Step behind the velvet ropes and go beyond the exhibits with our selection of the top 10 behind-the-scenes museum tours. These exclusive experiences offer a rare glimpse into the inner workings of some of the world's most prestigious cultural institutions.

The Louvre, Paris, France

The Louvre offers a fascinating behind-the-scenes tour that takes visitors through the museum's conservation labs. Here, you can witness the meticulous restoration work being done on priceless artworks, such as the Mona Lisa.

The British Museum, London, UK

The British Museum offers an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour called "Curator's Eye." This tour allows visitors to explore the museum's storage rooms and see artifacts that are not currently on display, including ancient manuscripts and archaeological finds.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City, USA

The Metropolitan Museum of Art offers a "Hidden Gems" tour, which takes visitors to lesser-known areas of the museum. This includes visits to the conservation labs, where you can see how artworks are preserved and restored.

The State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia

The State Hermitage Museum offers a behind-the-scenes tour that allows visitors to explore the museum's vast storage areas. Here, you can see the extensive collection of artworks and artifacts that are not currently on display.

The National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA

The National Museum of Natural History offers a "Collections Tour," where visitors can go behind the scenes and explore the museum's extensive collection of fossils, minerals, and specimens.

The Prado Museum, Madrid, Spain

The Prado Museum offers a unique behind-the-scenes tour that focuses on the museum's conservation and restoration techniques. Visitors can learn about the processes used to preserve and maintain the museum's collection of masterpieces.

The Egyptian Museum, Cairo, Egypt

The Egyptian Museum offers a "Vault Tour," where visitors can explore the museum's storage areas and see ancient artifacts that are not currently on display. This includes mummies, statues, and burial artifacts.

The Museum of Modern Art, New York City, USA

The Museum of Modern Art offers a "Studio Visit" tour, where visitors can go behind the scenes and see artists at work in their studios. This provides a unique insight into the creative process.

The Vatican Museums, Vatican City

The Vatican Museums offer a "Restoration Workshop" tour, where visitors can see the intricate restoration work being done on masterpieces from the Vatican's collection. This includes paintings, sculptures, and tapestries.

The National Air and Space Museum, Washington, D.C., USA

The National Air and Space Museum offers a "Behind-the-Scenes Tour" that takes visitors to areas not accessible to the general public. This includes the museum's storage facilities, where you can see aircraft and space artifacts up close.

These are just a few examples of the top behind-the-scenes museum tours available around the world. Each tour offers a unique opportunity to delve deeper into the history, conservation, and curation of museum collections. Make sure to check with the respective museums for availability, as some tours may have limited spaces or specific time slots.