Attraction
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Met on Fifth Avenue is one of the world's great encyclopaedic art museums, spanning five thousand years of art from every corner of the globe.
American Museum of Natural History
Facing Central Park, this natural history museum is known for its dinosaur halls, the blue whale model, the Rose Center planetarium and the Gilder Center.
At a glance
- Type
- Natural history museum
- Area
- Upper West Side, New York, United States
- Opening
- Open daily · 10:00–17:30
- Official site
- amnh.org
- Last checked
- October 23, 2026
Good to know
- Pay-what-you-wish for NY State residents
- Planetarium
- Family friendly
- Café
Why we recommend it
The American Museum of Natural History occupies several blocks on Central Park West and is a favourite with families and science fans alike. Its fossil halls are famous for their dinosaur skeletons, the Milstein Hall of Ocean Life is dominated by a life-size blue whale model, and the Hayden Planetarium sits inside the glass cube of the Rose Center.
The Richard Gilder Center, with its cave-like atrium, adds an insectarium and butterfly vivarium. The museum is open daily from 10am to 5:30pm. General admission is cheaper for New York State residents, who can also pay what they wish, while ticketed exhibitions cost extra for everyone.
Reviewed by Lifestylemetro · Details checked October 23, 2026
American Museum of Natural History FAQs
Is the museum open every day?
Yes — it is open daily from 10am to 5:30pm, except Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
Is there pay-what-you-wish entry?
Yes, for New York State residents with ID, for general admission only.