Met Museum Tickets 2026: Prices, Free Entry & What to See First
The Met holds 5,000 years of art across 2 million square feet. Tickets are $30 — but NY residents pay what they wish. Here's how to plan a visit without getting lost.
The Met is not a museum you "do." It's 2 million square feet holding 5,000 years of human creativity — Egyptian temples, Vermeer, samurai armour, a Baroque period room, a rooftop garden with Manhattan views. People walk in with good intentions and walk out four hours later having covered one wing. That's not a failure. That's the Met working as designed.
In 3 minutes, you'll know:
- What tickets cost and how to pay what you wish
- The 3-hour route that covers the essential galleries
- Why your ticket covers both Met locations on the same day (and why that changes your planning)
- The best time to visit each wing
How much are Met Museum tickets in 2026?
Standard tickets: Adults $30, seniors (65+) $22, students $17. Under 12 is always free.
Pay what you wish: New York State residents and students from NY, NJ, and CT set their own price — any amount from $0.01 up. NY State residents can do this online (with a NY State billing address) or in person. NY, NJ, and CT students can only pay what they wish in person at the admissions desk, with a valid student ID. Online tickets for everyone else are fixed-price.
Your ticket includes both Met locations (Fifth Avenue and The Cloisters in Fort Tryon Park) for same-day entry — valid for the date printed on the ticket, not multiple days. If you want to see both locations, you'll need to fit them into the same day or buy a second ticket.
Where to book
Our take: Buy entry on the official site — it's the same $30 and avoids partner markup. The Met rarely has real entry queues. Book the GetYourGuide guided tour ($65, 1.5h, skip-the-line) if you want a curator-led highlights route — the museum is enormous and easy to get lost in.
What should you see first?
The Egyptian Wing. Go here first while it's quiet. The Temple of Dendur — an actual 2,000-year-old Egyptian temple reconstructed inside a glass-walled gallery — is the Met's most photogenic space. The mummy collection and painted coffins are two rooms away. By 2 PM, school groups fill this wing.
European Paintings (Floors 1 and 2). Vermeer, Rembrandt, Caravaggio, El Greco, Monet. The Met's European painting collection rivals any museum in the world. Gallery 632 (Vermeer) and Gallery 621 (Rembrandt) are the highlights. The Impressionist rooms on the second floor are calmer than the old masters below.
Arms and Armour. Medieval knights, Japanese samurai, Renaissance tournament gear. Even people who don't care about weapons stop here. The equestrian court with mounted knights is one of the most dramatic rooms in any museum.
The American Wing. Washington Crossing the Delaware (it's enormous in person), Sargent's Madame X, the Frank Lloyd Wright room, and the best collection of Tiffany glass you'll see anywhere.
When is the best time to visit?
Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday: 10 AM – 5 PM. Friday, Saturday: 10 AM – 9 PM. Wednesday: closed. Closed: Thanksgiving, December 25, January 1, first Monday in May (Met Gala).
Quietest times: Monday or Tuesday morning (10 AM) and Friday evening (after 5 PM). Weekend mornings are busy but manageable. Saturday afternoons in summer are the worst. Don't plan a Wednesday visit — the museum is closed that day.
Fitting in both Met locations: Your ticket covers The Met Fifth Avenue and The Met Cloisters on the same calendar day, not across multiple days. Most visitors treat them as separate trips: one day at Fifth Avenue for the European paintings, Egyptian wing, American Wing, and Arms and Armour, then — if you have time — a half-day trip uptown to The Cloisters on its own visit (it's a 30-minute subway ride from Fifth Avenue).
What do most visitors wish they knew?
The rooftop garden is closed for renovation. The Cantor Roof Garden, usually open spring through autumn with sculpture installations and skyline views over Central Park, is currently closed for renovation — check the Met's gallery closures list before you go.
The Cloisters are included, same day. Your ticket covers The Met Cloisters in Fort Tryon Park on the same calendar day — a medieval art museum built from parts of five European cloisters. It's a 30-minute subway ride uptown but worth it. The Unicorn Tapestries are there.
Coat check fills up. The free coat check near the entrance hits capacity on busy days. Use the smaller coat check near the American Wing or carry a light bag.
The Great Hall is not the entrance you want. The main entrance on Fifth Avenue funnels everyone into the Great Hall. The less crowded entrance is at 81st Street (ground level, closer to the Egyptian wing). Members use the 81st Street entrance — follow their lead.
The CityPASS doesn't cover the Met. If you're weighing it against paying single admission, see our NYC CityPASS breakdown — the pass covers Empire State, AMNH, and others, but not the Met, MoMA, or the Guggenheim.
- Tickets
- $30 adults | $22 senior | $17 student | Under 12 free
- Pay what you wish
- NY residents (online or in person) · NY/NJ/CT students (in person only)
- Hours
- Sun, Mon, Tue, Thu 10 AM – 5 PM | Fri–Sat 10 AM – 9 PM | Closed Wed
- Ticket validity
- Same day only (both locations)
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours (highlights) | full day (thorough visit)
- Best time
- Monday/Tuesday morning or Friday evening
- Book at
- official site ($30 entry) · GetYourGuide (guided tour $65)
- Getting there
- 1000 Fifth Ave at 82nd St | 4/5/6 to 86th St, walk west through Central Park
Frequently asked questions
How much are Met Museum tickets in 2026?
Adults $30, seniors (65+) $22, students $17. Under 12 free. NY State residents and NY/NJ/CT students pay what they wish — in person at the admissions desk only. Your ticket covers same-day entry to both The Met Fifth Avenue and The Met Cloisters, for the date printed on it — it's no longer valid across multiple days.
Is the Met Museum free for New York residents?
Effectively yes for NY State residents — pay what you wish online (with a NY State billing address) or in person. NY, NJ, and CT students also pay what they wish, but only in person with a valid student ID, not online.
How long do you need at the Met?
3 to 4 hours for the highlights (European paintings, Egyptian wing, Temple of Dendur, American wing). A thorough visit takes a full day. Pick 3-4 departments and commit.
What are the Met Museum opening hours?
Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday: 10 AM – 5 PM. Friday and Saturday: 10 AM – 9 PM. Closed Wednesdays, plus Thanksgiving, December 25, January 1, and the first Monday in May.
What's the difference between the Met and MoMA?
The Met covers 5,000 years across all cultures. MoMA covers 1880s to now, focused on modern and contemporary. The Met needs a full day. MoMA is doable in 2-3 hours. Full side-by-side breakdown — including the same-day combination route — in Met vs MoMA: which museum to pick.
The Met is the museum where one visit is never enough — budget a full day for Fifth Avenue and treat The Cloisters as its own trip. Start with the Egyptian wing at opening, and don't try to see everything. See how it compares in our best art museums in New York ranking, or check the free museum options — NY residents pay what they wish. Book entry on the official site ($30, same-day entry). Want context for the first 90 minutes? Book a guided highlights tour on GetYourGuide — skip-the-line, 4.4★ (663 reviews).
Last verified: July 2026