There are many incredible museums in NYC for just about any interest. Whether you are into art, culture and traditions, history and technology, you are bound to find something to keep you entertained on a rainy day – on any day!
There are so many museums in NYC that there is even a “Museum Mile” – the portion of 5th Avenue that goes from 82nd to 105th and is packed with museums. I will be mentioning some in this post.
In this post, I round up my favorite museums in New York and share some helpful, practical information on each. Continue reading to pick which one to visit next!
20 Must Visit Museums In NYC
El Museo del Barrio
El Museo del Barrio, or El Museo, is the United States’ first Latino and Latin American cultural institute.
This art museum celebrates Latin American history with art from all over Latin America and the United States throughout the decades.
One of the many museums located on Museum Mile, El Museo del Barrio was founded in the late 1960s with the intention of filling the gap in the representation and celebration of Puerto Rican art in other museums in the city. It was started by Raphael Montañez Ortiz.
The collection includes more than 6,500 objects, including paintings, sculptures, and Taino artifacts.
Additionally, the museum has changing exhibitions that come through every few months.
El Museo del Barrio is located at 1230 Fifth Avenue. It’s at the end of Fifth Avenue’s Museum Mile, just north of the Museum of the City of New York.
Museum of the City of New York
The Museum of the City of New York is an art and history museum that celebrates New York’s past and seeks to educate individuals about the unique heritage of this thriving city.
Believe it or not, this is one of the lesser visited museums in NYC. It’s located in a beautiful colonial-style building built intentionally to house the museum in 1923.
It houses a massive collection of photos, paintings, documents, and more that will walk you through the city’s history.
Supposedly, there are more than 1.5 million items in the museum. And each one takes you through the history of New York.
If you’re visiting New York City, this is an excellent way to really learn about the rich heritage and culture that has brought it to where it is today.
The Museum of the City of New York is located at 1220 Fifth Avenue at 103rd Street. It’s just before El Museo.
The Jewish Museum
The Jewish Museum is a fascinating art museum with thousands of cultural artifacts.
The collection began in 1904 with one little gift of ceremonial objects, prints, and photographs to the Jewish Theological Seminary of America to establish a museum.
It started small but has grown at a gradual pace and is now one of the coolest museums in NYC.
The largest Jewish museum in New York has a massive collection of pieces that will walk you through Jewish ceremonial art, sculptures, archeological artifacts, and paintings. You can admire the works of artists such as Marc Chagall, Man Ray, and Eva Hesse. Adjoint, you will find the Jewish deli Russ & Daughters.
You don’t have to be Jewish to enjoy the Jewish Museum, so don’t worry. It’s still an interesting history, expressed in breathtaking art and old artifacts. It’s easy to appreciate and celebrate the talent of the community.
The Jewish Museum is located at 1109 5th Avenue at 92nd Street, another popular museum on New York’s famed Museum Mile.
Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum
Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum is the first, and possibly only, museum in the United States solely dedicated to historic and contemporary design.
The Smithsonian Design Museum is housed in a stunning 1902 Georgian Mansion and houses a collection of more than 200,000 pieces that range from pottery to musical instruments to metalwork and furniture.
It’s significantly less visited than the nearby Met and Guggenheim, so it’s an excellent place to escape the crowds.
This museum isn’t for everyone and will likely appeal to artists and architects more. But it’s something different and definitely worth a visit if you’re into unique museums.
The Smithsonian Design Museum is on 2 East 91st Street (between 5th and Madison Avenues).
The Guggenheim Museum
The Guggenheim Museum is a trendy art museum featuring some of the most unique pieces of work and thought-provoking exhibits.
The Guggenheim Museum is worth visiting for the collection and the actual building, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, and is a real work of art, both on the outside and inside.
Opened in 1959, the Guggenheim hosts exhibits that change regularly, so check the museum site to see what’s on.
There are often live performances, plays, and historical sessions. For example, one of the most popular segments from 2023 is “Only the Young: Experimental Art in Korea, 1960s-1970s“.
This exhibit features an array of experimental art in South Korea immediately after the Korean War when the young were dealing with socioeconomic changes and other obstacles.
However, all exhibits and performances are fascinating. No matter when you visit or what changing exhibit comes through, the artistry and design will likely enchant you.
You will find the Guggenheim at 1071 Fifth Avenue at 89th Street. Tickets can be bought online here or here.
Neue Galerie
Neue Galerie is an art museum dedicated to German and Austrian art from the early 20th century.
I bumped into this museum once by completely changing, only to discover it houses pieces by one of my favorite artists – Austrian painter Gustav Klimt.
However, there’s much more here.
One of the museum’s goals is to explore the relationship between the fine and decorative arts. You’ll notice a striking difference between the two while strolling through the two-story museum, and maybe discover a new favorite artist while at it!
The museum is a very niche subject. After all, not many people are specifically looking for a museum from this period that primarily covers Austrian and German artists. But because of that, it’s usually not crowded.
The Neue Galerie is located at 1048 5th Avenue.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Metropolitan Museum of Art is the largest art museum in all the Americas—over 1.5 million pieces of art spanning over 5,000 years of world culture.
The museum is also one of the world’s most visited art museums, only behind the Louvre Museum in France and the British Museum in the UK.
Easily the most famous museum in New York, The Met is one of the finest art galleries in the world.
The collection is massive, and you can see pieces from ancient Egypt and others from a more contemporary time. The museum is so vast (19 curatorial departments host various collections) that you should spend one day exploring it.
And despite its wild popularity and crowds of visitors, it’s definitely worth exploring. It’s earned such prestige for a reason, as it’s one of history’s most comprehensive collections of art.
MET is located at 1000 Fifth Avenue at 82nd St. When you get a ticket; you can leave and return on the same day if you fancy a break during your visit. You need to get tickets in advance – for those and guided tours, click here.
You could also consider joining a guided tour such as this one.
If you have extra time, visit The Cloisters too. Located in Fort Tryon Park in Northern Manhattan, the entire museum is the only one in the country entirely dedicated to the art and architecture of the Middle Ages. As the name recalls, the building comprises five medieval-inspired cloisters.
The Frick Collection
The Frick Collection is one of New York’s best art museums featuring Old Master paintings and European fine and decorative arts.
One of the best museums in town, the Frick Collection is located in the former mansion of industrialist Henry Clay Frick in the Upper East Side.
First opened in 1935, this is a historic mansion with fabulous furnishing and an even prettier courtyard, with a collection of European art that goes from the Renaissance period all the way to the early 20th century, and which includes pieces by Renoir, Rembrandt, and Vermeer.
The museum also has a very intimate setting compared to larger museums, making it a cozy place to spend a cold, rainy, or sunny afternoon.
The Frick Collection is located at 1 East 70th Street, just off Fifth Avenue, but as the building is currently being renovated, the collection has been moved to the Frick Madison at 945 Madison Avenue. Make sure to visit the website before your visit to ensure you have the correct location.
MoMa (The Museum of Modern Art)
The Museum of Modern Art, or MoMa) is another massive art museum in NYC, with an impressive collection of beautiful artwork throughout the times.
One of my favorite museums in NYC is home to iconic modern art pieces. If you visit, you will have a chance to see Vincent Van Gogh’s The Starry Night, Warhol Campbell’s Soup, and works by Matisse, Gauguin, Picasso, Dali and Pollock, MoMa.
There’s an impressive range of artwork, including sculptures, paintings, drawings, printmaking, photography, and film.
You don’t have to be an artist or an art enthusiast to become entranced by some marvelous pieces and exhibits at MoMa.
MOMA is located at 11 West 53rd St. Tickets can be bought in advance here.
Make sure also to check out MOMA PS1, located in Long Island City, Queens. The building – a gorgeous Renaissance Revival former public school – is as good as the collection, which includes pieces of James Turrell and Ai Weiwei.
Morgan Library and Museum
The Pierpont Morgan private library was built in 1906 and houses an impressive collection of antique books – some dating back to 4000 B.C.! – in a gorgeous setting.
The collection also includes one of the 23 copies of the Declaration of Independence, Mozart’s handwritten score of the Haffner Symphony, and Charles Dickens’s manuscript of A Christmas Carol. Not exactly your everyday collection!
There even are regular exhibits focussing on contemporary and past artists.
This is a true haven for museum lovers and book lovers alike. There’s a very romantic ambiance to it, as it’s easy to get lost in this place’s beauty and historical relevance.
Morgan Library and Museum is located at 225 Madison Avenue at 36th Street. Tickets are best bought in advance on the museum site.
The Museum of Sex
The Museum of Sex is a different type dedicated to preserving and presenting the history, evolution, and cultural significance of human sexuality.
One of the primary goals of the museum is to encourage discussion and normalize talking about sex. This is done in the four-story building with interactive activities and a permanent exhibit of erotica and sex toys.
This is the perfect place for those who want to experience something different from your average art museum.
The Museum of Sex is located at 233 Fifth Avenue at 27th Street.
American Museum of Natural History
The American Museum of Natural History is a natural history museum filled with fossils, lifesize renditions of dinosaurs, and many interactive exhibits.
If you are bringing your kids, this is one of the best museums in NYC – they will surely find their spot after seeing A Night At The Museum!
There is a great exhibit of animals, such as the Alaskan brown bear, the blue whale, mammoths, and tyrannosaurus rex.
The butterfly vivarium is another excellent exhibit where you can surround yourself with hundreds of real-life butterflies and learn more about this beautiful creature.
And there are many more interactive and specialized exhibits. It’s very likely something will catch your attention here, no matter your interests.
The American Museum of Natural History is located on Central Park West at 79th Street. You can get tickets here.
Ground Zero Museum Workshop
Ground Zero Museum Workshop is a heartfelt photography museum that genuinely captures the tragic events of 9/11.
The museum is located in the Meatpacking District. It has an interesting exhibit of photographs, audio, and artifacts that will help you learn more about the lives of those who helped in the rescue work in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks.
This is a sentimental museum that idolizes the heroes of the tragic day. While it’s a little depressing sometimes, it’s an insightful look at those who experienced the unforgettable attack.
You’ll be given one of the most realistic accounts of what happened that day, pieced together by various media and real stories of those who were there.
Ground Zero Museum Workshop is at 420 W St. in the Meatpacking District. All visits must be booked in advance.
Whitney Museum of American Art
The Whitney Museum of American Art, or The Whitney, is an art museum dedicated to collecting, preserving, interpreting, and exhibiting American art.
The museum features some of the most relevant American artists of the past, as well as regularly featuring and showcasing living artists.
Located in the Meatpacking District, where it was relocated in 2015 after having been in the Upper East Side, the Whitney Museum of American Art houses an incredible collection of works by American artists such as Georgia O’Keefe, Richard Avedon, Alexander Caldher and Edward Hopper.
The museum is set on various floors connected by state-of-the-art (quite literally) elevators. The exterior staircases take you to the terrace, where you can admire yet more art – and the views of downtown.
Whitney Museum of American Art is located at 99 Gansevoort St. Tickets must be bought in advance here.
Rubin Museum of Art
Rubin Museum of Art is a cultural hub devoted to the collection of cultural art pieces from Himalayan Asia.
Located in the lovely Chelsea, the Rubin Museum is a great place to visit if you are interested in Indian and Nepalese Himalayan art.
The collection includes over 38,000 pieces spanning 1,500 years, with sculptures, paintings, and installations that will walk you through the unique culture and traditions.
This is a different type of art museum that truly celebrates diversity around the world.
Rubin Museum of Art is located at 150 West 17th Street. You can get tickets here.
National 9/11 Memorial and Museum
The National 9/11 Memorial and Museum is a memorial and museum that is a part of the World Trade Center complex.
The museum is located right where the World Trade Centers stood on the heartbreaking day of September 11th. And it’s now dedicated to spreading awareness and education about terrorist attacks, not just on 9/11, but the years leading up to it.
One of the most touching museums in New York, together with the 9/11 Memorial, the Museum will walk you through the history of the terrorist attacks of 1993 and 2001.
You should book your visit to the 9/11 Memorial and Museum in advance. You can get your tickets here.
Check out my post How To Get 9/11 Museum Tickets And Skip The Lines.
National Museum of the American Indian
The National Museum of the American Indian is a cultural museum dedicated to the culture of the indigenous peoples of the Americas.
One of the most interesting museums in NYC for anyone fascinated with indigenous cultures. This museum includes traditional exhibits about rituals, everyday objects, documents, and photography.
It visualizes the history and culture of the more than 1,200 indigenous groups of the Americas. And while this history is often forgotten, it’s important.
The indigenous peoples of America lost a lot many years ago and continue to face many struggles. And one of those struggles is losing their culture and history as time passes.
The museum brings to light the history and lives of hundreds of tribes and people, a history that should not be forgotten.
The museum is located at 1 Bowling Green.
Tenement Museum
The Tenement Museum is a museum and National Historic Site that shares the immigrant and migrant experience and their impact on the Lower East Side.
This fascinating museum in Manhattan’s Lower East Side will take you through the history and daily lives of New York’s working-class – typically immigrants – who contributed to the city’s economic boom in the late 19th and early 20th century.
The historical tenement buildings are believed to have housed over 15,000 people from over 20 nations.
The museum depicts these people’s lives in an elaborate display between the two tenement structures.
The Tenement Museum is located at 103 Orchard Street.
The Brooklyn Museum
The Brooklyn Museum is the city’s second-largest museum and has over 500,000 pieces of artwork on display.
The third largest museum in New York, it’s once again the kind of place you should visit for the collection as much as for the building – the Beaux-Arts building from 1897, located on the edge of Prospect Park. The massive collection includes pieces of art and archeology.
Despite the name, the museum isn’t limited to Brooklyn’s history and art. A wide array of artwork is organized by culture and represents many people and cultures.
This is one of the top museums in NYC, and definitely worth visiting if you find yourself in the Brooklyn borough.
The Brooklyn Museum is located at 200 Eastern Pkwy.
The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Museum
The Statue of Liberty Museum is on Liberty Island and has been hailed as “the most monumental addition to Liberty Island since the Statue herself”.
To be fair, this museum isn’t located in New York – in fact, the Statue of Liberty is in New Jersey state territory. But since most people visiting New York would go, I thought I might as well include it.
The Statue was a gift from France to celebrate the US’s first 100 years of independence. It has become a symbol of the United States and is integral to New York City’s image. If you’re visiting New York, you’ll definitely want to make a trip over here.
Ellis Island is just a short ferry ride from the Statue of Liberty.
Ellis Island Museum will walk you through the history of the various waves of immigration to the US.
Ellis Island is considered America’s largest and most active immigration station, processing more than 12 million people.
The Ellis Island Museum documents the rich history of American immigrants, the process they went through, and how they contributed to American society.
You’ll definitely have to visit both museums on your trip to see the Statue of Liberty, as they both represent an integral piece of U.S. history.
You can get your tickets for the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island here.
Make sure to read my post, A Guide To Visiting The Statue Of Liberty.
Tips For Visiting Museums In NYC
Book your tickets in advance
Many museums in NYC, especially the popular ones, require advanced bookings. You can visit the website for the museum you’re interested in and double-check if you should book your entry before your visit.
It’s best to come prepared and book out as soon as you know your plans. The last thing you want is to miss an incredible museum experience because you didn’t know to book in advance.
I have linked to the official website of each museum throughout this post.
Map your itinerary
The Museum Mile is a famous stretch of some of the best museums in NYC. But they aren’t all located on this street. Some are much further out, scattered around Brooklyn, the Meatpacking District, or even a ferry ride away.
If you plan on visiting multiple museums in a day, try to plan your day and look at their locations ahead of time so you aren’t zigzagging around the city.
Only visit museums you’re interested in
New York City has a museum for everything under the sun. It can be overwhelming to figure out which ones you’ll be able to visit during your New York vacation.
So, make sure to plan museum visits around ones that are genuinely interesting to you. I visited many, but I used to live there!
And if you simply go to the most famous museums without thinking about it, you might find yourself bored and wasting a nice afternoon inside.
Wear comfortable shoes
Whether going to one museum or five museums in NYC, you’ll likely be on your feet a lot. This should show no matter what you’re doing in New York; basically, everything will require a lot of walking.
But you don’t want to be admiring those beautiful exhibits with sore feet. So, wear comfortable shoes that are good for walking and standing.
Further Readings
Traveling to New York? Make sure to read my other posts:
- The Perfect Itinerary To See New York In 2 Days
- A Fabulous Itinerary For 3 Days In New York
- An Easy To Follow Itinerary For 4 Days In New York
- 5 Days In New York: An Easy To Follow New York Itinerary
- Where To Get The Best Views In New York
- The Best Things To Do In New York
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