This was a wonderful way to experience The Met. I learned much more from this visit than from any of my previous ones. John Tyson is a true expert on art and a great teacher. Highly recommend!
Signature Met Museum Tour: Art Across Time
Discover the works and stories most visitors miss in the galleries
The Finer Details
The Metropolitan Museum of Art houses one of the most significant and comprehensive art collections in the world, spanning more than 5000 years of art history and containing more than 2.5 million objects. As with the Louvre in Paris, this massive museum of art can prove daunting to the first-time visitor. With this in mind, we’ve designed this “crash course” Met tour that is led by an art historian and provides a thorough overview of the museum’s most important collections.
Tour Description
Beginning in the Museum’s Great Hall, we’ll start with a brief introduction to the museum, which first opened its doors in 1872, and discuss why it strategically borders the east side of Central Park in the very exclusive neighborhood of the Upper East Side. Since our guide is an art historian with extensive experience with the Met, he or she may share some inside stories about curating shows here, or research in the galleries before diving into the collections.
Our first stop will be in the Egyptian galleries where we’ll see the Museum’s world-famous collection of artifacts, including statuary, tomb decoration, and jewelry, which our guide will use to paint a portrait of Egyptian dynasties. We’ll also visit the iconic Temple of Dendur, a Roman structure rescued from Aswan during dam construction, before moving on to the Chinese and Japanese galleries, where we’ll see the Chinese Garden Court, a replica of a Ming dynasty scholar’s courtyard.
As we move through the galleries with our guide, we’ll let the conversation glide from history to curating to the role of art in politics, work, and love. The tour is intentionally designed as a seminar-like experience so that participants can ask lots of questions and follow their interests.
Eventually, we’ll shift gears and move into Western art of the modern era, periods well represented by the Met. Our art adventure will bring us face to face with masterworks by such artists as El Greco, Caravaggio, Rembrandt, Degas, Matisse, Sargent, and Picasso, among others. It’s an eclectic mix, to be sure. However, our guide will expertly weave a narrative skein from gallery to gallery, tying works together around themes and ideas, and creating a magical intellectual experience.
Our guide will also curate our time together by selecting a mixture of famous and lesser-known works and crafting a narrative around our interests and questions. Our visit may also include a stop to the Islamic, Ancient Near East or Greek and Roman galleries, or the light- and sculpture-filled atrium of the American Wing, depending on time and interest.
This Met tour is designed to provide a general overview of the Met Museum and its collections.
Booking Instructions
As part of this tour, we will provide pre-purchased entry tickets to the Met Museum, which allow you to skip the long entry lines to the museum. These will be added to your cart when you check out. Your guide will have these with him/her on the day of the walk. All ticket sales are final and cannot be refunded. There will be a mandatory security line that we must wait in together.
PLEASE NOTE: The Annual Met Gala Event happens on the first Monday of May every year. The Met is only closed on the day of the event itself, but many galleries (usually including the Temple of Dendur) will also be closed in the week before and after the event.
PLEASE NOTE: The Annual Met Gala Event happens on the first Monday of May every year. The Met is only closed on the day of the event itself, but many galleries (usually including the Temple of Dendur) will also be closed in the week before and after the event.
FAQ
Where do we meet? Where does it end?
The walk starts and ends at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Your confirmation email will have the exact meeting point details along with a map.
Will you pre-purchase tickets?
We pre-purchase tickets to the museum. Your guide will have them on hand.
What are skip-the-line tickets?
What are skip-the-line tickets?
For this tour, your tickets are pre-purchased which allows you to skip the ticket office line upon arrival at the venue. You may still have to wait in a security line or in a line to have your pre-purchased ticket scanned.
What if it’s raining?
Tours operate rain or shine, but this tour takes place almost entirely indoors.
Is this tour good for kids and teens?
Yes! We have some excellent family-friendly guides who can appeal to the learning styles of children. We also have a separate Met tour for kids called Stories in Art, designed for families with children 12 and under. When booking, please provide us with information about your children, such as favorite school subjects and hobbies. This way we can match you with the best possible guide.
Is this walk mobility-friendly?
Overall, the museum is mobility-friendly. There are wheelchair-accessible entrances, elevators, and wheelchairs that are freely available to use. If you require a wheelchair, please mention this in the notes section when placing your order.
Meet the Experts
Where You’ll Go
From iconic landmarks to tucked-away local favorites, these are the places you’ll explore and experience firsthand with your Expert.
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Metropolitan Museum of ArtNew York museum with global art spanning antiquity, Renaissance, and modern works
What’s Included As Standard
Here’s a look at what your tour covers, plus anything you’ll want to consider arranging separately, so you can plan with confidence.
Included
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English-speaking expert guideTours led in English, offering you unbroken understanding throughout.
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Intentionally sized groupsA smaller group means more time for conversations and questions.
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Tickets and entrance feesAll entry tickets included (unless clearly stated otherwise).
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HeadsetsHeadsets are included on tours that need them, so every word can be heard.
Not Included
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Food and drinkUnless booking a Food & Drink tour or tasting experience, refreshments are not included.
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Transportation to and from the meeting pointUnless noted, pre- and post-tour transport isn’t included - this service can be added by request.
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GratuitiesTips aren’t included, but we encourage tipping as a way to thank your guide after your experience.
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Hotel pickup or drop-offUnless noted, travel to or from accommodation isn’t included - this service can be added by request.
Where You'll Explore
Make the Most of Your Tour
Some helpful advice for getting the most from your experience, from practical prep to small on-the-day tips.
Dos:
- Wear comfortable footwear
- Check the weather and dress appropriately
- Bring a bottle of water (no glass)
- Feel free to ask your Expert anything
Don'ts:
- Bring firearms or weapons
- Bring sharp objects (e.g. knives, swiss army knives, switchblades, hiking sticks)
- Dress inappropriately to enter religious sites or sacred monuments
Any questions? You can always
contact us.
Don’t just take our word for it
Isabelle was very knowledgeable and gave us a great overview of the flow of the Museum, and excellent detail where we needed it. She was also patient and thoughtful of our mobility challenges with a wheelchair guest. We were not rushed, and everyone truly enjoyed the entire tour. Thank you Isabelle!
Great tourguide!
Let Your Curiosity Shape Your Journey
Join passionate experts on intimate walking tours that reveal a city’s unique stories, spark conversations, and leave you seeing the world—and yourself—a little differently.
Structured, never scripted
Your interests guide your Expert, leading to stories and perspectives that matter to you.
Crafted for conversation
With 12 or fewer guests, ask questions, engage with your Expert, and fully immerse yourself.
Experts, not guides
Explore with 1,200+ Experts—from historians and architects to archaeologists and chefs.
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Experience the best of the Met Museum with our Met New York Tour which offer skip-the-line tickets and an expert-guided tour. This tour is designed to provide an immersive and educational journey through one of the world's most renowned art institutions.
Led by experienced art historians, this tour dives deep into the museum's vast collection, offering insights into iconic works and hidden gems. You’ll gain a richer understanding of art, history, and culture, all tailored to your interests.
To enhance your visit, explore our audio guide on New York's Gilded Age, providing context and stories that bring the era to life.
To enhance your visit, explore our audio guide on New York's Gilded Age, providing context and stories that bring the era to life.
Our blog on the best museums in New York City is a perfect companion to discover more must-visit spots.
Don’t miss this chance to learn from the best and make the most of your New York visit. Book your Met New York Tour today and unlock the treasures of the Met.
Don’t miss this chance to learn from the best and make the most of your New York visit. Book your Met New York Tour today and unlock the treasures of the Met.