Houston Museum of Natural Science
The best Houston Museum of Natural Science tickets
General admission, the Cockrell Butterfly Center, the Burke Baker Planetarium and Free Tuesdays. Here is which ticket to buy, with honest advice on whether it is worth the price, what costs extra once you are inside and where to park without paying $30.
See our 3 picks
Houston Museum of Natural Science tickets cost $25 for adults and $16 for children 3 to 11 at the museum, or from €22 on GetYourGuide. Entry is free on Tuesdays from 5 to 8 p.m. The butterfly center and the planetarium are separate tickets. The museum opens at 9 a.m. every day.
Our 3 picks for Museum of Natural Science tickets
Three official tickets sold by the museum. Prices and ratings as shown on GetYourGuide on 27 October 2026.
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from €22 per person Our top pick 4.5 (300) reviews on GetYourGuide
General admission: the main exhibit hall
The ticket for the main halls, with dinosaur skeletons, minerals and models of space stations. Flash photos are not allowed. Extra exhibits are not included.
Best for First visit, families
Check availability: General admission: the main exhibit hall on GetYourGuide -
from €13 per person About 45 minutes 4.6 (103) reviews on GetYourGuide
Cockrell Butterfly Center
A three-story glass rainforest with more than 1,500 live butterflies. You can stay as long as you like, but 45 minutes is a fair guess. No flash photos.
Best for Nature lovers, kids
Check availability: Cockrell Butterfly Center on GetYourGuide -
from €11 per person 20 minutes 4.4 (167) reviews on GetYourGuide
Burke Baker Planetarium show
One planetarium show. Most shows last about 20 minutes, and the shows change by date. The last show is usually one hour before closing.
Best for Space fans, short add-on
Check availability: Burke Baker Planetarium show on GetYourGuide
Museum of Natural Science tickets compared
| Tour | From | Duration | What it covers | Who it suits | Why we picked it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General admission: the main exhibit hall | €22 per person | Not stated | Dinosaurs, gems, space | First visit, families | The most reviewed of the three: 300 reviews, rated 4.5. |
| Cockrell Butterfly Center | €13 per person | About 45 minutes | Live butterflies | Nature lovers, kids | The best rated of the three: 4.6 from 103 reviews. |
| Burke Baker Planetarium show | €11 per person | 20 minutes | One show | Space fans, short add-on | The cheapest add-on, from €11, rated 4.4. |
General admission: the main exhibit hall
€22 per person 4.5 (300)
Details
- What it covers
- Dinosaurs, gems, space
- Who it suits
- First visit, families
- Why we picked it
- The most reviewed of the three: 300 reviews, rated 4.5.
€13 per personAbout 45 minutes 4.6 (103)
Details
- What it covers
- Live butterflies
- Who it suits
- Nature lovers, kids
- Why we picked it
- The best rated of the three: 4.6 from 103 reviews.
€11 per person20 minutes 4.4 (167)
Details
- What it covers
- One show
- Who it suits
- Space fans, short add-on
- Why we picked it
- The cheapest add-on, from €11, rated 4.4.
- None of the 3 includes hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point.
- All 3 offer free cancellation.
- Prices and ratings as shown on GetYourGuide on 27 October 2026. Prices are "from" prices in euros and can change; the booking page shows the live price.
Houston Museum of Natural Science price: the tickets compared
At the museum, general admission is $25 for adults 12 and up and $16 for children 3 to 11. Children 2 and under get in free.
Here, general admission starts from €22. The butterfly center is from €13 and the planetarium from €11.
All three tickets come from the museum itself, with free cancellation.
- Adults 12+
- $25
- Children 3–11
- $16
- Under 3
- Free
What you see at the Museum of Natural Science in Houston, TX
General admission covers the permanent exhibits. The listing names dinosaur skeletons, minerals and models of space stations, plus halls from gems to wildlife.
The butterfly center is a glass rainforest with about 50 of the largest and most colorful butterfly species. The planetarium shows films about space, such as "Black Holes".
Taking photos: what is allowed
You can take photos, but not with flash. All three listings say so, for the main halls, the butterfly center and the planetarium.
What general admission covers, and what costs extra
General admission covers the main exhibit hall only. The butterfly center and the planetarium each need their own ticket.
Special exhibits cost extra too. Food, drinks and transport are not included in any of the three.
Plan the budget before you go. A general ticket plus both extras costs from €46 here.
Houston Museum of Natural Science free days: Free Tuesdays
The museum is free every Tuesday from 5 to 8 p.m. Last entry is at 7:30 p.m.
Free Tuesday is one of the best free things to do in Houston TX, but it gets busy, so come at 5.
The butterfly center and the planetarium are sold as separate tickets.
Free every Tuesday, 5 to 8 p.m. Last entry 7:30 p.m.
Hours, parking and getting there
- 9 a.m.
- Opens daily
- $30
- Museum garage
- Free
- Hermann Park lots
The museum opens 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Monday to Thursday, with last entry at 4:30. From Friday to Sunday it opens 9 to 6, with last entry at 5:30.
The museum garage at 5555 Hermann Park Drive costs $30 for the public. The Hermann Park lots are free.
After the museum, walk a circle Hermann Park loop past the Japanese Garden; the lots there are free.
Without a car, take the METRORail Red Line to the Memorial Hermann Hospital/Houston Zoo stop for $1.25. See getting around Houston for passes and routes.
Pair it with another museum
For art, the Museum of Fine Arts Houston is nearby. It is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
With young kids, add the Children's Museum of Houston. It is free on Thursday evenings with a reservation.
Seeing several sights? The Houston CityPASS lets you pick 5 of 7, and this museum is one of them.
Other science museums in Houston
The Children's Museum is the hands-on science stop for young kids. Its FlowWorks exhibit is all about water, waves and rapids.
Tips for the Museum of Natural Science
Come early or come Tuesday
The museum opens at 9 a.m. On a Tuesday, the free hours start at 5 p.m.
Check the planetarium schedule
Shows change by date, and the last one is usually an hour before closing. Check hmns.org before you go.
Leave time for the butterflies
The listing says 45 minutes is a fair time for the butterfly center. Add it to a morning in the main halls.
If your plans change
All three tickets show free cancellation on GetYourGuide. Check the cut-off on each listing before you pay.
Museum of Natural Science: questions and answers
How much are tickets to the Houston Museum of Natural Science?
When is the Houston Museum of Natural Science free?
Where should I park for the Houston Museum of Natural Science?
What time does the Houston Museum of Natural Science open and close?
More Houston museum tickets, live
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Sources (5), facts checked on 27 October 2026
Written by the Best Travel Destinations editorial team.