Visit

The Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East is one of the Harvard Museums of Science & Culture.

Admission: Free

Hours: Sunday–Friday, 11:00 am–4:00 pm

Closed the following days:

• Wednesday, November 25, 2026 (day before Thanksgiving)
• Thursday, November 26, 2026 (Thanksgiving Day)
• Thursday, December 24, 2026 (Christmas Eve)
• Friday, December 25, 2026 (Christmas)
• Saturday, December 26, 2026
• Sunday, December 27, 2026

• Friday, January 1, 2027 (New Year's Day)

   

The museum closes early on the following day:

• Tuesday, January 12, 2027 (at 3:00 pm)  

Parking in front of the museum is not available. Parking for cars and vans is available at the garage located at 52 Oxford Street. Permits must be purchased in advance online through the Harvard Parking Office.

Tour and school buses may get detailed bus parking instructions by contacting reservations at 617-495-3216.

Notice – visitor parking will not be available for purchase on the following dates due to student move–in:

• Monday, August 19th, 2024
• Thursday, August 22nd, 2024
• Wednesday, August 28th, 2024

Tours 

Tours by Harvard Students

Available during the Harvard Academic Year, Sundays at 1:00 pm, October 5, 2025–April 26, 2026.

This free tour, led by Harvard students, explores the Mediterranean Marketplaces: Connecting the Ancient World exhibition and how the movement of goods, peoples, and ideas around the ancient Mediterranean transformed the lives and livelihoods of people at all levels of society. Touch replicas and smell “ancient” scents as the students bring the past alive.

Touch Tours for Blind and Visually Impaired Visitors: Mediterranean Marketplaces 

Available by appointment during the Harvard academic year.

Available for blind and visually impaired visitors, this tour explores the Mediterranean Marketplaces: Connecting the Ancient World exhibition and how the movement of goods, peoples, and ideas around the ancient Mediterranean transformed the lives and livelihoods of people at all levels of society. Touchable replicas, a braille map, and items to smell are coupled with descriptions to spark discussion about innovations that had lasting impacts—even on the modern world. A sighted companion is welcome.

Learn more about tours

Please register all groups of 10 or more people at least two weeks in advance of your visit by using the online Reservation Request Form. The museum may not be able to allow entry without advance registration. Self-guided group visits are free of charge.

School Groups 

Self-guided school group visits are available for grades 4-12 with a reservation. We welcome groups of 10-24 students; groups of 25 or more can arrange a staggered entrance for their visit.

College Groups

College-level educators are invited to bring their classes from any university or program to the museum during open hours with a reservation. 

Educator Admission

Educators are invited to visit the museum free of charge anytime during open hours to plan for their students’ visits.

50-minute Virtual Field Trips are available for middle school students (grades 6-8) in groups of 10-50 students per session. Please reserve at least two weeks in advance. The fee is $150 for up to 50 students, and two sessions can be presented per day.

Please complete the online Reservation Request Form to begin the reservation process. Once your request has been reviewed, the Education Department will contact you to confirm your reservation and answer any questions you might have.

Enjoy your visit, and please help us keep the museum safe and comfortable for other visitors.

• No eating or drinking in the galleries
• Cell phones are permitted for phone calls in the ground-floor lobby
• Personal photography is allowed; however, the use of flash and tripods is not permitted in the galleries. The use of selfie sticks in the museum is prohibited. Commercial photography or video cameras are not permitted without written permission. Please contact the museum for permission: hmane@harvard.edu or (617) 495-4631. For rights and permissions regarding publications, please consult our Rights and Permissions page.
• The Harvard Museums of Science & Culture are committed to creating an environment where every visitor feels welcomed and respected. Our dedicated staff and volunteers are here to make your visit safe and enjoyable. Abusive, harassing, discriminatory, or threatening language or behavior toward volunteers, staff, or other visitors will not be tolerated.
• Visitors agree to abide by the University’s Campus Use Rules, the guidelines on the museums’ websites, and all instructions posted in the museums or provided by staff and volunteers during the visit. If a visitor or member of their party fails to follow the University and/or museums’ guidelines and instructions, they may be denied entry or required to leave the premises.

These policies are subject to change or reevaluation. 

Contact us at hmsc@hmsc.harvard.edu or 617-496-1638 with questions or for additional assistance before you arrive.