BEST NEW YORK CITY ART MUSEUMS
Ah, New York City—the land of towering skyscrapers, bustling streets, and a cultural scene as rich as a chocolate fondue fountain. If you’re looking to spice up your NYC adventure with some education (and Instagrammable moments), the city’s museums are calling your name! Here’s a carefully curated list of the top 25 museums to explore, complete with locations, history, ticket prices, and hours of operation—because who doesn’t want to stroll through a museum after brunch?
The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met)
Location: 1000 5th Ave, Manhattan
History: Founded in 1870, this behemoth of a museum houses over 2 million works spanning 5,000 years.
Type: Art Museum
Pricing: Suggested donation of $25, which means you can technically pay $1 and still be valid.
Hours: Open 10 AM to 5:30 PM, closed Wednesdays.
American Museum of Natural History
Location: Central Park West & 79th St, Manhattan
History: Established in 1869, this museum is known for iconic exhibits like the dinosaur fossils and the Rose Center for Earth and Space.
Type: Natural History Museum
Pricing: Suggested ticket: $23.
Hours: Open 10 AM to 5:30 PM, closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas.
The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)
Location: 11 W 53rd St, Manhattan
History: Founded in 1929, MoMA has been a pioneer in modern and contemporary art, housing works from Van Gogh to Warhol.
Type: Art Museum
Pricing: $25 for standard admission.
Hours: Open 10:30 AM to 5:30 PM, extended hours on Fridays.
Whitney Museum of American Art
Location: 99 Gansevoort St, Manhattan
History: Opened in 1931, this museum focuses on 20th- and 21st-century American art and has a lovely view of the High Line.
Type: Art Museum
Pricing: $25 for adults.
Hours: Open 10:30 AM to 6 PM, closed Tuesdays.
Guggenheim Museum
Location: 1071 5th Ave, Manhattan
History: Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and opened in 1959, this architectural marvel is also a treasure trove of modern art.
Type: Art Museum
Pricing: $25 for adults.
Hours: Open 11 AM to 6 PM, closed Thursdays.
The Frick Collection
Location: 1 E 70th St, Manhattan
History: Once the home of industrialist Henry Clay Frick, this museum opened in 1935 and features Renaissance art.
Type: Art Museum
Pricing: $22 for adults.
Hours: Open 10 AM to 6 PM, closed Mondays.
The New York Historical Society
Location: 170 Central Park W, Manhattan
History: Established in 1804, it’s the oldest museum in New York and offers a wealth of American history.
Type: History Museum
Pricing: $22 for adults.
Hours: Open 10 AM to 6 PM, closed Mondays.
The Tenement Museum
Location: 103 Orchard St, Manhattan
History: Opened in 1992, this museum tells the stories of immigrant families who lived in the Lower East Side.
Type: History Museum
Pricing: Tours usually around $30.