Empire State Building to Met (Fifth Avenue) by bus
Quick answer: Take the M2 bus from Madison Av/E 35 St to Madison Av/E 79 St. The trip takes about 32 minutes door to door on a weekday (26 to 34 depending on the connection). The M2 bus comes about every 10 minutes during the day. It runs all night.
Empire State Building to Met (Fifth Avenue)
- M2
- Walk 5 minto Madison Av/E 35 St
- M2 M2 busFrom Madison Av/E 35 St6 stops, about 22 min
- Get off at Madison Av/E 79 St
- Met (Fifth Avenue)Walk about 5 min
Weekdays, fall 2026 MTA schedule · First and last trips
Step by step
- Walk about 5 minutes from Empire State Building to Madison Av/E 35 St.
- Take the M2 bus from Madison Av/E 35 St to Madison Av/E 79 St. It's 6 stops, about 22 minutes.
- From Madison Av/E 79 St, walk about 5 minutes to the Met (Fifth Avenue).
Other ways to go
- Take an uptown B train from 34 St-Herald Sq to 86 St, then take the M86 Select Bus Service bus from W 86 St/Central Park West to E 84 St/5 Av: about 34 minutes.
- Take the M4 bus from Madison Av/E 34 St to Madison Av/E 79 St: about 37 minutes.
Which one is faster depends on when you leave. Cobblehop compares them with live times.
Times and frequency
From the MTA's fall 2026 schedule. Typical trip is the door to door time in the middle of the day.
| Day | First trip | Last trip | Typical trip | M2 bus in the daytime |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weekdays | Runs all night | 33 min | About every 10 minutes | |
| Saturday | Runs all night | 24 min | About every 12 minutes | |
| Sunday | Runs all night | 24 min | About every 12 minutes | |
Late at night
This trip works around the clock. Between about 1 and 5 am the trip takes about 32 minutes, and the M2 bus comes about once an hour.
Tips for this trip
- Know your stop. Get ready after Madison Av/E 72 St. The next stop is Madison Av/E 79 St. Start a live trip in Cobblehop and it alerts you before your stop.
- Fifth Avenue at 82nd Street, on the edge of Central Park. (source, checked 2026-11-04)
What it costs
- Subway and local bus: $3 per ride with OMNY (tap a contactless card or phone) or a MetroCard. One transfer within 2 hours to the subway or a local bus is included.
Fares as of November 2026. Check the official fares page before you ride.
Empire State Building to Met (Fifth Avenue): common questions
How do I get from Empire State Building to Met (Fifth Avenue) by public transit?
Take the M2 bus from Madison Av/E 35 St to Madison Av/E 79 St.
How long does it take?
About 32 minutes door to door on a weekday, 26 to 34 depending on the connection. On weekends it's about 24 minutes.
Do I have to change?
No. The M2 bus goes all the way.
Does it run all night?
This trip works around the clock. Between about 1 and 5 am the trip takes about 32 minutes, and the M2 bus comes about once an hour.
How much does it cost?
Subway and local bus: $3 per ride with OMNY (tap a contactless card or phone) or a MetroCard. One transfer within 2 hours to the subway or a local bus is included.
Related routes
- Empire State Building to 9/11 Memorial & Museum
- Empire State Building to Statue of Liberty ferry at Battery Park
- Empire State Building to Central Park
- JFK Airport to Met (Fifth Avenue)
- LaGuardia Airport to Met (Fifth Avenue)
- Penn Station to Met (Fifth Avenue)
- All New York routes
Sources
Cobblehop is independent. It is not affiliated with the MTA or any transit agency. Schedules on this page come from the MTA's public GTFS data; check these pages for the latest service:
- MTA: developer data (the GTFS schedules used on this page)
- MTA: subway and bus fares
- Met (Fifth Avenue): visitor information
- Empire State Building: visitor information
Transit data: Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). Cobblehop is not affiliated with or endorsed by the MTA.
Published November 7, 2026. Times were computed from the MTA fall 2026 schedules for 2026-11-18 (weekday), 2026-11-21 and 2026-11-22. Planned work and holidays change service, so check Cobblehop for live times before you go.
Leaving now? Cobblehop gives you one clear plan with live times and alerts you before your stop.