The view from the Metropolitan Museum rooftop in New York
The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York features a rooftop terrace offering stunning views of the city. Here's how to get there.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York is far more than an extraordinary collection of over 2 million artworks spanning every era and culture. The Met also features a stunning rooftop. New York’s largest museum has a terrace on its roof, open during regular museum hours at no extra cost.
This expansive terrace, called the Cantor Roof Garden, overlooks Central Park directly and offers a unique, unobstructed view of Midtown’s skyline. You’ll see the massive 432 Park Avenue tower dominating the landscape, the twin towers of the Time Warner Center, and the neatly aligned towers of the Upper West Side.
Don’t leave the Met without visiting the rooftop.
I recommend heading to the Cantor Roof Garden in the morning for sunlight on the skyline and Central Park, or in late afternoon to catch the sunset.
How do you reach the Met’s rooftop? Here’s the way:
- From the main entrance hall, head left and walk through the Greek and Roman antiquities galleries to room 161.
- In room 161, turn right and cross through the African art galleries.
- At the far end, you’ll find an elevator.
- Press button “5”—the rooftop is on the fifth floor.
I strongly recommend this rooftop visit. Since access isn’t immediately obvious, crowds are rare, and you’ll have New York largely to yourself. The Cantor Roof Garden regularly hosts temporary art exhibitions worth seeing. There’s also a café serving drinks and sandwiches for a quick bite. In short, don’t miss the museum’s roof.
The Met’s rooftop hosts art exhibitions. (Photo Didier Forray)
Visiting the Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Address: 1000 5th Avenue, across from East 82nd Street.
- Subway: 86 St.
- Hours: Sunday to Thursday, 10 am to 5:30 pm; Friday and Saturday, 10 am to 9 pm.