Cleveland Museum of Art: a visitor guide (free admission)

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Why visit

It is one of the great US museums with a completely free permanent collection. It holds about 61,000 works from Ancient Egypt to contemporary art, including an armor collection, the medieval Guelph Treasure, Baroque painting, Impressionists and strong Asian holdings. It sits in University Circle next to Wade Oval, surrounded by other museums and gardens.

How to plan your visit

• You do not need a ticket for the permanent collection: walk in through the north entrance facing Wade Oval.
• Wednesdays and Fridays are open until 9pm, perfect for a quiet evening visit.
• Check if there is a paid special exhibition; these can be booked online or by phone.
• Without a car, the RTA Red Line stops at University Circle and the CircleLink shuttle is free.
• Use the AnyArt app to hear the story of any work without renting an audio guide.

Combine it with University Circle

The museum shares its neighbourhood with the Botanical Garden, the Museum of Natural History and Severance Hall. With a full day, spend the morning at the museum and the afternoon at another nearby institution.