Tour more Boston attractions like the John F. Kennedy Library for less money by using a city pass. RELATED LINKS Return to Boston City Guide

Spend more than a day or two in Boston and the cost of museum admissions and entertainment can really add up. To keep your travel budget under control, watch out for special discounts and free or reduced admission times for some museums and attractions.

— For significant savings off the regular combined admission fees of six major attractions, consider purchasing a Boston CityPass, which will get you into the Museum of Science, the New England Aquarium, the Skywalk Observatory, the Museum of Fine Arts, the Harvard Museum of Natural History and the John F. Kennedy Library & Museum. The cost is $36.75 for adults or $25.50 for ages 3 to 17, about 50 percent less than normal combined admission. The passes are available online at www.citypass.com, or you can save shipping charges by purchasing your pass at the entrance to any of the participating attractions.

— Most of the historic sites along the Freedom Trail are free, but the Old South Meeting House, the Old State House and the Paul Revere House receive no Federal funding and so must charge for admission. If you plan to visit all three, be sure to get the combination entry ticket, which costs $10 for adults or $3 for children.

— Admission to the Museum of Fine Arts (www.mfa.org) is by voluntary contribution on Wednesdays after 4 p.m. Regular admission prices are reduced by $12 after 4:45 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays. The Institute of Contemporary Art (www.icaboston.org) charges no admission Thursdays after 5 pm. Admission to the Boston Children's Museum (www.bostonkids.org) is reduced to $1 Fridays from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

— The Harvard Hot Ticket allows entry to all six Harvard University Museums (www.harvard.edu/museums) at a cost of $10 for adults and $8 for college students and seniors. Admission to the Harvard Museum of Natural History and the Peabody Museum of Archeology and Ethnology is free Wednesdays from 3 to 5 p.m. from September through May, and Sunday mornings year-round from 9 a.m. to noon. The MIT Museum (http://web.mit.edu/museum">web.mit.edu/museum) offers free admission on the third Sunday of every month.

— During the summer monts, the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation organizes free concerts, dance performances and other events at various locations around town. A particular local favorite is their Free Friday Flicks film series at the Esplanade on the Charles River. Check the events listings at www.mass.gov/dcr for details.