Metropolitan Museum - best time of day to go?
 

Are the Friday or Saturday evenings less crowded than the afternoons?

No. Best time of day for fewest crowds is first thing in the morning when they open.

Definitely first thing in the morning when the museum opens at 9:30.

The Met is so large that I've never found the crowds to be a problem except in the special exhibits which can get so overcrowded that it's extremely difficult to get near the objects on display.

We are thinking of either Saturday or Monday (both during Memorial Day Weekend). You guys still recommend 9:30 for those days too? One day better than the other?

Thanks for posting this, terryb900!

Have you checked to make sure the museum is open on Memorial Day (Monday, I mean)? It is typically closed on Mondays.

The Mat is open on monday holidays now. memorial Day weekend early is a GREAT time to go - and the new Greek/Roman antiquities wing will be open by then - the pictures I've seen make it look spectacular . ..

The 9:30 recommendation is most relevant and important for a weekend day!! It can get to be a zoo later in the day on Saturdays, Sundays and/or holidays.

Beware the Monday! We went to the Met on a Holiday Monday and found that many of the exhibits (including the entire Impressionist gallery!) were closed due to understaffing. I'd say go for the Saturday first thing in the morning!

To answer your original question, (not everyone wants to run to a museum at 9:30 am!)I think that the evening hours feel perfectly civilized at the Met, and much better than afternoons.
On a holiday weekend, it wouldn't be too bad, I'd think. The greatest number of visitors to the Met are actually locals, rather than tourists, and many locals are away that weekend. Also, keep in mind that many tourists go to the theater on Fri and Sat night, so other than a particular exhibit that meay be hard to get into, most of the galleries sould be fine then.