The Metropolitan Museum of Art is the largest encyclopedic art museum in the world under a single roof.  Art from all periods and cultures is displayed.  Recent renovations, still in progress, have enlarged the exhibition space without expanding the solid rectangular building.  Its size might be noted by the fact that if stood on edge, it would be among the 25 tallest buildings in the world.

Of particular note is the reopened Greek and Roman galleries, 19th century European paintings, and the Egyptian section which includes the Temple of Dendur.  Several temporary exhibitions are on display at any given time.  Part of the Medieval collections are at the Cloisters Museum, a branch of the Metropolitan in northern Manhattan.  Various gallery talks and many lectures are given free of cost with general admission.  A number of tours are given in foreign languages for the benefit of international visitors.

The museum receives nearly 5 million visitors a year and as many as 40,000 in a single day making it the most popular tourist site in New York City.  During the period between Christmas and New Years, the museum is extremely crowded.   A good tactic is to visit the popular exhibitions (Greek, Roman, Egyptian, 19th Century European paintings) early and retreat to the less popular (Asian, Near Eastern, American, Decorative Arts, Native Arts) as the day goes on.  The museum is open late on Fridays and Saturdays, and is closed on most Mondays. 

There are several eateries in the museum that run from moderate to expensive in cost.  The large museum shop features art books and items inspired by fine art.

The main entrance of the museum is located at 82nd Street and Fifth Avenue.  A ground level entrance is at 81st Street.  The nearest subway stations are on Lexington Avenue at 77th Street (#6 train) and 86th Street (#4 and #6 trains).

The Metropolitan Museum of Art