Metropolitan Museum of Art
Arts & Culture · New York, NY
About
The Metropolitan Museum of Art sits on the Upper East Side near 82nd Street, a stone's throw from Central Park. Founded in 1870, this encyclopedic museum presents over 5,000 years of art, from ancient Greek sculpture to contemporary works. Expect a luxe but welcoming vibe, and the venue is explicitly trans-friendly and mixed gay and straight. Its collection spans the globe, with Dutch masters and an indoor Egyptian temple among the highlights.
"So if you miss that kind of discrimination from straight bars, you can find it in the Rainbow Room."
Admission is pay-what-you-wish for New York state residents, though the listed price suggests a donation. First-time visitors should take the free volunteer-led tours to navigate the vast galleries. The rooftop garden offers skyline views, and free Wi-Fi is available throughout. The museum is closed Wednesdays, with extended hours until 9pm on Friday and Saturday.
The Met anchors the Upper East Side's Museum Mile, just steps from Central Park and near 82nd Street.
Features
- ✓Indoor Egyptian Temple of Dendur
- ✓Rooftop garden with skyline views
- ✓Free guided tours by volunteers
- ✓Pay-what-you-wish admission for NY residents
Good for
Practical
What people say
Rated from 3,757 reviews on Yelp · 970 community ratings — we don’t host Yelp’s review text; read the full reviews there.
From the community
Names are kept private and text is lightly edited for clarity.
“The Best Art Museum in the World”
The museum's collection spans everything from early Ancient Greek sculpture to contemporary art. The paintings by Dutch masters are particularly outstanding. First-time visitors should definitely take the complimentary tours led by well-informed guides.
A visitor · Over a year ago
“It is a magical place”
Expect long lines on holidays and weekends, so plan accordingly. Make sure to see the Greek and Roman exhibit. Set aside plenty of time to fully appreciate everything, and note that you can also eat lunch there.
A guest · Over a year ago
Over a year ago: Old masters, Greek and Roman works, sculpture, art history, paintings, and exhibitions.
A recent visitor · Over a year ago
“Metro a great place”
The Metro is great overall, but I had one issue. The first time I was asked to buy alcohol to get tap water was in the Rainbow Room. When I asked, the bartender wanted to know why I was sweating—I had just come off the dance floor. So if you miss that kind of discrimination from straight bars, you can find it in the Rainbow Room.
A local visitor · Over a year ago
“Impressive”
Impressive sums up the Met. From the indoor Egyptian temple and rooftop garden to 500 years of European art, there's something for everyone. Note that the admission fee is suggested, not required.
A visitor · Over a year ago
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Met LGBTQ+ friendly? +
Yes, the Met is tagged as trans-friendly and mixed gay-straight, welcoming all visitors.
What are the admission prices? +
Admission is suggested donation; New York state residents can pay what they wish.
What are the hours? +
Open Mon, Tue, Thu, Sun 10am-5pm; Fri and Sat 10am-9pm. Closed Wednesdays.
Is there free Wi-Fi? +
Yes, the Met offers free Wi-Fi for visitors.
What type of art is on display? +
The collection spans over 5,000 years, including ancient Greek sculpture, Dutch masters, and contemporary works.
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