into a man. This collection at The Brooklyn Museum of Art showcases the entire story of gender transformation in ancient Egypt and dissects the main differences between men’s and women’s access to the afterlife. 

Assyrian Art – 3rd Floor

In the Assyrian Art exhibit on the 3rd floor of The Brooklyn Museum, viewers can expect to find pieces that depict the decorations in the royal palaces of the Middle Eastern kingdom of Assyria. Many of these decorations indicate the peoples’ beliefs in supernatural entities, the king’s true power, and other majestic images.

The Brooklyn Della Robbia – 3rd Floor

The Brooklyn Della Robbia on the 3rd floor of The Brooklyn Museum of Art showcases a giant sculpture made up of 46 pieces representing a different vision-related to faith and salvation. Many of these pieces complement each other and include images of naturalistic figures.

The Dinner Party by Judy Chicago – 4th Floor

The Dinner Party by Judy Chicago is an iconic 1970s feminist art piece that showcases a banquet with 39 spots all placed at a triangular table. Each of these spots represents an important woman in history and exhibits a different style to represent each of the women accurately.

American Art – 5th Floor

The American Art galleries on the 5th floor of The Brooklyn Museum showcase depictions of abolition and labor in The United States from 4000 B.C.E. and up until the present. Together, all of these pieces acknowledge America’s most important moments in history, addressing African Americans, European settlers, and other diverse voices.

Visible Storage – 5th Floor

On the 5th floor of The Brooklyn Museum of Art, visitors can find the 5,000 square-foot Visible Storage exhibit. This exhibit features various American objects that are held in storage, including a center table, an antique bicycle, and statues of important historical figures.

Last but not least, you can find one of the biggest draws to The Brooklyn Museum in the parking lot! Their massive statue of liberty replica is in the parking lot around the back of the museum.

Brooklyn Museum: Events

The Brooklyn Museum has many great events throughout the year, including exclusive viewings and talks with artists. Their Member Mornings are an excellent time for members to view the exhibits when no one else is allowed inside the museum.

And one of the most highly anticipated monthly events are Brooklyn Museum’s First Saturdays. During the evening of the first Saturday of each month, the museum is free to anyone who registers in advance. Each month features different programming so each month is unique.

To stay up-to-date on the most recent events at The Brooklyn Museum of Art, check out their calendar!

Since you only need a few hours to enjoy all there is to do in the Brooklyn Botanic Garden we recommend planning the rest of your day, either before or after your visit to the Brooklyn Gardens to enjoy any of these neighborhoods or attractions nearby!

What to do nearby the Brooklyn Museum

Prospect Park Zoo

Just a few steps away from the Brooklyn Museum is the Prospect Park Zoo in Prospect Park. There are almost 900 animals in this quaint zoo with the main attraction being the Sea Lion Court in the center of the zoo!

We recommend planning around 1.5-2 hours for your visit, be sure to see our entire guide for tips for visiting the Prospect Park Zoo including all the animals and exhibits inside.

Prospect Park

Since you’re already here, it would be a shame to skip out on some of the best things to do in Prospect Park. This green oasis is one of the best parks in Brooklyn for anyone looking for a bit of green space or a hangout location to run, bike, sunbathe or have a picnic.

Designed by the same creators of Central Park in Manhattan, Prospect Park is the outdoor space for your recreational activities as well as sites to see around the park.

It’s also fun to explore Prospect Park by bicycle, you can rent one at any of the Citibike stations around the park. We will warn you though if you plan to bike, there are hills! So be sure to watch out for the signs that warn you when they are coming and provide exit routes to avoid the treacherous hills.

Brooklyn Botanic Garden

Sandwiched between the Brooklyn Museum and Prospect Park are the massive gardens covering 52-acres with different gardens and collections of plants.

There are over 18,000 plants housed here as well as attractions like the three different plant pavilions at different climates housing different types of plants, and the C.V. Starr Bonsai Museum. The garden has both indoor and outdoor areas to explore.

Outside there is the Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden, Cranford Rose Garden, Shakespeare Garden, Water Garden, and more. In the spring, between late April and early May, you don’t want to miss the 200 cherry trees when they blossom during the Brooklyn Botanic Garden Cherry Blossom Festival.

Park Slope

Just on the other side of Prospect Park from the Zoo is one of our favorite neighborhoods to explore. Check out all the best things to do in Park Slope from shopping, dining, drinking, cafes, and even historic landmarks.

We recommend planning one of your meals around here since there are plenty of great options along 7th Avenue just a few blocks down from Prospect Park or if you’re feeling like exploring further, check out 5th Avenue in Park Slope for all the dining, shopping, and entertainment options.

Don’t miss the historic and gorgeous brownstone-lined streets either while exploring through here too!

Downtown Brooklyn

If you’re looking for more great food options, we recommend heading towards Downtown Brooklyn nearby. You can even check to see if there are any shows, performances, or sports playing at Barclays Center if you’re looking to make a whole day extravaganza out of your Brooklyn Botanical visit.

We also recommend checking out DeKalb Market Hall if you’re looking for a fun place for food. This spot is family-friendly because it has tons of eateries from some of the most famous restaurants in New York all under one roof.

You will want to take the subway here though as it might be a bit too far for a walk!

Flatbush

We also recommend exploring a bit of Flatbush if you’re up for exploring a neighborhood near Brooklyn Garden, our top pick would be the Victorian Flatbush and Ditmas Park area where you can admire the giant mansions in all different styles of architecture, explore some of the oldest settlements in the city dating back to the 1600s and Dutch settlement, and find plenty of delicious restaurants to eat at.

As you’re exploring Flatbush Avenue, be sure to check out all there is to do in Prospect Lefferts Gardens too.

Crown Heights

Another great neighborhood to explore and one of the most convenient to grab a bite to eat after the museum is Crown Heights. Head down to Franklin Avenue where you can find one of the best pizza spots in Brooklyn at Barboncino or one of our personal favorite Mexican restaurants, Chavela’s.

There are so many great restaurants in Crown Heights to check out as well as amazing cafes in Crown Heights if you’re looking for a pre or post-museum coffee.

Stick around and take a stroll through the neighborhood too, you can always check out the beautiful homes in the Crown Heights Historic District or continue to more museums including the Brooklyn Children’s Museum.

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