This huge museum in New York city is known simply as ‘the Met’ and you can easily spend most of the day in here. Don’t let the ‘art’ bit put you off as we’d describe it more as a museum of life. It’s packed with historical artefacts which tell the story of human development.
Everything in this museum is on a grand scale. This starts with the building itself which looks like a stately home from the outside. It’s been extended and re-modelled over the years and has several huge light-filled atriums, grand staircases and exhibition halls. The museum galleries are linked by the central hall at the main entrance. From here you can enter the various collections from around the world. They include Egyptian Art, Asian Art, Islamic Art, European Sculptures, Greek & Roman Art and African Art. There are also paintings, photographs, musical instruments, a modern art section and arms & armour on display.
One of the stand-out exhibits for us was the Temple of Dendur (pictured above) which originally stood in Nubia but was relocated when it became in danger of flooding. It was given to the USA by the Egyptian authorities and has been at the Met since 1978. It’s an incredible thing to be able to see so closely. The American Wing includes the incredible house frontage pictured below. Surrounding it are all kinds of exhibits from American history and a small cafe in the atrium too. There’s a section on Native American art too.
There are several cafes around the museum where you can stop for a drink or snack. One of the nicest is in the American Wing where you sip your coffee next to ancient American sculptures and exhibits! The Met is so big that you can actually miss bits without realising. Before you leave, check the map that you get when arriving to be sure you’ve seen everything.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art is open from 10am to 5pm on Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays & Thursdays and 10am to 9pm on Friday and Saturday. The museum is closed on Wednesdays. Adult admission is $30 (2025 prices).
LOCATION & CONTACT
Address: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 5th Ave, New York, NY 10028, USA
Tel: +1 212 535 7710
MORE ON THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART
The Met – Official Website
The Met – Wikipedia
Where To Stay In New York – Booking.com