The Metropolitan Museum of Art
8.7Friend Score / 10#1 of 11 Museums in New York City
Known formuseumartencyclopedic museumtemple of dendur
The Met is the single best museum in the Western Hemisphere — 5,000 years of everything, from the Temple of Dendur to Vermeer. Adults pay $30 (New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut residents/students pay what they wish), and the ticket covers The Met Cloisters same-day. Closed Wednesdays. You cannot see it all; don't try.
Key facts
| Hours | Sun–Thu 10:00–17:00 Fri–Sat 10:00–21:00 |
|---|---|
| Price | $$ |
| Phone | — |
| Website | — |
| Nearest transit | 86 St (4/5/6) or 86 St (Q), then a short walk to Fifth Avenue |
| Time needed | 3-4 hours for a focused visit; it rewards repeat trips |
| Best time to go | Friday or Saturday evenings (open to 9pm) are the insider window; weekday mornings otherwise |
| Last verified | July 12, 2026 |
Friend Score
8.7/10- Value9.0
- iconic9.5
- Freshness9.1
- Crowd level5.5
- Authenticity9.5
- Accessibility8.5
Frequently asked questions
- How much does the Met cost?
- $30 adults, $22 seniors 65+, $17 students; children under 12 are free. If you live in New York State — or you're a student in NY, NJ, or CT — you pay whatever you wish. Your ticket also covers The Met Cloisters the same day.
- What are the Met's hours, and is it really closed Wednesdays?
- Yes, closed Wednesdays — the mistake everyone makes once. Otherwise it's open 10am-5pm Sunday through Thursday and 10am-9pm Friday and Saturday. Those late nights are the best time to go.
- What's the Met rooftop bar?
- The Cantor Roof Garden, open seasonally (roughly spring through fall, weather permitting), serves drinks with a knockout view over Central Park, usually alongside an art installation. Regular admission gets you up there — it's the cheapest great view in the city that comes with a Vermeer downstairs.
- What should I see at the Met if I only have a few hours?
- The Temple of Dendur (an actual Egyptian temple in a glass hall), the European paintings galleries for Vermeer and Rembrandt, Arms & Armor, and the Great Hall itself. Three hours, unforgettable, done.
- How do I get to the Met by subway?
- The 4/5/6 to 86th St and walk three blocks west to Fifth Avenue, or the Q to 86th St and walk through the park side. It's also a beautiful 15-minute walk across Central Park from the west side.
- Is the Met free for New Yorkers?
- Pay-what-you-wish for all New York State residents and for NY/NJ/CT students — a dollar is legitimate if that's your budget, just bring ID. Everyone else pays the fixed price.
- Is the Met Cloisters worth the trip?
- Absolutely, if you have the time — it's the Met's medieval branch in Fort Tryon Park at Manhattan's northern tip, built from actual European monastery fragments. Same-day entry is included with your Met ticket; take the A train to 190th St.
- How do I avoid crowds at the Met?
- Friday and Saturday after 6pm, or right at 10am on weekdays. Blockbuster special exhibitions are their own crowd problem — see those first thing or accept the crush. The non-famous wings (Islamic art, the American Wing courtyard) are serene almost anytime.
Nearby in Ask New York City
- The Metropolitan Museum of ArtAttraction0.01 km · 0 min walk
- Central ParkAttraction0.4 km · 5 min walk
- Central ParkPark0.43 km · 5 min walk
- Guggenheim MuseumMuseum0.53 km · 7 min walk
- Solomon R. Guggenheim MuseumAttraction0.53 km · 7 min walk
Where to stay near The Metropolitan Museum of Art
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