Travel with The Met connects the Museum's wide and diverse audience to art, inspiration, and historical perspective. Our trips offer travelers the unique opportunity to see the world and humanity's highest artistic achievements with the guidance of The Met's renowned curators and educators. Itineraries focus on educational, enriching activities that will allow you to experience firsthand how art can bridge history and the present day to reveal our shared cultural heritage.
Trips are offered year-round to a variety of exciting destinations. More than just a vacation, a Travel with The Met international exploration combines curatorial expertise and behind-the-scenes viewing arrangements with spectacular itineraries and interesting companionship. The following list is updated regularly to include new itineraries as soon as they become available.
Join us for art-filled cultural cruises on one of our distinctive, privately chartered small ships and boutique riverboats. Reserve your place on an enriching Caribbean winter escape in February 2024, joining historic homes scholar and longtime Met educator Alice W. Schwarz aboard the legendary Sea Cloud as you cruise to breathtaking islands. Step ashore for expert-guided looks at historic colonial estates with ties to the U.S. Founding Fathers, lush botanical gardens, and surprising architectural wonders from a French-born visionary. In April 2024, sail with renowned museum educator Rika Burnham on a Northern Europe sea voyage of incredible scope aboard the new Ocean Albatros. Join expert guides for inside looks at art wonders in Bruges, Amsterdam, Hamburg, Berlin, Copenhagen, and other colorful cities. Below, see more of our enriching cultural cruises as well as land programs through 2024, all in the company of The Met’s lecturers and scholars.
Please contact a Met Travel consultant at Arrangements Abroad by phone 844-TRVLMET (844-878-5638); outside New York: 800-221-1944), or via email for more information or to reserve your place on any journey.
Travel back in time on a New Year’s explorations of Egypt’s timeless treasures. On an extraordinary journey that includes a four-night Nile River cruise, celebrate the New Year while you marvel at unparalleled ancient history. In Giza, tour the Great Pyramids; get an exclusive, up-close look at the Great Sphinx; and be among the first to visit the Grand Egyptian Museum, scheduled to open in 2023, and the new National Museum of Egyptian Civilization, permanent home of the royal mummy collection. Ring in 2024 at dinner and evening festivities with fellow travelers. After a privately chartered flight to Luxor for an overnight stay, explore the vast necropolis of Ancient Thebes. Board the luxury riverboat Sanctuary Nile Adventurer, following in the wake of ancient pharaohs. Along the way, step ashore to tour the Temple of Horus at Edfu, meet the crocodile god Sobek at Kom Ombo, and sail to the Temple of Philae near Aswan. Disembark and fly to Abu Simbel, where you will view the awe-inspiring statues of Ramses II and Nefertari, each over six stories tall. Conclude with a return to Cairo.
Traveling with You: Diana Craig Patch is the Lila Acheson Wallace Curator in Charge of the Department of Egyptian Art. She specializes in the art and archaeology of ancient Egypt, earning her PhD from the University of Pennsylvania with a dissertation on settlement patterns and early state development. Patch teaches and lectures frequently and has carried out extensive fieldwork in Egypt. She directed the Joint Expedition to Malqata (2008–19), the festival-city of Amenhotep III in Thebes.
Land/Cruise Rates: From $13,999 per person, double rate
Activity Level: Intermediate / Moderato
Download the brochure (PDF).
Beginning in vibrant Kolkata, sail the holiest river of Hinduism, the Ganges, on an enlightening voyage through India’s West Bengal region aboard the luxurious Ganges Voyager. Discover the fascinating metropolis of Kolkata, India’s second-largest city. Visit the superb Indian Museum, home to the precious remains of the third-century B.C. Buddhist stupa of Bharhut, with an exclusive tour of its peerless collection of Mughal and Rajput paintings (pending confirmation). Learn about Mother Teresa’s extraordinary life on a specially curated tour of Missionaries of Charity headquarters. Then embark Ganges Voyager, an elegant riverboat with luxurious amenities, on a seven-night journey, exploring the hidden corners of West Bengal, from its historic palaces, colonial architecture, and temple towns to its vibrant markets and untouched villages. Roam the extraordinary domes and landscaped gardens at Lord Krishna’s ISKCON temple in the village of Mayapur, one of the most sacred places in India, and explore the exceptional French colonial buildings in the 17th-century port of Chandannagar. Optional Kolkata prelude; optional Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur postlude (featuring a spectacular visit to the Taj Mahal).
Traveling with You: Christopher Noey is an art historian, author, and an Emmy award-winning producer of films on art and culture. At The Met, he created video installations for a diverse array of exhibitions and interviewed several contemporary Asian artists for The Artist Project, an online series and related Phaidon publication of his interviews with 120 contemporary artists on how they are inspired by The Met and its collections.
Land/Cruise Rates: From $9,999 per person, double rate
Activity Level: Active / Moderato
Download the brochure (PDF).
On an enriching winter escape, cruise aboard Sea Cloud to captivating Caribbean islands. First sailing in 1931, Sea Cloud was once the residence-at-sea of heiress and philanthropist Marjorie Merriweather Post. Savor the luxury and history of this legendary sailing yacht, which has hosted leaders and icons such as the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Sweden’s King Gustav V. Discover colonial estates, gardens, and the cultural intersections of Europe, Africa, and the Americas. Bask in Caribbean breezes, starlit nights, and impeccable hospitality. First, sail to the little-visited yet spectacular Grenadine island of Bequia. Go behind the scenes at a turtle hatchery to see how they are protecting these endangered creatures and observe skilled craftsmen building traditional boats by hand at a workshop. Venturing onward, Nevis awaits, with its meticulously reconstructed 17th-century childhood home of Alexander Hamilton, who was born on the island, and a botanical sanctuary boasting resplendent orchid terraces and a verdant rainforest conservancy. Immerse yourself in the gardens of Romney Manor on St. Kitts, an 18th-century plantation once owned by an ancestor of Thomas Jefferson. Explore the military fortress of Brimstone Hill, an extensive Revolutionary War site on St. Kitts, UNESCO-listed for its outstanding, extraordinarily well-preserved example of Colonial-era British military architecture. Step ashore in charming Terre-de-Haut in the Îles des Saintes. Finally, in Martinique, the “island of flowers,” go behind the scenes of spectacular gardens and hidden architectural marvels, including a lavishly adorned library that was meticulously transported from Paris to its current location.
Traveling with You: Alice W. Schwarz, a lecturer and educator with 40 years of experience at The Met and a master at the art of gallery-based teaching.
Cruise Rates: $8,999 per person, double rate
Activity Level: Intermediate / Moderate
Download the brochure (PDF).
With their ancient olive groves, charming hilltop villages, and azure Mediterranean coast, Provence and the Côte d’Azur have inspired seminal figures like Van Gogh, Picasso, and Matisse, with late 20th- and 21st-century artists as diverse as Anselm Kiefer, Frank Gehry, Tadao Ando, Tracey Emin, and even Bob Dylan following in their footsteps. Join art historian Page Knox on a behind-the-scenes journey to the South of France, where you will discover how the region’s beauty has fueled and continues to inspire creative genius. Gain exclusive access to legendary artists’ private studios and intimate spaces where they created historic masterpieces, from Van Gogh’s private room in a Provençal Romanesque monastery to to a mesmerizingly colorful Catholic church fully designed by Matisse. Join an expert at the 18th-century townhouse of little-known yet influential photographer Dora Maar, Picasso’s partner, muse, and advisor. Go behind the scenes of private art collections in spectacular settings. Enjoy an overnight stay in Provence’s unexpected creative oasis: Château La Coste, which Sotheby’s recently heralded as one of its “Unmissable Art Destinations.” Savor a full guided immersion and Villa Suite accommodations at this 600-acre wine estate, surrounded by its astonishing array of site-specific installations by world-renowned architects like Tadao Ando and Renzo Piano and artists such as Louise Bourgeois, Tracey Emin, and Sean Scully. Accommodations also include four nights at La Mirande in historic Avignon and two nights at the famous pink-domed, beachfront Le Negresco in Nice.
Traveling with You: Page Knox is Lecturer and Educator at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, where she offers her expertise on special exhibitions and the permanent collection, and also teaches membership classes. She is an adjunct professor of art history at Columbia University, where she received her Ph.D. in 2012.
Land Rates: $12,999 per person, double rate
Activity Level: Intermediate / Vivace
Download the brochure (PDF).
Aboard the brand-new small ship Ocean Albatros, embark on a captivating North Sea voyage to explore the influential Hanseatic League, a confederation of merchant guilds and market towns from the 12th to the 15th centuries, which generated unprecedented wealth along Europe’s northern coasts and laid the foundation for the Renaissance. Sail from the south of England to Denmark and discover the extravagant legacy of this prosperity, going behind the scenes of magnificent public buildings, lavish private houses, and richly furnished museums. Transfer from London to Portsmouth, where you will embark the recently christened Ocean Albatros. From England, sail to French Normandy for inside looks at marvelous châteaux, medieval cathedrals, and World War II history. In the Bayeux Cathedral, enjoy a private look at the sprawling Bayeux Tapestry, a landmark achievement of medieval art. Behold jewel-like medieval architecture in charming Bruges, Belgium. During Holland’s tulip season, discover millions of flowering bulbs at Keukenhof Gardens; experience Groningen, a hidden gem of a town; and enjoy exclusive private tours of museums such as Amsterdam’s Van Gogh Museum. Arrive in Germany for a day in Hamburg, with its massive UNESCO-listed district of brick warehouses, or delve into Hanseatic history at the European Hansemuseum in elegant Lübeck. Then navigate the picturesque, 61-mile-long Kiel Canal connecting the North Sea to the Baltic. Call in sparkling Rostock, the “Gateway to Scandinavia,” and spend a day in Copenhagen, where you’ll have a special tour of the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art.
Traveling with You: Rika Burnham is a leading theorist and practitioner of art museum gallery teaching. Author of Teaching in the Art Museum: Interpretation as Experience, and lecturer at Columbia University, she has served as Head of Education at the Frick Collection, Museum Educator at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Project Director for TIME/Teaching Institute in Museum Education at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and was appointed Getty Research Institute Museum Scholar in 2002 and 2018.
Cruise Rates: From $6,999 per person, double rate.
Activity Level: Intermediate / Moderato
Download the brochure (PDF).
In May 2024, embark on an enchanting cruise aboard the boutique riverboat Magnifique III, traversing the Low Countries from Amsterdam to Bruges. Journey along meandering rivers and canals, encountering majestic cathedrals, picturesque gardens, iconic windmills, and charming medieval villages. Immerse yourself in these cities’ medieval architectural splendor, from Amsterdam’s historic Begijnhof to Bruges’ serene béguinage. Travel with the guidance of seasoned museum educator Rika Burnham and enjoy private viewings of extraordinary masterpieces in churches and museums. From the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam to Antwerp’s Royal Museum of Fine Arts, Dutch and Flemish masters like Vermeer, Rembrandt, Bosch, and Bruegel will captivate you. Marvel at the meticulously restored Adoration of the Mystic Lamb in Ghent’s St. Bavo’s Cathedral. In Rotterdam, discover the city’s experimental 21st-century architecture, including the awe-inspiring Markthal, which combines residential apartments with a grand market, and access to the newly opened Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen, the world’s first public art storage facility.
Traveling with You: Rika Burnham is a leading theorist and practitioner of art museum gallery teaching. Author of Teaching in the Art Museum: Interpretation as Experience, and lecturer at Columbia University, she has served as Head of Education at the Frick Collection, Museum Educator at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Project Director for TIME/Teaching Institute in Museum Education at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and was appointed Getty Research Institute Museum Scholar in 2002 and 2018.
Land/Cruise Rates: From $8,999 per person (for select single-occupancy-only cabins); from $9,999 per person, double rate.
Activity Level: Intermediate / Moderato
Download the brochure (PDF).
Venture to the ancient cradle of Western Civilization on an Aegean Sea voyage from Athens to Istanbul. First, enjoy overnight hotel accommodations in the Greek capital, where a private, after-hours tour and reception at the Acropolis Museum—with views of the Parthenon—will be rare pleasures. Then embark on your seven-night Aegean cruise aboard the elegant Sea Cloud II, discovering timeless villages, whitewashed houses, natural splendors, and treasures of antiquity. Step ashore on stunning Greek islands of myth and legend, including Santorini and sacred Patmos. Sail onward to the Graeco-Roman sites of Asia Minor, now in modern-day Turkey. Enjoy a special excursion to Troy, immortalized in Homer’s Iliad. Discover the region’s fascinating history over several millennia, from Bronze Age archaeological wonders to Byzantine monasteries.
Traveling with You: Frank Dabell was educated at Oxford University and is a former Fellow of The Metropolitan Museum of Art. He has led tours for major museums on journeys throughout Europe, North Africa, the Mediterranean, and Russia and has been celebrated for his work as a travel program lecturer and guide by Travel + Leisure. Most recently, he led Travel with The Met’s 2023 program through the Aegean.
Land/Cruise Rates: From $8,999 per person, double rate
Activity Level: Intermediate / Moderato
Download the brochure (PDF).
Embark the elegant Sea Cloud II in Venice for an unforgettable Adriatic Sea journey between the Italian and Croatian coastlines, stepping ashore to admire timeless towns and archaeological sites. Savor a rare and exclusive inside look at the landmark achievements in art of the many cultures—from ancient Greeks and Romans to Byzantines and Venetians—who have made the Adriatic region their home. Starting in the lustrous canals of Venice, journey to Ravenna, former capital of the Western Roman Empire, to admire the fifth- and sixth-century mosaics of its early Christian churches. Traverse the Adriatic to Dubrovnik, one of Europe’s best-preserved medieval cities and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which Lord Byron called “the pearl of the Adriatic.” Discover nearby Hvar, a fertile island of green mountains, Venetian fortifications, and pale stone houses surrounded by rosemary, lavender, and laurel. Step ashore in Zadar, home to historic Roman ruins, medieval churches, cosmopolitan cafés, and quality museums. Further highlights include the seafront city of Pula, whose foundations go back to the fifth century B.C. Experience these cities as they were centuries ago by Roman magistrates and Venetian merchant princes—by sea.
Traveling with You: Keith Christiansen is Curator Emeritus, formerly the John Pope-Hennessy Chairman of the Department of European Paintings at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. He began work at The Met in 1977, and, during his 44 years there, organized numerous exhibitions on Renaissance and Baroque painting. He has written widely on Italian art and is the recipient of several awards.
Cruise Rates: From $7,999 per person, double rate
Activity Level: Intermediate / Moderato
Download the brochure (PDF).
On this Mediterranean Sea adventure touching two continents, cruise to the temples and cities left behind by waves of civilizations, including prehistoric peoples and the ancient Greeks, Carthaginians, and Romans. Sail aboard Sea Cloud II as it travels from Malta to rugged yet beautiful Sicily, Tunisia, and Spain’s Balearic Islands. In Sicily, visit the magnificent Greek ruins of Agrigento and Segesta. In the North African country of Tunisia, experience Tunis and the ancient city of Carthage. In Sardinia, wander through Su Nuraxi di Barumini to see nuraghi, imposing Bronze Age structures only found on this island, and tour Cagliari, Sardinia’s ancient capital. Sail to the island of Menorca and its picturesque capital Mahón. After a memorable day at sea, disembark in Tarragona.
Traveling with You: Page Knox is Lecturer and Educator at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, where she offers her expertise on special exhibitions and the permanent collection, and also teaches membership classes. She is an adjunct professor of art history at Columbia University, where she received her Ph.D. in 2012.
Cruise Rates: From $9,999 per person, double rate
Activity Level: Intermediate / Moderato
Download the brochure (PDF).
On this Balearic Sea adventure that combines a land program and an elegant cruise aboard Sea Cloud II, take an in-depth journey into the culture, history, and cuisine of cities along the Catalan coast and the Balearic islands of Ibiza and Mallorca. Experience the gems of Catalonia, starting with Girona, Northern Catalonia’s largest city. Over three nights with accommodations at an elegant hotel, discover Girona’s museums, galleries, and fine Romanesque and Gothic buildings, and visit the Museu d’Història dels Jueus, which highlights the contributions of Girona’s once-flourishing Jewish community. Continue to Figueres, the birthplace of Salvador Dalí and now home to his flamboyant theater-museum. Embark Sea Cloud II in Tarragona, formerly Tarraco, and explore its Roman ruins, the Iberian Peninsula’s oldest Roman settlement. On the Catalan coast, visit Valencia, where architectural styles abound, including architect Santiago Calatrava’s modern masterpieces. Stop on the glamorous island of Ibiza to explore its Phoenician history dating back 3,000 years, then head for the Balearic island of Mallorca. In its capital, Palma de Mallorca, tour La Seu, a spectacular sandstone cathedral that took 600 years to build, before returning to Tarragona for disembarkation.
Traveling with You: Rika Burnham is a leading theorist and practitioner of art museum gallery teaching. Author of Teaching in the Art Museum: Interpretation as Experience, and lecturer at Columbia University, she has served as Head of Education at the Frick Collection, Museum Educator at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Project Director for TIME/Teaching Institute in Museum Education at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and was appointed Getty Research Institute Museum Scholar in 2002 and 2018.
Land/Cruise Rates: From $6,999 per person, double rate
Activity Level: Intermediate / Moderato
Please call 844-878-5638 or email met@arrangementsabroad.com to be among the first to receive a brochure.
For more information, contact us by phone (212-570-3755), fax (212-396-5040), or email.
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To reach our tour operator directly, please contact a Met Travel consultant at Arrangements Abroad by phone 844-TRVLMET (844-878-5638); outside New York: 800-221-1944), email, or write to:
Arrangements Abroad
260 West 39th Street, 17th Floor
New York, NY 10018-4424
