Top 20 best museums in New-York2026 ranking

As the largest art museum in the United States, the Metropolitan Museum of Art displays more than two million works spanning 5,000 years of history. From a full-scale Egyptian temple and Impressionist paintings to medieval armor and American period rooms, every gallery holds a surprise. Your ticket also includes access to the Met Cloisters, a collection of European medieval cloisters set in a park overlooking the Hudson River.

The Museum of Modern Art, known to locals as MoMA, stands as a premier authority on modern and contemporary art. Explore an extensive collection of paintings, sculptures, photography, film, and design. Highlights include Picasso's Les Demoiselles d'Avignon, Van Gogh's The Starry Night, and Warhol's Campbell's Soup Cans. The museum hosts rotating exhibitions and film screenings throughout the year.

New York's Upper East Side holds one of the city's most unique buildings. When it opened in 1959, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum turned heads. Frank Lloyd Wright spent 16 years and nearly 700 sketches on the design. Explore the foundation's collection through rotating exhibits. Where else can you see Pollock, Cezanne, Van Gogh, Kandinsky, and Chagall in one walk?

The American Museum of Natural History, located on Manhattan's Upper West Side, is a cornerstone of New York. Founded in 1869, the museum houses dinosaur skeletons, a massive suspended blue whale, and the world's largest sapphire. Across 4 thematic floors, explore earth, space, wildlife, and human cultures. Download the Explorer app before arriving. Overnight stays with breakfast are available.

In New York's Upper West Side, explore the American Museum of Natural History. Inside sits the Hayden Planetarium, opened in 1935, and the Rose Center for Earth and Space. With shows narrated by Tom Hanks or Liam Neeson, it is a hub for space discovery. From 3D shows to 30,000 square meters of exhibits, the universe unfolds here.

In the heart of Manhattan's Upper East Side, you will find the distinct Neue Galerie New York. Perfectly positioned between the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, this 1914 building is widely considered one of the most beautiful on 5th Avenue.

Born from the passion of billionaire Ronald Lauder and gallery owner Serge Sabarsky, it holds a unique collection of German and Austrian works from 1890 to 1940. Over 40 artists are showcased in this exceptional space.