New York Know
Choose The Met for art across cultures and historical periods; choose MoMA for modern and contemporary art. If both appeal, your available day, children’s ages and the rest of your Manhattan itinerary can make the decision easier.
The Met pairs naturally with Central Park and the Upper East Side. MoMA fits a Midtown day. Neither needs to become an all-day checklist: choose the departments or works you most want to see and leave room to linger.
Compare The Practical Differences
Regular admission and hours below were checked against The Met’s visitor information and MoMA’s visitor information on September 7, 2026. Special programs and holiday exceptions can change the price or schedule for a particular visit.
| Detail | The Met Fifth Avenue | MoMA, Midtown |
|---|---|---|
| Address | 1000 Fifth Avenue | 11 West 53rd Street |
| Standard adult admission | $30 | $30 |
| Senior admission, 65+ | $22 | $22 |
| Student admission | $17 | $17 |
| Children admitted free | Age 12 and under | Age 16 and under |
| Regular Wednesday opening | Closed | 10:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m. |
| Regular Friday hours | 10 a.m.–9 p.m. | 10:30 a.m.–8:30 p.m. |
| Regular Saturday hours | 10 a.m.–9 p.m. | 10:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m. |
Two useful exceptions: The Met offers pay-what-you-wish admission to New York State residents and eligible New York, New Jersey and Connecticut students. MoMA offers New York State residents free Friday-evening admission from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., with advance reservation required. Check eligibility and booking instructions before relying on either program.
For a family with teenagers, the different free-child age limits may matter more than the equal standard adult prices. A Wednesday itinerary also has an obvious constraint: The Met’s regular closure.
Pick The Collection You Want To Spend Time With
The Met is the broader choice. Its departments span ancient material, painting, sculpture, clothing, decorative objects, arms and armor, architecture and interiors. You can build a visit around a subject such as Egypt or around an object type that interests you.
MoMA offers a more concentrated modern and contemporary art experience, including painting, sculpture, photography, film, architecture and design. It is a useful choice if those subjects are the main reason you want to visit an art museum.
Check gallery access as well as collection ownership. On the date checked, The Met listed its Modern and Contemporary Galleries and Cantor Roof Garden among renovation closures. A museum can own an artwork that is not on display. If one department or work determines your choice, confirm access before buying a ticket.
Match The Visit To Your Time
These are planning suggestions, not guaranteed visit durations:
| Time you want to spend | A manageable plan |
|---|---|
| A short visit of roughly two hours | Choose one or two Met departments, or a focused MoMA route. Include time to enter and orient yourself. |
| Half a day | Pick a main collection area, an optional second interest and a break. |
| A full day | Add an exhibition or unfamiliar department, with substantial time for food and rest. |
A smaller route often makes a better visit than rushing through every room. Before arriving, identify one priority, one broader interest and one optional stop. Use the current museum map to group them sensibly.
For children, start with what interests them. Armor, ancient objects, clothing or interiors may lead you toward The Met; photography, bold images, film or designed objects may lead toward MoMA. That is a choice about the child, not a rule that one museum is universally better for families.
Build The Rest Of The Day Around The Museum
Pair The Met with Central Park or an Upper East Side walk. Pair MoMA with nearby Midtown plans. A coherent New York itinerary usually benefits from fewer cross-town trips.
Visiting both in one day is possible, but treat one as the main visit and the other as a selective stop. Allow time for the transfer, a meal and a break. If you want to read labels carefully or see several exhibitions, separate days give each museum more attention.
Before booking, check the actual date, access needs and any artwork that is central to your plans. Choose the collection you want to explore, then use opening hours, admission eligibility and location to make the day work.