Skip the lines at The Metropolitan Museum of Art

TL;DR – How to skip the lines at The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Met in New York is known for its extensive collection of art in multiple forms, ranging from paintings, sculptures, and artifacts, spanning several eras. Enjoy guided tours of the museum’s highlights and fast-track entry with your skip-the-line tickets.

Here’s how:

  • Metropolitan Museum of Art Highlights Guided Tour with Skip-the-Line Access (From $52 ): Skip the ticket line and enjoy a 2-hour guided tour of the highlights at The Met.
  • Metropolitan Museum of Art Extended Guided Tour with Skip-the-Line Access (From $79): Skip the entry line and enjoy a 3-hour expert-led guided tour of the key works at The Met.
  • Metropolitan Museum of Art Pre-Orientation Tour with Skip-the-Line Access (From $48): Plan your visit to The Met with skip-the-line access and a 30-minute-long pre-orientation tour of the best ways to navigate the museum.
  • Metropolitan Museum of Art Private VIP Tour (From $866 for the group): Small-group private tour led by an expert, with skip-the-line access and a personalized experience allowing you to curate your visit to The Met with ease.

See all your options in detail below ↓

What are customers saying?

Loved by 47 million+
Trustpilot rating: 4.5 out of 5
Oscar Adrián Rivera Ramírez
MX

Oscar

Mexico
Dec 2025

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#Perfect timing, no lines, no waiting times, no hidden conditions; perfect price/service ratio for me and the family.
Michael E Ross
US

Michael

United States
Dec 2025

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+2 more

We purchased skip the line tickets and they worked out great. We visited on a Sunday and the crowd was very light which made for a more enjoyable experience. The team worked very hard and efficiently to keep everyone moving. At the top they have an awesome surprise when you get off the elevator (WOW). Once you get started on your self guided tour you can see some amazing views along with plenty of informative information posted. I definitely recommend going.
Konstantinos T Poulos
US

Konstantinos

United States
Dec 2025

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This bus trip from Yorktown, VA was just an incredibly amazing journey!The lights ,the food, the energy of all the people in the city during the holidays is just a once in a lifetime experience!! I'd recommend it to anyone because there's no place like New York in the world! Big 🍎forever!
Robert Mitchell
US

Robert

United States
Dec 2025

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I have been wanting to go and visit the Empire State building for years and I finally had the perfect opportunity to do so. I loved being able to see the historic building with my two children. I was impressed with how clean and organized the staff and facility was. Staff was extremely friendly and made the experience feel very comfortable.
Emma Powell
US

Emma

United States
Nov 2025

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This was a perfect way to spend a half day in NYC with a five year old. It's easy to navigate seeing everything by just going in a circle. The indoor aviary had beautiful birds and served as a respite from the cold. I wondered if the chilly December day meant the animals were more active, as opposed to being sluggish on a hot day (??) ...since the animals are snow monkeys, a snow leopard, and grizzly bears. It was a great way to spend a cold day outdoors!
Vivian Luisa Roser
DE

Vivian

Germany
Nov 2025

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Eine tolle Ausstellung mit allen Künstlern die ich herne sehen wollte. Trotz der größe nicht zu viel und nicht überfordernt. Essen im Cafe 2 war auch sehr gut.
Charles R Gray
US

Charles

United States
Oct 2025

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+2 more

The crowds flowed well and most patrons were considerate of others. I really enjoyed the presentation of some contemporary inventions.
Snezana Vitor
US

Snezana

United States
Oct 2025

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+4 more

Although it was a cloudy, raining afternoon, there were large crowds gathered in front of the memorials as well as the museum. The artifacts and information videos brought chills down my spine. People were emotional and had tears that brought the experience to another level. This is definitely a must see if you go to NY. Remembering that day and the world's reaction only enhanced how tragic this event was in 2001! A definite must see!

Book skip-the-line tickets to The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Skip waiting in the ticket lines and enjoy fast-track entry to view the museum’s works that explore the evolution of art over 5,000 years through its collections.

Pro tip: Book an extended tour for a deep dive into the museum’s collections, or a private VIP tour for a more intimate and curated experience.

























































What does skip-the-line really mean for The Metropolitan Museum of Art

With your skip-the-line tickets, you can enjoy both fast-track entry into the museum by skipping the lines at the ticketing counter and also the chance to explore the museum with a knowledgeable guide by your side. Curate your visit with multiple tour options to choose from, and enjoy exploring the museum’s vast collection of works spanning millennia and numbering over 2 million.

How long are the queues at The Metropolitan Museum of Art?

Waiting times can exceed an hour, sometimes crossing 2 hours during the summer months, holiday season, and weekends, so you can skip waiting in the long lines at popular attractions with your skip-the-line ticket.

  • Peak season: June to August, December
  • Peak hours: 11am to 3pm, 6pm onward (extended hour days)

Types of queues at The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Ticketing counter

  • Location: Main entrance on Fifth Avenue
  • Who it’s for: Visitors buying tickets on the spot
  • Average wait time: 5 to 15 minutes during off-season, 45 minutes to 1 hour during peak seasons and weekends
  • Skip-the-line: Can be bypassed with pre-purchased online tickets

Security screening

  • Location: Main entrance on Fifth Avenue
  • Who it’s for: Mandatory for all visitors
  • Average wait time: 5 to 15 minutes
  • Skip-the-line: Mandatory for all visitors
Enjoy VIP access to the museum’s artworks

Your small-group VIP tour (max group size 8) gives you a deep dive into the museum’s collection, along with a crowd-free experience. Enjoy learning about the works at The Met with your expert art historian guide, and personalize your tour to get deeper insight into exhibits of your choice.

Guests engaging with a guide at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

All your options to skip the lines at The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Book skip-the-line tickets

Book your admission tickets online and avoid waiting in long lines at the ticketing counter, along with the flexibility to choose the type of guided tour you want to join.

Recommended experiences:

  • Metropolitan Museum of Art Highlights Guided Tour with Skip-the-Line Access
  • Metropolitan Museum of Art Extended Guided Tour with Skip-the-Line Access
  • Metropolitan Museum of Art Pre-Orientation Tour with Skip-the-Line Access

Book a VIP tour

Visit the museum without crowds and enjoy skip-the-line entry with your tour tickets. Your private VIP tour eliminates the hassle of waiting in any lines and viewing the artworks with crowds.

Recommended experience:

  • Metropolitan Museum of Art Private VIP Tour

Visit during off-peak season/hours

Visiting during the weekdays or as soon as the museum opens can eliminate waiting for long periods of time at the ticketing counter, but The Met can remain crowded on most days during the summer months and around holidays.

Learn more about The Met’s timings here

Compare your ticket options

Ticket typeWait timesQueues skippedInclusionsTickets

On-site Tickets

Can lead up to 1 hour during peak seasons

None

Vary based on ticket type

On-site

Metropolitan Museum of Art Highlights Guided Tour with Skip-the-Line Access

10 mins

Ticket purchase lines

Skip-the-line admission with a 2-hr-long guided tour

From $52

Metropolitan Museum of Art Extended Guided Tour with Skip-the-Line Access

10 mins

Ticket purchase lines

Skip-the-line admission with a 3-hr-long guided tour

From $79

Metropolitan Museum of Art Pre-Orientation Tour with Skip-the-Line Access

10 mins

Ticket purchase lines

Skip-the-line admission with a 30-min-long guided tour to help plan your museum visit

From $48

Metropolitan Museum of Art Private VIP Tour

10 mins

Ticket purchase lines

Skip-the-line admission with a 2.5-hr-long guided tour in a small-group setting with VIP private and personalized access to the museum

From $866

Frequently asked questions about The Metropolitan Museum of Art skip-the-line tickets

Skip-the-ticket-line tickets allow you to bypass the main ticket purchase counters. However, all visitors must still go through mandatory security screening, which cannot be skipped and may involve a short wait during peak hours.

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Plan your visit

Collections

Paintings