Effortless Transit: The Simplest Way to Travel from JFK to the Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Metropolitan Museum of Art is at 1000 Fifth Avenue, on Manhattan's Upper East Side, bordering Central Park. Getting there from JFK comes down to three choices: public transit with a couple of transfers, a taxi at the flat Manhattan fare, or a short helicopter flight into Manhattan followed by a ride uptown.

Key Takeaways

• The cheapest route is AirTrain JFK to Jamaica, then the subway or the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) into Manhattan, then the 4, 5 or 6 train to 86th Street.
• A taxi from JFK to Manhattan is a $70 flat fare, plus surcharges, tolls and tip.
• The Met is closed on Wednesdays. Check the hours before you plan a same-day visit from the airport.

Navigating from JFK Airport to the Metropolitan Museum of Art

JFK is in Queens, and the Met is in Manhattan, so every route crosses the East River at some point. The best choice depends on your luggage, your budget and the time of day.

Your Best Bet: Direct Transfer Services

If you land with bags and want the simplest door-to-door trip, take a taxi or an app-based car straight to the museum. If you want to skip the traffic into Manhattan, BLADE offers helicopter flights from JFK to Manhattan in about 5 minutes, from $195 per seat.

On a BLADE flight, a BLADE vehicle meets you curbside at your arrivals terminal and drives you to the helicopter. After you land at the West 30th Street or East 34th Street heliport, you can book BLADE Ground Connect to have a car waiting at the lounge, or have lounge staff help you order one, for the ride uptown to the Met. Each passenger can bring one carry-on and one personal item, up to 25 lbs combined.

Public Transportation Options

Public transit is the budget option. Every route starts with AirTrain JFK, which costs $8.75 when you exit at Jamaica or Howard Beach.

Subway and AirTrain:

1. Take the AirTrain from your terminal to Jamaica Station.
2. Take the E, J or Z subway from Sutphin Blvd-Archer Av-JFK Airport into Manhattan.
3. Transfer to an uptown 4, 5 or 6 train and ride to 86th Street.
4. Walk three blocks west to Fifth Avenue. The Met says this walk is about half a mile and takes about 10 minutes.

The subway and AirTrain together cost $11.75 for most riders.

LIRR and AirTrain:

1. Take the AirTrain to Jamaica Station.
2. Ride the LIRR to Grand Central or Penn Station. The LIRR ticket costs $5.25 off-peak or $7.25 at peak times, so the trip totals $14 or $16 with the AirTrain.
3. From Grand Central, continue on an uptown 4, 5 or 6 train to 86th Street. From Penn Station, the Met suggests the M4 bus to 83rd Street and Madison Avenue, or the C train to 81st Street and the M79 crosstown bus across Central Park.

Unlimited passes are not accepted on the AirTrain.

Taxi or Rideshare: A Door-to-Door Solution

Taxis between JFK and Manhattan charge a flat fare of $70. According to the NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC), you also pay:

• 50 cents MTA State Surcharge and a $1.00 Improvement Surcharge.
• $5.00 rush hour surcharge from 4 pm to 8 pm on weekdays, excluding legal holidays.
• New York State Congestion Surcharge of $2.50 in a yellow taxi, for trips that begin, end or pass through Manhattan south of 96th Street.
• Tips and any tolls.

App-based car services are another option. Their prices change with traffic and demand.

Preparing for Your Museum Visit

Purchasing Tickets in Advance

Advance tickets are not required, but buying online lets you go straight to any gallery entrance. Current prices:

Visitors with a disability pay $22 in person, and a care partner enters free. Pay-what-you-wish tickets bought online need a New York State billing address. All tickets include exhibitions and same-day entry to both Met locations.

What to Expect Upon Arrival

The Met's hours are:

The museum is also closed on Thanksgiving Day, December 25, January 1 and the first Monday in May. Some galleries close for renovation, including the Cantor Roof Garden and the Modern and Contemporary galleries, so check the Met's list of closed galleries before you go.

If you are coming straight from the airport with a suitcase, plan where to leave it first. Arriving at your hotel before the museum keeps the visit simple.

Exploring the Metropolitan Museum of Art

Navigating the Galleries

The Met is large, so pick a few collections before you arrive. The museum's collection areas range from Egyptian art to modern and contemporary art, and the Met publishes visiting guides and a list of what is on view.

Notable Exhibits and Artifacts

One of the best-known sights is the Temple of Dendur in the Egyptian Art collection. The temple was completed by 10 BCE and was commissioned by the Roman emperor Augustus to honor the goddess Isis. It was dismantled during the international campaign to save the monuments of Nubia, ahead of the rising waters of Lake Nasser, and the government of Egypt gave it to the people of the United States in recognition of the American contribution to that campaign.

Additional Travel Tips

Best Times to Visit

The Met is open late on Friday and Saturday, until 9 pm, which helps if your flight lands in the afternoon. It is closed every Wednesday, so avoid planning an airport-to-museum day for a Wednesday.

Nearby Attractions

The Met borders Central Park, so a walk in the park is the easiest add-on to your visit.

Dining and Shopping at the Museum

Culinary Delights Inside the Met

Current dining options include:

• The American Wing Cafe
• Petrie Court Cafe
• The Great Hall Balcony Cafe
• Balcony Lounge, with table service for Dual Members and above
• Lehman Cafe Cart, with light sandwiches, sweets and cold drinks

The Met Dining Room is permanently closed, and the Cantor Roof Garden Bar is closed during construction of The Tang Wing for Modern and Contemporary Art.

The Metropolitan Museum Gift Shop

The museum's shop sells reproductions of artworks and Met-inspired items, in the museum and online.

Getting Back to JFK or Other Destinations

Return Transit Options

For the return, reverse the route: the 4, 5 or 6 from 86th Street, then the subway or LIRR to Jamaica, then the AirTrain to your terminal. A taxi back to JFK is the same $70 flat fare plus surcharges.

To skip the drive back to the airport, BLADE offers flights from the West 30th Street and East 34th Street heliports to JFK in about 5 minutes. A BLADE vehicle takes you from the helicopter to your departure terminal. By-the-seat flights from West 30th Street run Monday to Wednesday 7 AM to 7 PM, Thursday and Friday 7 AM to 8 PM, and Sunday 3 PM to 7 PM. Flights from East 34th Street run weekdays 2

Extending Your New York Adventure

Staying longer? The Met's Upper East Side location puts Central Park at the door, and the subway and buses along Fifth and Madison Avenues connect you with the rest of Manhattan.

Summary

From JFK, the Met is a transit trip with transfers, a flat-fare taxi ride, or a short BLADE flight into Manhattan and a ride uptown. Check the museum hours first, especially if you land on a Wednesday, and buy tickets online to go straight to the galleries.

Frequently Asked Questions

What subway goes to Metropolitan Museum of Art?

Take the 4, 5 or 6 train to 86th Street and walk three blocks west to Fifth Avenue. The walk takes about 10 minutes.

Does JFK have a free shuttle?

AirTrain JFK is free for travel between terminals. You pay $8.75 only when you enter or exit at Jamaica or Howard Beach. Within Terminal 4, Delta runs a free shuttle bus between concourses.

What is the easiest way to get from JFK to Manhattan?

With luggage, a taxi at the $70 flat fare is the simplest. On a budget, take the AirTrain to Jamaica and then the subway or LIRR. To skip the traffic, BLADE offers flights from JFK to Manhattan in about 5 minutes, from $195 per seat.

Can I buy tickets for the Metropolitan Museum of Art in advance?

Yes. Advance tickets are not required, but buying online lets you go directly to any gallery entrance.

Is the Met open every day?

No. The Met is closed on Wednesdays, and on Thanksgiving Day, December 25, January 1 and the first Monday in May.