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Many Boston museums offer free admission at certain times. Harvard University art museums (see Harvard Art Museums) are free on Saturday morning. There is no charge at the Institute of Contemporary Art (see Institute of Contemporary Art) on Thursday from 5 to 9pm. Admission to the Museum of Fine Arts (see Museum of Fine Arts) is by donation on Wednesday after 4pm.

Hatch Shell (see Hatch Shell) stages concerts during the summer as well as several of the Boston Pops concerts during the week around July 4 (see Fourth of July). On Friday evenings, Hatch Shell shows big-screen family films. Check Boston Globe “Calendar” (see Events Listings) for specifics, as well as for details on concerts on City Hall Plaza and Copley Square. The Commonwealth Shakespeare Company performs on Boston Common during July and August.

College and university art galleries mount some of the city’s most provocative exhibitions with free admission.

BosTix kiosks sell half-price tickets to most non-commercial arts events and to some commercial productions from 11am on the day of performance. Purchases must be made in person and in cash.

Last-minute tickets for Boston Symphony Orchestra performances at the Symphony Hall (see Symphony Hall)on Tuesday and Thursday evenings and Friday afternoons are 50– 85 percent of the usual cost. General admission to open rehearsals is also available at a reduced price.

Some of Boston’s largest theaters offer ticket bargains: seats in the last row of the balcony at the Huntington Theatre cost $12; and on Mondays at 10am, you “pay what you can” for the American Repertory Theatre’s upcoming Saturday matinee.

Boston’s music schools present ambitious performance seasons of students, faculty, and guest artists. Berklee Performance Center (see Berklee Performance Center) at the Berklee School of Music has more than 100 shows per year (shows by students and faculty cost less than $10), as does The New England Conservatory (see New England Conservatory, Jordan Hall), which holds free performances at Jordan Hall.

Cut transportation costs with a Visitor’s Passport allowing unlimited travel on subways and buses for one, three, or five days (see “T” Pass).

A City Pass ($34) gives access to the John F. Kennedy Library and Museum, Prudential Skywalk, Museum of Fine Arts, Museum of Science, New England Aquarium, and Harvard’s Natural History Museum. Valid for nine days, it’s available at Visitor Information Centers and saves 50% on admission charges.

Student and senior citizen discounts are often available with appropriate identification. Members of the American Automobile Association (AAA) or affiliated auto clubs of other countries should inquire about discounts at hotels, motels, and attractions.