Museum of Modern Art [MoMA] | What to Expect, Tickets, & FAQs

Museum of Modern Art [MoMA] | What to Expect, Tickets, & FAQs |

Learn everything about the MoMA in NYC, which houses over 200,000 art pieces, including masterworks by Van Gogh, Monet, and Warhol. Plan now!

A Traveler’s Guide to MoMA

The Museum of Modern Art is a world-famous art museum in NYC, 1 mile north of the Empire State Building and 0.6 miles northwest of the Summit One Vanderbilt.

It was opened in 1929, and since then, it has redefined our experience of contemporary and modern art.

MoMA has a vast collection of over 200,000 artworks that spans from early 19th-century modernism to today’s cutting-edge designs.

From paintings by masters like Picasso and Van Gogh to sculptures, design objects, and emerging performance art, the MoMA has something for every taste.

Plus, its proximity to the Empire State Building and Summit One Vanderbilt can create a wholesome NYC experience.

And that’s why over 3 million admirers come knocking on its door every year.

But this popularity and crowds can make it an overwhelming experience.

Don’t worry! This piece will address all your concerns, from what to expect and how to get there to the top visiting tips and customizable tickets, so that your visit to the MoMA becomes memorable.

MoMA in a Snapshot

Opening hours	10.30 am to 5.30 pm
Best time to visit	10.30 am, and 3 pm
Location	11 W 53rd St, New York, NY 10019, United States
Highlights	Starry Night, Water Lilies
Tour duration	3 to 5 hours
Ticket price	$30
Ticket link	MOMA NYC Entry ticket

What to Expect at MoMA?

The Museum of Modern Art is a bright, open world of artistic brilliance.

You will begin your exploration from the 5th floor, where you will find paintings you have only seen in books.

Yes, this place houses Van Gogh’s famous artwork “The Starry Night,” an entire story of emotions and colors.

Monet’s Water Lilies is displayed across its walls like an artist’s dream.

It also hosts Picasso’s “Les Demoiselles d’Avignon,” among other artworks from the late 1800s to the 1940s.

Masterpieces and Their Stories

Floor 4 will up the ante with pieces from the 1940s to the 1970s that are both risky and rebellious.

You will begin by admiring Jackson Pollock’s One: Number 31, 1950, which is like storms frozen in time.

Andy Warhol’s “Campbell’s Soup Cans” is another masterpiece gracing its walls like a supermarket shelf.

This floor also has a gallery dedicated to women artists, which addresses feminine themes.

A Walk through Time and Art

Next, you will head to floor 3, which is a mirror of contemporary expression.

It has thought-provoking exhibitions like the Vital Signs, wherein artists like Frida Kahlo and Ana Mendieta offer unique perspectives of the human body form through their art.

Apart from exhibitions on textile art and modern abstraction, the third-floor galleries also display innovative works in architecture and design, such as conceptual architectural models and futuristic furniture.

Floor 2 will be your next stop.

Artwork in this space dwells around themes of social change, identity, and the effect of technology.

The Creativity Lab and Cafe 2 are also situated on this floor.

At the Creativity Lab, you can get involved in hands-on activities with artists, such as printmaking and discussions, to explore art closely.

Finally, you will reach floor 1, which greets you with the museum store, the Modern Restaurant, and the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Sculpture Garden.

MoMA is not just a museum. It is an experience that will connect you deeply through time, ideas, and emotions.

MoMA Opening Hours

The Museum of Modern Art is open throughout the year, except for Thanksgiving Day and Christmas.

From Saturday to Thursday, it opens from 10.30 am to 5.30 pm.

On Fridays, it stays operational for an extended period until 8.30 pm.

The last entry is always half an hour before the closing time.

Customizable MoMA Tickets for 2025

MoMA NYC Entry Ticket

This is the most affordable way to experience the creative art exhibits at the Museum of Modern Art.

You can admire works like the Water Lilies, the Dance, and Soup Cans while listening to free audio guides.

This ticket will give skip-the-line access to the museum’s permanent collections and temporary exhibitions.

You can also cancel it up to 24 hours before the visit to initiate a full refund.

Inclusions:

Skip-the-line entry
Access to the permanent collections and temporary exhibitions
Free WiFi throughout the premises
Multilingual audio guide

Ticket Price

Adult Ticket (17 to 64 years): $30

Child Ticket (up to 16 years): Free Entry

Senior Ticket (64+ years): $22

Student Ticket (with ID): $17

Buy Ticket

How to Get to the Museum of Modern Art?

MoMA’s central location at 11 West 53rd Street makes it easily accessible through all modes of transportation, such as subway, bus, taxi, and car.

By Subway:

You can get to MoMA from popular places like Penn Station, Times Square, Brooklyn, and Queens.

From 34th Street Penn Station, board the E Train and get off at the 5th Avenue/53rd Street.

While around Times Square, take the E train from the 42nd Street Port Authority bus terminal and get off at 53rd Street.

Similarly, if you are in Queens, board the E train from Jackson Heights-Roosevelt Avenue to the 53rd Street.

However, from Brooklyn, first you should take the D train to 7th Avenue, and from there board the E train to 5th Avenue.

The journey time will vary between 10 and 30 minutes.

By Bus:

Buses offer an affordable way of reaching MoMA from places like Lower Manhattan, Upper Manhattan, and Queens.

While coming from Upper Manhattan, you can board any M1, M2, or M3 buses and get off at Madison Avenue/53rd Street.

From Lower Manhattan, the M5 bus, which is northbound along 6th Avenue, will take you to 6th Avenue/ W 53rd Street within 20 minutes.

While in Queens, take any express buses such as QM10, QM15, or QM20 directly to 6th Avenue/ W 53 Street.

By Taxi:

You can also take a taxi from JFK airport, La Guardia airport, and from within Manhattan.

For this, you can use traditional methods or rideshare options.

Yellow cabs can be taken directly from the streets; you just have to raise your hand in front of it when the light on its top is on.

You can also book these cabs using apps like Curb and Arro.

Alternatively, you can use apps like Uber and Lyft to hail a ride to MoMA from any part of NYC.

By Car:

You can also drive to the MoMA by yourself.

Use apps like Google Maps, set your GPS to “11 W 53rd St, New York, NY 10019, United States” and follow directions.

However, MoMA doesn’t have any parking area, and the nearby street parking is metered and limited.

Therefore, try to park at either the ICON parking at Sixth Avenue or the 1345 garage at 101-41 W. 54th Street.

Both of these parking spaces are within walking distance of MoMA.

Best Time to Visit MoMA

The best time to visit the Museum of Modern Art is as soon as it opens at 10.30 am.

You can also plan your visit in the afternoon after 3 pm, especially on weekdays.

Weekends and holidays are usually very crowded, and therefore it would be best to avoid them.

Spring (March to April) and fall (October to November) are the best times of the year to visit MoMA because of the gentle weather.

How Long Does it Take to Visit the MoMA?

With over 200,000 art pieces, a quick tour will take between 2 and 3 hours.

And this excludes the waiting time in ticket lines if you haven’t pre-booked your tickets online.

This situation will be particularly time-consuming on Fridays and weekends.

Now, if you are an art lover, you may want to give some extra time to Van Gogh’s Starry Night, Monet’s Water Lilies, and Warhol’s Soup Cans, and all the artworks spread across the 5 floors.

Plus, you may want to relax and have a quick coffee at the Modern restaurant, or you may go souvenir hunting at the design store.

Therefore, a thorough exploration of MoMA, along with some relaxation and shopping, will take around 4 to 5 hours

Insider Tips for Visiting MoMA

Consider these tips for a comfortable visit to the Museum of Modern Art:

Prioritize your interests: There are over 200,000 art pieces, and you may want to allocate more time to masterpieces such as Van Gogh’s Starry Night
Dress Properly: The interiors are air-conditioned, and you may feel cold after some time. It is recommended to dress in layers
Do not miss the museum store: The museum store on the first floor specializes in MoMA-inspired books, artworks, and souvenirs, and must be explored during the MoMA visit
Visit Early: Plan your arrival early, as soon as the museum opens, to avoid crowds
MoMA App: Download the app, which informs about the floor map, important artworks, and their context
No Bag Policy: Remember that large bags, sharp objects, and paint guns are not allowed inside
Wear Comfortable Footwear: Your MoMA tour involves a lot of walking around, and it is a good idea to wear sturdy shoes
Photography rules: Flash photography and professional photography equipment are not allowed inside the museum
Purchase online tickets: Buy tickets online to avoid ticket queues and last-minute disappointments