Museum Travel Program

Join Princeton University Art Museum curators and leadership staff at some of the world’s foremost cultural destinations. These remarkable itineraries offer one-on-one connections with experts and include unique opportunities to view private collections, visit artists’ studios, and go behind the scenes at major museums. The travel groups are kept small, with hosts dedicated to the art of fine service, to promote a positive trip experience for all travelers.

The program is limited to benefactors and members of the Princeton University Art Museum.
Not yet a member? Join now and begin enjoying membership benefits—including these exclusive travel opportunities—immediately. Members at the Curator’s Circle level and above receive priority notice of Museum Travel Program offerings.

Ireland––SOLD OUT

May 10–17, 2024

An Extraordinary Week of Exclusive Access to the Art, Architecture, and Gardens of the Emerald Isle

A Long-Awaited Journey to Ireland with Museum Director James Steward

James Steward’s groundbreaking work on Irish art and design and deep personal relationships form the bedrock of this unique, once-in-a-lifetime visit to Ireland. Locked doors will open to some of the finest invitationonly art collections in Ireland. We will be hosted along the way by legendary collectors, keepers of centuries-old castles, and the guardians of some of Ireland’s masterpieces. Take in the verdant spring landscapes as we explore some of the country’s richest—and most private—artistic, cultural, and historic treasures.

Highlights include visits to private collections, artists’ studios, and leading-edge galleries, as well as behind-the-scenes visits to the National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin Castle, the Provost’s House at Trinity College Dublin, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Marsh’s Library, and the Casino at Marino.

We will visit several estates and landscape gardens including Newbridge, Ireland’s most intact Georgian house; Farmleigh House, which has rich associations with the Guinness family; the Palladian marvel that is Charleville House; Curraghmore House, the seat of the Marquess of Waterford; the home and gardens of the FitzGeralds at Dromana; and some country estates that are so exclusive, we will be required to sign nondisclosure agreements. 

Your trip includes four nights at The Merrion in Dublin, the capital’s most luxurious five-star hotel, and two nights at Lismore Castle, which is the Irish home of the Dukes of Devonshire and rarely available for individual travelers. Here we will enjoy the Castle’s exquisite stained glass windows and thick stone walls, centuries-old gardens, and exceptional artworks by Old Masters and leading contemporary artists. Our last two nights will be spent at Glin Castle, the home for 800 years to the FitzGerald family, the hereditary Knights of Glin. Located on the banks of the River Shannon, the Castle is now home to Catherine FitzGerald and her husband, the actor Dominic West. Once again we will enjoy private access to this unique historic house, its collections, and its gardens.

For more information, please contact museumtravel@princeton.edu or (609)258–4057.

 

Greece Ancient and Modern: A Curated Journey to Hellas

September 22–30, 2024

Journey to Greece with Carolyn Laferrière, Assistant Curator of Ancient Mediterranean Art 

Sun-drenched seaside villages, cobblestone streets, and legendary landscapes will serve as the backdrop to nine days of private access to the art, history, and architecture of Athens, Hydra, and Delphi this fall. Traveling with Princeton’s Assistant Curator of Ancient Mediterranean Art Carolyn Laferrière (PhD, Yale) as your guide, you will experience some of the unique cultural treasures Greece has to offer, from ancient to modern. An expert in the art and architecture of the ancient Mediterranean, Carolyn has connections with the region that will make this a once-in-a-lifetime excursion, balancing Greece’s extraordinary ancient past with the vital cultural scene of Athens and an array of exclusive art experiences.

The luxurious Hotel Grande Bretagne—the long-established social hub of Athens—will be our home for the length of our journey, allowing ample opportunity to settle in and experience the amenities of this lavishly appointed historical property. Boasting stunning views of the Acropolis, picturesque rooftop dining, personal butler service, and an award-winning spa, the “Grande Dame of Athens” is located within walking distance of many of the city’s attractions. Our itinerary includes free time to explore nearby antiques shops and markets on your own.

While in Athens, tours of the region’s most important art museums and artist studios—such as a private tour of the renowned Benaki Museum given by its director, a private look inside the new National Gallery, and a tour of the studio of sculptor Yannis Pappas—will lay the ground- work for your artistic experience of the country. Day trips to remarkable private collections, chic galleries, and makerspaces—as well as to picturesque locales such as the island of Hydra and coastal Sounion, which combine history with today’s charms—make this a special journey even for the seasoned traveler.

Greece’s archaeological sites are an unforgettable part of any trip to Greece, including the Parthenon, the Athenian Agora, and ancient Delphi. Traveling with the Princeton University Art Museum will afford you access and insights you never imagined, from trip leader Carolyn Laferrière as well as from local archaeological directors, curators, and other scholars. Your journey will feature not only luxury accommodation and exclusive access to Greece’s ancient and contemporary treasures but also dining at some of the finest restaurants the Mediterranean region has to offer—including the Michelin-starred Delta—and a private dining experience at the Ilias Lalaounis Jewelry Museum overlooking the Acropolis.

For more information, please contact museumtravel@princeton.edu or (609)258–4057.