NYC: MOMA free friday nights
 

Does anyone have any experience with how crowded it gets on Friday nights due to free admission?

Thanks!
dina

Very crowded. Biggest crowds at the start of the free hours. If you go around 6 pm it's often not so bad.

LOT of people. I would head for what you really want to see first - since you may not get to cover everything.

I've been a few times. It will be crowded, but it is well worth the time and the cost is right!

My tips:

Wear layers ... it gets pretty warm in there with the crowds. You won't want to stand in the long coat check line, nor do you want to have to carry a huge coat in your arms. Wear thin layers that you can peel off and tie around your shoulders or waist.

Likewise, don't carry a bulky bag or backpack. You'll end up hitting others every time you turn around, and won't be able to maneuver as well.

Start at either the top- or your your favorite exhibit- and work your way down from there.

Don't rush to see everything. Go slowly and savor the art, and the crowds won't bother you nearly as much!

Went just before Christmas on Fri. last year. Yes, it was crowded,but the long line to go inside moved very quickly once the door was open. It was not that crowded once you got inside as you can choose the least crowded places to be.
Definitley worth going.

The museum itself isn't any more crowded than on a busy weekend day, but the last time I tried to go to a free Friday at MOMA I arrived at about 6:00, and the line to get in was over an hour long (it literally stretched all the way around the block). So I skipped it. That was right before Labor Day. The real problem is that the tourist traffic really picks up between now and Christmas, so the lines are particularly bad. If you are coming in January or February, you might have better luck.

You can buy a combo ticket for MOMA and Top of the Rock for $30, though, and that will cut a bit off the price, making it more affordable. To see the Van Gogh exhibit, you have to get a timed ticket (which I'd suggest you buy in advance).

Thank you so much for all the thoughtful and helpful replies!