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 ↓






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

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

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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