Metropolitan Museum of Art Tickets and Discounts

Updated: 8 marzo 2024

This post provides details about how to get skip-the-line tickets for the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the best ways to save money on admission

The Metropolitan Museum of Art is one of the most popular museums in the world.

And they have a massive collection of over 2 million works of art. (See our post on highlights of the Met collection).

They currently have two museums in New York City including their main site on Fifth Avenue and the Met Cloisters.

All tickets can be used for admission to both locations on the same day.

Your ticket will also grant you access to tours offered by the museum.

Even if you can’t manage to sign up for this tour, there are many other tours available at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

The following opening hours are active as of March 2024:

  • 10 am - 5 pm | Sunday - Tuesday, Thursday
  • 10 am - 9 pm | Friday and Saturday
  • The museum is closed on Wednesday
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Tickets

No matter how you buy them, you must reserve tickets to the Metropolitan Museum of Art online. 

Timed tickets are now required to enter the museum. 

Here are the prices for skip-the-line tickets. Check our discounts section for more details on how to save money on admission.

  • $30/Adults
  • $22/Seniors
  • $17/Students
  • Free for Kids Under 12
  • Free cancellation with 24-hour notice

Purchase skip-the-line tickets to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.


12 Discounts

This section covers the best opportunities to save money on tickets to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. 

We include information about common discounts that are not currently available at this location.

NOTE: Although the Met used to offer pay-what-you-wish admission to all visitors year-round, they can no longer provide this option to everyone. 

Only New York State residents and students in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut can pay whatever they want for admission. Check our discounts section for more details.


1. Use a Tourist Pass

This was one of the easiest ways to get a good deal on tickets to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, especially if you’re planning to visit more than one major attraction in New York City.

Every major tourist pass used to include admission to the Met and depending on how you use them, you could easily save 50% off or more.

Here are a few more attractions you might want to visit that are commonly included with New York tourist passes:

  • Empire State Building
  • One World Observatory
  • Edge Observatory
  • Top of the Rock
  • Statue of Liberty
  • Madame Tussauds
  • Museum of Modern Art
  • American Museum of Natural History
  • Central Park Bike Tour/Rental
  • Ripley’s Believe it or Not!
  • And more!

If you plan to visit at least 4-5 of these attractions, a tourist pass will almost certainly save you some money on general admission prices.

Tourist Passes that used to include admission to the Met 

  • Explorer Pass – Choose between 3, 5, 7, or 10 different attractions in NYC.
  • Sightseeing Pass – You can choose from choosing a 1, 2, 3, 5, or 7-day pass.
  • FlexPass offers the option to purchase 2, 3, 5, 7, or 10 attractions.
  • CityPASS – See six different sites – including the Met – over the course of 9 days!
  • New York Pass – Gain access to 80 popular attractions for anywhere from one day to an entire week!

For more detailed information on these passes, see our comparison of New York City Attraction Passes.


2. Pay-What-You-Want Admission for Locals

New York State residents and students in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut can pay whatever they want for admission to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

You will still need to make reservations online, and you’ll be required to present a valid ID at the admissions desk. 

This means you won’t be able to skip the ticket line, but at least you can pay whatever you want!

For more opportunities to get in without paying a dime, check our post covering 5 ways to visit the Met for free!


3. Free for Children

Kids under the age of 12 are always granted free admission to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. 

Anyone over this age must pay for admission, but if you’re coming with your family, this is one of the easiest ways to save money on tickets.

Check our post covering how to get in the Met for free if you're looking for more opportunities to avoid paying for admission.


4. Become a Member

If you purchase a membership for the Metropolitan Museum of Art, you’ll be granted free admission to the museum for you and 1-4 additional guests.

Membership starts at $110 a year, so it’s actually worth it if you’re planning to visit multiple times. 

Considering how much there is to see at this museum, it’s pretty easy to go several times and always see something new.

Museum members also get private access to exhibitions outside of public hours, as well as discounts at the museum store and restaurants.

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5. Senior Discount

Seniors only have to pay $22 for skip-the-line tickets, which is a discount of $8 off the general admission price. 

If you’re over the age of 65, this is a great way to save money on tickets.


6. Student Discount

If you’re a student at any American or international school, university, or college, you’re eligible for the student ticket price of $17

This is $13 off the general admission price, which is over 50% off.

Although students at any school around the world can get the student discount, anyone attending the following institutions is eligible for free admission:

  • Barnard College
  • Columbia University
  • Bard Graduate Center
  • NYU Institute of Fine Arts
  • Macaulay Honors College – CUNY
  • New York City High School students
  • NYU Institute for the Study of the Ancient World

7. Use a Discount Site

Tickets for the Metropolitan Museum of Art have been included on websites such as Groupon and LivingSocial in the past, and they may be included again in the future. 

Both of these sites routinely offer additional coupon codes on local activities which could save you an extra 10% - 20% off admission.


8. Military Discount

The Metropolitan Museum of Art is a Blue Star Museum, which means all members of the military are granted free admission for themselves and up to 5 family members from the middle of May to Labor Day.

All you have to do is present a valid military ID to receive free admission.

In addition to this option, they also allow members of the military, veterans, and first responders in New York to pay-what-they-wish.

In other words, even if you can't take advantage of the Blue Star Museum service, you can still save a lot of money on tickets to the Met.

You can learn more about this option and similar opportunities on our post covering how to get free admission to the Met.


9. Bank of America Member Discount

If you have a bank account with Bank of America, you can use your card to get free admission on the first full weekend of every month as part of their Museums On Us program.

For even more opportunities to get in without paying a dime, check our post about how to get into the Met for free!


10. Group Discounts

Group prices are not currently available from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, but that may change in the coming years. 

If you’re planning to visit with at least 10 other people, check their site for more information.


11. Free Days/Nights

The Metropolitan Museum of Art takes part in two annual programs which offer free admission.

The first program is called the Museum Mile Festival. This event is held in June, and they offer free evening admission along with other museums on Fifth Avenue during this festival.

The second program is Teens Take The Met, in which case teenagers between the age of 13-18 are granted free admission.

We cover these options and many others in greater detail in our post providing details about 5 ways to get into the Met for free.


12. AAA Discount

Although AAA typically offers their customers a lot of discounts at popular attractions across the world, they are not currently offering any deals on tickets for the Metropolitan Museum of Art.


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About The Author

Stephen Pickhardt

Stephen is the CEO of Free Tours by Foot and has overseen the transformation of a local walking tour company into a global tour community and traveler’s advice platform. He has personally led thousands of group tours in the US and Europe, and is an expert in trip planning and sightseeing, with a focus on budget travelers. Stephen has been published and featured in dozens of publications including The Wall Street Journal, BBC, Yahoo, Washington.org, and more.
Updated: marzo 8th, 2024
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