The Best Museums in New York City You Must Visit
New York City is brimming with so many incredible cultural activities and sights. It is no doubt, then, that a visit to a few museums is on every person’s New York trip itinerary. It can be difficult to visit all of them, though, so below is a guide to the best museums in New York City. Days and hours of operation are included in each description, as well as the best pieces to see in each museum. This guide will help you determine which museums you will want to include in your own itinerary and how you can spend you time at each location. Happy museum-hopping!
Next: Check out this New York City Bucket List!
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
If you include only one museum on your New York itinerary, it should be the Metropolitan Museum of Art. One of the premiere museums in the world, the artifacts and art of this institution are incredible and unmatched.
The Met has over 490,00 pieces in its collection and multiple galleries, showcasing art from all over the world. The upside: there is something for everyone here. The downside: you could spend days just trying to see everything. There are multiple cafes located within the museum, which is helpful, since you can easily spend several hours (or more!) here.
Location: 1000 Fifth Avenue New York, NY 10028
Operating Hours: closed Wednesdays, Sunday-Tuesday and Thursdays: 10 am – 5 pm, Friday and Saturdays: 10 am – 9 pm; closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years Day, and 1st Monday in May
Price: adults- $30, seniors- $22, students- $17, children 12 and under- free; NY residents- pay what-you-wish
What to see: too many to count! Here are some of the best:
Young Woman with a Water Pitcher by Johannes Vermeer, Gallery 614
Museum of Modern Art
The Museum of Modern Art houses some of the most famous paintings of Impressionist, Modern, and Contemporary artists. It is a must-visit museum in NYC. The collection includes pieces by recognizable artists such as Picasso, Van Gogh, and Monet.
While the collection is large, you can visit the entire museum in a few hours (depending on how much time you personally like to spend in museums!). It can get crowded, so that could make the visit a little bit longer. There are a few cafe and bar options as well.
Location: 11 W 53rd St. New York, NY 10019
Operating Hours: open everyday: 10:30 am – 5:30 pm, Saturdays: open until 7 pm, closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas
Price: adults- $30, seniors- $22, students- $17, children 16 and under- free; *advanced online purchase is recommended*
What to see:
Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh, Floor 5, 501
Campbell’s Soup Cans by Andy Warhol, Floor 4, 412
Les Desmoiselles d’Avignon by Pablo Picasso, Floor 5, 502
American Museum of Natural History
The American Museum of Natural History is perfect for the entire family and is fun for all ages (and fans of Night at the Museum!). The museum features a vast collection of natural history artifacts and objects including animals, fossils, rocks, and so much more. The dinosaurs located in the entrance alone are amazing! There are four different dining options in the museum as well. It’ll be easy to spend a few hours here- more, for anyone who particularly loves science!
Location: 200 Central Park West New York, NY 10024
Operating Hours: open everyday: 10:00 am – 5:30 pm; closed Thanksgiving and Christmas
Price: adults- $28, seniors and students- $22, children- $16, NY, NJ, and CT residents- pay what-you-wish; *Tickets must be reserved online before visit.*
What to see:
Blue Whale Model– Floor 1, Exhibit Hall: Irma and Paul Milstein Family Hall of Ocean Life
Dinosaurs– Floor 4, multiple Exhibit Halls
African Elephants– Floor 2, Exhibit Hall: African Elephants
Brooklyn Museum
The Brooklyn Museum is highly underrated, even though it is New York’s second largest museum, and one of the best museums in New York City. It has an impressive collection of ancient artifacts from all over the world, as well as American and European art collections. The architecture of the building is beautiful as well. There are a couple of small dining options here, plus a food truck located in the plaza. A visit here is also a great excuse to spend more time in Brooklyn!
Location: 200 Eastern Parkway Brooklyn, New York 11238
Operating Hours: open Wednesday to Sunday: 11:00 am – 6:00 pm, first Saturdays: 11:00 am – 11:00 pm, closed Monday and Tuesday, and Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Day
Price: adults- $20, seniors and students- $14, children 19 and under- free; exhibitions are an extra fee; *Purchasing tickets in advance is highly recommended.*
What to see:
Guggenheim Museum
The most famous aspect of this museum is the architecture; that alone makes it one of the best museums in New York City. Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, it is one of the most recognizable buildings in New York City. The museum collection is mostly Modern and Contemporary works. While it houses art by famous artists, its collection is appreciated more by art aficionados or those who particularly enjoy modern and contemporary art. You can plan to spend just a few hours here. There is a small cafe in the museum as well.
Location: 1071 Fifth Avenue New York, NY 10128
Operating Hours: open everyday: 10:30 am – 5:30 pm, closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and September 6th
Price: adults- $30, seniors and students- $19, children under 12- free; *reserving tickets online is recommended*
What to see:
Composition 8 (Komposition 8) by Vasily Kandinsky
Empire of Light by Rene Magritte
Paris Through the Window by Marc Chagall
