Walking through the main entrance of the Metropolitan Museum of Art on Fifth Avenue, the Great Hall opens up around you — vaulted ceilings, flower arrangements the size of small trees, and corridors leading off in every direction.

The Met covers 2.2 million square feet and holds a collection spanning more than 5,000 years of human history. Egyptian temples.

Rembrandt paintings. Greek sculpture. Medieval manuscripts. A musical instrument collection with over 4,000 pieces, the largest of its kind outside Europe. This is the largest art museum in the United States and the third largest in the world, right behind the Louvre and the Hermitage. About 4.5 million visitors pass through each year. And most of them only scratch the surface.

Getting There

The Metropolitan Museum of Art is located at 1000 Fifth Avenue on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, facing Central Park between 79th and 84th Streets. By subway, the 4/5/6 trains stop at 86th Street — a short walk south. The Q train stops at 72nd Street, also walkable. Multiple bus routes including the M1, M2, M3, and M4 run along Fifth or Madison Avenues. The M4 and M79 connect from the west side of Central Park. Taxis and rideshares drop directly at the main entrance. If you're walking from Central Park, enter through the park at 79th or 81st Street and you'll arrive at the museum's side entrance facing the park.

Opening Hours

The Metropolitan Museum of Art is open Sunday through Tuesday and Thursday from 10am to 5pm, and on Friday and Saturday from 10am to 9pm. The Met is closed every Wednesday, December 25, January 1, and the first Monday in May. The Met Cloisters — the medieval art branch located in Fort Tryon Park in northern Manhattan — is open Thursday through Tuesday, 10am to 4:30pm, closed the same holidays plus Wednesdays. Both locations are included with a single same-day ticket.

Tickets & Admission

General admission to the Metropolitan Museum of Art is $30 for adults, $22 for seniors (65+), and $17 for students. Children under 12 enter free. The ticket covers same-day entry to both The Met Fifth Avenue and The Met Cloisters. Tickets can be purchased online in advance or at the door — advance purchase lets you skip the ticket line and go directly to any gallery entrance.

New York State residents and students from New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut have a pay-what-you-wish admission policy. Valid ID is required; this can be purchased in person only for NJ and CT students. Book timed-entry tickets online in advance when possible, especially during peak months — times fill up faster than most visitors expect.

What to See

With a collection this size, going in without a plan is a recipe for wandering until your feet give out. These are the anchors worth finding.

The Temple of Dendur in the Egyptian Wing is one of the most dramatic spaces in any museum — an actual ancient Egyptian temple, dismantled stone by stone and reassembled inside a glass-walled gallery with a reflecting pool. It's unlike anything else. The European Paintings galleries hold works by Vermeer, Rembrandt, van Gogh, Monet, and Cézanne. Van Gogh's Wheat Field with Cypresses alone draws crowds.

The American Wing wraps around a stunning glass-ceilinged courtyard with sculptures and period rooms spanning colonial-era through early 20th century. The Arms and Protective Gear gallery on the first floor is a favorite across age groups — the mounted horsemen in full medieval plate are genuinely impressive. The rooftop garden (open May through October) gives views over Central Park that are worth the elevator ride alone.

How Long to Spend

Budget at least three to four hours for a solid visit to the highlights. More if you have specific collections to explore in depth. Most people hit their limit around three hours regardless of interest level — the Met is physically large and mentally intensive. Free highlight tours run daily, led by museum guides and covering major works across several departments. Check the daily schedule at the information desks inside the main entrance. Guided tours from third-party providers run two to three hours and include small groups of 15 or fewer.

Where to Stay Nearby

The Upper East Side puts you closest to the Met, with Central Park in between you and Midtown. Hotels in this neighborhood include options from around $200 to $400+ per night. The Carlyle and The Mark are iconic luxury options on the museum's doorstep. More affordable stays in Midtown — around Times Square or Midtown East — are 20 minutes by subway and still very practical as a base.