The Metropolitan Museum of Art tickets, prices, discounts, what to expect and more

The MET, NYC, or Metropolitan Museum of Art, is a famous museum in New York City. It’s one of the world’s largest and oldest art museums. 

The MET has lots of art from different times and places. You can see paintings, sculptures, ancient artifacts, and more. 

It’s a great place to learn about art and history. The museum is in a beautiful building on the edge of Central Park. 

Many people visit to see famous artworks like the Egyptian mummies and Vincent van Gogh’s paintings. 

The MET is a must-visit if you’re in New York and love art and culture.

This article shares all the information about the Metropolitan Museum of Art tickets, prices, hours, what to expect, artworks and more. 

What to Expect at The Metropolitan Museum of Art

At the MET, you can expect to find a wide range of art worldwide. 

The permanent collection contains works from different periods and styles, from Greek and Roman artifacts to Impressionist paintings and contemporary installations. 

The Met also features a variety of temporary exhibitions that showcase emerging artists or showcase works from specific countries or cultures.

The MET has many galleries, including The Great Hall, The European Paintings, The American Wing, The Asian Art, and The Islamic Art galleries. 

Each gallery has its unique atmosphere and showcases different types of art. 

You can find various special exhibitions in MET, like the Tudors, Cubism, Hear Me Now, Lives of God and more. 

In addition to its artworks, the MET also has a variety of educational programs and activities. 

You can attend lectures, workshops, and classes or participate in special events such as family days and art-making activities. 

After touring the museum, you can also enjoy the Museum’s gardens and outdoor spaces. 

The Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Roof Garden features lush green landscaping and sculptures worldwide. 

The Met also has several outdoor sculptures, including the iconic “The Clothed Figure” by Auguste Rodin.

Where to buy MET tickets

It’s a good idea to purchase your MET tickets online before your visit. 

While you can buy them at the ticket counter, the lines are usually very long, and you might not get tickets for the time you want.

By buying tickets online, you can save a lot of time at the museum, especially during busy times when waiting in line can take up to two hours. 

Online booking lets you pick a time slot that suits your schedule.

Plus, when you book online, you might find special deals, discounts, or package offers that aren’t available if you buy tickets at the museum. 

This can help you save money and enjoy extra perks during your visit.

Another thing to watch out for is unofficial ticket sellers around the museum who may try to scam tourists. To avoid any problems, it’s best to book your MET tickets online. 

This way, you’ll have a stress-free experience, save time, secure your entry, and access exclusive offers.

MET Ticket Prices

 A simple self-guided entry ticket to the Metropolitan Museum of Art costs $62 for visitors over 12 years. 

Children between two and 11 can get the ticket for $59. 

If you prefer to take a MET highlights guided tour, the tour costs $68 for visitors over 15 years and $60 for children between two and 14 years. 

Infants below two years can get free entry to the MET.

Best MET tickets 

When it comes to booking tickets to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, you will find a lot of options.

We have put together the best MET tickets for you:

Best of the Metropolitan Museum Guided Tour

With this ticket, you are accompanied by a knowledgeable guide on your visit to the MET. 

On this guided tour, you will discover MET’s most popular attractions. 

Start in Ancient Egypt, where you can find well-preserved tombs and dioramas depicting life in the time of Tutankhamun. 

Learn about the ancient burial rituals, discover Greek Statues,  and view the Met’s mascot, “William.”

With this ticket, you can tour the MET museum for either two or three hours. 

Ticket includes:

• MET entry ticket
• guided tour of the exhibits 

Ticket Prices:

Ages	Ticket Prices
Adult ticket for 2 hours (15+ years)	$62
Child ticket for 2 hours (2 to 14 years)	$52
Adult ticket for 3 hours (15+ years)	$62
Child ticket for 3 hours (2 to 14 years)	$52
Infant (up to 2 years)	Free Entry

Metropolitan Museum of Art Guided or Self-Guided Tour

Experience the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York with a small-group guided tour and skip the lines. 

See over two million works of art and artifacts from ancient Greece and Egypt, Modern art from Europe, and more. 

With this ticket, you can either enjoy the museum by yourself or take a guided tour. 

Ticket includes:

• skip the line entry ticket
• small-group guided tour
• Access to art and artifacts for 2 days

Ticket Prices:

Age and Tour	Prices
Self-guided adult ticket (12+ years)	$63
Self-guided child ticket (up to 2 years)	$60
Private guided adult ticket (12+ years)	$159
Private guided child ticket (up to 2 years)	$159
Small group adult ticket (12+ years)	$126
Small group child ticket (up to 2 years)	$100

MET Pay as you wish

While the Met has a standard entry price for adults, it also offers a “pay as you wish” for New York State residents and New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut students. 

This means visitors can choose to pay what they can afford, making the Met accessible to everyone, regardless of income.

The policy is designed to make the Met accessible to everyone, regardless of their financial situation.

It also allows visitors to pay what they feel the experience is worth, which can help to ensure the museum’s long-term sustainability.

MET Audio guide

The Met audio guide is a great way to learn more about the museum’s vast art collection. 

The guide is available in 10 languages and offers a variety of tours, including:

• 100 Highlights Tour: This tour takes you to the most popular works of art in the museum, including paintings by Van Gogh, Monet, and Rembrandt.
  
  
• Egyptian Art: Family Tour: This tour is perfect for families with children of all ages. It introduces visitors to the basics of Egyptian art and culture.
  
  
• Musical Instruments: Fanfare: This tour takes you on a journey through the history of musical instruments from ancient Egypt to the present day.
  
  
• Musical Instruments: Mapping the Art of Music: This tour explores how musical instruments have been depicted in art throughout history.
  
  
• Viewpoints: Body Language: This tour examines how artists have used body language to convey emotion and meaning in their work.
  
  
• Epic Abstraction: Pollock to Herrera: This tour explores the history of abstract art from the mid-20th century to the present day.

To use the Met audio guide, simply rent a headset from the museum when you arrive. 

You can then enter the corresponding number of the work of art or exhibition that you are interested in learning more about. 

The audio guide will then provide you with a detailed commentary in the language of your choice.

Top 10 Masterpieces at the Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City is home to one of the most impressive art collections in the world. 

From ancient Egyptian artifacts to contemporary installations, the Met houses over 2 million works of art spanning 5,000 years of human history. 

While it’s impossible to narrow down the Met’s vast holdings to just 10 masterpieces, here is a selection of some of the most iconic works in the museum’s collection.

The Death of Socrates (Jacques-Louis David, 1787) 

This iconic painting depicts the death of the Greek philosopher Socrates, who was condemned for impiety and corrupting the youth. 

David’s painting is a powerful and moving depiction of Socrates’ final moments, and it is considered to be one of the greatest masterpieces of Western art.

Denial of Saint Peter (Caravaggio, 1610) 

This dramatic painting depicts the moment when Saint Peter, one of Jesus’ disciples, denies knowing Jesus after Jesus has been arrested. 

Caravaggio’s painting is known for its intense realism and its powerful use of light and shadow.

Young Mother Sewing (Jean-Honoré Fragonard, 1773) 

This charming painting depicts a young mother sewing with her child on her lap. 

Fragonard’s painting is a celebration of motherhood and the simple pleasures of life.

Self Portrait with Straw Hat (Vincent van Gogh, 1887) 

This famous self-portrait by Van Gogh shows the artist wearing a straw hat and a blue jacket. 

The painting is notable for its vibrant colors and its expressive brushwork.

Cow’s Skull (Georgia O’Keeffe, 1931) 

This close-up painting of a cow’s skull is one of O’Keeffe’s most iconic works. 

The painting is known for its sharp focus and its stark beauty.

The Sphinx of Hatshepsut (Egypt, 15th century BC) 

This massive sphinx statue is one of the most iconic works of ancient Egyptian art. 

The sphinx depicts Queen Hatshepsut, who ruled Egypt in the 15th century BC.

Bridge over the pond of water lilies (Claude Monet, 1899) 

This painting is part of Monet’s famous water lily series. 

The painting depicts a bridge over a pond of water lilies in Monet’s garden in Giverny, France.

Madonna and Child Enthroned with Saints 

This beautiful painting depicts the Virgin Mary and the Christ Child enthroned with saints. 

The painting is known for its harmonious composition and its delicate brushwork.

Madame X (John Singer Sargent, 1884) 

This portrait of Madame Virginie Amélie Avegno Gautreau, a socialite living in Paris, caused a scandal when it was first exhibited in 1884. 

The painting is notable for its daring pose and realistic depiction of Madame Gautreau’s black dress.

Autumn Rhythm (Jackson Pollock, 1950) 

This large-scale painting is one of Pollock’s most famous works.

The painting is an example of action painting, a style in which the artist creates the painting by dripping and splashing paint onto the canvas.

Aristotle with a Bust of Homer (Rembrandt, 1653) 

Rembrandt’s Aristotle with a Bust of Homer is a portrait of the Greek philosopher Aristotle contemplating a bust of Homer, the epic poet. 

The painting mediates the relationship between art and philosophy and the nature of fame and immortality. 

It is also a testament to Rembrandt’s mastery of light, shadow, and brushwork.

Dance Class

Degas’s Dance Class is an iconic work of Impressionist art. 

The painting depicts a group of young ballet dancers practicing in a dance studio. 

Degas was fascinated by the movement and grace of dancers, and he painted many different scenes of ballet dancers in his career. 

Dance Class is one of his most famous ballet paintings, and it is notable for its realistic depiction of the dancer’s movements and the atmosphere of the dance studio.

How to Reach the MET

The Metropolitan Museum of Art (MET) is on 5th Ave, New York! Reaching the MET is relatively easy due to its central location. 

It is easily accessible by public transportation and car. 

Address:  1000 5th Ave, New York, NY 10028, United States. Get Directions. 

By Taxi/ Car

You can take a taxi to the MET. You can hail one on the road or book one from apps like Uber. 

The drivers usually know the MET; you should have no problem reaching it!

If you drive to the MET, the museum is on Fifth Avenue between 82nd and 86th Streets. 

You can park your car in the Metropolitan Museum of Art parking garage or one of the nearby parking lots. 

By Subway and Bus 

Here is how you can reach the Metropolitan Museum of Art through a Bus or Subway from different parts of the city. 

From the East Side of Manhattan:

Subway: 

86th Street is the closest subway station and lies 10 minutes from the museum.

You can take train lines 4, 5 or 6 to reach 86th Street and walk three blocks west to Fifth Avenue. 

Bus: 

82nd Street and 83rd Street Stations are the closest bus stations near MET when traveling from East Manhattan. 

You can take bus numbers M1, M2, M3, or M4 to reach Fifth Avenue (from uptown locations) to 82nd Street or along Madison Avenue (from downtown locations) to 83rd Street.

From the West Side of Manhattan:

If you are traveling from West Manhattan, Take the 1 train to 86th Street, then the M86 crosstown bus across Central Park to Fifth Avenue.

You can also take the C train to 81st Street, then the M79 bus across Central Park to Fifth Avenue.

From Penn Station:

Bus: 

Visitors from Penn Station can take bus number M4 to 83rd Street and Madison Avenue.

Subway and bus: 

There is no direct Subway to reach MET from the Penn Station. 

You should catch the C local train to 81st Street and transfer to the M79 crosstown bus across Central Park to Fifth Avenue.

From the Met Cloisters:

Bus: 

Take the M4 bus directly to 82nd Street and Fifth Avenue from MET Cloisters. 

Subway:

 Since there is no direct subway from MET Cloisters to the MET Museum, take Train 1 to 125th Street. 

Then transfer to the B or C local train and exit at 81st Street. 

From there, you must take the M79 crosstown bus across Central Park to Fifth Avenue.

MET Opening Hours

The MET Fifth Avenue is open from 10 am to 5 pm on Sundays to Tuesdays and Thursdays. 

On Friday and Saturday, the museum closes late at 9 pm. 

MET is closed on Wednesdays. 

Metropolitan Museum of Art is closed on Thanksgiving Day, December 25, January 1 and the first Monday in May. 

Here is an overview of MET opening hours:

Days	Opening time	Closing Time
Sunday to Thursday	10 am	5 pm
Friday and Saturday	10 am	9 pm

Best Time to Visit the MET

The best time to visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art is at 10 am when the museum opens. 

If you can not make it early, visit at 2 pm or take advantage of the extended opening hours during the weekend. 

During this time, the museum is less crowded and you can enjoy a private viewing experience. 

It is best to avoid the weekends since it is more crowded than weekdays. 

The best time to visit the MET is during the spring and fall when the weather is milder and the crowds are smaller. 

The Museum can be crowded during the winter due to the holiday season. 

The Museum can be hot and crowded during summer due to increased tourist activity.

The Met has a variety of special events and programs each month, so visitors should check the Museum’s website for the most up-to-date information. 

How long does it take at the MET?

At the MET, your visit time can vary. It depends on your interests. 

A quick visit might be one to two hours.

If you love art, plan for three to four hours. 

But if you want to explore everything, you might need a full day. 

We suggest you not rush and take your time to enjoy the amazing art and exhibitions. 

In short, the MET can be as short as an hour or as long as a day. 

Also, check the MET’s website for any special exhibitions or events.

MET FAQs

Featured Image: The city’s second largest art collection. Stock photos by Vecteezy