You have 24 hours in New York City. You want to see the view from the top of the Empire State Building, photograph Times Square, walk down 5th Avenue and of course visit a museum.
There are hundreds of museums in New York City and you can’t possibly visit all of them. Two of the most popular, the Guggenheim and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, commonly known as the Met, are frequently visited by travelers from around the world. Considering both are large you’d probably only have time for one museum, but which one should you choose?
The Metropolitan Museum of Art:
Founded in 1870, the Met is the largest art museum in the United States, at 2,000,000 square feet according to HumanitiesWeb. Being a member of the Met, I’ve visited the museum several times and have also joined one of their teen programs. The museum is so large that if you want to thoroughly see all of the art, you’d probably have to spend several days there.
The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum:
The Guggenheim, named after Solomon Guggenheim, a philanthropist and art collector, is home to modern and contemporary art. I’ll admit, I’ve only been to the Guggenheim once, but that’s because I’ve pretty much seen the entire collection during that one trip and didn’t feel the need to go back.
Artwork:
Ads for the Guggenheim claim “If this is the frame, imagine the artwork.” Unfortunately, the artwork may not live up to the architecture. I’m no art critic, but compared to the art in the Met, Guggenheim falls short in terms of recognizable works of art. The Metropolitan Museum of Art is home to some truly legendary pieces, including Washington Crossing the Delaware by Emanuel Leutze whereas the Guggenheim has the Variant On Ancient Ground by Josef Albers.
The Met is home to American, Greek, Roman, Islamic, Medieval, Egyptian, Asian, African and Oceanic art.
While the Guggenheim has just paintings and framed artwork, the Met contains paintings, ancient artifacts (including an entire Egyptian temple), instruments and more.
Let’s compare some of the most famous artists whose works are present in the Met with the most famous artists with works in the Guggenheim:
Met:
- Rembrandt
- Francisco Goya
- Vincent van Gogh
- Pablo Picasso
- Leonardo da Vinci
Guggenheim:
- Rudolf Bauer
- Amedeo Modigliani
- Oskar Kokoschka
I don’t know much about art, but I’ve heard of Rembrandt, van Gogh, Goya, da Vinci and Picasso. But I have no idea who Rudolf Bauer, Amedeo Modigliani or Oskar Kokoschka are.
Overall, the Met has the ‘better’ art.
A stunning frame doesn’t mean stunning art. I didn’t go to the Louvre to see Mona Lisa’s frame.
Architecture:
I’ve been a bit harsh on the Guggenheim thus far, so I’ll have to admit that the Guggenheim museum’s architecture is extremely unique and picturesque. The spiral interior moves at a gentle incline, meaning that stairs aren’t needed to move up the floors. The entire museum is basically one giant sphere. The center of the museum is open, allowing you to view the spiral from all sides.
The architecture of the Met isn’t nearly as unique as the Guggenheim, although it is somewhat historical since it was built in the late 1800s.
Facilities and Staff:
Guggenheim security guards don’t allow visitors to take pictures on all floors, except for the first floor. You could probably get a good shot of the spiral interior from the bottom floor, but it’s a shame that they won’t let you take pictures on all floors.
Strangely, when I went to the Guggenheim, there was a protest against the poor working conditions of migrant workers building a new Guggenheim museum in Abu Dhabi. Be sure to read about my experience in the Guggenheim during the protest. It was a truly bizarre sight.
Several staff members at the Met are volunteers who are clearly passionate about the art and the museum. During the several occasions that I’ve gotten lost inside the Met, there have always been helpful staff to send me in the right direction. You are allowed to take pictures inside the Met. The Met also has art programs for kids and teens.
Pricing:
Admission to the Met is at a pay as you wish basis for residents of New York State and students in NY, NJ and CT, however the recommended amount is $25 per person, and almost everyone seems to pay $25. Apparently paying 1 penny is acceptable, however visiting the Met is definitely worth the recommended $25.
There is also an option to pay $7 to borrow a headset loaded with recorded explanations of the art pieces. If you plan to visit the Met often, it’s a good idea to become a Met Museum member. To become a member you donate a certain amount of money, then get to go to the Met for free for the year, access to exhibitions before the general public and other benefits.
It costs $25 for adults to visit the Guggenheim museum. They have a membership also for unlimited admission and discounts at their store and cafe. Refer to the screenshots for more information.
The Verdict:
If you had a limited amount of time in New York City and had to choose between either the Met Museum or the Guggenheim, you should choose the Met Museum. Hands down. Although the Guggenheim does have a picturesque interior and exterior, the artwork and sheer size of the Met makes it the better option for visitors to NYC with a tight schedule.
The main appeal to go to the Guggenheim museum is its architecture, so you could potentially walk from the Met to the Guggenheim, snap a pic of the exterior, then leave. Both museums are along the Museum Mile and are within walking distance from each other.
Be sure to check out my other museum comparison post, The Hermitage vs The Met Museum.
Which museum do you prefer? Leave your comment below.
Bill Blackwell says
If you don’t know who the artists are at the Guggenheim, maybe you’re not as knowledgeable about art as you think you are, yet you think you’re qualified enough to tell people which to see.
Jonathan Looi says
😘😘😘