Things to do nearThe Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Metropolitan Museum of Art is New York's foremost encyclopedic museum, drawing visitors with its vast collections, landmark Fifth Avenue architecture, and centuries of human creativity.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art was founded in 1870 by a group of American citizens who believed their country deserved a world-class institution dedicated to art and education. It opened its current Fifth Avenue home in 1880, and the building has expanded continuously ever since, its neoclassical facade becoming one of the most recognizable landmarks in New York City. Today the museum's permanent collection holds more than two million works spanning virtually every culture and era, from ancient Mesopotamian artifacts and Greek and Roman sculpture to Islamic geometric art, Japanese armor, and American paintings of the Hudson River School.
The European paintings galleries contain masterworks by Vermeer, Rembrandt, El Greco, and Caravaggio, while the American Wing showcases period rooms that reconstruct domestic interiors from colonial times through the early twentieth century. The Costume Institute, located in the lower level, houses one of the most comprehensive fashion archives in the world and draws significant attention each spring with its major thematic exhibition. Visitors who climb to the Roof Garden, open seasonally, are rewarded with contemporary sculpture installations set against sweeping views of Central Park and the Manhattan skyline.
The museum's dining spaces range from a casual cafeteria to the more formal dining room overlooking the medieval European galleries. Guided tours, both staff-led and audio, help orient first-time visitors, while seasoned visitors often return to spend time with a single department or collection. The Metropolitan Museum of Art endures as one of the essential cultural experiences in the United States, a place where a single afternoon barely scratches the surface of what it holds.
7-day forecast
Chance of rainTips for visiting The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Visit on a weekday morning when the Great Hall is calm and the galleries are far less crowded than on weekend afternoons.
Head directly to the Temple of Dendur in the Sackler Wing early in your visit, as natural light through the glass facade makes it especially striking in the morning hours.
Pick up a printed floor map at the information desk rather than relying solely on the app, since navigating between wings is easier with a physical reference.
Bring a refillable water bottle, as the museum's size means you will cover significant ground and the dining options can involve long waits during peak hours.
Check the Met's website before your visit to confirm which galleries are open, as certain collections rotate or close temporarily for conservation and reinstallation.
Top tours & experiences near The Metropolitan Museum of Art
2.5-Hour Guided Tour of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Explore The Met's masterpieces with an art historian guide
Metropolitan Museum & Central Park 5.5-Hour Guided Tour
Explore The Met’s permanent collection and Central Park with an expert guide
Private Upper East Side Architecture Walking Tour
Trace Gilded Age and modern design with an architect-led Upper East Side walk
Upper East Side 2-Hour Architecture Walking Tour
Trace Gilded Age estates and modern design with an architect guide
Guided Central Park Bike Tour
Pedal Central Park’s scenic paths with a guide and Dutch bike
Central Park 2-Hour Pedicab Tour
See more of Central Park with seven photo stops and live guide commentary
Explore The Met Museum on a 2-Hour Insider Tour
Skip the line and explore The Met with an insider guide
Gossip Girl Pedicab Tour of Manhattan
Trace Gossip Girl stories by pedicab with flexible photo stops
Gossip Girl Filming Sites Guided Tour in Manhattan
Ride through Manhattan’s Gossip Girl filming spots with photo stops
Central Park 2-Hour Guided Pedicab Tour
See Central Park landmarks, stories, and scenic photo stops by pedicab
Explore LGBTQ+ Stories at The Met on a Private Tour
See The Met through an LGBTQ+ lens on a private guided tour
Explore Fifth Avenue Gilded Age Mansions in NYC
Walk Fifth Avenue’s Gilded Age mansions with a guide
Gilded Age Guided Tour of New York
Explore the Gilded Age fortunes, rivalries, and mansions that shaped New York society
LGBTQ+ Stories Guided Tour at The Met
Explore queer narratives and symbolism across The Met’s collection
African American Artists Guided Tour at The Met
Explore the stories and influence of African American artists at The Met
African American Art Tour at The Metropolitan Museum
Discover African American artists' impact through The Met's galleries
Guided Gilded Age Tour at The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Trace Gilded Age luxury through art, furniture, and jewelry
Guided Women Artists Tour at The Met
Reframe The Met’s collection through the stories of women artists
Guided Latin American Art Tour at The Met
See Latin American art through culture, history, and identity
Gilded Age Tour at The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Trace Gilded Age luxury through art, furniture, and jewelry
Asian & Pacific Islander Art Tour at The Met
Trace Asian and Pacific Islander perspectives through The Met's art
Latin American Art Tour at The Metropolitan Museum
Trace Latin American art, culture, and identity through The Met
Manhattan 4-Hour Guided SUV Tour
See Manhattan’s landmarks with guided stops and skyline views from a comfortable SUV
Central Park Gossip Girl Pedicab Tour
Follow Gossip Girl through Central Park with photo stops
Gossip Girl Pedicab Tour of New York City
Trace Gossip Girl filming locations by pedicab with photos and show trivia
Central Park 3-Hour Guided Pedicab Tour
See Central Park from south to north with stories and photo stops
New York City Classic Movie Locations Guided Tour
Trace classic movie history at more than 60 Manhattan filming locations
Manhattan TV & Movie Locations Tour
Follow the film and TV landmarks of Uptown Manhattan by indoor bus
Private Sex & The City Tour of Uptown NYC
Follow the Uptown trail of Sex and the City’s most recognizable locations
Gossip Girl Pedicab Tour of Central Park
See Gossip Girl landmarks on a private guided pedicab ride
Private NYC Romantic Comedy Movie Sites Tour
Follow Manhattan's romantic-comedy scenes with stories from a local actress guide
3.5-Hour Guided Manhattan Highlights Tour
See Manhattan with a Licensed Spanish-Speaking Guide
Biblical Art Guided Tour at The Met
Trace biblical stories through ancient art and artifacts at The Met
Upper East Side Gilded Age Walking Tour
Trace Fifth Avenue’s mansion era through art, architecture, and high-society stories
Women Artists Guided Tour at The Met
Trace the overlooked stories of women artists at The Met
Asian & Pacific Islander Art Tour at The Met
Trace Asian and Pacific Islander artistic traditions through The Met’s collections
New York City Gossip Girl Guided Bus Tour
Follow Gossip Girl locations from the Upper East Side to Grand Central
Family-Friendly Metropolitan Museum of Art Guided Tour
Private family exploration of The Met’s art, history, and ancient treasures
Skip-the-Line Metropolitan Museum of Art Guided Tour
Discover The Met’s permanent collection with a private expert guide
Metropolitan Museum & Central Park Private Tour
Private guide through the Met's masterpieces and Central Park