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
Truly magnificent museum. Broad range of types and eras of art along with huge collection. Easy to navigate, especially with the Met's online map. Good amount of benches for resting, plenty of toilets, well-organized so easy to plan your visit. One day was not enough to see everything, but got a great look at European paintings and American art. Highly recommend you make time for a visit. Well worth the time and entry fee.
Mark Edwards - a week ago
As I am New York resident, I paid the optional admission fee (In my case it was $5).
New York State residents and NY, NJ, and CT students:
The amount you pay for admission is up to you, but you must pay something.
The MET is very large, so I recommend that you only enjoy the art that you are interested in. It is a good idea to get a map of the MET in your language to get around efficiently.
My favorite spot is The Temple of Dendur, where I can sit and look at the temple and Central Park from the spacious windows.It makes you feel calm and relaxed.
On a sunny day, the sunlight pours into The American Wing is nice.
The European Sculpture and Decorative Arts section is a great spot for photos.
At 19th and Early 20th Century European Paintings and Sculpture on the second floor, you can see familiar art by Van Gogh, Picasso, Monet, Renoir, Cezanne, and others.
I like Van Gogh and Turner, so I mainly look at the paintings here.
There were free tours in various languages that I participated in, but they took us to art in the guide's area of expertise, so it might not be to your liking (that was the case for me). If you have a preference, it's better to look at the map and go around on your own.
The gift shops are great(but pricey).
The restrooms were always cleaned and were very clean despite being crowded.
Blue NY - 2 months ago
10/10 would recommend. I only got to explore a few exhibits for to time. I WILL return and continue this journey. This museum is perfection. The staff is friendly and accommodating. The Egyptian history exhibit was the most fascinating to me because of my own interest in that time.
On The Side Books - 3 weeks ago
Finally got to visit and it was everything I hoped for. The museum is massive and filled with incredible art, but the highlight for me was seeing “Washington Crossing the Delaware” in person — a masterpiece I’ve been waiting to see with my own eyes. The scale, the detail, the energy in that painting gave me chills. You could spend hours here and still not see everything. A must-visit if you appreciate history, beauty, and powerful storytelling through art.
Mimi Coleman - a month ago
I went on Juneteenth in the afternoon, so there was a solid line. Also best to buy tickets online in advance or just buy them from your phone while waiting. But the exhibits were beautiful. So many different time periods, cultures, and artistic styles to see. You could get lost in there for hours on hours.
Ernie Wetherell - 3 weeks 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 .
Map & Instant Route Finder
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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
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