FAQs: For Your Visit

For box office and ticket information, please visit our Tickets and Subscriptions FAQ.

• How do I get to the Met?
• Where do I park?
• What access and parking is available for people with disabilities?
• Can I rent binoculars or assisted listening systems?
• Do you have foreign language assistance?
• Is the opera translated?
• What is the dress code?
• Are children allowed?
• What if there is inclement weather?
• What if I'm late to the performance?
• Where can I eat?
• What can I bring?
• Is there a coat check?
• What if I lose or find something?
• May I smoke there?
• May I use my cell phone or beeper?
• May I take photos or record anything?
• Can I buy souvenirs?
• Can I buy a gift card?
• Where are the telephones and rest rooms?
• What are the security procedures at the Met?
• What if there is an emergency?
• Does the Met offer tours?
• Can I take a backstage tour?
• Does Lincoln Center offer tours?
• What if I have more questions?

How do I get to the Met?

Please refer to the Lincoln Center website for information regarding construction activity.

We are located on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in New York City, between West 62nd and 65th Streets and Columbus and Amsterdam Avenues.

View detailed location information, including a map.

Where do I Park?

The Lincoln Center "park and lock" parking garage is located underneath Lincoln Center. It is open to the public 24 hours a day.

The entrances are on West 65th Street (between Columbus and Amsterdam Avenues) and West 62nd Street (between Columbus and Amsterdam Avenues).

For more information, please call 1-877-909-PARK. To make parking reservations within three weeks of a performance date, please call Centercharge at 212-721-6500.

What access and parking is available for visitors with disabilities?

You may purchase tickets for wheelchair, removable armrest and companion seat locations at the box office, by phone (212-362-6000), online or by mail. View the seat map for the date and time of the performance you would like to attend for available locations. If you have questions or need additional assistance,  please call 212-362-6000.

Wheelchair Location Seats

By selecting a wheelchair location seat, your seat will always be removed to accommodate your wheelchair.

Removable Armrest Seats

The armrest on the aisle may be removed while you access your seat if requested to make it easier for disabled patrons to occupy the seat.
Please note: You must notify an usher on the night of the performance for assistance with transfer into your seat.

Companion Seats

To purchase a companion seat, a wheelchair or removable armrest seat must also be included in your order.

Accessibility

The wheelchair access entrance is on the Concourse level (Founders Hall). There is a wheelchair accessible telephone in Founders Hall and an accessible ladies’ rest room in Founders Hall and gentlemen’s and ladies’ rest rooms on the Parterre, Grand Tier, and Dress Circle levels.

For information on parking in the “yellow” wheelchair accessible section reserved through Lincoln Center parking, please call 212-721-6500. The entrance for this section is on Amsterdam Avenue and 63rd Street or Amsterdam Avenue and 64th Street,

Hearing Loss

Wireless headsets which work with the Sennheiser Infrared Listening System to amplify sound are available at the coat check station on the South Concourse Level before performances. A major credit card or driver's license is required for deposit. These headsets are provided as a free service for our audience members and no ticket refunds will be made for any malfunctions of this service.

Visual Impairment

Large print programs and Braille synopses of many operas are available free of charge. Please contact an usher for assistance.

A limited number of Family Circle score desk seats with no view of the stage are available. For information, please contact the Metropolitan Opera Guild Education Department at 212-769-7028.

Seeing eye dogs are always allowed in the Met. Please call 212-799-3100 ext. 2204 after 4:00pm Monday through Friday and on Saturdays beginning at 10:00am if you require assistance to your seat.

Can I rent binoculars or assisted-listening systems?

Binoculars are available for rental at the coat check station on the South Concourse level.

Wireless headsets which work with the Sennheiser Infrared Listening System to amplify sound are available at the coat check station on the South Concourse Level before performances. A major credit card or driver’s license is required for deposit.

Do you have foreign language assistance?

Call 212-362-6000 and tell our representative that you would like to speak with a translator. Assistance is available in more than 140 languages, including Cantonese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish. There is no additional charge for this service. Monday to Saturday 10:00 am to 8:00 pm and Sunday 12:00 noon to 6:00 pm Eastern Time (summer hours: Monday to Friday 10:00 am to 6:00 pm).

Is the opera translated?

Yes, all operas are translated via Met Titles. Met Titles are a custom designed system for simultaneous translation created by the Metropolitan Opera. They are available for all opera performances.

View detailed information about Met Titles.

What is the dress code?

There is no dress code at the Met. People dress more formally for Galas or openings of new productions, but this is optional. We recommend comfortable clothing appropriate for a professional setting.

Are children allowed?

Yes; however, all attendees, including children, must be ticketed for the performance. If you choose to bring a child and he/she creates a disturbance or interferes with anyone's enjoyment of the performance, you and the child will kindly be asked to watch the remainder of the performance in List Hall.

What if there is inclement weather?

Metropolitan Opera performances are rarely cancelled, but in the event of inclement weather or other problems that prohibit travel you may call 212-362-6000 for more information.

What if I'm late to the performance?

Latecomers will not be admitted to the auditorium until intermission or on rare occasions when the Conductor has designated an appropriate interval for seating. Warning chimes are sounded pre-performance and intermission at 8 minutes and 4 minutes prior to curtain. Audience members who leave the auditorium during a performance will not be readmitted until intermission or at an appropriate interval, if one has been designated by the Conductor.

There are areas off the North and South sides of the Orchestra level and in List Hall where latecomers may watch the performance on color screens until an appropriate time of entry.

Where can I eat?

Set within one the most spectacular cultural destinations in the world, The Grand Tier Restaurant is a shrine to elegance and artistry. Enjoy sumptuous contemporary cuisine by Chef Jeff Raider, pre-curtain or during intermission, served in an atmosphere highlighted by spectacular chandeliers and original masterpieces by Marc Chagall.   An evening at the Grand Tier is truly an experience to treasure forever.

The Grand Tier Restaurant at the Metropolitan Opera is now open two hours prior to curtain to all Lincoln Center ticket-holders for pre-curtain and intermission dining. For reservations please call 212-799-3400, book online or visit The Grand Tier Restaurant 

The Revlon Bar offers light snacks and a full-service bar. It is also open two hours prior to curtain for pre-curtain and intermission dining.

The Belmont Room is available for pre-performance dining and intermission cocktail service for Guild Members at the Donor Level (or higher) and Met Patrons. Pre-curtain and intermission bars are located in Founders Hall and on the Orchestra, Parterre (Parterre Box ticket holders only), Grand Tier and Family Circle levels. Snacks are available. A pre-curtain and intermission bar is available in the Board Room for the members of the Metropolitan Opera Patron Program.

View detailed dining and refreshment information. 

What can I bring?

Although you may bring a coat and other personal items such as handbags or umbrellas, please do not bring bags, parcels or luggage to the Metropolitan Opera House.

Please note that food and beverages are not permitted in the auditorium.

Due to increased security measures, the Opera House will open forty-five minutes prior to scheduled curtain times for operas, and thirty minutes prior to scheduled curtain times for ballets. Please come at your earliest convenience to avoid delays.

Is there a Coat Check?

There is a coat check station located on the South Concourse level.

There is a private coat check for members of the Metropolitan Opera Patron Program located in the lobby of List Hall.

Dinner hour checking is available on the north side of the Grand Tier starting 2 hours prior to curtain; coats are moved from the Grand Tier to the Concourse Level at 30 minutes prior to curtain.

An usher is available on the Parterre level during the dinner hour for those seated in the Parterre boxes who would like to leave their coats in their boxes.

What if I lose or find something?

Found items may be turned in to an usher.

For lost items, inquiries should be made at the Chief Usher’s Office on the day of the event.

Thereafter, please contact the Security Office at 212-799-3100, extension 2499. Hours are Monday - Friday, 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm, Eastern Time. We will return voice mail messages and inquiries the following business day.

May I smoke there?

In compliance with New York City Department of Health Regulations, smoking is prohibited in all areas of the theater as well as on the Lincoln Center Plaza.

May I use my cell phone or beeper?

Patrons with cellular telephones, alarm watches and/or electronic paging systems must turn them off prior to entering the auditorium.

May I take photos or record anything?

No, the photographing or sound recording of any performance, or the possession of any device for such photographing or sound recording inside the theater, without written permission of the management, is prohibited by law. Offenders may be ejected and liable for damages and other lawful remedies.

Lights inside the auditorium are also prohibited. Ticket holders using pen flashlights will be asked to discontinue the practice.

Can I buy souvenirs?

The Met Opera Shop, located in the north lobby adjacent to the box office, offers a wide selection of CDs, DVDs, books, and a lineup of special items inspired by and tied to Met productions and the company's history. We look forward to welcoming you to an exciting retail destination for the best in music, design, and the opera lifestyle. The store can be reached at 212-580-4090. Or shop online at The Met Opera Shop.

Opening hours:

Through August 27:
Mon to Sat 10am-6pm
Sun 12noon-6pm (closed July 25 and August 1)

August 28 through September 6 (Summer HD Festival):
10am until 30 minutes after the end of the HD transmission

September 7-26:
Mon to Sat 10am-8pm
Sun 12noon-6pm

From September 27:
Mon to Sat 10am-10pm (or end of second intermission) Sun 12noon-6pm

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Can I buy a gift card?

Gift Cards can be purchased by phone (212-362-6000), at the Met box office, in the Met Opera Shop or online. You can also purchase an E-Gift Card on the Met website.  

Where are the telephones and restrooms?

Public telephones are available on all levels except the Parterre. Lounges and rest rooms are available on all seating levels. Additional ladies’ rest rooms are available on the Family Circle and Founders Hall levels.

What are the security procedures at the Met?

We have taken many steps to ensure a safe environment for our valued patrons and employees. These procedures have been put in place after consultation with law enforcement agencies as well as security professionals. These initiatives are not necessarily visible to patrons.

Please do not bring bags, parcels or luggage to the Metropolitan Opera House.

Due to increased security measures, the Opera House will open forty-five minutes prior to scheduled curtain times for operas, and thirty minutes prior to scheduled curtain times for ballets.

What if there is an emergency?

A doctor is in attendance during all performances. In the case of a medical emergency, please notify an usher immediately.

The exits indicated by a red light and the sign nearest the seat you occupy are the shortest routes to the street. In the event of an emergency, please walk — do not run — to the nearest exit.

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The Metropolitan Opera Club

The Metropolitan Opera Club is a private club located on the Dress Circle level of the Metropolitan Opera House. Membership is through club nomination only.  

What if I have more questions?

Call us at 212-362-6000 or contact us online.

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