The Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Metropolitan Museum of Art aka the Met is the third largest art museum in the world & home to nearly 2 million works of art from the ancient Egyptians to Modern Art. Those on a budget trip to New York will undoubtedly have come across ways to pick up Cheap Tickets for Broadway but did you know there are plenty of ways to keep the costs down on a visit to the Met? Follow our guide to the Metropolitan Museum of Art for more information to help you save both time & money.
The Met; Suggested Donations for NY and NJ Residents
Whilst suggested admission prices are displayed by ticket kiosks, you are free to pay as much or as little as you wish at the Met if you reside in NY or NJ! To secure state funding the Met is under an obligation to SUGGEST rather than stipulate entrance charges so simply let the staff know at the ticket booths how much you are willing to pay. We tried this out on our recent trip to the Met. Granted, it wasn’t the most comfortable feeling standing in line trying to work out how much we were willing to pay but I have to say I couldn’t detect even the slightest flicker of disapproval when we offered less than the suggest admission price.
The Met; Tips & Tricks
1. There is a free cloakroom for coats & over-sized articles but the line is notoriously long so avoid taking excess baggage with you if you can.
2. Take advantage of the FREE guided highlight tours that run regularly throughout the day. Ask at the Information Desk for further information; all tours start from the Great Hall & no pre-booking is required.
3. We found an excellent level of interpretation of the works of art throughout the museum with plenty of information on the wall beside each painting. Whilst audio guides are available, (small charge), I personally did not find this an essential purchase during our visit.
Top Tip; enjoy a FREE trip on the Staten Island Ferry for great views of New York that won’t break the bank!
More Tips & Tricks
4. Whilst food & drink is not allowed into the Met for obvious reasons, water in plastic bottles can be brought into the Museum. This could be particularly useful for younger families.
5. For a wide range of food on a budget, head to the cafeteria on the ground floor, (the basement for us Brits). One handy tip to be aware of is that FREE ice water is readily available once you are through to the dining area.
6. The Met is now open 7 days a week, (except Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day).
