The Cleveland Museum of Art
4.9(14K)google
4.8(651)yelp
ArtEducationalFreeIndoor
Overview
The Cleveland Museum of Art (CMA) is an art museum in Cleveland, Ohio, United States. Located in the Wade Park District of University Circle, the museum is internationally renowned for its substantial holdings of Asian and Egyptian art and houses a diverse permanent collection of more than 61,000 works of art from around the world. The museum provides free general admission to the public.
Practical Info
MonClosed
Tue10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wed10:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Thu10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Fri10:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Sat10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sun10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Suggested Duration3-5 hours
Best TimeA world-class encyclopedia art museum that is completely free and open year-round. Visiting on Friday evenings between 5:00 PM and 8:30 PM is premier, as the museum extends its schedule. The magnificent late afternoon daylight streams through the grand Ames Atrium glass canopy, letting you examine medieval armor and Monet in serene silence.
Getting ThereCommanding the historic University Circle cultural park at 11150 East Boulevard. Take the RTA Red Line subway to the Little Italy-University Circle station and enjoy a scenic 10-minute flat walk west. For drivers, the most seamless solution is pulling directly into the museum's private paid multi-story parking ramp located beneath the north plaza.
Travel Tips
- General admission is famously free, but premium special exhibitions require timed paid ticketing. The entire infrastructure is closed on Mondays.
- The museum's parking garage frequently hits absolute capacity on weekends. Utilize University Circle parking decks or the local RTA HealthLine transit.
Photo Tips
Photo Rules
- Selfie sticks, heavy tripods, and monopods are legally banned. Large daypacks and bags must be checked at the complimentary coat room upon entry.
Reviews
Positive
- The permanent collection is completely free to enter! The scale and quality of items are world-class, with the armor court and Asian galleries being stunning.
- The central glass atrium is massive, airy, and flooded with beautiful natural light; it offers plenty of seating, making it a perfect spot to relax.
- The digital ArtLens Gallery is highly futuristic, letting guests interact with art via gestures and screens, which is incredibly engaging for kids.
- The gallery docents and security staff are remarkably polite, the restrooms are spotless, and multi-language signage reflects impeccable management.
Heads up
- While museum admission is free, their underground parking deck is very expensive; hunting for street parking in the vicinity is an absolute nightmare.
- The facility footprint is gigantic, and the walkways joining the historic and modern wings are intricate, making it easy for first-timers to get lost.
- The fine dining restaurant inside is pricey with small portions, while the casual cafe hits massive queues and severe seating shortages during lunch rush.
- Certain hot special exhibitions are excluded from the free admission, requiring pricey tickets and strict timed-entry slots that sell out quickly.