MoMA vs the MET – Which Museum Is Better
Many tourists visiting New York end up with the question, “MoMA or The Met”?
If you are an art lover who can see the works of art and hear them talk in their stillness, then it’s always better to visit both museums.
However, if you are on a budget trip to New York City or are inclined to visit both the art Museums, Check out our MoMA vs. The Met analysis.
Is MoMA The Same As The Met?
No, the MoMA and the MET are very different museums.
While MoMA focuses on Modern and Contemporary art, MET is the largest art museum in the country, showcasing over 5,000 years of art from Ancient to Modern Art.
The museums are located 2 miles (3.2 km) from each other in Manhattan – a easy 30 minutes walk through te central park.
MoMA or MET – Our Recommendation
The Museum of Modern Art and the Metropolitan Museum of Art are the top museums in New York City and must-visit attractions.
We recommend you visit MoMA and MET if your time and budget permits.
By visiting the two iconic museums of NYC, you can look into ancient, contemporary and modern art in one tour.
You can indeed get guided tours of both MoMA and MET in one ticket.
However, the choice depends on your preference if you cannot make it to both of them.
MET has a wide variety of exhibits, from ancient to contemporary.
The MoMA exhibits modern and contemporary art.
MoMA and MET Tickets
MoMA and MET are two of the most visited museums in the country.
With millions of guests visiting these museums annually, they must book their tickets online to secure entry.
The MoMA tickets are cheaper than MET tickets.
The Museum of Modern Art entry ticket costs $30 for visitors between 13 and 64 years.
Senior citizens over 65 years, Students with ID and children enjoy a discount ticket to MoMA.
A senior citizen ticket costs $22 and a student ticket costs $17.
Children below the age of 13 enjoy free admission to the Museum.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art ticket costs $74 for adult visitors above 15 years.
Tickets for children of 2 to 12 years costs $64.
Kids below the age of 2 enjoy free admission to the MET.
The Met vs MoMA – Which Museum Has Better Features
Both museums are excellent in their collection and major attractions in New York City.
Here are some parameters on which we will compare the two museums based on the building, Modern Art on display, their respective art collection, Modern Art on display, outdoor space, opening hours, location and ticket prices.
MET vs MoMA – Modern Art Collection
MoMA must be your first priority for tourists who love to take a sneak peek into the world of modern art.
The museum comprises various world-famous exhibits of modern artists dedicated to Modern Art, like Monet, Van Gogh, Picasso and Warhol.
Indeed, MoMA houses the original Starry Night painting of Vincent van Gogh.
Tourists also love to see the collection of world-renowned pieces of contemporary art here.
The Met is home to more classic global artworks belonging to various periods.
Visitors can see a fantastic collection of modern artworks, too.
However, it isn’t as good as MoMA, which focuses on modern art.
Hence, the winner of having the best modern art collection is MoMA.
MET vs MoMA Overall Art Collection
As the name suggests, MoMA focuses entirely on modern art. Thus, there’s less variety in the artworks present.
The collection at MoMA is comprised of many commendable modern artworks that are good enough to charm Modern Art Enthusiasts.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art is a better option, offering 360-degree exposure to art in its exhibits for tourists.
The Met Museum comprises a collection of 20th-century paintings, sculptures and Egyptian exhibits, including an entire Egyptian temple.
It also has an excellent armor gallery, decorative artistic items, furniture pieces, ancient musical instruments and statues from many periods and cultures.
And therefore, the winner is The Met due to the variety it offers to tourists.
MET vs MoMA – The buildings
The building of both museums symbolizes a major difference between MoMA and The Met.
MoMA’s building is relatively newer and more suitable for the structure of a Modern Art Museum.
It was inaugurated in 1929 and the museum’s building merges with the rest of the city, so it can hardly be identified from the outside.
However, in contrast, The MET has a much larger building measuring 2 million square feet.
It is widely regarded as the largest museum in the USA.
It was inaugurated in 1880 and the building of The MET Museum is a beautiful and colossal piece of art.
Several TV shows and movies, such as ‘Hitch’ and the ‘Gossip Girls’ were shot in the building.
The Met’s building has served as a venue for various events like the Met Gala and Superbowl of Fashion, which occurs on the first Monday of May every year.
So, the winner is The MET.
MoMA vs MET Outdoor Space
Both museums have an ambiance invested in a quiet atmosphere and beautiful outdoor areas.
Opened throughout the year, despite the weather conditions, MoMA is famous for its sculpture garden.
The MET has a rooftop garden where, with every passing year, tourists get to see a different art exhibit.
On Mondays, the Metropolitan Museum of Art‘s garden is closed, but it opens from 10 am to 4.30 pm on all the other days of the week.
The garden closes at 8 pm on Friday and Saturday.
The MET’s rooftop also has a Martini Bar, open only on weekdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 5.30 pm to 8 pm.
The rooftop of The MET’s Museum is accessible only in warmer weather conditions.
However, to catch a glimpse of city skylines, the location of the MET Museum is more fortunate than that of MoMA.
It offers a view of Central Park, providing the visitor with mesmerizing looks.
Hence, the winner in this category is The MET.
Opening Hours – MoMA vs MET
Tourists sometimes select one museum over the other due to its timing restrictions.
The Museum of Modern Arts stays open from 10.30 am to 5.30 pm.
It stays open till 9 pm on Thursday and Saturday during the summer.
During the summer, MoMA has better visiting hours than the Met Museum.
The MET stays open from 10 am to 5.30 pm from Sunday to Thursday.
You can access the museum on Fridays and Saturdays from 10 am to 9 pm.
So, other than summers, The MET has better hours than the MoMA throughout the year.
Whichever museum you opt for, it is always good to go there in the mornings as they get crowded by noon.
Note: All tickets to MoMA and MET are timed.
Hence, visitors need to book their tickets in advance to secure entry during their preferred time slot.
Distance Between MoMA and The MET?
MoMA and The MET lie 2 miles (3.2 km) apart.
Even after exploring any one of the museums, you can always walk through Central Park and reach the other – in around 35 minutes.
However, to avoid any last-minute disappointments after reaching the museums, as the tickets and daily entries are limited, we suggest tourists buy the tickets online in advance.
MET Museum or MoMA – Final Verdict
While the best decision would be to visit both MET and MoMA, here is our final verdict for visitors who can make it to only one.
The choice depends on your preference.
If you wish to enjoy Modern Art, then head to MoMA.
The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) has a collection for visitors interested in photography, architecture and contemporary art.
It is better if you are solely interested in modern art or works created after 1900.
Visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art (MET) if you are interested in contemporary artwork and historical artifacts from ancient periods.
You can also catch a glimpse at the world-famous Costume Institute that hosts the annual MET Gala.
If time is your primary concern, visit MoMA and save MET for another trip.
You can visit MoMA in 3 hours, while MET requires more time.
Note: Also read about the Museum of Modern Art vs Guggenheim Museum for more information about the art museums of NYC.
Featured Image: Getyourguide.com, Timeout.com