How to go gallery hopping in New York

Gallery hopping means walking from one gallery to the next and seeing several shows in an afternoon. New York suits it well: most of the city's galleries sit in a few neighborhoods, often several to a block, and none of them charge admission.

Pick one neighborhood

Galleries cluster, so plan around one area at a time.

• Chelsea has the largest concentration, on the side streets between West 18th and West 28th Streets, west of Tenth Avenue. It is where you will find the largest galleries and the biggest solo shows.
• Tribeca has grown quickly; its galleries are on and around Walker, White and Franklin Streets and lower Broadway.
• Chinatown and the Lower East Side have many smaller galleries close together, often on upper floors.
• The Upper East Side has galleries in townhouses and upper-floor spaces around Madison Avenue.
• Brooklyn is more spread out; plan it by subway stop.

Each neighborhood page lists every show on view today, with addresses and dates.

Go Tuesday to Saturday

Most New York galleries are open Tuesday to Saturday, from about 10 or 11am to 6pm, and closed on Sunday and Monday. In July and August many keep summer hours and close on weekends. The guide to gallery hours has the details.

Plan a route

Shows change every four to eight weeks, so look up what is on before you go. Group the shows you want to see by street and allow ten to twenty minutes for each. In Chelsea a single block can hold five or more galleries; in Chinatown and on the Lower East Side, check for suite numbers and buzzers, because many galleries are upstairs.

What to expect inside

You can walk in without speaking to anyone and stay as long as you like. The front desk usually has a press release or a checklist of the works; prices are often available if you ask. Photographs without flash are usually fine, but some shows don't allow them, so look for a sign or ask. Don't touch the work.

Openings

New shows usually open with an evening reception, most often from 6 to 8pm, and many fall on Thursdays. Openings are free and open to anyone. See how gallery openings work and this week's openings.

Using Gallop

Gallop lists every show on view in New York on one map and one feed, with dates, each gallery's hours and whether it is open now. You can save shows, build a list for the afternoon and share it with friends.