How to have a great time in museums

Visiting museums can be great fun. Everybody has an idea in mind when choosing a museum to visit, but these tips can help maximise your experience:

• Many museums and galleries have websites, Facebook pages and Twitter feeds. Do a bit of research to understand what is available and what will be of interest. Identify the “must-see” collections and exhibits. This will help you plan the time you need to enjoy your visit. So get in the zone and gather your info!

• Knowing the cost of your visit is also a good idea. Many of us visit museums in groups, so adding up costs beforehand will avoid unnecessary stress. Account for entry fees, supplementary exhibition fees, refreshments and transport – as well as any souvenirs you may want to take home. Don’t forget to look out for special programmes and ticketing opportunities offered through many museum websites. And lastly, make sure you know how to get there to avoid frustration, especially with kids. With all this info at hand, you are now ready to enjoy yourselves.

• Arriving at the museum, get a map or look for an orientation area. Understand how space is organised so you can plan your itinerary.

• Have a focus but stay flexible: museums can be tiresome and big. Don’t expect to read and absorb everything at once. Move about at an enjoyable pace, focus on what interests you most, make use of pause spaces and take breaks. Museums won’t go away; you can always go back for more.

• When visiting museums with children, adults become facilitators of the experience, and children can learn from each other. Some museums provide kids’ quizzes or activity booklets that make the little ones’ time fun and educational. Some places also have kiddies’ areas, where hands-on exploration is encouraged.

• Remember that children learn in a very different way from adults, and forcing your own agendas on them is sure to end in frustration. Have a background plan but allow their interests to help you guide them through. Relax and enjoy learning with children. You will end up with a different perspective on subjects and children will absorb more when they are relaxed.

• Exhibition developers spend lots of time planning your experience, so be open to it and make it your own journey of discovery.

• If guides are available, talk to them. It is incredible how much can be learned from these passionate individuals, who are trained to deal with your questions and guide you through the experience.

• If you find that exhibits are too content-heavy, try to identify with the logic of the information in the space, the thematic areas and how information is displayed. Try engaging with the exhibit, even if it’s at a basic level, so that you have an understanding of the big picture. This will be better than skipping large exhibition zones and possibly missing the point at the end.

• Lastly, museum experiences are great opportunities to bond, be inspired and educate yourself while having fun. Leave the disciplinarian at home and have a great time – one that you will remember long after you leave.