The Metropolitan Museum of Art – The Met on Central Park’s Museum Mile
Rising along Fifth Avenue on the eastern edge of Central Park, the Metropolitan Museum of Art — “the Met” — is one of the largest and most beloved art museums in the world. Its grand Beaux-Arts facade is a landmark in its own right, and it sits so close to the park that a pedicab can drop you at its steps.
🏛️ One of the world’s great museums
Founded in 1870 and settled at its Central Park home by 1880, the Met holds a collection spanning more than 5,000 years of human creativity — from ancient Egypt and classical Greece to European masters and modern art. It is the anchor of “Museum Mile,” the stretch of Fifth Avenue that is home to more world-class museums than almost anywhere on earth.
🎨 What to see inside
Highlights include the ancient Egyptian Temple of Dendur in its glass-walled gallery, galleries of European paintings by the old masters, the famous Arms and Armor court, and The Costume Institute, home of the annual Met Gala. You could spend a whole day here and still not see it all — which is why so many visitors return again and again.
🌆 The rooftop and the park connection
In the warmer months, the Met’s rooftop garden offers one of the loveliest views in the city — a sweep of Central Park’s treetops with the skyline beyond. And directly behind the museum, in the park itself, stands one of New York’s oldest treasures: the ancient Egyptian obelisk known as Cleopatra’s Needle.
🚲 The easiest way to reach the Met
The Met stands on Fifth Avenue at 82nd Street, right on the park’s east side. A pedicab brings you straight to its entrance and can carry you on to the Obelisk, the Reservoir and Bethesda Terrace — a perfect way to combine art and park in one relaxed loop.
✔ Pair it with the park on the 1-hour Central Park pedicab tour from $30
✔ See all tour options on the Central Park pedicab tour page
✔ Ready to go? Book your ride here
🎟️ Good to know
🎫 The Met is a paid attraction with its own admission ticket
🕒 It is open most days, with some late evening hours — check ahead before you go
🚲 Pedicabs cannot go inside, but your driver can drop you at the door and continue the tour afterwards
🗺️ What’s nearby
The Met sits on the park’s east side, steps from several highlights:
🗿 Cleopatra’s Needle (The Obelisk) — the ancient Egyptian monument right behind the museum
💧 The Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir — the famous running loop just to the north
⛲ Bethesda Terrace & Fountain — the grand heart of the park
❓ Frequently asked questions
Where is the Met in relation to Central Park?
On Fifth Avenue at 82nd Street, on the park’s east edge, with its back opening onto the park itself.
Is the Met free?
It has an admission charge, though New York State residents can pay what they wish. It is separate from the free park.
Can I combine the Met with a park tour?
Yes — a pedicab drops you at the entrance and shows you the surrounding park before or after your visit.
What is the easiest way to get there?
A private pedicab tour brings you right to the Met and on to the nearby landmarks. Rides start at $30.
World-class art on the edge of the world’s most famous park — the Met is a perfect pairing with a Central Park pedicab tour. Book a Central Park pedicab tour from $30.
