New York's encyclopedic art museum holds over two million works spanning 5,000 years including Egyptian mummies, Greek temples, Van Gogh, Vermeer, and the largest collection of American paintings anywhere.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art at 1000 Fifth Avenue in New York City is the largest art museum in the Western Hemisphere and one of the great encyclopedic museums of the world, housing a permanent collection of over two million works spanning 5,000 years of human creativity across every continent and culture. Founded in 1870 by a group of American businessmen, civic leaders, and artists who wished to bring art and art education to the American public, the Met occupies a monumental building fronting Central Park that has grown through successive additions to encompass more than two million square feet of gallery and storage space.
The collection's breadth rivals the great European national museums. The American Wing presents the most comprehensive survey of American painting, decorative arts, and sculpture from the colonial period to the early 20th century, including period rooms transplanted in their entirety from significant American buildings. The Egyptian Art department holds 26,000 objects including the Temple of Dendur, a complete first-century BCE Nubian temple gifted by the Egyptian government in 1965 and reassembled in a purpose-built glass-enclosed gallery. The Greek and Roman galleries trace classical civilization from Cycladic figurines through the height of the Roman Empire with exceptional marble sculpture, bronze vessels, and painted wall sections from the Roman cities buried by Vesuvius.
European paintings occupy multiple floors and include acknowledged masterpieces: Vermeer's Young Woman with a Water Pitcher, Rembrandt's Aristotle Contemplating the Bust of Homer, Caravaggio's The Denial of Saint Peter, and an exceptional group of works by Velazquez. The Impressionist and Post-Impressionist galleries hold Van Gogh's Wheat Field with Cypresses, Monet's water lily paintings, Cezanne's Card Players, and Seurat's pointillist studies — holdings comparable to the great Paris collections. The Islamic Art galleries, Asian Art collections, and Arms and Armor halls further demonstrate the institution's encyclopedic scope.
The Met also operates The Met Cloisters in upper Manhattan, a separate museum incorporating original architectural elements from five French medieval cloisters and focused on medieval European art and architecture. The main building's rooftop garden, open seasonally, offers views across Central Park.
Location
1000 5th Ave, New York, NY 10028
Highlights
- Temple of Dendur, a complete first-century BCE Nubian temple displayed in a glass-enclosed gallery
- American Wing with period rooms and the most comprehensive collection of American paintings in any single museum
- Rembrandt's Aristotle Contemplating the Bust of Homer and Vermeer's Young Woman with a Water Pitcher in the European galleries
- Van Gogh's Wheat Field with Cypresses and Monet's water lily paintings in the Impressionist galleries
- Greek and Roman galleries including painted wall sections from Roman Pompeii and Herculaneum
Tips for visiting
- Friday and Saturday evenings until 9 PM offer significantly smaller crowds than weekend afternoons; the rooftop garden (open May–October) is best enjoyed on a Friday evening
- New York State residents and students may pay what they wish for admission — bring proof of residency or current enrollment
- Collect a free gallery map at the Great Hall entrance; the museum is large enough to disorient without a plan; focus on two or three departments per visit for the most rewarding experience
- The Temple of Dendur gallery is least crowded in the first 45 minutes after opening at 10 AM; arrive early for the best viewing of this space
- Free docent-led tours depart multiple times daily from the Great Hall; the one-hour highlights tour is recommended for first-time visitors and covers the most celebrated works across departments
- The American Wing courtyard cafe and the seasonal rooftop garden offer welcome breaks without leaving the museum's controlled environment
Accessibility
The Metropolitan Museum of Art provides ADA-compliant access via the ground-level entrance on Fifth Avenue and elevators serving all floors. Free wheelchairs are available at the first-floor coat check on a first-come, first-served basis; advance arrangements for accessibility services including audio description tours and sign-language-interpreted programs are available through the museum's access services office.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a full visit take?
The Met's full collection requires multiple days to explore. A focused visit to two or three departments takes 2–3 hours. Most visitors spend 3–5 hours; those with specific collecting interests often return on multiple occasions.
Is the museum accessible for visitors with mobility limitations?
The Met is ADA-compliant with accessible entrances on Fifth Avenue and 81st Street, elevators throughout, and accessible restrooms on every floor. Free wheelchairs are available at the ground-level coat check. The museum publishes a detailed accessibility guide and offers advance-arranged accommodations.
Can visitors photograph the collection?
Personal photography without flash is permitted in most of the permanent collection galleries. Some loan exhibitions prohibit photography; policy signs are posted at gallery entrances. Photography for non-commercial personal use is generally unrestricted in the permanent collection.
Is an audio guide available for the permanent collection?
The Met offers a multimedia guide available through the museum's smartphone app at no additional charge, covering hundreds of highlights across the permanent collection. Self-guided and docent-led tours are both available throughout regular opening hours.