New York City Museums

See famous artwork, view historic artifacts, and learn more about the world around you...visit a museum!

New York City has an excellent selection of world-class museums. Even if you’re not much of a museum person, it is worth going to at least one during your visit if time permits. There are enough museums to choose from to cater to all kinds of interests.

Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The following is a guide to popular New York City museums. Click on the links to learn more about each museum and find valuable information like hours and admission prices.

Top New York City Art Museums

Metropolitan Museum of Art (the Met)
Outstanding variety and depth. One of the top museums in the world.

Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)
Modern masterpieces and innovative contemporary works.

Guggenheim
Art within architecture.

Whitney Museum
American Art from the 20th Century.

Top New York City History Museums

American Museum of Natural History
Animals, culture, dinosaur bones, and more.

Museum of the City of New York
The history and people of New York City.

Ellis Island Immigration Museum
A fascinating portrayal of immigrants.

Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum
An aircraft carrier, a Concorde, and
a submarine, all in one place.

Choosing a Museum

Some things to consider when choosing a New York City museum:

Art or History? Museums generally focus either more on art or more on history. Either is great, but keep in mind what interests you more when deciding on a museum. The Metropolitan Museum of Art is an outstanding and world-renowned museum that incorporates both art and history well, making it a good crowd pleaser.

Size: Museums vary in size. Some, like the Museum of the City of New York or the Whitney Museum, are small-ish and doable in 1 to 2 hours. Others, like the Met or the Museum of Natural History are much more extensive and you will only be able to see a small part in 2 hours. But of course, there is nothing wrong with seeing only part of a museum!

Location: Location may affect which museum you choose to visit. You can see where museums are located by viewing the New York City Museums Map. The Museum Mile has nine great museums in one small area.

Save Money on Museums

Going to museums can get expensive. For advice on how to visit great museums without putting a big dent in you wallet, read 3 Ways to See Top New York City Museums for Less for insider tips on how to save on admission prices.