Highlights of the Metropolitan Museum Guided Tour

Name: Highlights of the Metropolitan Museum Guided Tour
Brand: Walks - USA
SKU: 7167METEXPRESS
Price: 65 USD
Rating: 5 (730 reviews)

Recommended by 95% of travelersBadge of ExcellenceNew York City, USA

Metropolitan Museum of Art Tour with Skip the line Access

From $65.00

per person

Select Date and Travelers

up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)

- Secure your spot while staying flexible

2 to 3 hours (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

It’s possible to spend an entire day inside the Metropolitan Museum of Art and still not see everything, but this guided Met tour is the best way to take advantage of the riches that are inside one of the world’s greatest art museums. See the highlights of the collection and get special insight into the works of art on display, all within a small-group atmosphere. Choose an express tour, or opt for an extended tour to discover even more.

Skip the entrance lines at the Metropolitan Museum of Art
A guide knows the museum well so you can see more of the Met in less time
Small-group tour limited to 15 people provides an intimate experience
Choose between express and extended options to suit your schedule

Why Travelers Choose This Tour

This express tour skips the line and sees Met highlights in a few hours.

What's Included

Admission ticket to Metropolitan Museum of Art (MET)
Local guide
Small groups of only 15 people or fewer

Hotel pickup and drop-off
Food and drinks
Gratuities

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

The Metropolitan Museum of Art
1000 5th Ave, New York, NY 10028, USA
Please arrive 15 minutes prior to the start of your tour, your guide will be holding a green Walks sign. This tour meets at 1000 5th Ave (The Metropolitan Museum of Art). Meet in the main lobby to the right of the information desk in front of the large seated Pharaoh.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

The Metropolitan Museum of Art—or, as it’s affectionately called by New Yorkers, The Met—boasts an immense collection of art and artifacts that span more than 6,000 years of human history. It’s one of the world’s great museums. So great, it has the ability to overwhelm even its most artistically astute visitors. This tour, though, is the antidote to that.

Skip the line and stroll right into the museum. After meeting your guide in the lobby head off with your guide who explains the significance of each piece of art you stop to look at and curates a perfect tour of the museum's highlights.

To enjoy even more time at the museum, book an extended tour to see as much as possible.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

3 hours • Admission Ticket Included

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Wheelchair accessible
Stroller accessible
Service animals allowed
Near public transportation
Infants must sit on laps
Most travelers can participate
This is a walking tour. Guests should be able to walk at a moderate pace without difficulty.

The tour meeting time is 15 minutes prior to the start time. No refunds can be provided for late arrivals or no-shows.
A bag check is available. Please allow extra time and check your items prior to joining the tour.
Galleries and artwork visited during this tour are subject to closure and absences without prior notice. Your guide may need to modify to account for these events on the day of the tour.
Those requiring wheelchair access into the museum will need to enter the museum to the left of the main entrance (while facing it) where a ground level entrance is located. Please inform the staff you are meeting a tour group in the main lobby.
Tips/gratuities (for your guide) are always appreciated.
Non-flash photography is allowed. However but cannot be used inside the Museum. Selfie sticks are also prohibited. Please note there is a security check before entering the building that can take up to 15 minutes.
Walks / Devour complies with all local government regulations. Please refer to local government guidelines for the most up-to-date information.
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Questions?

Visit the Viator Help Centre for any further questions.

Product code: 7167METEXPRESS

Traveler Photos

Reviews

4.8

730 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

We perform checks on reviews

Showing 1-10 of 730 reviews

Wonderful tour of the Met with Stephane Z

Julia_M, Jan 2025

It’s hard to describe how truly wonderful the Highlights of the Metropolitan Museum 2 hour express tour with Stephane Z was. I have been lucky to take many tours in many great museums and this was hands down the best. The Met is amazing, vast and completely overwhelming to navigate on your own. Stephane Z made use of every moment, sharing his incredible depth and breadth of knowledge and eloquent story telling, giving us way more than a sprint through the greatest hits. I will remember more about what influenced the great artists, their personal quirks, and how art styles evolved over the centuries from our tour with Stephane than from any lecture on art history I took in college. Stephane Z showed us treasures that we would have never found on our own. We learned of Jackie Kennedy Onassis’s special relationship with the Egyptian wing, saw Marie Antoinette’s furniture, learned how the armor of the Japanese samurai differed from the armor of King Henry II of France, heard anecdotes of how Frank Lloyd Wright interacted with his patrons, and how Monet reacted when people confused him with Manet. And that barely scratches the surface of what we saw and learned. Stephane answered questions patiently, and was energetic, passionate and kind throughout. The tour was an incredible value—plus we skipped the very long entry lines, and we could exit and re-enter the museum all day long using the same entry tickets (included in the price of the tour). We recommend that you arrive at least 15 mins early to get through security and check your coat and bags. Don’t miss out on the BEST tour with the BEST value, and I hope that you are lucky enough to get Stephane Z as your guide. It was the highlight of our trip to NY!

“Hollywood Charles” was fabulous!

Tamara_C, Jan 2025

Charles is a former actor who has now learned super cool things about specific pieces in The Met. He was brilliant! Entertaining, interesting, protective of our group privacy, focused, inclusive. Highly recommend him and this tour!

Response from Host, Jan 2025

Dear Tamara, Thank you so much for your fantastic review! We're thrilled to hear that you had such a great time with Charles on your tour. Charles is a great valued member of the team, it’s wonderful that his acting background and passion for the art brought such depth to the experience. We’re also glad you appreciated his attention to privacy and inclusiveness—he truly strives to make each guest feel engaged and valued. We’re grateful for your high recommendation and would love to welcome you on another tour in the future! Best regards, Rod, Walks and Devour Team

Informative tour

Peggy_D, Jan 2025

A very enjoyable tour with a guide who’s passionate and knowledgeable about art and the history of the Met. I learned many things that I would never have learned if not for the tour. I recommend this tour.

Response from Host, Jan 2025

Hey Peggy, Thank you for taking the time to share your wonderful experience! We’re so glad to hear that you enjoyed the tour and learned so much about the art and history of The Met. It’s always our goal to bring new insights to our guests, and we’re happy our passionate guide could make that happen for you. We truly appreciate your recommendation, this is very useful for travelers looking at our tours; and we’d love to host you on another adventure soon! Happy travels, Rod, Walks and Devour Team

Highly recommended

Rosy_F, Jan 2025

Charlie was a really great guide. Tour was amazing- such a range of items to see including an Egyptian temple and especially loved the impressionist art by Monet, Degas and Van Gogh. Also saw Crossing the Delaware and Madame X. Also recommended best place to grab a bite of lunch xxx

Response from Host, Jan 2025

Dear Rosy, Thank you so much for sharing your fantastic experience! We’re thrilled to hear that Charlie made your tour of The Met so memorable. His passion for the art and the museum shines through, and it's wonderful that you enjoyed the range of incredible pieces, from the Egyptian temple to the Impressionist masterpieces. We’re also glad to hear his lunch recommendations were helpful! We hope to welcome you back on another adventure soon! Warm regards, Rod, Walks and Devour Team

So informative!

Catherine_K, Jan 2025

It was great to see the highlights of the museum. Our guide was very knowledgeable. He was very helpful.

Response from Host, Jan 2025

Dear Catherine, Thank you so much for sharing your experience with us! We’re thrilled to hear that you enjoyed exploring the highlights of the Metropolitan Museum. It’s wonderful to know that our guide was not only knowledgeable but also helpful throughout the tour. We hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you on another unforgettable adventure soon! Un saludo, Rod, Walks and Devour Team

Spectacular

Jerry_V, Jan 2025

The guide was informative and pleasant. He was also very well behaved and my wife and I could not wait to give home a great review

Response from Host, Jan 2025

Hi Jerry, Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re thrilled to hear that you and your wife enjoyed your tour at the Met. Our guides take great pride in sharing their knowledge, and it’s wonderful to hear that it made such a positive impact on your experience. 'Spectacular' is a descriptor we appreciate, and this will help many other travelers better understand the great tours we can deliver. We’d love to welcome you back for more insightful explorations in the future. Thank you again for your fantastic review! Best regards, Rod, Walks and Devour Team

Fabulous Met tour with Katie

Amy_T, Jan 2025

We had a fabulous Met tour with Katie. It was a highlight of our NYC trip. She is passionate about her job and she is personally invested in the importance of art for everyone. Her pasion was heartwarming.

Response from Host, Jan 2025

Hey Amy, Thank you so much for your fantastic feedback! It is great to hear that your time with Katie at the MET was a highlight of your NYC trip. It's wonderful to know that her passion for art made such a memorable impact on you. She truly embodies the heart of what we do—making art come alive for everyone. Your recommendation is very valuable and will go a long way to showing others the quality of our tours. Thank you again for sharing your experience with us and many others! Best regards, Rod, Walks and Devour Team

Outstanding tour by...

Donna_f, Jan 2025

Outstanding tour by Katie. She covered so much of The Met in 2 hours. She was very uplifting as well.

Response from Host, Jan 2025

Hi Donna, Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We're so glad to hear that you had an outstanding tour with Katie. It's fantastic to know she was able to bring so much of The Met to life in just 2 hours, and we're thrilled that you enjoyed her uplifting approach. We truly appreciate your kind words and would love to welcome you back for another enriching adventure. There's always more to discover, and we hope to see you again soon! Happy travels, Rod, Walks and Devour Team

What a great way to...

Conni_K, Jan 2025

What a great way to explore the MET! I really enjoyed the experience and did not feel overwhelmed by the vast displays.

Response from Host, Jan 2025

Hi Conni, Thank you for sharing your kind words! We’re so glad to hear that you had such a positive experience exploring the MET with us. It's wonderful to know that our guided tour helped you take in the museum's vast displays in a relaxed and enjoyable way. We hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you on another adventure soon—perhaps to uncover more amazing museums or hidden gems in the city! Best regards, Rod, Walks and Devour Team

Great tour

William_H, Dec 2024

Great introduction to this incredible museum. Our guide Stephan was very knowledgeable, friendly and enthusiastic.

Response from Host, Dec 2024

Hi William, Thank you for your thoughtful review! We’re thrilled to hear you had such a positive experience on the Highlights of the Metropolitan Museum Guided Tour. The Highlights tour is a great 2h trip that the smart route at the Mets most important pieces, so we are pleased that this was a great introduction to this wonderful site. Stephan’s extensive knowledge, friendly demeanor, and enthusiasm truly make exploring the museum an engaging and memorable adventure, and we’re delighted he made your introduction to this iconic institution so enjoyable. We hope to see you again soon, perhaps for a deeper dive into another fascinating section of the Met! Un saludo, - Rod, Walks and Devour Team

2 Hour Tour

Michele_G, Dec 2024

Katie was amazing and obviously loves her job! She went above and beyond to show members of family something extra.

Response from Host, Dec 2024

Hi Michele, Thank you for sharing your experience! We're delighted to hear that Katie made such a positive impression and did her best to make your family’s experience extra special ❤️ We hope to welcome you back on another tour soon! Warm wishes, Andrii Walks & Devour Tours

An amazing, must-see tour

Derek_R, Dec 2024

This was my 5th or 6th Met tour and the second time I did this 3-hour tour. Every tour of the Met is a little bit the same and a little bit different. Some of the core highlights are going to be shown in every tour but the focus and interests of the guide shape the balance of the experience. Our guide, Stephane (apologies if I spelled it wrong), was one of my favorites of all the tours I've done. Most guides lean more towards a historical point of view (which is always interesting), but this tour had a very strong aesthetic and technical focus. Our guide had such a strong sense of the historical, semantic and technical aspects of art while showing such a passion for the visual power of what we saw, it was exhilarating. He showed us some parts of the Met I hadn't seen before and brought everything to life with such passion. It's a great tour. The only downside is that while a 3-hour tour (without food or bathroom breaks) may sound intimidating, it is a whirlwind, high-speed sprint through the museum. There is just so much to see. I would love a tour that just focuses on specific periods that take a longer time to linger over some of the art.

Response from Host, Dec 2024

Hi Derek, Thank you for sharing your experience with such detail and enthusiasm! It’s wonderful to hear that you visited the MET so many times. We’re thrilled that Stephane’s expertise and passion made this visit particularly memorable for you! We understand that there are so much incredible art to explore. Your suggestion for a more focused, in-depth tour of specific periods is valuable, and we’ll take it into consideration for future offerings. Thank you again for your thoughtful feedback, and we hope to welcome you back for another exhilarating experience soon! Kindly, Andrii Walks & Devour Tours

Much better than roaming alone.

Susan_T, Nov 2024

Phil, our tour guide made it a valuable, educational, interesting and fun experience. The 3 hours passed quickly. It’s a good idea to arrive early and use the bathroom and coat check ahead of time.

Response from Host, Dec 2024

Hi Susan, Thank you for your kind words! We're so glad to hear that Phil made your tour educational, interesting, and fun. It’s great to know the 3 hours flew by, and we appreciate your helpful tip about arriving early! We hope to have the pleasure of guiding you again on another memorable tour! With best wishes, Andrii Walks & Devour Tours

Awesome!

Johnna_S, Nov 2024

Our guide was incredibly knowledgeable and entertaining! We had a lovely time and I would highly recommend this tour to all!

Response from Host, Nov 2024

Hey Johnna, Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear that your guide made the experience both informative and entertaining. It’s great to know you had such a lovely time, and we truly appreciate your recommendation! For your next adventure, we highly recommend the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Guided Tour with Ferry. It’s a must-do for anyone visiting New York, offering an in-depth look at two of the most iconic landmarks in the U.S. 😉 We’re sure you’ll have another unforgettable experience! Warm wishes, Andrii Walks & Devour Tours

Excellent

Christina_B, Nov 2024

Luis did an excellent job in explaining points of interest, while also providing his own personal history and fondness of the museum

Response from Host, Nov 2024

Hey Christina, Thank you so much for your kind words about Luis! We're thrilled to hear that he made your experience enjoyable by sharing both his knowledge and personal connection to the museum! If you’re interested in exploring more iconic New York landmarks, we highly recommend the NYC: Official Grand Central Terminal Tour. It’s a fantastic way to learn more about the rich history and hidden gems of this famous landmark! We hope to welcome you on another tour soon! Warm wishes, Andrii Walks & Devour Tours

Excellent infirmed guide with highly engaging approach

Ann_r, Nov 2024

Our guide was wonderful. He brought us to various highlights but also gave us enough information for us to go back to areas of interest to us.

Response from Host, Nov 2024

Hey Ann, Thank you so much for your kind review! We’re delighted to hear that your guide provided a fantastic experience! If you’re planning a trip to New York City, we highly recommend the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Guided Tour with Ferry. It’s an incredible way to dive into the history of these iconic landmarks, with a knowledgeable guide to enrich your experience as you explore the Statue of Liberty, learn about the immigrant stories at Ellis Island, and enjoy the beautiful views of the city from the ferry 🌊😍 We’d love for you to join us on this memorable journey! With best wishes, Andrii Walks & Devour Tours

Excellent

SUSAN_A, Nov 2024

Great tour - our guide Jett was very friendly and knowledgeable. Would definitely recommend to others.

Response from Host, Nov 2024

Hey Susan, Thank you so much for your kind review! We’re thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the tour with Jett as your guide. His friendliness and depth of knowledge truly make the experience memorable. We’re glad you found it worthwhile and would recommend it to others! If your travels take you to Washington, D.C., we highly recommend the VIP Mount Vernon Day Trip & Potomac River Cruise. It’s an excellent way to explore George Washington's estate and enjoy a scenic cruise on the Potomac River! We hope you have another fantastic experience! Sincerely, Andrii Walks & Devour Tours

Awesome

CJ_S, Nov 2024

Great experience! Kevins was very knowledgeable and we enjoyed hearing his outlook on the pieces of art.

Response from Host, Nov 2024

Hey there, Thank you for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear that Kevin made the art tour so enjoyable with his knowledge and insights. His ability to share unique perspectives really adds to the experience! If you enjoyed that art tour, we highly recommend the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Guided Tour with Ferry. This tour offers to learn more about the history of two of New York’s most iconic landmarks, with an expert guide to share the stories behind them. You'll discover the significance of the Statue of Liberty as a symbol of freedom and the important role Ellis Island played in America's immigrant history! We are looking forward to your next visit! Sincerely, Andrii Walks & Devour Tours

Quick trip

mreuchner, Nov 2024

2 hours is not enough time to see the whole museum so either do a longer tour or purchase a Museum ticket. You could easily spend 4-5 hours in the museum. We did however enjoy the tour and the tour guide who hit the “Highlights”

Response from Host, Nov 2024

Hey there, Thank you for your feedback! We’re glad to hear you enjoyed the tour and your guide’s insights into the museum highlights. It’s true that the museum is vast, and there’s so much to explore. If you’re interested in discovering other iconic sites with a similar level of detail, consider our NYC: Official Grand Central Terminal Tour. It’s a wonderful way to delve into the history and architectural beauty of this historic landmark! Thanks again for joining us, and we hope to see you on another tour soon! Sincerely, Andrii Walks & Devour Tours

Quick but just enough

Laura_M, Oct 2024

I liked that we knew from the beginning what the tour would be like, what it would and wouldn't cover; that we'd move at a quick pace, and we finished almost right on time. Plenty of time for questions and comments though, during the tour, and a lot of interesting insights.

Response from Host, Oct 2024

Hi Laura, Thank you for your thoughtful feedback! We're so glad to hear you appreciated the clear expectations, efficient pacing, and the engaging insights from your tour. It's wonderful that you had plenty of time for questions along the way and still wrapped up on time! If you enjoyed this experience, we highly recommend our Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Guided Tour with Ferry. It offers a perfect blend of history, storytelling, and scenic views—an unforgettable way to explore two iconic landmarks! We can't wait to see you again! With best wishes, Andrii Walks & Devour Tours

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