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Museum of Modern Art – tickets, prices, exhibits, timings, what to expect, FAQs

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The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) is a world-renowned art museum in New York City.

MoMA boasts a collection of over 200,000 art pieces, including paintings, sculptures, drawings, prints, photographs, film, and design objects.

The museum is particularly well-known for its modern and contemporary art collection, including works by Pablo Picasso, Vincent van Gogh, Salvador Dalí, Andy Warhol, and Jackson Pollock.

This article covers everything you must know before booking tickets for the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

Top Museum of Modern Art Tickets

# Skip-the-line MoMA ticket

# Guided tour of MoMA

What to expect

Explore some of the most inspiring and creative art exhibits in the world at The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), located in the heart of New York City.

Explore one of the most celebrated art museums in the world, dedicated to fueling creativity, challenging minds, and inspiring visitors.

With extraordinary exhibitions and the world’s finest collection of modern and contemporary art, MoMA is committed to showcasing the conversation between the past and the present, the established and the experimental.

MoMA offers a panoramic overview of modern and contemporary art, from the innovative European paintings and sculptures of the 1880s to today’s film, design, and performance art.

The art galleries span across six floors in midtown Manhattan and include highlights such as Monet’s Water Lilies, Picasso’s Les Demoiselles d’Avignon, Matisse’s Dance (I), and Warhol’s Campbell’s Soup Cans.

Additionally, the museum displays contemporary works by renowned artists such as Elizabeth Murray, Cindy Sherman, Ai Weiwei, and many others.

Where to book tickets

Tickets for Museum of Modern Art are available to be purchased at the museum or online in advance.

Online ticket prices tend to be cheaper than tickets at the attraction.

When you buy online, you can avoid the long queues at the attraction’s ticket counters.

Booking online also helps avoid last-minute disappointment and delays.

How do online tickets work

Go to the Museum of Modern Art ticket booking page, select your preferred date, time, and the number of tickets, and buy the tickets right away.

After the purchase, you will receive the tickets via email.

You don’t need to carry printouts.

You can show the e-ticket on your smartphone when you visit the museum.

MoMA ticket prices

Skip-the-line MoMA ticket

Buy this ticket and see classic works of modern art in one of the world’s most famous museums.

Pre-book your admission to skip the ticket lines at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.

Your entrance ticket is valid for one-time admission only, and re-entry is not allowed. However, you can enjoy access to MoMA PS1 within 14 days of your visit.

To enhance your experience, download the free MoMA app or visit the mobile site to access free audio guides, which are available for download to your mobile device.

The Museum of Modern Art hosts various events, including outdoor events, interactive installations, and DJs, so there is always something new to see.

Visitors can enjoy free WiFi throughout the museum.

Don’t forget to check out the MoMA Stores, which offer a wide range of books, design objects, jwelery, furniture, clothing, and more.

Ticket prices

Adult ticket (17 to 64 years): US$30
Senior ticket (65+ years): US$22
Student ticket (with student ID): US$17
Child ticket (up to 16 years): Free


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Before Hours Guided tour of MoMA

Guided tour of MoMA for kids
Image: Moma.org

Buy this ticket and take a guided morning tour of The Museum of Modern Art.

Get exclusive access to the galleries for an hour via a private entrance and admire the exhibits at the museum before it opens to the general public.

Have the privilege of exploring the galleries with the assistance of an expert art historian guide.

Skip the long queue and enter via a separate private entrance to save time.

In addition to this experience, you will also receive additional admission to MoMA PS1, the contemporary art center in Long Island City, Queens.

Visitors can enjoy free WiFi throughout the museum.

Ticket price

General Admission: US$99


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MoMA audio guide

The Museum of Modern Art offers a free audio guide to all visitors.

The audio guide is available in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean.

You can choose numerous tours, each following a different path within the museum.

Some are kid-friendly, while others are for visitors with less time on their hands.

With around 100 tour options, visitors almost always find what they want.

Combo Tickets

To make the most of your visit to New York, it’s best to plan ahead and book a combo ticket.

Take advantage of exclusive deals and explore the city’s top attractions near MoMA, some of which are within a mile.

You can buy MoMA tickets in combination with tickets for the SUMMIT One Vanderbilt, Edge Hudson Yards, The Guggenheim, NYC Art Museum Bundle, American Museum of Natural History, Top of the Rock, 9/11 Memorial & Museum, Chicago on Broadway, Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty, New York CityPASS, or the New York Tourist Card.

Combo tickets are ideal for large families, groups, or those on a budget holiday and can help you visit all major attractions by booking just once!

Avail discounts of up to 30% when booking these combo tickets.

Ticket Cost
MoMA + Statue of Liberty US$54
MoMA + Empire State Building US$78
MoMA + 9/11 Memorial and Museum US$59
MoMA + SUMMIT One Vanderbilt US$72
MoMA + Edge Hudson Yards US$54
MoMA + The Guggenheim US$57
MoMA + American Museum of Natural History US$55
MoMA + Top of the Rock US$70
MoMA + Chicago on Broadway US$102
NYC Art Museum Bundle US$63
MoMA + New York CityPASS US$160
New York Tourist Card US$83

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How to reach

MoMA is located on 53rd Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues in Midtown Manhattan, New York City.

Address: 11 W 53rd St, New York, NY 10019, USA. Get Directions

By Bus

6th Ave & W 53rd St is the nearest bus stop to the museum.

Take the BxM2 bus.

By Subway

Get down at the 5 Av/53 St station, accessible by subway lines E and F.

By Car

If you are driving by car, turn on Google Maps and get started!

If you plan to drive to MoMA, you can park your car in one of the two parking lots near the Museum.

ICON Parking is on 1330 Sixth Avenue with entrances between Fifth and Sixth Avenue.

The 1345 Garage is at 101-41 W. 54 St. between Sixth and Seventh Avenue.


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Timings

The Museum of Modern Art is open every day except for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

It opens at 10:30 am each day and closes at 5:30 pm, except on Saturdays, when it stays open until 7 pm.

Please note that the exhibition and collection galleries will close approximately 15 minutes before the Museum’s closing time.

How long does MoMA take

If you love art and prefer to get into the details, you will need three to four hours to explore what’s on display at MoMA, New York.

Visitors in a hurry can complete their tour in 45 to 60 minutes.

Tourists who have been to art museums multiple times say that art fatigue sets in after approximately two hours of roaming around.

To get over the art fatigue and extend your stay, you can take a break at one of the three restaurants in the NYC Museum.

How long does MoMA tour take

Best time to visit MoMA

It’s best to arrive at MoMA when it opens at 10.30 am for a more enjoyable visit.

Mornings and late evenings typically have fewer visitors, making for a more peaceful visit.

Certain galleries are open exclusively to members and their guests on Saturdays and Sundays from 9.30 to 10.30 am.

Free admission is granted to New York City residents on the first Friday of every month, from 4:00 to 8:00 pm.

The best way to avoid the crowd at MoMA’s ticket counters is by buying Skip The Line’ tickets online.

Many tourists in New York end up asking, ‘MOMA or The Met’? Check out this article on MOMA vs The Met and decide for yourself.


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MoMA Free Friday

MoMA offers free admission for New York City residents on the first Friday evening of every month, from 4 pm to 8 pm.

However, it isn’t easy to get into MoMA for free – you may have to wait in a queue for 30-45 mins before you get a chance to enter the Museum.

MoMA Free Friday
MoMA free entry is a dream come true for art lovers on tight budgets, and that’s why it always sees long lines. Image: Moma.org

If you arrive at the museum on a Friday after 6 pm, you can avoid some waiting.

But then, you will only have two hours to explore the whole museum.

UNIQLO Free Friday tickets queue begins at the museum’s 54 Street entrance.

MoMA Friday Free Ticket
This is the MoMA free Friday ticket that gets you inside. Image: Shinya Suzuki

Apart from the Free Friday nights, the Museum of Modern Art offers free entry to children under 16.


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MoMA map

Spread over six floors and divided into various zones, the Museum of Modern Art in New York is as intricate as the artworks it hosts.

It is important not to get lost and not miss out on the masterpieces.

If you have booked a guided tour of MoMA, you don’t need to know the museum’s layout. 

But if you are going to be on your own, we suggest you pick up the free map and layout plan as soon as you enter the museum. 

Besides the layout, you also get a handy guide to the masterpieces inside and where to find them. 

Besides the exhibits, MoMA’s map will also help you spot visitor services such as restrooms, cafes, souvenir shops, visitor assistance booths, etc.


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MoMA restaurants

If you take regular breaks, you can see more of MoMA.

If visitors want to stop for food and drinks, they have three options –

The Modern

The Modern is a two-Michelin-starred restaurant that offers excellent lunch and dinner.

The Bar Room serves lunch from 11.30 am to 2.30 pm daily.

From Monday to Saturday, they serve dinner from 5 pm to 9 pm.

The Modern restaurant serves lunch from 12 pm am to 2 pm Monday to Saturday and serves dinner from Monday to Saturday, where the seating begins at 5 pm.

The Modern is located on the ground floor of the Museum of Modern Art, with a street-level entrance at 9 West 53rd Street between the 5th and 6th Avenues.

Café 2

The newly renovated cafe offers a family-friendly environment with Italian dishes, wine, and beer with a casual Espresso Bar.

Cafe 2 is open from 11 am to 5 pm daily.

Terrace 5

Terrace 5 is on the sixth floor of the Jerry Speyer and Katherine Farley Building and serves a seasonal menu with desserts and drinks.

From Saturday to Thursday, Terrace 5 is open from 11 am to 5 pm, and on Friday, it stays open till 7.30 pm.


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What to see in Museum of Modern Art

Museum of Modern Art, New York, holds some of the most famous art by artists such as Picasso, Cezanne, Dali, Gauguin, Monet, Van Gogh, and more.

MoMA’s collection covers six floors. And it is quite a daunting task for a visitor to explore all of it during a single visit.

Worry not, for we present below MoMA’s highlights –

The Starry Night

Starry Night at MoMA
The Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh. Image: Moma.org

The Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh is one of the stars of MoMA’s collection.

Van Gogh painted this from his single room in a mental asylum.

The turbulent sky in the painting is supposed to depict his internal turmoil.

He painted this scene from his East-facing window 21 times, and that’s why there are many versions of ‘Starry Night.’

Drowning Girl

Drowning Girl by Roy Lichtenstein speaks for itself and takes you back to your comic-loving days.

Thick lines, bold colors, and dots with speech bubble give the painting a printed look.

This painting is as modern as modern art gets.

The Persistence of Memory

The Persistence of Memory by Salvador Dali is a classic work of Surrealism based on time.

The landscape shows melting watches, ants, and fleshy objects depicting decay.

Les Demoiselles d’Avignon

Highlight of MoMA
Les Demoiselles d’Avignon by Pablo Picasso. Image: Moma.org

Les Demoiselles d’Avignon by Pablo Picasso was originally named ‘Brothel of Avignon’ and depicts five nude female prostitutes in Barcelona.

This painting didn’t create waves during Picasso’s time but is now a significant hit at MoMA.

Campbell’s soup cans

Campbell’s soup cans by Andy Warhol is one of the most excellent examples of Pop Art.

Warhol believed that art should be for everyone, and that’s what this piece of art aims to do.

The exhibit includes images of 32 varieties of soup offered by the Campbell’s, a must-have in all American households.

One, Number 31, 1950

One, Number 31, 1950 by Jackson Pollock, is a ‘drip’ technique masterpiece and one of the artist’s largest paintings.

The painting depicts streams of energy in tan, blue, and grey lashed through black and white.

Dance

Dance by Henri Matisse captures the joy and rhythm of dance presented by mythical dancers in a timeless landscape.

The liveliness which the painting radiates is hard to miss.

Gold Marilyn Monroe

Andy Warhol painted Gold Marilyn Monroe in 1962 when the world-famous actress died.

The painting shows Warhol’s glamorous side and is an altarpiece in Andy’s Pop Art church of Celebrity.

The Sleeping Gypsy

The Sleeping Gypsy in MoMA
Image: Moma.org

In The Sleeping Gypsy by Henri Rousseau, a gypsy sleeps even as a lion tries to smell her.

Henri is known as an outsider who impressed the insiders with his talent, which is visible in this painting.

Henri had tried to sell the painting to the Mayor of his hometown, Laval, but failed.

Self-portrait with cropped hair

Self-portrait with Cropped Hair by Frida Kahlo is known for its gender-bending quality.

The painting shows Frida challenging the stereotype surrounding women and, at the same time, filling her ex-husband’s position.

Grandcamp, Evening

When Grandcamp, Evening by Georges-Pierre Seurat is viewed from a distance, the dots appear as a seamlessly blended scene.

However, on close observation, one notices that the artist has used lots of dots of different colors to make this painting.

This artwork is an example of Seurat’s expertise in the pointillism technique.

Outdoor Sculpture Garden

Abby Aldrich Rockefeller designed this sculpture garden as a tribute to the founders of the MoMA.

It is the perfect spot to stop for a break, even as you explore the rest of the Museum.

It holds artworks by Picasso, Anthony Caro, and many others, while marble slabs, fountains, flower beds, etc., provide relief.

FAQs about the MoMA

Here are some questions visitors usually ask before visiting MoMA.

Should I buy tickets for MoMA online?

Yes, it is best to buy tickets for the museum online to ensure availability and have a hassle-free experience.

What kind of art does the Museum of Modern Art exhibit?

MoMA exhibits modern and contemporary art, including painting, sculpture, photography, film, design, and performance art.

Does MoMA offer guided tours?

Yes, the museum offers guided tours of its exhibitions and collections.

Can I take photographs in the Museum of Modern Art?

Photography is allowed in some areas of the museum but not in others. Flash photography and tripods are not allowed.

Is MoMA wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the museum is fully accessible to wheelchair users and other visitors with disabilities.

Does the Museum of Modern Art have a restaurant?

Yes, MoMA has several dining options, including a cafe, a restaurant, and a bar.

Can I buy souvenirs at the Museum of Modern Art?

Yes, the museum has several gift shops where visitors can buy art books, posters, gifts, and other souvenirs.

Does the Museum of Modern Art offer educational programs?

Yes, the museum offers a range of educational programs for children, families, and adults, including classes, workshops, and lectures.

Does the museum have a membership program?

Yes, the Museum of Modern Art membership program offers exclusive benefits, including free admission, discounts, and access to special events.

Sources

# Moma.org
# Wikipedia.org
# Britannica.com
# Tripadvisor.com

The travel specialists at TheBetterVacation.com use only high-quality sources while researching & writing their articles. We make every attempt to keep our content current, reliable and trustworthy.

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Edited by Rekha Rajan & fact checked by Jamshed V Rajan

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