How to Visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art-The Adventuring Millennial

*UPDATED SEPTEMBER 2020*

The Met Museum on NYC's fifth Ave (AKA Museum Mile) is one of the most visited museums in the globe. Almost 7.five million people visited the Metropolitan Museum of Fine art's 3 locations in 2018.

This museum is overwhelming, amazing, and down-right unbelievable, actually. If y'all haven't been, think of the Louvre, Vatican Museum, or British Museum. The Met is on the scale of those other impressive international collections.

2020 marked the 150th Ceremony of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Of class, 2020 has also been a year of…a lot of changes. On March thirteen, 2020 the Met airtight its doors due to the pandemic.

At present, more than 5 months later the Met has reopened. On August 29, 2020, the doors reopened with tons of safety measures in identify. But it is still the incredible museum that the city knows and loves.

If you are planning a trip to NYC, you lot won't want to miss a visit to the Met. Even if you've been to the metropolis earlier, there is e'er something new to meet. Plus, with nearly two million pieces in the permanent collection, it would be impossible to cover everything in one visit.

Living in NYC, I am very fortunate to be a member of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I visit the Met often and I know, it can exist a lot to take in. Each time I become I experience something new.

In this post, I will give you some background on this museum and everything you need to know to make the near of your trip in 2020. I've updated this mail to include all of the pandemic-induced changes. If you are considering going to the Met during the pandemic-keep reading! I've been twice so far and will give you lot a full report of what to await during a social distancing trip to the museum.

Oh, and we will even await at some of the best restaurants and other activities in the surrounding area. Because why not make a day of it?

Fix to explore the largest fine art museum in America? Here we go!

Everything You Need to Know Before Planning Your Visit to the Met Museum in 2020

History

In 1870, the New York State Legislature granted the Met permission to comprise and create a museum that would help bring art to the public. Two years later, the museum opened at its original location in the Dodworth Building at 681 Fifth Avenue.

On March thirty, 1880, the drove moved to the location where the museum still stands today. Still, expansions now completely surround the original museum edifice.

The Met'south collection grew substantially throughout the 20th century. Today, y'all tin can meet tens of thousands of the near ii-1000000 piece drove on display during your visit to the two-million-square-foot building.

The Basics

How to Visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art-The Adventuring Millennial

Before we dive any deeper, let'south brand certain we are all on the same page. The Met (a shortened name for the Metropolitan Museum of Art) is the largest art museum in the Us. This museum is the crown jewel of museum mile in New York Urban center. You lot could easily spend days exploring this museum. There are and then many dissimilar exhibits, including Egyptian artifacts, suits of armor, and Van Gogh paintings.

But that brusque description really doesn't even begin to embrace it. The Met actually has two locations: The Met Fifth Avenue (the main location) and The Met Cloisters.

Location

The Met Fifth Artery is located at k 5th Ave New York, New York. You tin can get here by taking the iv, 5, or 6 train to 86th Street and walking west towards 5th Avenue. Or, take the 1 train to 86th Street, and then the M86 crosstown bus across Primal Park to Fifth Artery. Some other option is to take the C railroad train to 81st Street, so the M79 bus across Primal Park to Fifth Artery.

Price

If you lot visited the Met years ago, yous might remember that it used to be a pay-what-you-wish museum. Unfortunately, the museum is now only pay-what-yous-wish for New York residents and students in NJ, NY, and CT.

Otherwise, Met tickets price $25 for adults, $17 for seniors (65+), and $12 for students. Members, patrons, and children under 12 go in for free.

We volition cover this a bit later, but visitors now need to reserve a visiting fourth dimension slot online in advance. You tin can also purchase your tickets online to skip the line at the ticket desk. Or, if you are eligble for pay-what-yous-wish tickets, you lot should reserve your time slot online and pay when yous get in.

Hours

The Met is open:

Th and Friday: 12 pm – 7 pm
Saturday–Monday: 10 am – 5 pm

The Met is closed on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thanksgiving, December 25, January one, and the first Monday in May.

What to Await When Visiting During the Pandemic

How to Visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art-The Adventuring Millennial

Don't worry- this picture is from 2019. But I had to include this picture because it is wild to see now. Also, look at what I originally wrote when I published this blog post in 2019:

"Crowds. Seriously, wait crowds. But don't let that scare you away. This is i of the best museums in the world so plain, you lot are non the simply person who wants to cheque out this place."

Alright, when you visit the Met during the pandemic you don't need to worry about crowds. Instead, you tin wait a socially distanced line outside, temperature checks, masks, hand sanitizing stations everywhere, and a limited number of guests immune in each gallery.

See, this is from 2020. It's way emptier at present!

Hither are the principal things you need to prepare for when visiting the Met during the pandemic:

  • Reserve your time to visit online in accelerate. Head to the website, select the location (either The Met 5th Artery or The Met Cloisters), select the date you want to visit and and so select the time. Yous will then be able to purchase your tickets. If you are a member or authorize for pay-what-you-wish, you should still reserve a time to visit but yous won't pay anything online.
  • Safe measures are enforced. Wear a mask, stay 6ft away from any other guest, and utilize the manus sanitizing stations effectually the museum.
  • Yous will go your temperature taken. Before entering the museum, you will get your temperature taken as a condom precaution.
  • Coat-check isn't available. For at present, coat and bag check isn't available. Then don't bring big bags or anything you lot wouldn't be able to carry with you throughout the museum.
  • Paper maps aren't available. While paper maps aren't bachelor during the pandemic, you can view a digital map here.

When you lot make it, you will see a socially-distanced line outside the iconic stairs that lead up to the entrance. Arrive line and be prepared to show your reservation time on your phone or printed off. You volition get your temperature taken and then enter the museum. If y'all accept a bag, you will demand to wait for handbag inspection. Everyone passes through a metal detector before entering.

Once within the foyer, you will exist greeted by a Met staff member who volition direct y'all where to get if you all the same need to buy tickets. After getting your tickets, it's time to explore. There are three chief gallery entrances, so pick one and have fun.

Summit 10 Can't-Miss Items for a Starting time Visit

How to Visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art-The Adventuring Millennial

If wandering aimlessly in the museum isn't your time, I get information technology. I've already said this, merely the Met is overwhelming. Non in a bad way, but information technology is merely large and difficult to take in.

So, if this is your first visit to the Met, hither are the 10 things you lot shouldn't miss

  1. The Temple of Dendur (Gallery 131)- This authentic Egyptian temple was created in ten BC and gifted to the Met to help preserve the historic ruins.
  2. Washington Crossing the Delaware (Gallery 760)- If yous grew up in America, you likely saw this iconic painting in a history textbook at some point.
  3. Self-Portrait with a Straw Chapeau (Gallery 825)- One of Van Gogh's famous self-portraits.
  4. Madonna with Kid and Enthroned Saints (Gallery 962)- Raphael'southward but altarpiece on display in America.
  5. Human-Headed Winged Lion (Gallery 401) – Also known every bit a lamassu, these sculptures were built in the 9th century BC to guard the palace of the Assyrian king Ashurnasirpal Ii.
  6. The Dance Course (Gallery 899)- I of Edgar Degas'due south about aggressive pieces.
  7. Ugolino and His Sons (Gallery 548)- Sculpture by the French artist Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux that shows his adoration for Michaelangelo's way.
  8. Armor Garniture (Gallery 371)- This armor is said to accept been fabricated for King Henry 8.
  9. Terracotta Panathenaic prize amphora (Gallery 153)- An incredibly well-preserved jar awarded to the winner of a race held in a 6th century BC Panathenaic festival in Athens
  10. Cow'south Skull: Red, White, and Blue (Gallery 899)- Georgia O'Keeffe piece that showcases the New Mexican influences in her fine art.

Rotating Exhibits

In addition to permanent exhibits, the Met oft features temporary exhibitions. Visit the website to see what is currently on display.

Ane of the best rotating exhibits to check out is the new exhibit that opens each year after the Met Gala. The Met Gala is a well-attended fundraiser for the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute. When I say well-attended, I mean yous take to be on the "who's who" A-listing to even be considered for an invite. Shortly after the Met Gala (which takes place in early May), the Costume Institute's annual fashion exhibit opens. Although the 2020 Gala was canceled, the showroom Nigh Fourth dimension will be on display from Oct 29, 2020-February 7, 2021.

Nutrient & Drink Options

Unfortunately, the Met'southward food and drink options are pretty limited during the pandemic. For now, the but option is grab and go from the American Wing Cafe.

The post-obit information is about the remaining dining options that are normally available. Hopefully these return after the pandemic:

The Met has a rooftop garden (and bar). It is easy to miss the rooftop, but if you are hither when it is open up, don't skip it!

I accept an entire blog post dedicated to the Met Rooftop Garden Bar, which you can cheque out for more details. But here is a quick rundown: Take an elevator to the 4th floor so walk up a flying of stairs to the fifth-floor rooftop. Yous can discover an elevator in the European Sculpture and Decoratives Arts showroom. Once y'all are on the rooftop, you tin can savor sweeping views of the Manhattan skyline and Central Park. Plus, at that place is a bar on the rooftop where you tin purchase snacks, wine, and cocktails.

The Met Rooftop Garden Bar is open up frommid–Apr through October onSunday-Thursday from 11:00 am- 4:xxx pm andFriday & Saturday from 11:00 am- 10:00 pm (but you must enter the museum by eight:45 pm).

Y'all could easily spend an entire day exploring the Met, so y'all are probably gonna need to take a suspension for a snack or meal. At that place are ix different dining locations in the Met, but here are the highlights:

  • Footing Floor Deli– No-frills buffet offering a piffling something for anybody.
  • The Bookstore Buffet– Great spot to hash out the art over coffee and a pastry.
  • The Great Hall Balustrade Buffet– Gelato, vino, and pocket-sized plates.
  • The American Fly Café– American fare in a cafe surrounded by American sculptures.
  • Cantor Rooftop Garden Bar– This is the rooftop bar I mentioned earlier. Enjoy wine, cocktails, and pocket-sized bites with a view.

Met Cloisters

How to Visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art-The Adventuring Millennial

The Met Cloisters is a branch of the Met Museum. You can visit this beautiful museum in Fort Tyron Park in Washington Heights.

But like for the Met 5th Avenue, you will demand to reserve a fourth dimension to visit online in advance.

The museum showcases European medieval architecture, sculpture and decorative arts, which are housed in accurate European cloisters. These were dismantled in Europe in the 1900s and sent to NYC to be used for the museum.

The Met Cloisters are located at 99 Margaret Corbin Bulldoze (Fort Tryon Park) New York, NY 10040.

The Met Cloisters are open as of September 12, 2020:

Open Thursday–Monday
Airtight Tuesday and Wed

March–October: ten a.m. – 5 p.chiliad.
November – February: ten a.m. – 4:30 p.1000.

Met Breuer

The Met Breuer was the third branch of the Met Museum. The Met Breuer opened in 2016 and focused on mod and contemporary art. As of 2020, the Met Breuer permanently closed its doors.

Things to Practice Almost the Metropolitan Museum of Art

Subsequently you terminate a visit to the Met, bank check out some of the other great things to do nearby.

Things to Practice Near the Metropolitan Museum of Art (5th Ave):
  • The Frick Collection– Art museum located in the former mansion of Henry Dirt Frick. Reopening in early on 2021.
  • Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum– Art museum housed in the iconic Frank Lloyd Wright edifice. Reopening October 3, 2020.
    Cooper Hewit Smithsonian Blueprint Museum– Pattern museum defended to historical and modern aesthetics. Reopening date not all the same appear.
  • Central Park- The Met rooftop garden overlooks Central Park. Spend some fourth dimension relaxing in the grass, riding a bike, admiring the Alice in Wonderland Statue, or following a self-guided walking tour.
  • Levain Bakery– Soft-brawl sized cookies that are my personal favorite in the city!
  • Variety Coffee– Seriously just the all-time coffee on the Upper East Side!
  • Hutch + Waldo– Australian cafe with some healthy tiffin options.

Are you ready to plan your visit to the Met? I hope these tips helped. This museum is astonishing and shouldn't be missed during a trip to NYC!

If y'all are looking for more than, check out these NYC guides:

How to visit the Loftier Line in 2020

The Best Ice Cream Shops in NYC

twenty Things to exercise on Coney Island

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