The New York Met Unveiled: Semi-Private Tour

Did you know that the Metropolitan Museum of Art is the fourth largest museum in the world? What do Jackie Kennedy, Central Park penthouses and an ancient Egyptian temple have to do with each other? Is there really an ancient biblical figure that moves around and "haunts" the Met? Your guide will explain all!

NYC Met Tour Description

Your 3-hour museum tour includes:

• Skip-the-line Metropolitan Museum of Art Tickets (valid for the whole day)

• Small group tour of the Met's famous artwork and installations

• Washington Crossing the Delaware, The Death Of Socrates, and more!

• An expert English-speaking art guide

• Semi-private group size of 10

Early Civilizations

One of the first galleries your guide will take you through is a grand hall full of ancient Greek and Roman statues. You'll learn how to tell if a statue was made by Romans or Greeks in a very simple way, and you'll also explore a special area that the vast majority skip right past. After about 20 minutes, you'll set off to see the museums more modern artworks, but don't worry, you will be back in the Ancient world when you visit the Egyptian exhibits later on in the tour. The Met's most valuable piece is the complete Egyptian Temple that you'll see, and you'll learn the crazy history of how it got to New York City.

American Art

At the Met you'll see some of the most important works in the history of the United States. Home to pieces by Jackson Pollock, Andy Warhol, Georgia O'Keefe, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and many more, the MET has the ultimate collection of 20th Century American Art.

Your guide will also show you the iconic Washington Crossing the Delaware. This 1851 painting by Emanuel Leutze is over 20 feet long and wide representing the most famous event of the American Revolutionary War on Christmas night 1776. Often seen as the turning point in the US' War of Independence, once George Washington and his troops landed in Trenton, New Jersey, they led a surprise attack on British and Hessian soldiers. This rout of a victory raised all spirits and led to the the establishment of an independent United States of America. You'll get to see this classic American painting up close as your guide tells you the background of its meaning and the story of its creator.

Impressionist Works

Not all great impressionist work is found in Paris. Right in New York City at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, you'll see an incredible collection of 19th and 20th century Parisian works by Monet, Manet, Cezanne, and more. These paintings include works from Monet's Water Lillies collection as well as Manet's famous Boating and The Young Lady.

It won't only be French artists on display here, there are also many works by Van Gogh, Picasso, and incredible female artists like Rosa Bonheur, whose lesser known masterpiece The Horse Fair is found in the impressionist wing.

Explore More of the Met

As your tour comes to an end after three fascinating hours with you expert guide, you'll have seen all the main highlights of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It doesn't have to be over though—your ticket is valid all day, so if you're keen for a second look at any of the masterpieces you've covered, or if you want to visit any particular exhibits you wish you'd had more time with, then you're free to explore independently for as long as you like!