🎨 NYC’s Best Art Museums: The MET, MoMA & Guggenheim (Tickets, Tips & Free Entry Days)

The Ultimate NYC Art Museum Guide: The MET, MoMA, and The Guggenheim

Honestly, visiting even one museum per day is exhausting. At some point, it almost feels like these weird, old, possessed artworks are slowly draining the life out of me. Maybe it’s all the history? The heavy silence? The overwhelming realization that people have been making art for thousands of years while I can barely get through my to-do list?

But—if you’re up for the challenge, and you want to knock out the most historical, fun, and culturally relevant museums in NYC all in one day, I’ve got you covered. Here are my Top 3 Must-Visit Museums in NYC, plus the best way to tackle them like a pro.

1. The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The MET)

1000 5th Ave, New York, NY 10028

     The MET now has two locations—one on 5th Avenue and another on the Upper West Side (UWS). Previously, they also occupied the Met Breuer on Madison Avenue, which was originally home to the Whitney Museum before being taken over by the MET. However, the Met Breuer has since closed, with the space now returned to the Frick Collection.

     While The MET Cloisters in Washington Heights is absolutely beautiful, if you’re short on time, MET 5th Avenue is the best choice. This is the main location and home to the museum’s most famous collections, including Egyptian artifacts, European masterpieces, Asian art, and more.

Must-See Highlights at The MET

• The Egyptian Wing – Featuring the stunning Temple of Dendur, an ancient Egyptian temple reconstructed inside the museum.
• The European Paintings Wing – Home to Monet, Van Gogh, Degas, and other familiar artists whose works shaped art history.
• Buddhist Sculptures – One of the most interesting aspects of the Asian Art collection is the variety of Buddha statues, which look completely different depending on their country of origin.

If You’re Short on Time…

This museum is huge. If you start wandering aimlessly, you’ll end up lost in some 18th-century French furniture gallery wondering how life led you there. If you’re running out of time, do yourself a favor and at least take a quick walk through the Greek and Egyptian wings—keep going deeper inside and hit some of the major European and Asian art highlights along the way. It’s the fastest way to absorb the most impressive collections without feeling like you’re sprinting through history.

Pro Tips for Visiting The MET

• Start early. You can easily spend half a day here.
• Admission: “Pay-as-you-wish” for NY residents; out-of-state visitors pay a suggested ticket price.

Now, onto our next stop—the Guggenheim, a completely different museum experience.

2. The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum

1071 5th Ave, New York, NY 10128

     The Guggenheim is much smaller than The MET and MoMA, but its architecture makes it an experience of its own. Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, the museum is built as a giant spiral, meaning you start at the top and walk down, seeing art along the way.

How to Explore the Guggenheim

     Usually, I like to start from the 1st floor and walk my way up to the top. There’s something about slowly making my way through the artwork, feeling the anticipation build as I go higher. However, most people (and even museum staff) recommend taking the elevator to the top and walking down for a more comfortable, immersive experience.

Pro Tips for Visiting the Guggenheim

• Check the exhibition schedule before you go—the experience really depends on what’s on view at the time.
• Take the elevator up to the top floor first, then walk down the spiral for the best flow.
• Plan for 1.5–2 hours max—it’s smaller than The MET or MoMA, so it won’t take as long to explore.

     Once you’ve immersed yourself in art history at The MET and Guggenheim, it’s time to shift gears and head to MoMA for modern and contemporary masterpieces.

3. The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)

     MoMA is the best place to see modern and contemporary art. It’s home to some of the most famous paintings in the world, including:

• Van Gogh’s The Starry Night
• Salvador Dalí’s The Persistence of Memory
• Andy Warhol’s Campbell’s Soup Cans
• Picasso’s Les Demoiselles d’Avignon
• Monet’s Water Lilies

     MoMA first opened its doors in November 1929, founded by a group of art patrons, including Abby Rockefeller. Their very first exhibition showcased works by Cézanne, Gauguin, Seurat, and Van Gogh—a bold choice at the time, as these artists were still considered "modern" in contrast to classical traditions.

     MoMA has since evolved into one of the world’s most influential contemporary art museums, continuously adding groundbreaking exhibitions that reflect the ever-changing art world.

How to Explore MoMA Like a Pro

     Unlike The MET, which spans thousands of years of history, MoMA is all about art from the late 19th century to today. The best way to experience it is to start from the top floor and work your way down:

MoMA's Floor Guide:

• Floor 5 – Modern Art (1880s–1940s): Van Gogh, Picasso, Monet, Mondrian, and other early modernists.
• Floor 4 – Post-War Art (1950s–1970s): Abstract Expressionism, Pop Art, and Minimalism, including Warhol and Dalí.
• Floor 3 – Architecture, Design, and Photography: Innovative exhibitions and installations.
• Hidden Gem: The Mondrian Gallery

      I always accidentally find Mondrian’s gallery at MoMA—it’s never the first thing on my list, but every time I stumble upon it, it feels like a pleasant surprise. His bold, geometric compositions seem simple at first, but the more you look, the more you appreciate his mastery of balance and color.

Installation view of the exhibition "Refik Anadol: Unsupervised"

November 19, 2022–October 29, 2023. IN2509.5. Photograph by Robert Gerhardt.

Refik Anadol’s Unsupervised – My Favorite Recent Exhibition

One of my favorite past exhibitions at MoMA was Refik Anadol’s Unsupervised—a digital art piece powered by artificial intelligence.

This exhibition opened right after Refik Anadol’s Sotheby’s auction, where one of his digital artworks sold for over $1.3 million, further cementing his role as a leading figure in the world of AI-generated art. Seeing Unsupervised at MoMA right after this high-profile sale made it even more fascinating—it felt like a moment when AI and traditional art institutions were finally converging in a meaningful way.

MoMA Visiting Tips

•  Best time to visit: Early mornings or late afternoons—Monet’s gallery gets packed!
•  Free admission: Fridays from 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM (first come, first served).
•  Suggested Visit Duration: Around 2–3 hours to explore comfortably.

👣 Suggested Itinerary for Visiting All 3 Museums in One Day

• Morning (10 AM – 1 PM): The MET 
• Afternoon (2 PM – 5 PM): MoMA
• Evening (5:30 PM – 7 PM): The Guggenheim

By following this plan, you’ll get a full art history experience in NYC—from ancient artifacts at The MET, to modern masterpieces at MoMA, to contemporary exhibitions at the Guggenheim.

Is It Worth It? 💸

If you’re not from New York (or CT, NJ), visiting all three museums at full price will cost you:

The MET: $30 + MoMA: $30 + Guggenheim: $25 = Total: $85 per person

Let’s be honest—$80+ for museum tickets is expensive. But there are ways to visit these museums without paying full price if you plan ahead.

💡 How to Save on NYC Museum Tickets:

• Check free admission days – MoMA has Free Fridays (5:30–9 PM), and the Guggenheim has Pay-What-You-Wish Saturdays (5–8 PM).
• Use student discounts – If you’re a student, MoMA and MET are $14-$17 instead of $30.
• Consider a CityPASS – If you're visiting multiple attractions, CityPASS or The New York Pass can save you up to 40% on museum tickets.

💂 Military Members:

• MoMA offers free admission for active-duty military + up to 4 family members.
• Whitney Museum (not on this list) also provides free entry for military personnel.
• MET & Guggenheim do not offer military discounts, but their free admission days are good alternatives.

New York’s museums are insanely good, but there’s zero reason to pay full price when there are loopholes everywhere. Plan it right, spend way less, and still see all the best art. 

✨Don’t let overpriced tickets stop you! ✨

Final Thoughts: Are You Still Alive?

     Congratulations! If you actually made it through all three museums in one day, you either have superhuman endurance or you’re running on an IV drip of espresso. Either way, respect.

     New York is a paradise for art lovers, and these three museums offer the most well-rounded experience—from historical masterpieces at The MET, to modern innovations at MoMA, to the architectural marvel that is the Guggenheim.

    Would I personally do this? Probably not. But if you’re ambitious go for it and let me know how it went.