MoMA or The Met – Which art museum should you visit?

New York’s finest art museums, MoMA and The Met, are packed with world-renowned masterpieces. Whether you're into modern art or classical works, both museums offer unforgettable experiences. Pre-book your tickets to make the most of your visit and skip the lines.

New York City is home to two of the world’s greatest art museums—MoMA and The MET. But which one should you visit? Let’s break it down. First up, MoMA, or the Museum of Modern Art. Located in the heart of Midtown Manhattan, MoMA is the go-to spot for fans of modern and contemporary art. Its sleek, minimalist design perfectly reflects its focus on innovation. You’ll find iconic works here, from Van Gogh’s Starry Night to Picasso, Warhol, and beyond. If you’re passionate about modern art, this is the place to be. On the other hand, we have The MET—The Metropolitan Museum of Art—on Fifth Avenue. Did you know it’s the largest art museum in the U.S.? Yes, with over 2 million square feet of gallery space, The MET spans 5,000 years of history, showcasing everything from ancient Egyptian artifacts to classic European masterpieces. Here, you’ll get lost in art from every era and every corner of the world. Now, let’s talk about the buildings. Wondering what it’ll look like? MoMA’s modernist design fits right into the bustling cityscape, while The MET is a grand, classical building that feels almost like a museum itself. And here’s a fun fact: The MET has even been featured in films like Hitch and Gossip Girl. It’s also home to the famous Met Gala every year. Outdoor spaces? Well, both offer beautiful outdoor spots too. While MoMA has a lovely sculpture garden, The MET boasts a stunning rooftop garden. MoMA’s sculpture garden is often called the museum’s ‘roofless room,’ where exhibitions and performances happen year-round. Whereas The MET’s garden offers breathtaking views of Central Park. It even has a Martini Bar open on weekends—perfect for relaxing after your art-filled day. What about tickets and timing? MoMA’s adult tickets start at $30, and it’s open daily from 10.30 am to 5.30 pm, with extended hours until 9 pm on Thursdays and Saturdays during the summer. The MET, on the other hand, offers guided tours starting at $69. It opens at 10 am and stays open until 9 pm on Fridays and Saturdays. Generally, The MET offers longer hours, especially on weekends. Both museums tend to get busy by noon, but because MoMA is smaller, it often feels more crowded. If you’re short on time, MoMA is a great choice—you can explore it fully in about three hours. The MET, though, can easily take five hours or more, so it’s perfect if you have more time to spare. So, which museum is better? It depends on your time and interests. If you’re a fan of modern art, photography, and contemporary works, MoMA should be at the top of your list. But if you prefer variety—seeing everything from ancient artifacts to old European masters—The MET offers a more comprehensive experience. Ultimately, there’s no wrong choice—both MoMA and The MET are world-class museums. The best one for you depends on what you want to explore. And hey, they’re just 2 miles apart, so why not visit both? Enjoy the video, and make sure to subscribe to this channel for more content like this!

New York City boasts two iconic art museums—the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and The Metropolitan Museum of Art (MET).

While both offer incredible collections, they cater to different tastes.

MoMA focuses on modern and contemporary art, perfect for fans of innovation and new ideas.

The MET, on the other hand, covers thousands of years of history, featuring everything from ancient artifacts to classic European art.

If you’re short on time or unsure which suits you best, this guide will help you choose the ideal museum for your visit.

Top Tickets

# MoMA entry ticket
# Metropolitan Museum Guided tour

It’s highly recommended to book your MoMA and MET tickets in advance. These tickets sell out quickly, so securing your spot early ensures you don’t miss out on this unforgettable experience.

Key takeaways

MoMA focuses on modern and contemporary art, showcasing works by Van Gogh, Picasso, and Warhol. In contrast, The MET spans 5,000 years of art, from ancient artifacts to European masterpieces

MoMA is smaller and can be explored in about three hours. The MET is much larger, requiring at least five hours to appreciate its extensive collection

The MET’s grand Beaux-Arts building contrasts with MoMA’s sleek, modern design, reflecting their respective art focuses. The MET also hosts the annual Met Gala

MoMA has a year-round sculpture garden, while The MET features a rooftop garden with seasonal exhibitions and stunning views of Central Park

MoMA is more affordable, with tickets starting at $30, while The MET’s guided tour costs $69. MoMA offers flexible hours, and The MET stays open longer on weekends

When MoMA’s modernist home opened in 1939, President Franklin D. Roosevelt gave a radio address to celebrate with a crowd of 6,000 people in attendance.

What’s ahead

Is MoMA the same as The MET?

No, MoMA and The MET are two completely different experiences. MoMA, or the Museum of Modern Art, is located in Midtown Manhattan and is all about modern and contemporary art. It’s the go-to for fans of artists like Van Gogh, Picasso, and Warhol, showcasing works that revolutionized the art world. In contrast, The MET, or the Metropolitan Museum of Art, is the largest art museum in the United States. Spanning 5,000 years, from ancient Egyptian artifacts to classic European paintings and American decorative arts, The MET offers a deep dive into art from every era and corner of the world.

Distance between MoMA and The MET

MoMA and The MET are just 2 miles (3.2 km) apart, making it easy to visit both in a day.

After exploring one, you can take a scenic 35-minute walk through Central Park to reach the other.

Unfortunately, there are no combined tickets for both museums, so you’ll need to buy separate tickets for each art museum.


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The MET and the MoMA

The Metropolitan Museum of Art (MET) and the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) are two of New York City’s premier museums.

With limited time, many visitors have to decide which one to visit based on personal preferences.

While it’s difficult to say which is truly better, we can break them down by a few key factors to help you choose.

Let’s now compare The MET and MoMA in terms of their buildings, Modern Art collections, overall art collections, outdoor spaces, opening hours, locations, and ticket prices.

The Buildings

Moma Building in ManhattanPin
Image: Britannica.com

The buildings themselves best symbolize the difference between The MET and MoMA.

The MET Fifth Avenue is a grand, Beaux-Arts-style masterpiece with classical architecture, sweeping staircases, towering columns, and expansive galleries.

It’s a huge museum, spanning over 2 million square feet, making it one of the largest art museums in the world.

The Met Museum in New YorkPin
Art lovers hang around the entrance of The Met.

MoMA, located in Midtown Manhattan, integrates seamlessly into the urban landscape.

Its sleek, minimalist design reflects its focus on modern and contemporary art.

While it’s smaller than The MET, MoMA still offers an impressive 630,000 square feet of gallery space.

The MET’s building, which opened in 1880, is also a popular backdrop for movies and TV shows like Hitch and Gossip Girl.

And, of course, it’s home to the famous Met Gala, the “Superbowl of Fashion,” held every year on the first Monday in May.

During World War II, MoMA secretly evacuated some of its most prized pieces, including works by Picasso, Matisse, and Dalí, to safe locations across North America. This was a precaution against possible bombings in New York City.


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Modern Art Collection

MoMA is dedicated exclusively to modern and contemporary art, making it one of the most important institutions in the world for these genres. If you’re a fan of Modern Art, MoMA must be your priority.

It boasts extensive masterpieces from the late 19th century to the present, including works by Van Gogh, Picasso, Warhol, and Monet’s “Water Lilies.”

While The MET’s primary focus is on a broad range of art spanning 5,000 years, it also has a significant collection of modern and contemporary art pieces.

The MET’s modern art collection includes works by renowned artists such as Jackson Pollock, Georgia O’Keeffe, and Jasper Johns.

In 1959, tragedy struck during air conditioner installation in MoMA—a fire broke out, killing a worker and destroying Monet’s iconic 18-foot-long Water Lilies. The triptych you see today is a replacement of the original.

Overall Art Collection

When it comes to variety, The MET really shines.

While MoMA focuses solely on modern and contemporary art, The MET covers almost every era and art form imaginable.

In addition to modern works, The MET houses everything from ancient Egyptian temples and medieval armor to European paintings, decorative arts, an exceptional armor gallery, furniture, decorative arts, ancient musical instruments, and sculptures from all over the world.

If you’re seeking a broad spectrum of artistic exposure, The MET is your go-to. It offers a deep dive into art across centuries, cultures, and mediums, making it the perfect choice for those wanting to explore a well-rounded art experience.

Price of entry tickets

At MoMA, you can book a self-guided tour ticket with the following pricing:

Adult ticket (17 to 64 years): $30
Seniors ticket (64+ years): $22
Student ticket (with valid ID): $17
Child ticket (up to 16 years): Free entry

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For The MET, booking the Best of the Metropolitan Museum Guided Tour in advance is best. The cost is as follows:

Adult ticket (15+ years): $69
Seniors ticket (65+ years): $59
Child ticket (up to 1 year): Free entry

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In 1979, a 23-pound marble sculpture of the Greek god Hermes was stolen from the MET museum. Strangely, when the statue was recovered, a heart had been carved into its face. This and other bizarre tales of art theft are detailed in Stealing the Show, written by former MET security chief, John Barelli.

Outdoor Space

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Sculpture Garden at MOMA. Image: Moma.org

Outdoor space is an essential aspect of Manhattan buildings, and both MoMA and The MET offer beautiful spots to enjoy some fresh air amidst the art.

MoMA is known for its sculpture garden, which is open throughout the year regardless of the weather.

It is often called the museum’s “roofless room” and hosts many interesting exhibitions, performances, and even occasional protests.

MoMA is open from 11 am to 4.15 pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays. On Fridays and Saturdays, it stays open from 11 am to 4 pm and reopens for an evening session from 5 pm to 8.30 pm. Also, remember that MoMA remains closed on Wednesdays.

The first plan for MoMA’s famous Sculpture Garden was sketched out in just one night! The current version, dedicated to Abby Aldrich Rockefeller, was designed in 1953 and remains a beloved feature of the museum.

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Cantor Roof Garden at Met Museum. Metmuseum.org

The MET Museum boasts a stunning rooftop garden with rotating art exhibits.

The real treat here is its mesmerizing view of Central Park—it’s the perfect spot to take in both art and nature.

The rooftop also has a Martini Bar open on Fridays and Saturdays, though it’s only accessible during warmer months.

Opening Hours

Timing can be a big factor when deciding between MoMA and The MET.

MoMA is open daily from 10.30 am to 5.30 pm, extending to 7 pm on Saturdays. During the summer, it stays open until 9 pm on Thursdays and Saturdays, offering more flexible hours than The MET.

The MET opens at 10 am every day except Wednesday when it is closed.

It closes at 5 pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays but stays open late until 9 pm on Fridays and Saturdays. So, except for the summer, The MET generally offers longer hours than MoMA.

It’s a good idea to visit either museum in the morning since they tend to get crowded by noon. MoMA, being smaller, often feels busier than The MET.

Day of the weekThe MetMoMA
Monday10 am to 5 pm10.30 am to 5.30 pm
Tuesday10 am to 5 pm10.30 am to 5.30 pm
WednesdayClosed10.30 am to 5.30 pm
Thursday10 am to 5 pm10.30 am to 9 pm
Friday10 am to 9 pm10.30 am to 5.30 pm
Saturday10 am to 9 pm10.30 am to 9 pm
Sunday10 am to 5 pm10.30 am to 5.30 pm

Number of Locations

In addition to The Met Fifth Avenue, the museum extends to The Met Cloisters, which is dedicated to medieval European art and architecture.

There used to be a third location, The Met Breuer, which focused on modern and contemporary art, but it closed in 2020, and its collection was integrated into the other MET places.

On the other hand, MoMA is housed entirely in a single location in Midtown Manhattan.

MET Museum or MoMA – Which is Better?

After comparing them on various parameters, you may realize that MoMA and The Met are like chalk and cheese.

While there isn’t a definitive factor making one better than the other, the better choice for you depends on your interests.

Depending on your area of interest

MoMA is a hub of modern art, focusing on photography, architecture, and works by modern artists.

If your interest lies exclusively in modern artworks (post-1900) and you are not concerned with other elements of art, MoMA is the best choice for you.

On the other hand, the Met features both modern artistry and ancient pieces from old masters and antiquities of times immemorial.

While it includes a small collection of contemporary artworks, it doesn’t emphasize them as much as MoMA does.

If you prefer a variety of exhibits rather than just Modern Art, The Met is the place for you.

Depending on how much time you have

MoMA is smaller in size and takes around three hours to explore fully. In contrast, The Met is massive and can easily keep you engaged for five hours or more.

MoMA is a great choice if you are short on time but still want the satisfaction of visiting an art museum in New York.

You can always save The Met for your next visit when you have more time to explore its extensive collection.

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Researched & written by
Jamshed is a versatile traveler, equally drawn to the vibrant energy of city escapes and the peaceful solitude of remote getaways. On some trips, he indulges in resort hopping, while on others, he spends little time in his accommodation, fully immersing himself in the destination. A passionate foodie, Jamshed delights in exploring local cuisines, with a particular love for flavorful non-vegetarian dishes. Favourite Cities: Amsterdam, Las Vegas, Dublin, Prague, Vienna

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