First visits go best with a plan — not a rigid one, just enough structure that you spend your energy on the art instead of the logistics. Here's the ninety-minute route we recommend to every newcomer.
Arrive at opening, start at the top
Doors open at 10 AM Tuesday to Friday, and the first hour is the quietest of the day. Take the elevator straight to Level 2 and work downward — the collection wing rewards fresh eyes, and you'll be walking with the light instead of against the crowds.
Pick three anchors, skip freely
You don't need to see everything. Choose three exhibitions that call to you and give each twenty minutes; treat the rest as a pleasant walk-through. Our timed tickets mean the rooms stay comfortable even when you linger.
Ninety focused minutes beat four exhausted hours. The building will still be here next month.
End in Hall Five
The watercolor hall is deliberately the calmest room in the building — low light, deep benches, soft color. Finish there, sit for ten minutes, and let the visit settle before the subway ride home.
The practical bits
Book online to skip the desk queue, cloakrooms are free on every floor, and the Mercer St entrance is fully step-free. Under-12s always enter free, and our café corner does a very respectable flat white.