Biblical Israel at the Met: Guided Tour of the Bible in Art

Plenty of tours cover the Met's greatest hits. This one reads the museum through a single lens: the Bible, and the ancient world in which its stories were written and told. The collection spans more than 5,000 years of civilization from around the globe, and the guide picks out the art and artifacts that belong to the biblical age. The route starts in the tombs of ancient Egypt, the backdrop for the stories of Genesis and Exodus. It moves on to Byzantine and medieval art, where later artists pictured Israelite kings such as David and Solomon, and ends in Roman Judea, with the Temple in Jerusalem and the world of Jesus. Much depends on the guide, whose way of telling these stories is what brings the objects to life. One thing to know before booking. The Met's Ancient Near Eastern galleries are closed, and the museum has announced they will reopen in 2027. The Near Eastern pieces that normally sit at the heart of a Bible tour cannot be seen for now, so the route relies on the other collections it covers. The museum also does not guarantee that every gallery is open on a given day. The tour lasts two hours and runs in English, with up to 12 travelers per booking. Entrance fees are included; gratuities are not. You meet the guide inside the main entrance, by the Pharaoh statue on your right, after the security check that every visitor goes through. Expect a fair amount of walking between wings: a moderate level of fitness helps, though the route is wheelchair and stroller accessible. The museum is closed on Wednesdays.