The Museum is committed to making its collections, buildings, programs, and services accessible to all audiences. We offer programs for visitors with disabilities on a regular basis.
Plaza Renovation Project
The Met is committed to maintaining full access to the Museum during plaza reconstruction.
Visitor Tips during the Second Phase of Construction, through December 2013
All Museum entrances are open.
The Parking Garage is open.
Project Overview
The Metropolitan Museum of Art has launched a complete reconstruction of its four-block-long plaza along Fifth Avenue—one of New York City's iconic outdoor spaces. The Museum's new gateway will feature: contemporary fountains, trees and aerial hedges, new granite paving, seating for the public, and enhanced lighting to illuminate the historic facade at night.
The redesign of the Museum's plaza is scheduled for completion in fall 2014. Read more about the project.
Parking
Designated spaces are available in the parking garage for visitors with disabilities. The clearance is six feet, six inches (6' 6"). Alternate arrangements can be made in advance for visitors with disabilities traveling in oversized vehicles. Please call 212-650-2010, between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. See Getting Here for parking rates and hours.
Service Animals
Service animals are welcome in the Museum.
Wheelchairs
The Museum is accessible to wheelchair users and other visitors who need to avoid stairs. Accessible entrances are located at Fifth Avenue and 81st Street and through the parking garage at Fifth Avenue and 80th Street.
Wheelchairs are available free of charge at coat-check areas on a first-come, first-served basis. Advance reservations are not available.
Elevators and escalators are located throughout the building. The Museum's Access Map (PDF) is available at Information Desks. You may also call 212-650-2010 during office hours, or email us at access@metmuseum.org to request a copy.
To request an escort for a wheelchair user in the Museum (two weeks' notice is preferred), or to learn more about programs and accommodations for visitors with disabilities, call 212-650-2010.
Assistive Listening Devices
A limited number of FM assistive listening devices (headsets and neck loops) for Museum tours and programs are available at the Audio Guide Desk in the Great Hall. The Grace Rainey Rogers Auditorium and the Ruth and Harold D. Uris Center for Education are equipped with infrared sound enhancement systems (headsets and neck loops). To obtain a headset or neck loop in the Grace Rainey Rogers Auditorium, please ask an usher. In the Uris Center for Education, see the appropriate program leader.
Induction loops are located at the Information and Membership Desks and at select Admissions Desks in the Great Hall and Burke Hall in the Uris Center for Education, as well as at the Concerts and Lectures box office in the Great Hall. Look for the blue signs indicating locations.
Real-Time Captioning
Real-time captioning for lectures can be provided upon request. Requests for this service can be made up to three weeks before the date of the lecture; however, this accommodation is contingent upon the availability of captioners. To request real-time captioning, contact the Access Coordination office at 212-650-2010 or email access@metmuseum.org.
Sign Language Interpretation
The Museum offers a variety of programs with Sign Language interpretation and in American Sign Language with voice interpretation on a regular basis. See Programs for Visitors Who Are Deaf for more information.
Sign Language interpreters may be requested for Museum programs. At least two weeks' notice is required. Email access@metmuseum.org.
Large Print
Large-print labels are available for some special exhibitions. They can be found in dispensers at exhibition entrances.
Audio Guide
Audio Guide players are free for visitors who are blind, partially sighted, hard of hearing, or Deaf. Transcripts in regular and large print are also available. See information about accessibility regarding Audio Guides.
Public Telephones
Wheelchair-accessible public telephones, as well as telephones with volume control, are located in the Museum. See the Access Map (PDF) for locations.
The Cloisters Museum and Gardens
Because of its landmark status, The Cloisters has somewhat limited accessibility for visitors with mobility impairments. For more information, please call 212-650-2211 in advance or ask at the entrance upon arrival. (See Accessibility at The Cloisters for more information.)
