Point your phone at any painting or sculpture in the Met and hear a description instantly. Start with 50 free scans across any museum, then get a Day Pass or Weekly Pass for unlimited access at hundreds of museums worldwide.
Open ArtGuide in your browser before you enter. It's a web app, no download needed, just a phone with an internet connection. The Met has free wifi throughout the building, so you can connect on arrival if you'd rather not use mobile data.
Point at any artwork across the Met's 5,000 years of collection. Personal photography without flash is allowed in most galleries, so you can scan freely as you go. Some special exhibitions prohibit photography — look for signage at the gallery entrance, and type the artwork name into ArtGuide's search instead if needed.
Choose from 9 languages, and pick the narration style that suits you: a high-level overview, an in-depth story, or a quick artist bio.
Official Met App
Free · fixed highlights route · download required · English-primary · no other museums
Third-Party Apps
Free–paid · fixed route · often English only · limited elsewhere
ArtGuide
50 free scans then €4.90 · any artwork · 9 languages · hundreds of museums worldwide
ArtGuide describes whatever artwork you're standing in front of, not a preset path. Try it free: 50 scans, no card required.
Start free trialSunday through Thursday, 10:00 AM–5:00 PM. Friday and Saturday, 10:00 AM–9:00 PM. Verify hours on the Met's official site before visiting, as holiday schedules and closure days can change.
Adults $30, seniors (65+) $22, students $17, children under 12 free. New York State residents and NY/NJ/CT students pay what they wish. Your ticket includes same-day entry to both The Met Fifth Avenue and The Met Cloisters. Verify current prices at the Met's official site before visiting.
Weekday mornings are the quietest. Friday and Saturday evenings, open until 9 PM, draw fewer visitors than Saturday afternoons. The Met is very large, so arriving early gives you the best chance of moving through galleries before crowds build.
A highlights-only visit covering the Egyptian wing, European paintings, and Arms and Armor takes 2–3 hours. To explore more broadly, plan for 4–5 hours. The full museum spans 17 curatorial departments; a single day is not enough to see everything.
The Temple of Dendur sits in the Egyptian wing on the ground floor, north side, and is one of the most photographed spaces in the museum. European paintings span the first and second floors on the south side. Arms and Armor is on the ground floor, central. The rooftop sculpture garden is open seasonally, May through October.
Personal photography without flash is allowed in most permanent galleries. Some special exhibitions prohibit photography — check signage at each gallery entrance. Tripods and selfie sticks are not permitted. Large bags must be carried at your side or checked at coat check, which is free.
