With lines regularly forming at the Metropolitan Museum of Art before it opens at 10 a.m., it is advised that visitors dress warmly during the holiday season if they plan to arrive early. If you’re willing to forgo a trip up the Met’s famous stairs, the lines at the street level entrance at 81st street tend to be shorter.

The holidays can be stressful, so if the crowds at the more popular exhibitions and galleries spike your anxiety, the museum recommends visiting the quiet spaces that can be found even during the holiday rush, including the Studiolo from the Ducal Palace in Gubbio (gallery 501), the Buddhist sculpture rooms in the Asian art section (galleries 206, 223-231, 234-240) and the tranquil galleries in the back of the Robert Lehman Wing (galleries 950-960).

Remember that the big museums have extended hours on Fridays, Saturdays or both. Most museums are open on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, but closed on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. (It’s always good to check websites to be sure, especially for commercial art galleries, many of which close for extended periods during the holiday season.) Here’s a small sampling of some of the exhibitions we’ve raved in recent months.