Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Met and Cloisters museums are world renowned for their vast collection of medieval art
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 out of 5
Loved my experience at The Metropolitan Museum of Art! I honestly could have spent days here admiring everything. There are so many great exhibits and the displays truly make you feel like you go back in time. We visited late on a Friday afternoon. It was busy but we were able to walk around comfortably. We pre-ordered our tickets so we were able to walk in quickly without any delay. I highly recommend The Metropolitan Museum of Art! A must while in New York City!
S - 2 months ago
Love the MET! It always hits everytime. Each wing is different and engaging. Have gone with people who don’t live museums, and they loved it! The Egyptian wing is absolutely incredible. Temple of dendur is amazing. I reccomend eating at other places though. Food is expensive, and very mediocre. Cafes aren’t horrible for small snacks. Gelato is excellent.
GO THROUGH SIDE ENTRANCE. There was 0 wait. If you go through the front, it could be like 30 min. Also, you can park at their own deck. You have to pay in advance though. It’s very convenient to enter the museum.
Angel Casiano - 2 months ago
Probably the best overall museum in the world. Astounding collections, through dozens of various times and places. It’s hard to even put it in words how awesome this museum is. The only negative I can list right now is there seems to be a lot of places roped off, for seemingly no reason. Also the modern art section is being expanded and renovated so there’s only a small collection of that, which is a bummer because I’ve been into more contemporary art recently. But that barely touches the joy I get from this place.
Phil Townsend - a month ago
An absolutely breathtaking museum and, without a doubt, one of the best museums I have ever visited in my life.
The collection is incredible, and I was especially fascinated by the Egyptian and Italian sections. The sculptures are stunning — so unique and detailed that I have never seen anything like this in any other museum.
The atmosphere is very pleasant and inspiring, but the museum itself is огромный — truly massive. We didn’t even manage to get to the second floor, as it requires several hours of walking and exploring to really take it all in.
On weekends, it can get quite crowded, so I would recommend visiting on a weekday for a more relaxed experience.
Admission was $30, and it is absolutely worth it for the scale, beauty, and cultural richness of this museum. Highly recommend✅
Dayana Khuzhko - 2 months ago
This might be the best museum in New York I’ve ever been to.
What I love about the Metropolitan Museum of Art is the Victorian style paintings, and also the Victorian rooms, filled with furniture and paintings from that era, which feels like you are immediately transported back to the 1800s.
There are also millions of Egyptian paintings and tombs, which I find quite fascinating, and you probably will too.
Overall, This museum is probably the best one out there, tickets priced at 30 dollars, which is quite affordable in my opinion. If you are visiting New York City and are looking for something fun to do, visit this museum.
Kyle Yeung - 2 months ago
Directions
| Subway and Bus Line | Nearest Station | Walking Time |
|---|---|---|
| 4,5,6 | 86th Street | 10 minutes |
| 1 / M86 | 86th Street | 5 minutes |
| C / M79 | 81st Street | 2 minutes |
| A (To the Cloister Museum and Garden) | 190th Street | 10 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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Accommodations near Metropolitan Museum of Art:
Photo Gallery
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Medieval Carving ats the Cloisters cc licensed photo by miss_millions -
Photo Credit: Mary P Madigan - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: museado - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: museado - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: museado - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: museado - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: museado - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: museado - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: New York National Guard - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: New York National Guard - cc license via Flickr
