Metropolitan Museum of Art 🇺🇸

Welcome to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, affectionately known as the Met, an encyclopedic institution located along Manhattan's Museum Mile on the eastern edge of Central Park. Founded in 1870, this iconic destination is the largest art museum in the Americas, housing a staggering collection of 1.5 million works across 17 specialized curatorial departments. You will find that visiting offers an unprecedented journey through human creativity, spanning from ancient civilizations to the contemporary world.

As you explore its expansive main building on Fifth Avenue, you can marvel at ancient Near Eastern artifacts like the monumental stone lamassu guardian figures, classical antiquities, and European Old Master paintings. You will also discover extensive holdings of American, modern, Asian, African, Oceanian, Byzantine, and Islamic art. Make sure to stroll through the Astor Court, a serene Ming Dynasty-style garden court, or step inside remarkable period rooms ranging from first-century Rome to modern American design.

Beyond the main Fifth Avenue site, you can extend your journey by visiting The Cloisters at Fort Tryon Park, which showcases medieval European art and architecture. Whether you are admiring antique armor, musical instruments, or historic textiles, the Met provides an inspiring, world-class experience for every art enthusiast.

What to see at Metropolitan Museum of Art

• Monumental stone lamassu guardian figures from the Northwest Palace of King Ashurnasirpal II
• The Michael C. Rockefeller Wing showcasing arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas
• The Astor Court, a Ming Dynasty-style garden court modeled after a Suzhou courtyard
• Historic period rooms ranging from 1st-century Rome to modern American design
• Collections of musical instruments, costumes, decorative arts, and antique weapons and armor

Visiting tips

Consider extending your visit to the museum's second location, The Cloisters at Fort Tryon Park in Upper Manhattan, to explore its extensive collection of medieval European art and architecture.

How long: Full day · Best time: Flexible

How to get there & what’s nearby

Metropolitan Museum of Art is easy to reach on New York City’s public transport, and pairs naturally with Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island and Central Park & the Met. For where to stay, the weather and full itineraries, see our New York City travel guide.