Family-Friendly Private Tour of the Metropolitan Museum of Art

A private tour of the Met for families with kids and teenagers, two and a half hours long, with a guide who works only for your group. All entrance fees are included and handled for you. The one wait nobody skips is the museum's security check at the door, which applies to every visitor; once you are through it, the guide takes over. The guide's job is to keep everyone interested, adults included, and the tool is storytelling plus a few activities along the way. The route runs from ancient Egypt to modern painting and picks the objects children remember: the armor made for Henry VIII, the staircase rescued from the Chicago Stock Exchange, and famous paintings by Vermeer, Van Gogh and Picasso. Parts of the modern and contemporary galleries are currently closed, so some works may change on the day. If the day is flexible, look at the Friday and Saturday evening slots. The museum stays open until 9 pm on those two days, and the evening tours tend to be quieter, which helps with younger children. The group is private, with a maximum of 8 people per booking. The route suits wheelchairs and strollers, though the walking adds up over two and a half hours and a moderate level of fitness helps. Large bags and suitcases are not allowed in the museum; handbags and small, thin backpacks are fine. Some rooms ask for quiet, and the guide will tell you before you enter them. The operator notes that the Met can close at short notice. If the opening is delayed by more than an hour past the tour start, it offers an alternative, but no refund or discount. Tips and hotel transfers are not included. The museum is closed on Wednesdays.