Metropolitan Museum of Art

Visit Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Metropolitan Museum of Art is an exciting place to explore. Paintings comprise about 60% of the items the museum holds. These works include epic and well-known paintings such as "Self Portrait in a Straw Hat" by Van Gogh, "Washington Crossing the Delaware" by Emanuel Leutze, "The Death of Socrates" by Jacques Louis David, and "The Dance Class" and the sculptural work "Little Fourteen-Year-Old Dancer" by Edgar Degas.

The museum is also home to the Temple of Dendur, the most complete Egyptian temple in the Western Hemisphere. Explore weapons in the Arms and Armor room and see the iconic Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux "Ugolino and His Sons" marble sculpture. The Garden at Sainte-Adresse is a fabulous spot to unwind as is the Cantor Rooftop Garden Bar. The museum frequently hosts temporary exhibits featuring remarkable paintings.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art is a terrific place to visit throughout the year. In the spring and fall, the outdoor spaces are gorgeous. During the summer, the museum hosts the Museum Mile Festival, where visitors can participate in fun activities, like a silent dance, artist lectures, and thrilling games with fun prizes. Every Friday and Saturday night is Date Night at the Met when visitors can explore the museum, listen to live music, and enjoy appetizers and small bites.

Ticket Information

You can purchase tickets at the museum, online, or at the Met Cloisters museum in uptown Manhattan. General admission tickets are $30, tickets for senior citizens are $22, and students are $17. New York residents and students in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut can pay what they want for admission. You can also purchase a membership for $110 to $600 and get free entry as often as you wish. Additionally, members can bring children with them for free.

Family-Friendly Options

Families can find several official family guides to the Metropolitan Museum of Art on the museum's website, and printed guides are often available at the information desk. Many of these guides focus on one particular area of the museum. Staff members host story times for children between 18 months and 6 years on weekday mornings. Each program includes a story, a song, and a self-guided gallery hunt. Additionally, children can join experienced educators in doing art projects, but advanced registration, which fills up quickly, is required.

The first Thursday of each month is a special time at the museum when children aged 3 to 6 can sing, sketch and hear stories as they explore a gallery with a staff member. Twice a month on Saturdays, staff lead children ages 7 to 11 on a museum adventure. All family programming begins in the Carson Family Hall in the Ruth and Harold D. Uris Center for Education.

How to Make the Most of Your Visit

You will find fewer visitors at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on weekday mornings. Since the temporary exhibits often get crowded, head there first. Then, explore the museum by going on a Museum Highlights Tour, which begins at the Vélez Blanco Patio, Gallery 534. These hour-long tours occur throughout the day in 15 different languages.

There are numerous places to eat at the museum, but one of the most relaxing is the Cantor Roof Garden Bar on the museum's fifth floor because it offers stunning views of Central Park. To go there, take the elevator from the European Sculpture and Decorative Arts Gallery.

Metropolitan Museum of Art Accommodations

Activities Near Metropolitan Museum of Art

Weather, Safety & Accessibility

Weather & Packing

There is no dress code at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Since it is the largest museum in the United States, most visitors spend four to six hours exploring it. Therefore, wearing good walking shoes is essential. Dressing in layers is a terrific option because you can easily adjust your outfit between indoor and outdoor areas. The museum's staff highly recommends wearing masks since the museum usually has over 7,000 visitors daily. No outside food or drink is allowed except for water in a clear bottle. Security may search all bags and purses.

Safety & Accessibility

If you have limited hearing, assistive listening receivers are available throughout the museum, so bring your neck loop or headphones. It is easy to visit the museum in a wheelchair, and an escort receives free admission. There is an elevator, so moving between floors is convenient. Wheelchairs are available on a first-come, first-served basis at all museum entrances. Those using a wheelchair or other mobility devices can access the main building using the wheelchair ramp on Moss Street.