The Metropolitan Museum of Art
America's largest art museum, spanning 5,000 years on Fifth Avenue, from Egyptian temples to the rooftop bar.
Example
A workable first visit is three hours and three wings: the Temple of Dendur, the European paintings galleries and the American Wing courtyard.
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Related terms
Museums
The Met Cloisters
The Met's medieval branch in Fort Tryon Park, assembled from European monastery fragments above the Hudson.
Museums
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
Frank Lloyd Wright's spiral masterpiece on Fifth Avenue, a building that competes with the art inside it.
Parks
Central Park
The 843-acre engineered wilderness at Manhattan's heart, designed by Olmsted and Vaux in 1858.
Museums
Museum of Modern Art
The Midtown museum holding Starry Night, Les Demoiselles d'Avignon and the definitive modern art collection.
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Frequently asked questions
How much time do I need at the Met?
Three hours for a satisfying first pass of two or three wings. A full day still leaves most of it unseen, plan a return instead.
What are the unmissable rooms for a first visit?
Temple of Dendur, the European paintings galleries and the American Wing courtyard. Add the roof in warm months.
Is the Met worth it with restless kids?
Yes with a short plan. Arms and armor, the Egyptian wing and the roof in warm months hold attention, and two hours is a realistic ceiling before the park.
