Luggage Policy
Luggage is not allowed into the Museum and cannot be checked in at the Museum's coat-check facilities. This includes small carry-ons and oversize backpacks. All standard-size backpacks, large bags, and packages 16" x 16" x 8" or larger must be checked in at the coat-check facilities. The Museum reserves the right to decide what can and cannot be checked in at the coat-check facilities.
International Visitors
Maps, brochures, tours, and assistance in Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish can be obtained in the Great Hall during your visit to the Museum. In addition, the "Director's Selections" feature on the Audio Guide—available at distribution booths in the Great Hall and at the entrances to special exhibitions—is recorded in English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin, and Spanish.
Daily Programs
The Museum offers a broad spectrum of educational programming for all of its audiences, including guided tours in several languages, gallery talks, lectures, and films for adults as well as many activities for families and students. Almost all of these programs are free with Museum admission.
Audio Guide
The Audio Guide is available in English and several other languages at distribution booths in the Great Hall and at the entrances to special exhibitions. Transcripts in regular and large print are also available. Fees are waived for visitors who are hard of hearing, blind, or partially sighted. Audio Guides are equipped with volume control and are available with headsets or neck loops for hearing aids with T-switches.
Accessibility
Street-level entrances are at Fifth Avenue and 81st Street and at the Museum Parking Garage at Fifth Avenue and 80th Street. Wheelchairs are available free of charge at coat-check areas on a first-come, first-served basis. The Museum is accessible to wheelchair users.
Assistive Listening Devices
A limited number of FM assistive listening devices for Museum tours and programs are available at the Audio Guide desk in the Great Hall. The Grace Rainey Rogers Auditorium is equipped with an infrared sound enhancement system (headsets and neck loops). To obtain a headset, please ask an usher. Headsets and neck loops are available free of charge with identification.
Amenities for Children
Back carriers are available at coat-check areas at 81st Street and 82nd Street entrances. Strollers are permitted in most areas—inquire at Information Desks for gallery limitations. Oversized and jogging strollers are prohibited.
Coat-Check Facilities
All bags, standard-size backpacks, umbrellas, and packages 16" x 16" x 8" or larger must be checked in at the coat-check facilities. To avoid waiting in line at the coat-check facilities, please do not bring these items to the Museum. Please note that luggage is not permitted in the Museum and may not be checked in at the coat-check. To ensure the safety of the artwork, the Museum does not permit bags to be carried on one's back in the galleries. Questions about the Museum's coat-check or luggage policy can be referred to the Security Office at 212-570-3781.
Gallery Photography Policy
Still photography is permitted for private, noncommercial use only in the Museum's galleries devoted to the permanent collection. Photographs cannot be published, sold, reproduced, transferred, distributed, or otherwise commercially exploited in any manner whatsoever. Photography is not permitted in special exhibitions or areas designated as "No Photography"; works of art on loan from private collections or other institutions may not be photographed. The use of a flash is prohibited. Movie and video cameras are prohibited. Tripods are allowed on weekdays only, and only with a permit issued by the Information Desk in the Great Hall. The Museum reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to withhold and/or withdraw permission to photograph on its premises or to reproduce photographs of objects in its collection.
Sketching and Copying
Sketching with pencil, felt tip, ballpoint, crayon, pastel, and charcoal is permitted in all galleries of the Museum devoted to the permanent collection and in most special exhibitions. Inquire at the Information Desk in the Great Hall regarding current special exhibitions in which sketching is permitted. The use of ink, fountain pen, and watercolor is prohibited. While sketching, please do not hinder the normal traffic flow in the galleries.
Lost and Found
Inquire at Information Desks about lost belongings. If you have left something behind at the Museum, call 212-570-3981.
First Aid
If you require first aid in the galleries, inform the nearest Security Officer.