5 reasons to visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art

1/ To visit New York’s largest museum

• The Metropolitan Museum of Art is New York’s largest museum. It ranks alongside the Louvre in Paris and the British Museum in London.
• The permanent collection holds more than 2 million objects. A week isn’t enough to see everything. Tip: focus on the periods that interest you most.

2/ To see the outstanding painting collection

• For painting lovers, head to the second floor, rooms 600 and 800. The Met houses a magnificent collection spanning from medieval paintings to American masters.
• Don’t miss the monumental painting of Washington Crossing the Delaware, one of the museum’s masterpieces, painted in 1851 by Emanuel Leutze. You’ll find it in the American Wing, room 760.
• Another treasure: the department dedicated to 19th and 20th century European painting. You’ll encounter major names like Renoir, Degas, Matisse, Monet, and Courbet.

3/ To travel through ancient Egypt

• Like the Louvre in Paris, the Met also features a major permanent exhibition on ancient Egypt. The Egyptian department is located just to the right of the main entrance.
• You’ll see numerous objects from archaeological excavations, particularly jewelry and sculptures.
• The most impressive element is the reconstruction of the Temple of Dendur. Egypt gave this architectural ensemble to the United States in 1968 as thanks for American assistance in preserving antiquities during Nile floods.
• The contrast between the ancient temple and the modern glass architecture alone makes it worth seeing.

4/ To see a piece of Wall Street

• As you wander through the galleries, the Met surprises you with unexpected discoveries, like the medieval art room guarded by imposing wrought-iron gates and tall banners.
• There’s another room I highly recommend: the Charles Engelhard Court on the first floor in the American Wing (room 700). Under a vast glass ceiling, you’ll see an impressive neoclassical facade facing you. It’s actually the facade of the Branch Bank of the United States, a bank that opened on Wall Street in 1825.
• In the center of this luminous courtyard, you can stroll through a beautiful sculpture garden. Stop in front of the statue of the goddess Diana, one of the museum’s most photogenic sculptures.

5/ To enjoy the view from the rooftop

• Even if museums aren’t your thing, there’s still a great reason to visit the Met. The museum has a wonderful rooftop terrace, the Cantor Roof Garden, with panoramic views of Central Park and the Midtown skyline.
• The rooftop regularly hosts sculpture exhibitions—a different way to experience art. From May through October, you can also grab a drink at the Cantor Roof Garden Bar.
• To reach the rooftop, head through the Greek and Roman antiquities department to room 161. Turn right and walk through the African art department. You’ll find an elevator that takes you directly to the rooftop on the fifth floor.

Practical information

• Address: 1000 5th Avenue, across from East 82nd Street, New York.
• Subway: 86 St.
• Hours: The Metropolitan Museum of Art is open Sunday through Thursday from 10 am to 5:30 pm, Friday and Saturday from 10 am to 9 pm.
• Tip: Book a guided tour of the Metropolitan Museum. Our guides are certified by the city of New York. The 2.5-hour tour covers the highlights you shouldn’t miss. After the tour, you’re welcome to stay in the museum as long as you’d like.