The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Place · Central Park: Bethesda Terrace to the Met
The city's largest art museum on the park's east edge: pick two wings and stop, since the building will outlast your energy; a good indoor rest in heat or rain.
- Egyptian Temple of Dendur
- European and American collections
- Air-conditioned rest
- Crowded at peak
- Works with kids
- Mostly indoors
Highlights come from Voykit's own data and desk notes, not from reviews. Hover a tag to see its source.
Rules in force · 9Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…Subway stations have few lifts and many stairs
- North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
- North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
- North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
- United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
- United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
- United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
- United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.
- New York ↗Subway stations have few lifts and many stairs: with large suitcases, take a taxi or ride-hail car instead.
- New York ↗Popular sights (the 9/11 Museum, the observation decks, some Broadway shows) sell timed tickets: book before you fix your day.
More
Map & directions
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Plan
Open now, best time to go, opening hours
Go now?
hours and prices: check on the day- Open
- Usually 10:00–17:00Usually 10:00 AM–5:00 PM
- Crowds
Quietest around 10:00 or 16:00
MonTueWedThuFriSatSunQuietest Wed · busiest Sat, Sun · desk estimate
- Tickets
- Adult: about US$30 (2026 estimate, check)
- Child: free (check)
free for under 12 (check)
- Time to spend
- 120–180 min · up to 240 min if you linger
Best time to go
Long entry queues at weekends and holidays; weekday afternoons are calmer.
By weekday: quietest Wed, busiest Sat, Sun.
Opening hours
- Hours
- 10:00–17:00 (typical, check)
- Note
- Opening hours and the weekly closing day are not printed until verified.
- Hours note
- Later on some evenings; closed one weekday (check).
Which month is quietest
- Janbusy
- Febbusy
- Marheavy
- Aprheavy
- Mayheavy
- Junheavy
- Julheavy
- Augheavy
- Sepbusy
- Octheavy
- Novheavy
- Decpacked
Quietest Jan–Feb · Sep · busiest Dec.
Estimate: desk reasoning from season, weekend and school-holiday patterns; not counted. Holidays and events move these weeks.
Weather here, next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Not checked in the last 12 months (no check date on file).
On the ground
Getting in, access, sensory load, what to bring, and where to go if it does not work
Getting in
- Stop
- Fifth Avenue at 82nd Street (subway 4/5/6 to 86 St, then walk)
- Ticket
- on site · official site
- Stairs
- none of note
- Shoes
- Shoes on.
Accessibility
- YesStep-free entrance · none of note
- YesLifts
- YesAccessible toilet
- YesRamps · Ramp at the accessible entrance, lifts and wheelchairs at the desk.
- YesWheelchair
- YesStroller · ok
Sensory load
- Sensory load4/5 High
- Peak crowd4/5 High
Exposure: low
What to bring and the rules
- A small bag · Large bags and backpacks must be checked; a coat check is available.
- Large bags and backpacks must be checked; a coat check is available.
- Allowed in most galleries without flash; check signs.
Rules and prices change: check the official site before you go.
Bailouts
- heat: Metropolitan Museum entrance (AC, WC inside)
- fatigue: Metropolitan Museum entrance (AC, WC inside)
Nearest rescue anchor: C — Metropolitan Museum entrance (AC, WC inside)
Problem
Red lines
- Large bags and backpacks may need to go to the cloakroom.
Not checked in the last 12 months (no check date on file).
Map and nearby
Where it is, how to get there from your hotel or from where you stand, and what is around it
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Nearby places
Eat nearby
More detail
Everything else we know about this place
Tickets, prices and entry
Know before you go
- Buy your ticket online to skip the desk queue.
- Check the weekly closing day before you go.
- Pick two wings and stop; the building will outlast your energy.
- Cafés are inside and prices are high; a picnic in the park costs less.
Best time of day
Plan 120–180 min inside.
quietlightbusyheavypacked· desk estimate for an ordinary weekday; weekends and holidays run one level higher
Tickets & entry
- Where to buy
- Buy at the entrance on the day.
- Buy from the official site or the ticket desk; resellers add a fee for the same ticket.
- Queues
- Buy your ticket online to skip the desk queue.
- Free days
Free entry days in New York (pick New York in the tool; check)
- Bags & lockers
- Large bags and backpacks must be checked; a coat check is available.
- Photos
- Allowed in most galleries without flash; check signs.
- What's closed
- Weekly closingcheckUsually one weekday (often Wednesday); check the official calendar.
- Public holidayscheckThanksgiving, Dec 25 and Jan 1.
“Check” dates move year to year: confirm on the official page for your date.
| Ticket | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Adult ticket, non-New York resident | about US$30 (2026 estimate, check) | — |
| Child under 12 | free (check) | — |
| Special exhibitions | included in the ticket | — |
How to do it well
- 1Enter from Fifth Avenue at 82nd Street.
- 2Pick two wings and check the map.
- 3Rest in a café, then return to the park.
Time on site, inside and your plan
Time on site
Minimum
90min
Worthwhile
120min
Typical
180min
p95
240min
How much time do you have?
Enough for a typical visit (180 min).
Nothing else in our notes is a short enough walk from here for the time that is left.
Visit times are typical figures, not promises; queues and closing times can change them.
Step-free check, who it suits, facilities
Step-free check
- Step-free entrance: yes · yesnone of note
- Lifts: yes · yes
- Accessible toilet: yes · yes
- Ramps: yes · yesRamp at the accessible entrance, lifts and wheelchairs at the desk.
- Wheelchair: yes · yes
- Stroller: yes · yesok
Ramp at the accessible entrance, lifts and wheelchairs at the desk.
Who it suits
| Traveler | Fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Art lovers | good | One of the largest collections. |
| Rainy days | good | Fully indoors. |
| Families | ok | Armour and Egypt. |
Skip it if
- You have one hour.
Rules on site
- silence
- Quiet voices in the galleries.
With kids
- with kids
- Armour, mummies and the Temple of Dendur suit children.
- child price
- free for under 12 (check)
Combine with
Combine with
- 10 minCafé Sabarsky (Neue Galerie, check)
- 10 minGuggenheim Museum
- 15 minCentral Park Bethesda Terrace
Walk the Central Park: Bethesda Terrace to the Met area · the cluster page has the walking order, rescue stops and after-dark notes
Best photo time
Deep dive
Questions, photos, and where our facts come from
Questions and answers
Questions and answers
How long do I need?
Two hours for a focused visit; a full day is not enough to see everything.
Checked 2026-09-29 · Voykit desk
Which wings first?
Choose two: Egyptian art and European paintings, or the American Wing.
Checked 2026-09-29 · Voykit desk
Is the Met free?
Not for visitors from outside New York State; check the current price.
Is there a coat check?
Yes.
What is closest to Bethesda Terrace?
The museum is about 15 minutes' walk across the park.
Photos
Photos
The Metropolitan Museum of Art Photo: G. Scott Segler, CC BY-SA 4.0
The Metropolitan Museum of Art Photo: King of Hearts, CC BY-SA 4.0
Deep dive
Sources
- officialThe Metropolitan Museum of Art
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Source: Price
Draft
Written from desk research. Not yet compared with the official source.
Prices are 2026 estimates. The official site has the current price.
Source: Opening hours
Source: Best hour
Draft
Written from desk research. Not yet compared with the official source.
No official source is recorded for this figure.
Taken from the desk crowd estimate by hour. It is not a count of visitors.
Source: Bag rating
Draft
Written from desk research. Not yet compared with the official source.
No official source is recorded for this figure.
Rated for the whole walking cluster, from desk research, not for this entrance.