The Met NYC Guide: What to See, Costs, Tours & Expert Insights

The Metropolitan Museum of Art, also known as The Met, in New York City, is one of the most worthwhile museums to visit while in the city. With 5+ floors and hundreds of thousands of pieces, including paintings, sculptures, historical artifacts, and more, spanning over 5,000 years of art from around the world.

Before you go, read this article covering some of the most famous art, tour options, ticket prices, and must-know tips for your museum visit.

Here’s what we’ll cover:

• What is the Metropolitan Museum of Art?
• Where is the MET?
• What famous art is at the MET?
• How much are MET tickets?
• Does the MET offer tours?
• What to know before visiting the MET in NYC

Let’s look at each one below. 👇

Quick Links:

• Get your tickets to The Met ahead of time here
• Book a guided tour of The Met here

Note: This article was written by a real human who lives in NYC, not artificial intelligence. 🥸

The Met NYC Guide Podcast Episode

Be sure to listen to this full episode, especially to hear Kylie’s advice for making the most of your trip to The Met, even if you aren’t an art connoisseur.

Want to hear more podcasts like this? Head here.

What is the Metropolitan Museum of Art?

Founded in 1870, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, commonly known as The Met, presents over 5,000 years of art from around the world.

The Met has two locations: the prominent, most well-known on Fifth Avenue on the east side of Manhattan, and The Met Cloisters near Fort Tryon in upper Manhattan. Both are phenomenal museums worth visiting, but we will focus this article on the flagship Fifth Avenue location.

After acquiring its first object in November 1870, a Roman sarcophagus, the collection quickly grew to hundreds of items. This prompted a brief move of the museum from the Dodworth Building on 5th Avenue to the Douglas Mansion on 14th Street.

The next, and final move in 1880, was to its current location at Fifth Avenue and 82nd Street. In The Met today, you can still see the original entrance and facade of the 1880 building.

Today, tens of thousands of objects are on display at the museum’s two-million-square-foot building. The Met spans four full blocks and features over five floors of exhibitions, making it the largest art museum in the Americas and the third-largest in the world.

With over 5.7 million visitors in 2024, it is the most-visited museum in the USA and the fourth-most-visited art museum in the entire world.

The Met is an iconic piece of New York City, and we highly recommend visiting it during your trip, even if you’re only in NYC for a weekend.

Where is the MET in NYC?

As mentioned, The Met is located on 5th Avenue from 80th Street to 84th Street on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. It’s the heart of what’s commonly referred to as Museum Mile, the most diverse art-viewing stretch of mile in the country.

The Met is mostly easily accessible via taxi, subway, bus, or Citi Bike. For most travelers, the 456 subway line stopping at 86th Street is the easiest way to get to The Met.

The Met is open Sunday to Tuesday & Thursday from 10am-5pm and Friday & Saturday from 10am-9pm. To emphasize, The Met is closed on Wednesdays.

We also recommend exploring Central Park either before or after your visit to The Met. If you’ve got the legs for it, starting at the bottom of Central Park and walking the roughly 20 blocks to The Met through the park is a beautiful route. You can easily see popular spots like:

• Gapstow Bridge
• The Mall and Literary Walk
• Bethesda Fountain
• The Conservatory Water (think Stuart Little boat scene) & Alice in Wonderland statue
• The Obelisk & more

Explore our wide array of Central Park resources here.

You’ll Have to Check It Out – Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir

The Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir in Central Park is a massive water feature with beautiful landscaping, iconic views, and some of the most serene backdrops in all of New York City. Originally built in 1862, it served as a drinking water storage for the city for decades.

What I love most about the reservoir is that it is typically pretty quiet and serene. Other bodies of water in Central Park (like The Lake) are often crowded, noisy, and busy. The reservoir is a bit more secluded and typically lends itself to some peaceful moments.

It can be a truly romantic spot to simply chat, listen to music, or even share a small picnic. It also features a 1.58-mile track, perfect for joggers or an evening stroll.

In the autumn months, it has some of the best fall foliage in Central Park, and the cherry blossoms pop in spring. It’s also very close to The Met, making it perfect for a visit before or after your trip to the museum.

Check out the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir here.

What Famous Art is at the MET Museum?

With over 1.5 million total works in The Met’s archive, of which tens of thousands are currently on display, there is much to see at this renowned museum.

The museum is divided into 17 departments, each with its own unique collection. Some of the designated departments and collections at The Met include:

• Ancient Near Eastern art
• Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas
• Asian art
• Egyptian art
• European paintings
• Old Master paintings
• Plein Air, Impressionist, and Post-Impressionist Painting
• European sculpture and decorative arts
• American Wing
• Greek and Roman art
• Islamic art
• Arms and armor (kids’ favorite & truly unique)
• Costume Institute
• Drawings and prints
• Modern and contemporary art
• Musical instruments
• Photographs & more

Do you see what we mean when we say this is a massive museum?!

There are certainly experts with much more museum and art knowledge than we possess, but we want to highlight some of our personal favorite collections and works of art at The Met:

• Temple of Dendur
• Cloudy Mountains by Fang Congyi
• Rough Waves by Ogata Kōrin
• The Horse Fair by Rosa Bonheur
• Tapestry Room from Croome Court and any of the exhibitions with tapestries and rugs on display
• Autumn Rhythm by Jackson Pollock
• Self-Portrait with a Straw Hat by Vincent van Gogh
• Bridge Over a Pond of Water Lilies by Claude Monet
• Washington Crossing the Delaware by Emanuel Leutze
• Bouquet of Sunflowers by Claude Monet
• Wheat Field with Cypresses by Vincent van Gogh
• Irises by Vincent van Gogh
• Egyptian Jewelry found in the Egyptian Art area
• Arms and armor collection
• Autumn Landscape by Tiffany Studios, and any of the Tiffany stained glass pieces
• Musical instruments

Recommendations by this episode’s guest and museum aficionado, Kylie Brooks:

• Temple of Dendur
• The entire American Wing
• Madame X and all of John Singer Sargent’s works
• Costume Institute

There is SO much to see, but if you’re interested in a high concentration of famous paintings, the 19th- and Early 20th-Century European Paintings and Sculpture Area on the 2nd floor is a must-see. You’ll find works by Corot, Monet, Cézanne, Van Gogh, and many, many more.

Our recommendation is to search The Met’s online collection for the specific works you’d like to see, and make note of their locations before heading to the museum. Explore all the collections here.

How Much are MET Museum Tickets?

The cost to get into The Met is about average for NYC museums, around $30 for adults. Here is the full price breakdown:

• $30 for adults
• $22 for seniors
• $17 for students
• Kids 12 and under are free
• Pay as you wish for residents of NY, NJ, and CT

Does the MET Offer Tours?

Yes, The Met does offer tours. They offer some free tours that are run on a first-come, first-served basis, which can be challenging to secure a spot.

Luckily, there are tours run by outside groups that feature intimate group sizes, expert tour guides, and skip-the-line admission tickets.

If financially viable, taking a tour will provide you with the best possible experience at The Met.

You will be able to see highlights of the museum without even considering how to find each art piece. Additionally, your tour guide will provide context and history that you can’t find on your own.

See our full selection of tour options here.

Must-Know Tips for Visiting the MET Museum in NYC

You can visit The Met without prior knowledge and have a great experience, but we have some tips to help you make the most of your time. Here are some things to know before visiting The Met in New York City:

• Either come at the very beginning of the day or near the end for fewer crowds
• Wear comfortable shoes
• If coming to NYC with kids, check out their Family Guides and Audio Guides for Kids
• Eat before going – See our Afternoon on the Upper East Side mini guide
• Most visitors will stay for 1-2 hours, but you could spend countless hours here
• Ideally, save a museum day for poor weather, although many others will also have that idea
• There are multiple cafes; hours vary
• The Met store has some fantastic gift and souvenir options
• Download the Bloomberg Connects app and bring headphones to listen to the associated audio guide
• Do NOT try to see the whole museum in one day, it’s not possible 😁
• If possible, go to The Met on a weekday and not a weekend

The Met Museum Guide Recap & Next Steps

The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City is one of the city’s premier attractions. Many argue that it’s the best museum in America, providing a glimpse into centuries of world-class art and artifacts.

We highly recommend everyone visit The Met when traveling to NYC!

If your finances permit, a guided tour of The Met will be the best experience possible! Book a tour here. 👈

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