The Metropolitan Museum of Art is one of the biggest art museums that holds artworks covering the history of 5,000 years over 2 million square feet.
The MET is divided into the MET Fifth Avenue (Main Building) and the MET Cloisters.
These museums are spread over different floors and galleries, which might be difficult to navigate without a map.
If you have not opted for a MET guided tour, your best bet for a pleasant tour is to grab the MET Map.
The MET map is useful for those who are short on time and just want to see the highlights.
The map will help you find different wings, galleries, and amenities like restrooms, cafes, lounges, stores, entrances, etc.
Floor G
There are two entrances on this floor – 81st Street and 82nd Street.
The exit points are also the same.
On the ground floor of the MET museum, you will find the parking garage entrance and exit points.
You will also see a restaurant called The Eatery on this floor.
Next to The Eatery, there’s the Antonio Ratti Textile Center and Reference Library.
After entering from the 81st Street entrance, you will first see the MET store.
To the left of the MET store are the Carson family hall, the art study section, and the Carroll classroom.
There are lecture halls, classrooms, seminar rooms, and the 81st Street studio on this floor.
Floor 1
After entering through the Great Hall of the MET museum (the 82nd Street entrance), you will land on the 1st floor.
On this floor, upon entering, you will find the Greek and Roman Art section to your left, and to your right, there’s the Egyptian Art section.
From the Greek and Roman Art section, if you head straight, you will find the Michael C. Rockefeller Wing and the Modern and Contemporary Art section.
Then take a right from there, and you will spot the Petrie Court Cafe while you’re walking towards the Medieval Art section.
Further to your right is the American Wing, where you’ll find paintings, sculptures, and fancy household items from America.
Right now, they’ve got 24 rooms set up to show you what life was like in America at different times in history.
There’s also an American Wing Cafe inside the American Wing.
The Robert Lehman Wing is another section that’s straight ahead of the Medieval Art section.
On the first floor, you can also see Thomas J. Watson Library, an exhibition gallery, and the MET Store.
Floor 1M
On floor 1 M, there are three sections that you can visit and they are:
- Modern and Contemporary Art
- American Wing
- Greek and Roman Art
These sections are the continuation of those on floor 1.
Floor 2
The second floor is divided into several sections of art.
A huge part of the second floor is dedicated to European paintings from the years 1250 to 1800.
The museum has around 2,500 European paintings, one of the world’s best collections.
They’ve got amazing works by artists like Rembrandt and Vermeer and many paintings from the Impressionist and Post-Impressionist movements.
On this floor, you can also see the artworks of Arab Land, Turkey, Iran, Central Asia and Later South Asia.
Another section of the second floor has a collection of 19th and 20th-century European paintings and sculptures.
There’s a modern and contemporary art section on this floor and two exhibition galleries adjacent to it.
The American Wing and Musical Instruments section are adjacent to each other.
On this floor, you will find the Balcony Lounge, Balcony Cafe, and an Asian Art section.
Floor 3
On the third floor, there are only two sections, the American Wing and the Asian Art.
Floor 4
The dining room and a patrons lounge are on the fourth floor.
Floor 5
On the fifth floor is the Iris B. Gerald Cantor Roof Bar and Garden.
MET Cloisters Layout
If you are trying to navigate the MET CLoisters, here is your map:
Floors G and 1
On the ground floor of Met Cloister, you can walk up straight to the lower lobby if you enter from the Poister entrance.
Straight ahead from the lower lobby, you will find a treasury, a glass gallery and a Gothic Chapel.
The two cloisters on the ground floor are bonnefont and trie cloister.
Inside the trie cloister, you will also see a Trie Cafe.
On the first floor of MET Cloisters, you will find the following:
- Romanesque Hall
- Langon Chapel
- Early Gothic House
- Late Gothic Hall
- Boppard Room
- Nine Heroes Tapestries Room
- Cuxa Cloister
- Unicorn Tapestries Room
You will find a MET store on this floor as well.
MET Entrances
You can get into The Met from Fifth Avenue and 81st Street or through the parking garage at Fifth Avenue and 80th Street.
The Great Hall on Fifth Avenue has been the main entrance to The Metropolitan Museum of Art for more than a century.
The steps of the Great Hall are one of the most popular photography sites among tourists.
This is where you present your tickets to the MET and meet your tour guide if you have booked the MET’s guided tour.
If you can’t manage steps, you can use the ground-level entrance on 81st Street and Fifth Avenue.
For Met Cloisters, members can enter through the Margaret Corbin Drive main entrance.
Ensure you buy a ticket in advance to avoid the long queues and keep your ticket with you throughout the tour.
Sometimes, they might need to check it again when you leave and return to the galleries.
Remember, your ticket might only be used for the date printed on it.
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