Is MoMA worth it?

Worth it if…Lives up to the hype · −1Midtown's modern art heavyweight: Starry Night, Monet's Water Lilies, Warhol and a sculpture garden

Worth it, with conditions. 4.6 across 61,000+ Google reviews; the icons deliver, though crowding around the top pieces dulls the moment.

Hype70How famous and hyped it is

Reality69Evidence-based, votes take over as they come in

The gap−1Lives up to the hypeHow we score

4.6 ★ Google · 61,502 reviews— hypegap votes · be one of the first

Been to MoMA? Was it worth it?

One tap. No account. Your vote moves the Reality score.

Is it worth it for you?

Worth itEditorial verdict until 5 first-timers vote

Starry Night and Water Lilies are bucket-list pieces, and it's a short walk from Times Square.

Why Reality is 69

Lives up to its fame4/54.6 across 61,000+ Google reviews; the icons deliver, though crowding around the top pieces dulls the moment.

Value for money3/5$30 for a compact highlights visit; fair for art lovers, less so if contemporary art isn't your thing.

Can’t get it elsewhere4/5The city's definitive modern collection; the Met and Guggenheim overlap only partly.

Easy to do4/5Central Midtown location near several subway lines, no timed entry; only the Starry Night room and bag check get jammed.

What people loved

Genuine icons in one place: Van Gogh's The Starry Night, Monet's Water Lilies, Picasso, Kahlo, Pollock, WarholBright, spacious building after the 2019 expansion, with a calm sculpture garden in the middle of MidtownFree for under-16s and $17 for any full-time student, including international studentsWalkable from Times Square and Rockefeller Center; easy to slot into a Midtown day

What wore them down

The Starry Night room is crowded with tour groups and selfie queues by late morning$30 for a 2–3 hour highlights visit is pricier per hour than the Met's larger collectionFree Friday nights are NY residents only and get very busyContemporary galleries don't land with everyone; some reviewers admit they didn't understand much of itSlow bag and coat check on busy days; large bags must be checked

Know before you go

See something out of date? Fix it right here.

Booking: Not required, but advance online tickets skip the ticket queue; NY residents must reserve free Friday-night tickets.

Entry$30 adults, $22 seniors (65+) and visitors with disabilities, $17 full-time students (incl. international), free 16 and under; includes special exhibitionsSource · Checked Oct 16, 2026

Free entryUNIQLO Friday Nights: free for New York State residents Fridays 5:30–8:30 p.m.; reserve free tickets in advanceSource · Checked Oct 16, 2026

HoursDaily 10:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m., Fridays to 8:30 p.m.; closed Thanksgiving and Christmas; galleries close ~15 min earlySource · Checked Oct 16, 2026

ReservationBuy online ahead to skip the ticket line; free Friday tickets must be reservedSource · Checked Oct 16, 2026

Time needed2–3 hours for the highlights on floors 4 and 5; 4–5 hours for everythingSource · Checked Oct 16, 2026

Getting thereE/M to 5 Av/53 St or B/D/F/M to 47–50 Sts–Rockefeller Ctr; about a 10–15 min walk from Times SquareSource · Checked Oct 16, 2026

MoMA PS1The Queens satellite (22-25 Jackson Ave) is free for all visitorsSource · Checked Oct 16, 2026

Opening hours (Google)

Monday: 10:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Tuesday: 10:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Wednesday: 10:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Thursday: 10:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Friday: 10:30 AM – 8:30 PM
Saturday: 10:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Sunday: 10:30 AM – 5:30 PM

In their words

“Seeing absolute masterpieces like Van Gogh's The Starry Night and Claude Monet's massive Water Lilies up close in person is a completely surreal experience.”

Hamedullah Mohad · Google review · 3 months ago

“I did not honestly understand a lot of the work here, not an expert personally”

Vignesh D · Google review · 2 months ago

“There was a small line to enter on a weekday afternoon. I’d recommend going earlier in the day if possible.”

A S · Google review · 2 months ago

“The museum's 42-foot-long display of Water Lilies panels is a sight that, once seen, will never be forgotten.”

Bryant Thompson · Google review · 3 months ago

Tips from people who went

No tips yet. Be the first to share one.

One thing people should know

0/400 · no links · posts right away

Questions people ask

How much are MoMA tickets?

$30 for adults, $22 for seniors 65+, $17 for full-time students and free for anyone 16 and under.

Is MoMA free on Fridays?

Only for New York State residents, on Fridays 5:30–8:30 p.m., with free tickets reserved in advance.

Where is The Starry Night at MoMA?

On the fifth floor. Go at opening; the room is crowded with tour groups by late morning.

How long do you need at MoMA?

About 2–3 hours for the highlights on floors 4 and 5, or 4–5 hours for the whole museum.

Is MoMA PS1 free?

Yes. MoMA's Queens location, MoMA PS1, is free for all visitors.

Better fits, according to people who went

Worth it if…Reality 54 +3Guggenheim★ 4.3Uptown & Central Park · MuseumSmaller modern collection in Frank Lloyd Wright's spiral building on Museum Mile.

Worth itReality 84 +3The Met★ 4.8Uptown & Central Park · MuseumSame $30 price for a far larger collection, plus same-day Cloisters entry.

Worth it if…Reality 61 +15The Whitney★ 4.5Lower Manhattan & Downtown · MuseumAmerican modern and contemporary art with Hudson River terraces next to the High Line.

Worth itReality 90 −6Central Park★ 4.8Uptown & Central Park · ParkFree 843-acre park in the middle of Manhattan with lakes, lawns, bridges and the Ramble

Sources

Verdict by The Hype Gap editors. No one paid for it. Facts checked Oct 16, 2026. How we score · Standards