Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Met and Cloisters museums are world renowned for their vast collection of medieval art

Entrance and Facade of the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Entrance and Facade of the Metropolitan Museum of Art cc licensed photo by mbarrison

Nestled on eastern edge of Central Park, The Metropolitan Museum of Art is one of the most visited sites along New York City's Museum Mile. Known to locals as "The Met", the museum was founded in 1870 by a group of wealthy financiers and artists as an educational institution to cultivate art appreciation. The halls of The Met contain over two million works of art representing cultures spanning the globe from the Stone Age to modern day.

Visitors to The Met could spend weeks exploring the vast collections housed in the museum's 250 rooms. To get the most out of your visit, plan to visit the special exhibitions and more popular collections (Greek, Roman, Egyptian, 19th Century European paintings) early and visit other areas during peak hours. Various tours and lectures in a variety of foreign languages are given free of cost.

Part of the collection of medieval art and architecture is housed at The Met Cloister Museum in Upper Manhattan. Located at 99 Margaret Corbin Drive in Fort Tryon Park, overlooking the Hudson River, The Cloisters has been constructed from sections of medieval French monasteries and houses approximately 3,000 works of European art dating from the third to ninth century. Be sure to take time to wander the beautiful gardens after a coffee or light lunch at Trie Cloisters or posh New Leaf Cafe.

In the Main Building, there are several eateries ranging from moderate to expensive within the museum. During the summer months, The Met opens its Roof Garden Cafe, offering al fresco dining with panoramic views of the New York City skyline. During extended hours on Friday and Saturday, the Met offers a quintessential New York experience with a string quartet above the Great Hall. Cocktails and appetizers are available by candlelight at the Balcony Bar or enjoy the summer night sky at the rooftop martini bar.


Facts For Your Visit

Fee: Yes. See the official website for details.

Metropolitan Museum of Art Hours:
Opening hours may differ on holidays

  • Monday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
  • Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
  • Wednesday: Closed
  • Thursday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
  • Friday: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM
  • Saturday: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM
  • Sunday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Address: 1000 5th Ave, New York, NY 10028, USA

Phone: (212) 535-7710

Official Website: Metropolitan Museum of Art

Metropolitan Museum of Art Reviews

Rated 4.8 out of 5 Star Rating

5 Star Rating I spent 3 hours of quiet time by myself here at the MET, and it was perfect. I recommend allocating about 3-4 hours for you to be able to explore most of the museum. The galleries were huge that you could (literally and figuratively) get lost, but that just adds to the beauty of it all. Sometimes, you'll see art students painting live inside the galleries too. My personal favorites were the period showrooms that showcase American and European interior design and furniture during certain periods of time, making the experience feel like time travel. They also had one small area dedicated to Louis Comfort Tiffany that included some of his Tiffany lamps, glassware, stained-glass windows, blueprints, etc. As a fan of his work, I was very happy to see them. For Japanese literature fans, they also exhibit the Tale of Genji in the Asian art section and a few of Isamu Noguchi's work (which you can find more of at the Noguchi Museum in Queens!). This museum is beautifully breathtaking and has everything you're looking for in an art museum. It can get overwhelming because of how much walking you'll need inside aside from the amount of art you'll have to take in, but worry not because there are seats provided everywhere. There are cafes inside too (2 or 3 if I'm not mistaken, but one of them is inside the American Wing). I highly recommend getting tickets in advance through their website. Once you're in, you're free to explore as much as you want!
Kei Kurosawa - a week ago

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5 Star Rating When I tell you this museum is beautiful I mean it. SO SO GORGEOUS. Like wow, words cannot explain. The art is just incredible & the museum itself is so pretty!! I highly recommend getting tickets beforehand online & I suggest checking out their website as well for any other information. I am a college student so I got my ticket for $17 with my student ID, so if you are a student outside NY check that out! Also the pictures here??? Oh they EAT. All my pictures turned out gorgeous and my experience overall in the museum was amazing, I enjoyed every second of it! I definitely recommend coming here. 10/10 experience, cannot wait to be back!!!
fabi - a week ago

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5 Star Rating If you are in New York I recommend visiting The Met at least one. This place is full of interesting historical artifacts. You don’t have to worry too much about parking. I recommend taking the subway. It’s a short walk from the station. The Africa exhibition were my favorite. This is the one I recommend most. I feel like the Met is an entire day visit. There is an incredible amount of art in various sections to take in so plan to stay the whole day to absorb as much as you can. Keep in mind, access is not free so be prepared to pay about 30 bucks. It’s cheaper for students and free for members. I also enjoyed the sculptures at The Met. I also enjoyed the room with the Egyptian art and still life paintings. It’s always a good time to learn about the history of different cultures. I will visit again for sure when next I’m in New York. It’s totally worth it.
Toni Payne - a week ago

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5 Star Rating The Metropolitan Museum of Art, located on Fifth Avenue next to Central Park, is one of the most comprehensive and well-known art museums in the world. Its vast collection spans over 5,000 years of history, including art and artifacts from ancient Egypt, classical Greece and Rome, European paintings, Asian art, African and Indigenous works, and more. The museum’s layout allows visitors to move between cultures and time periods, with galleries dedicated to everything from medieval armor to modern photography. The building itself is expansive and thoughtfully designed, with highlights like the Temple of Dendur, the American Wing, and the rooftop garden, which offers seasonal exhibitions and views of the city skyline. The Met regularly hosts special exhibitions and has dedicated spaces such as the Costume Institute and the Arms and Armor gallery. Audio guides and guided tours are available, and the museum is accessible to both first-time visitors and those looking to explore specific areas in more depth. It’s a major cultural institution with something to offer for all interests and age groups, and a key part of any visit to New York City. If your time in New York is limited, the Met is museum that should not be missed!
Andrew Lim - a month ago

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4 Star Rating Would’ve been a 5 star review If their cafes had better hours. But overall loved the experience. Tried to do the free tours today but they were sooo crowded we couldn’t here the tour guides, they said usually they only have like 6-8 people attending but today it was over 12, maybe even like 20 for the Egypt tour. We ended up breaking away from the group. And just walking on our own. Another cool thing was if you’re a local you get in for free and up to 8 people you just have to give a donation but it’s up to you how much. If I lived here I’d definitely take advantage of that, that was pretty neat. We spent like 7 hours there and included taking an hour coffee break and I definitely think we could’ve spent another 7 hours and still keep finding more to see. I’m not an art connoisseur but loved it still, my feet are tired though. We’ll be back next time I’m in town. Would recommend saving a whole day for this experience.
Melody Espinoza - a week ago

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Directions

Subway and Bus Line Nearest Station Walking Time
4,5,686th Street10 minutes
1 / M8686th Street5 minutes
C / M7981st Street2 minutes
A (To the Cloister Museum and Garden)190th Street10 minutes

How to get to Metropolitan Museum of Art by Subway and Bus

Take the 4, 5, or 6 train to 86th Street and walk three blocks west to 5th Avenue. Alternatively, take the 1 train to 86th Street, then the M86 cross-town bus to 5th Avenue or take the C train to 81st Street, then the M79 bus to 5th Ave.

To get to the Cloisters Museum and Garden, ride the A train to 190th Street and exit via the elevator. Walk north on Margaret Corbin Drive .

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