Metropolitan Museum of Art
Museum Mile, Upper East Side
One of the world's great museums, this Gothic Revival labyrinth tries to be all things to all art lovers—and with its expansion over the past two decades it often succeeds. The museum's breadth makes it dauntingly huge; grab a map and decide to focus on one area or sample the Met's many highlights. These include the Egyptian wing's glass-sided room with the Temple of Dendur, built by the Emperor Augustus in 15 B.C.; Dutch canvases by Rembrandt, Vermeer, and Hals in the European paintings galleries; a fully furnished room installed as-was from Frank Lloyd Wright's Little House in Wayzata, Minnesota; and the octagonal Lehman wing, crammed with old masters and superb works by Ingres and Goya. Note that the $20 entry fee is merely a suggestion—you won't be shut out for offering less.
Tip: Come Friday or Saturday evenings when the doors are open until 9 p.m.; during the summer, have a drink on the rooftop—enjoy the sculpture garden and the view out over Central Park.
Admission (suggested): $20 adults, $15 seniors, free for children under 12 with adult. Closed Mon.
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