Metropolitan Museum of Art

Location: 1000 Fifth Ave., New York

Hours: Tue-Thu, 9:30am-5:30pm; Fri-Sat, 9:30am-9pm; Sun, 9:30am-5:30pm

Admission: Varies

The palace-like Metropolitan Museum of Art, known to generations of New Yorkers simply as “The Met,” is one of the world’s great museums. Located on the eastern edge of Central Park, its collection of more than 2 million works of art spans some 5,000 years of world culture, from prehistory to modern times.

In short, every category of art in every known medium from every part of the world during every epoch of recorded time is here to be appreciated.

The vast array of artwork is divided into categories ranging from American Decorative Arts to Ancient Near Eastern Art to Asian Art and arms and armor.

The Met’s astounding core collection is just the beginning, though. There’s an ever-changing array of special shows each year, more than 30 in all. One might center on the works of Matisse, another on cameos, and yet another on photography or sculpture.

Guided tours are available (and highly recommended). Don’t be in a hurry when visiting – plan to spend some time, and it will be an experience you’ll never forget.

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