The Met is the fifth largest museum in the world, covering 5,000 years of art.
With significant collections from Egypt, Babylon, East Asia, Middle East, Greece, Rome, and Europe, visitors to the Met get a well-rounded idea of world civilizations.
With six million visitors annually, The Metropolitan Museum of Art is one of the most popular museums among art lovers.
The Met in New York serves to educate people in art history.
Snapshot
Opening hours: 10 am to 5 pm
Time required: 3 hours
Best time to Visit: Early morning Thursday and Sunday
Met Entry Ticket price: $63
Location: Fifth Avenue, New York City
Address: 1000 5th Avenue, 10028, New York Get directions
Nearest Station: 86th Street Station Get directions
Where to Buy The Metropolitan Museum of Art Tickets
You can purchase tickets to the Met Fifth Avenue in two ways: at the ticket counter or online. Buying the tickets online in advance is very convenient.
You can avoid queues with skip-the-line tickets, as the Met has a large footfall and waiting times can last up to one hour or more.
Online tickets tend to be cheaper than tickets at the attraction, plus you can choose your preferred time and date.
Online tickets ensure that you get confirmation immediately and avoid last-minute disappointments.
How do Online Tickets Work?
Select the number of tickets, the time slot, and the date of your visit on the ticket booking page.
After you purchase the Met tickets, they will be delivered instantly to your email address.
There is no need to print the tickets. You can show the e-ticket on your mobile phone at the entrance.
The Met Ticket Prices
The most popular ticket is the 11 am best of Met Guided Tour for $65 for visitors older than 15 years. For children between two and fourteen years, the price is $55.
If you book your tickets early, you can get this ticket for the discounted price of $62 if you are above 15 years old and $52 for children between two and fourteen.
Get the longest guided tour of the Metropolitan Museum of Art at $74 if you are older than 15 and $64 for visitors between two and fourteen years.
With this three-hour tour, you can get a more detailed perspective on the artwork and its relevance.
You will face larger crowds during the afternoon at the Met, so check the best time to visit before planning your trip there.
Entry for children below two years is free for the tickets mentioned above.
Types of Tickets for The Met
The Metropolitan Museum of Art has five types of tickets.
You can choose between a guided tour, an extended tour, a family tour, a self-guided tour, and a combo ticket.
The Met Museum Tickets:
| Ticket Link | Ticket Price | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Best of Met Guided Tour | $62 | 2 Hours |
| MET Entry Ticket | $63 | Closing Time |
| MET Extended Guided Tour | $74 | 3 Hours |
| Friday and Saturday Evening MET Tour | $88 | 2 Hours |
| MET Semi-Private Guided Museum Tour | $111 | 2.5 Hours |
| Kids and Families Private Tour | $150 | 2.5 Hours |
| Metropolitan Museum and Museum of Natural History Tour | $232 | 5.5 Hours |
Given Met’s popularity and the staggering number of visitors it receives, there are many ticket options available. Tourists are often confused about which one to select.
We have researched and shortlisted the best-selling tickets in each category to help you choose the right ticket:
Guided Tour
The museum spans two floors (five levels) and covers an area of 2 million square feet.
With a guide, you can cover the important artworks while hearing interesting stories and anecdotes about these prominent works.
Don’t miss out on significant highlights, and choose between the three options for the Met guided tour depending on the time you want to spend inside.
2-hour Tour
This guided tour is an express discovery of the extensive collection at the Met. You get to see all the highlights during your visit.
Perfect for first-time visitors who want to get an overview of the collection to explore more during your next visit.
Ticket price
| Visitor’s Age | Ticket Price |
|---|---|
| Visitor ticket (15 years+) | $62 |
| Youth ticket (2 to 14 years) | $52 |
| Infant ticket (Up to 2 years) | Free Entry |
2.5-hour Tour
While booking this ticket, you can select the private or the semi-private option.
Choose a private guided tour for an all-inclusive walk through the museum specifically for your interests.
If you want a more customized experience, spend the beginning of your tour brainstorming your preferences with the guide to design the perfect tour for your group.
The semi-private tour gives you a more affordable option to cover your interests and the most famous artworks at the Met.
Meet new people if you are traveling in smaller groups. Your itinerary will include the popular works, your interests, and fresh input from other tourists accompanying you.
Ticket prices
Private Tour
| Visitor’s Age | Ticket Price |
|---|---|
| Adult ticket (18 years+) | $136 |
| Youth ticket (10 to 17 years) | $101 |
| Infant ticket (Up to 9 years) | $80 |
Semi-private Tour
| Visitor’s Age | Ticket Price |
|---|---|
| Adult ticket (18 years+) | $111 |
| Youth ticket (10 to 17 years) | $101 |
| Infant ticket (Up to 9 years) | $80 |
The price indicated is the per-person cost when you purchase four adult tickets. The per-person cost decreases as the number of participants increases.
3-hour Tour (Extended Tour)
Take the opportunity to get creative with your thoughts, draw and write what you see inside the Metropolitan Museum of Art as you closely examine the artwork.
Perfect for art lovers who want to know exclusive information about the collections in the Met Gallery.
Ticket prices
| Visitor’s Age | Ticket Price |
|---|---|
| Visitor ticket (15 years+) | $74 |
| Child ticket (2 to 14 years) | $64 |
| Infant ticket (Up to 2 years) | Free Entry |
Private Family Tour
Spend an afternoon with your family and introduce your children to history and art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
The guide makes sure to include something for every member of the family and is particularly great for groups with children.
Make the best of the skip-the-line access so that your family does not have to waste time standing in line.
Ticket prices
| Visitor’s Age | Ticket Price |
|---|---|
| Visitor ticket (13 years+) | $129 |
| Child ticket (6-12 years) | $43 |
| Infant ticket (Up to 5 years) | Free Entry |
The price indicated is the per-person cost upon purchasing four visitor tickets. The per-person cost decreases as the number of participants increases.
Self-Guided Tours
A self-guided tour ticket is the basic entry ticket, which is also the cheapest option for visiting the Met.
You get access to the Met, the Met Cloisters, and the Current Exhibits at the Met.
If you are interested in a particular exhibit or collection, these skip-the-line access tickets get you a quick entry.
Ticket price
| Visitor’s Age | Ticket Price |
|---|---|
| Adult ticket (12 years+) | $63 |
| Child ticket (2 to 11 years) | $60 |
| Infant ticket (Up to 2 years) | Free Entry |
Combo Tickets
You have access to two of the best museums in New York City with a tour guide who is knowledgeable in both art history and natural sciences.
The American Museum of Natural History is the second stop on this guided tour.
If you enjoy visiting museums, keep aside your day for this 5.5-hour tour that gives visitors a glimpse of natural and cultural history.
Ticket prices
Semi-private Tour
| Visitor’s Age | Ticket Price |
|---|---|
| Adult ticket (18 years+) | $232 |
| Youth ticket (10-17 years) | $211 |
| Child ticket (Up to 9 years) | $169 |
Private Tour
| Visitor’s Age | Ticket Price |
|---|---|
| Adult ticket (18 years+) | $302 |
| Youth ticket (10-17 years) | $211 |
| Child ticket (Up to 9 years) | $169 |
The price indicated is the per-person cost when you book four adult tickets. The per-person cost decreases as the number of participants increases.
Best Time to Visit
Enjoy the artwork at the Met without the large crowds, and visit between 6 pm and 9 pm on Friday and Saturday or 10 am to 12 pm on Thursday or Sunday.
In the summer, the Met rooftop is open on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday from 12 pm to 4.30 pm. and on Friday and Saturday from 10 am to 8 pm.
Plan your trip during the shoulder season, between September and October or March and April after the peak season passes.
Opening Hours
| Day | Timings |
|---|---|
| Sunday, Monday, Tuesday & Thursday | 10 am to 5 pm |
| Friday & Saturday | 10 am to 9 pm |
The Metropolitan Museum of Art is closed on Wednesdays.
The other days the museum remains closed are Thanksgiving Day, December 25, January 1, and the first Monday of May.
How Long Does it Take
Most visitors spend around three hours exploring the Met. With the self-guided tour, you can stay as long as you want.
If you prefer guided tours, there are the 2.5-hour and 3-hour options.
Most tourists prefer taking a guided tour of the Met as the vast expanse of the museum can be difficult to navigate.
You will get a chance to see all the highlights of the museum in an orderly manner with your guide.
Nearby Attractions to the Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art is in central New York, so plan your visit to include many big attractions.
Book a New York City Pass to choose two, three, four, five, six, seven or ten attractions and tours.
This pass remains active for 2 months from your visit to the first site. Simply activate it at one of the 90+ sites included.
Travel time to attractions near the Metropolitan Museum of Art:
| Ticket Link | Distance from The Met | Travel time |
|---|---|---|
| Central Park | 623 ft (190 m) | 3 min |
| Guggenheim Museum | 1804 ft (550 m) | 7 min |
| American Museum of Natural History | 1.1 miles (1.7 km) | 5 min |
| Museum of Modern Art | 2.1 miles (3.3 km) | 11 min |
| Grand Central | 2.1 miles (3.4 km) | 11 min |
| Times Square | 2.5 miles (4.0 km) | 14 min |
| Empire State Building | 2.9 miles (4.6 km) | 15 min |
Featured Image : Opera Garnier The Majestic Parisian Lyric Palace Stock photos by Vecteezy
