Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met)

The basics

Valid for three consecutive days, basic Metropolitan Museum of Art tickets include access exhibits at the museum’s three branches: the Met Fifth Avenue, the Met Breuer, and the Met Cloisters. Visit on a hop-on hop-off bus tour and peruse the Met’s vast collection on your own, or see the highlights on a private tour with an expert guide. Skip-the-line tickets and VIP after-hours admission are also available for visitors who want to save time and escape the crowds.

Things to know before you go

• Fee-based audio tours are available in several languages.

• Food and drink, other than water in plastic bottles, are not allowed into the museum.

• There are eight onsite dining options, ranging from casual cafés and cafeterias to fine dining spots.

• Flash photography and video cameras are not permitted inside the museum.

• Luggage, carry-on bags, musical instruments, oversized backpacks, and other large items are not allowed in the museum and cannot be stored at the coat check.

• Visitors with an IDNYC card get free admission to the museum.

How to get there

Set back from Fifth Avenue on the eastern edge of Central Park in New York City, the Metropolitan Museum of Art is the star attraction of Museum Mile. To get there, catch a Fifth Avenue bus or take the subway to 86th Street (4, 5, or 6 train); from the Upper West Side, take the M86 bus across the park and get off at Fifth Avenue.

When to get there

The Met is open year-round and daily from 10am to 5:30pm, with extended hours until 9pm on Friday and Saturday nights. Summer visitors can enjoy incredible views of Central Park from the rooftop café and bar, open May through October. In winter, the museum can be a cozy retreat from chilly weather. Weekends are the busiest time to visit, so visit on a weekday if you want to avoid crowds. For a sophisticated evening treat, visit on Friday or Saturday night, when the Met serves cocktails and snacks with live music on the Great Hall Balcony Bar.

Met Museum highlights

Since the Met opened to the public in 1880, its footprint has expanded to cover more than 2 million square feet (186,000 square meters). While there is something for everyone here, highlights include the collections of European paintings, classical antiquities, medieval armor, Islamic art and artifacts, and American decorative arts. Don’t miss masterpieces such as Canova’s Perseus with the Head of Medusa, Monet’s The Water Lily Pond, and Vincent van Gogh’s Wheat Field with Cypresses. The roof garden showcases a different temporary installation each year.

Do you need a reservation to go to the Met?

No, you don’t need a reservation for The Met, unless you’re bringing 10 or more people with you. Tour guides have to secure reservations for their groups, irrespective of group size. If you want to visit one of the museum’s special exhibitions, you’ll likely need to buy a timed admission ticket.

How many days is a Met ticket good for?

The Met tickets are valid for one day and grant you access to both the main museum, The Met Fifth Avenue, and The Met Cloisters in Upper Manhattan. Tickets are only valid for same-day use, so it’s best to budget at least half a day for both museums.

Can I bring a backpack to the Met?

Yes, you can bring a backpack to The Met, provided it’s a small daypack that you can easily wear on your front or side. Large backpacks, luggage, and food or drinks from outside the museum aren’t allowed inside the galleries, though you can take in a bottle of water.

How much is parking at the Met?

The price of parking at The Met varies depending on the time of your arrival and how long you stay. It ranges from US$19 for up to an hour, after 5pm to US$55 for 24 hours. Discounted rates are available for members. Parking at The Met Cloisters is free.

How long does it take to walk through the Met?

You’ll need around three hours to see the best of The Met, but you can easily spend much longer exploring the museum, home to more than 2 million works of art. If you’re in a rush, take a tour of the highlights or opt for the 1-hour tour that the museum operates.

What is the best day to visit the Met?

The best day to visit The Met is on Friday or Saturday, when the museum stays open until 9pm—it closes at 5pm on other days of the week. The Met is often less crowded in the evening, when you’ll have more time to see the galleries or head up to The Met Cloisters.

Ways to explore

As the largest museum in New York City, the Metropolitan Museum of Art would take a lifetime to visit in full. Still, you can expect to see the highlights on a private tour with an expert guide, from the Temple of Dendur to works by Pollock, Vermeer, and Monet. Skip-the-line tickets and after-hours admission are available for visitors who want to save time and escape the crowds, and are happy perusing the Met’s vast collection independently. Basic Metropolitan Museum of Art tickets also include same-day entry to the museum’s other branch, The Met Cloisters. If you want to add the museum to a greater NYC itinerary, note that hop-on hop-off bus tours usually stop nearby.

Accessibility

The Met is accessible to wheelchair users, and wheelchairs are available to borrow. Other accommodations are available to visitors who are deaf, blind or partially sighted, or have developmental or learning disabilities.

Age limits

None

What to pack

Small backpack or bag, water bottle, small stroller or front-facing baby carrier, sketchbook and pencil

What to wear

Comfortable walking shoes, layers

Not allowed

Other outside food and drink, large strollers, luggage and large bags, glass bottles, selfie sticks, tripods

Amenities

Wi-Fi, restrooms, restaurants and cafés, cloakroom, gift shops

Address

The Metropolitan Museum of Art is located on 5th Avenue between 80th and 84th streets, in Manhattan’s Upper East Side neighborhood. Driving is an option, but public transit, taxis and rideshare services, and guided tours with included transportation offer the easiest ways to get there.

Driving

While you could drive to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, navigating New York City’s busy streets could pose a challenge, and parking options around the museum may be limited. It’s much more convenient to take public transit or a taxi. If you do drive, note that there’s a paid museum parking garage located at Fifth Avenue and 80th Street.

Public transportation

To get to the Metropolitan Museum of Art using public transportation, take the 4, 5, or 6 trains to 86th Street; the museum is around 10 minutes away on foot.

Best times to visit

To beat the crowds, visit The Met early in the morning or later in the evening, including during Friday and Saturday late-night hours.

Best days to visit

Weekends are usually busier than weekdays at the Met—aim for a Wednesday or Thursday for relative peace and quiet.

Best months to visit

Winter is a great time to get lost in the Met’s galleries—not only is it a quieter time of year in New York City’s tourist calendar, but it’s also when the frigid weather makes hiding in a museum particularly inviting.

Special events

Held on the first Monday in May, the Met Gala, hosted at the museum, is one of the fashion world’s big-ticket events. You won’t be able to access the museum, but you might just get a glimpse of stars as they waltz by on the red carpet.