Do Museums and Zoos Earn an Entertainment Bonus?

By Bryce Casson, Founder · Cardocrat · Updated July 2026
The short answer: Often, yes. Museums, zoos, aquariums, and similar attractions carry a tourist-attraction or entertainment category code, so a card with an entertainment bonus, like the Capital One Savor line, typically earns its higher rate on admission. Cards without an entertainment category earn only the base rate.

How attractions code

A museum, zoo, or aquarium rings up under a tourist-attraction or entertainment merchant category code. Cards built around entertainment fold these into their bonus, so admission earns the elevated rate alongside concerts and events and movie theaters. Cards without an entertainment tier earn their base rate.

Membership and gift shops

A zoo or museum membership often codes the same as admission, so it can earn the entertainment bonus too, which makes an annual membership a nice value on the right card. Gift shops and cafes inside the attraction may code as retail or dining rather than entertainment, so a combined visit can earn a mix of rates.

Is an entertainment card worth it here?

If you visit attractions and go to events regularly, an entertainment bonus adds up across the year. If these outings are occasional, the base rate is fine and not worth a new card. Value the points at a flat 1 cent and compare with a solid flat-rate card. The category basics are in what is a bonus category.

Frequently asked questions

Do zoos and aquariums earn an entertainment bonus?
Usually yes. They code as tourist attractions or entertainment, which cards with an entertainment category reward at their higher rate.
Does a museum membership earn rewards?
Often at the entertainment rate, since a membership tends to code the same as admission. A card with an entertainment bonus earns its higher rate on it.
Why did my museum visit earn only the base rate?
Your card likely has no entertainment category, or the charge came from a gift shop or café inside the museum, which can code as retail or dining instead.

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Bryce Casson

Written by Bryce Casson, Founder of Cardocrat. About the author and how we rank cards.