{"id":4438,"date":"2024-01-12T12:53:00","date_gmt":"2024-01-12T08:53:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.headout.com\/paris-guide-things-to-do-copy\/"},"modified":"2024-01-29T13:05:41","modified_gmt":"2024-01-29T09:05:41","slug":"best-museums-new-york","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.headout.com\/blog\/best-museums-new-york\/","title":{"rendered":"The 10 best museums in New York City to bookmark!"},"content":{"rendered":"

New York is a treasure chest when it comes to museums and cultural institutions. With well over 80 museums dedicated to history, culture, art, immigration, military, science, natural history and cinema; museum choices in New York are abundant. With so many options, narrowing them down to fit your travel itinerary can be difficult. In this guide, we will look at the 10 Best Museums in New York City. This guide focuses on museums which are home to some of the most exquisite collections and exhibits in New York. Among the horde of museums in New York, these are also the largest and most popular.<\/p>\n

We have arranged the 10 Best Museums in New York in order of popularity based on Tripadvisor ratings and Headout customer reviews; so choose your pick and go museum ambling in New York. Make sure you don’t plan more than 2 museums a day as it becomes hard to really absorb what the museum has to offer if you’re rushed.<\/p>\n

5 Must-See Works of Art in New York City<\/h2>\n

1<\/span>Vincent Van Gogh\u2019s \u2018Wheatfield with Cypresses\u2019<\/h3>\n

Metropolitan Museum of Art<\/p>\n

Painted by the renowned Dutch artist Vincent Van Gogh in 1889, the \u2018Wheatfield with Cypresses\u2019, is one of three similar paintings made by the artist. Displayed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, Van Gogh created this masterpiece during his time at a mental asylum in France. The painting depicts the view from his window which looked out upon the Alpilles Mountains in France. Illustrated in reed pen, Van Gogh believed his \u2018Wheatfield with Cypresses\u2019 to be one of the best summer landscapes created by him.<\/p>\n

\"Museums<\/p>\n

2<\/span>Jacques Louis David\u2019s \u2018The Death of Socrates\u2019<\/h3>\n

Metropolitan Museum of Art<\/p>\n

Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, Jacques Louis David\u2019s neoclassical painting \u2018The Death of Socrates\u2019 is a must-visit! Created in 1787, a few years before the French Revolution, David\u2019s painting depicts the last moments of Socrates\u2019 life as described by Plato in his ancient text \u2018Phaedo\u2019. Made with oil on canvas, David\u2019s \u2018The Death of Socrates\u2019 is often compared to Michelangelo\u2019s Sistine Chapel ceiling and his Raphael rooms. This masterpiece of Jacques Louis David is also believed to be perfect in every sense.<\/p>\n

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4<\/span>Vincent Van Gogh\u2019s \u2018The Starry Night\u2019<\/h3>\n

Museum of Modern Art New York<\/p>\n

One of Vincent Van Gogh\u2019s most famous artworks-\u2019The Starry Night,\u2019 is housed in the Museum of Modern Art New York. Inspired by the view from his room at a mental asylum in Southern France, \u2018The Starry Night\u2019 depicts the night sky dominated by a bright moon on the right and the planet Venus on the center left. With this painting, Van Gogh heralded the modern painting\u2019s new embrace of mood, expression, symbol and sentiment. If you plan on visiting the Museum of Modern Art in New York, you must stop to admire this wonderful masterpiece created by Vincent Van Gogh.<\/p>\n

\"Museums<\/p>\n

5<\/span>Claude Monet\u2019s \u2018Water Lilies\u2019<\/h3>\n

The Museum of Modern Art New York<\/p>\n

The Museum of Modern Art New York is home to another masterpiece-Claude Monet\u2019s \u2018Water Lilies\u2019. Though not a single painting, the \u2018Water Lilies\u2019 are a part of a series of 250 paintings that revolved around the singular theme of these flowers. Monet\u2019s \u2018Water Lilies\u2019 are the most iconic paintings of the Impressionist era in art. Before painting this masterpiece, Monet actually planted water lilies in his garden at Giverny. In fact, if you observe carefully, all his paintings in the \u2018Water Lilies\u2019 series focus only on the surface of the pond and the water lilies floating on it.<\/p>\n

\"Museums<\/p>\n

#1 <\/span>Metropolitan Museum of Art<\/h2>\n
Best Museums in the World<\/h6>\n

from $62<\/a><\/h3>\n
Tickets<\/h6>\n

\"Museums Modern Art<\/span>Van Gogh<\/span>The Death of Socrates<\/span><\/p>\n

The Metropolitan Museum of Art <\/a>is the country\u2019s largest art museum and the fourth largest museum in the world. With seventeen permanent curatorial departments housing over 2 million works, and exhibits spanning 5000 years from across the world, this museum tells the history of civilization through its art. Popular exhibits include Vincent Van Gogh\u2019s Wheatfield with Cypresses, a bronze cast of Rodin\u2019s Thinker, and Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux\u2019s Ugolino and His Sons. The Museum doesn\u2019t just contain art – you can also find armory, weapons, costumes, and musical instruments.The MET also displays its exhibits based on their geographic history. In the Egyptian Art section, you will find the Temple of Dendur, an entire Egyptian temple transplanted right into the museum. With exhibits from around the world, you can explore Greek and Roman art, European paintings and sculptures, Modern art, and Arts of Oceania, Africa, and the Americas.<\/p>\n

Best Time to Visit Sundays, Wednesday and Thursday mornings Recommended Duration 3-5 Hours<\/p>\n

Metropolitan Museum of Art Highlights<\/p>\n
    \n
  1. Antioch Chalice<\/li>\n
  2. Vincent Van Gogh\u2019s \u2018Wheatfield with Cypresses\u2019<\/li>\n
  3. Fragment of a Queen\u2019s Face<\/li>\n
  4. Head of a Queen Mother (lyoba) from Nigeria<\/li>\n
  5. Jacques Louis David\u2019s \u2018The Death of Socrates\u2019<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/h3>\n

    Recommended Metropolitan Museum of Art Tickets<\/h3>\n

    Read More<\/a> Book Tickets<\/a><\/p>\n

    #2 <\/span>National 9\/11 Memorial and Museum<\/h2>\n
    Memorial in New York City<\/h6>\n

    from $30<\/a><\/h3>\n
    Tickets<\/h6>\n

    \"Museums 9\/11<\/span>Tribute<\/span>Twin Towers<\/span><\/p>\n

    Visiting the National 9\/11 Memorial and Museum<\/a> is an emotionally heavy experience, guaranteed to stir emotions among the visitors. A tribute to the victims of the deadly twin towers tragedy, the 9\/11 Memorial Museum allows you to explore the events before, during and after the day. Featuring a collection of over 11,000 artifacts, ranging from ephemera, textiles, artwork, books and more, the museum\u2019s exhibitions attract over a million visitors each year. The Memorial’s twin reflecting pools, located within the foundation of the twin peaks, is nearly an acre in size each and feature the largest manmade waterfalls in North America. The names of every person who died in the attacks are inscribed into bronze panels edging the Memorial pools and serve as a powerful reminder of the horrific events. At the 9\/11 Memorial be sure to keep an eye out for the Survivor Tree. This Callery Pear tree was badly damaged after attacks of September 11th and was nursed back to health before being returned in 2010. Another important element in the 9\/11 Memorial & Museum are the white oak trees which surround the pools. These trees serve as a reminder of the individuals who lost their lives.<\/p>\n

    Best Time to Visit Weekday mornings Recommended Duration 2 Hours<\/p>\n

    National 9\/11 Memorial and Museum Highlights<\/p>\n
      \n
    1. Historical Exhibition<\/li>\n
    2. Memorial Exhibition<\/li>\n
    3. \u2018The Survivor Tree’<\/li>\n
    4. Ground Zero Memorial<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/h3>\n

      Recommended National 9\/11 Memorial and Museum Tickets<\/h3>\n

      Read More<\/a> Book Tickets<\/a><\/p>\n

      9\/11 Museum & Memorial Reviews<\/h3>\n

      Very moving. The interactive experience recreated that tragic day. I was with my son who was 10 in 2001. His patrtner is from Brazil. Same age. We relived that day via our own experience, and grieved along with those who experienced and lost so much…we will never forget!<\/p>\n

      – Claudia, Headout, December 2022<\/p>\n

      This is my 2nd visit to the museum and my husbands first. It’s always an emotional experience. Could not help but shed tears. This is definitely a must do when visiting NY. Walk across the street to the Hudson shopping mall & grab a bite at the upper level in Hudson Eats. You have a view of the river. We also walked outside and you’ll see the Statue of Liberty from a distance. NJ state at the other side of the river. The mall is beautifully decorated for Xmas. High end stores are there LV, Gucci etc. if you’re interested.<\/p>\n

      – Olive, Headout, November 2022<\/p>\n

      #3 <\/span>Museum of Modern Art<\/h2>\n
      Best Museums in the World<\/h6>\n

      from $25<\/a><\/h3>\n
      Tickets<\/h6>\n

      \"Museums Family<\/span>Frida Kahlo<\/span>Modern Art<\/span><\/p>\n

      One of the largest and most influential museums on modern art, Museum of Modern Art<\/a> or MoMA (as the museum is fondly known), is situated in Midtown Manhattan and is home to a comprehensive collection that includes paintings, drawings, works of architecture and design, sculpture, photography, prints, books, film, and electronic media. MoMA’s art collection alone consists of more than 150,000 individual pieces, 22,000 films and 4 million film stills. MoMA brings contemporary art to the forefront of the art scene and houses art from some of the best known artists from across the world, like Frida Kahlo, Andy Warhol, Pablo Picasso, Vincent Van Gogh, Paul Cezanne, Salvador Dali, Ai Weiwei and others. The museum also includes an attached cinema, a sculpture garden with works by Picasso and Rodin, and the Modern, a restaurant run by Danny Meyer.<\/p>\n

      Best Time to Visit After 11:30 am Recommended Duration 2.5 Hours<\/p>\n

      Museum of Modern Art Highlights<\/p>\n
        \n
      1. Andy Warhol\u2019s \u2018Campbell\u2019s Soup Cans\u2019<\/li>\n
      2. Vincent Van Gogh\u2019s \u2018The Starry Night\u2019<\/li>\n
      3. Claude Monet\u2019s \u2018Water Lilies\u2019<\/li>\n
      4. Salvador Dali\u2019s \u2018The Persistence of Memory\u2019<\/li>\n
      5. Henri Rousseau\u2019s \u2018The Sleeping Gypsy\u2019<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/h3>\n

        Recommended Museum of Modern Art Tickets<\/h3>\n

        Read More<\/a> Book Tickets<\/a><\/p>\n

        Museum of Modern Art Reviews<\/h3>\n

        Everything was perfect. We got to the museum and entered. The museum is really worth the visit! Go with time because it has many floors and a lot of things to see.<\/p>\n

        – Maia, Headout, October 2022<\/p>\n

        The experience was awesome and easy. I simply bought tickets to MoMA and they were ready to go in my inbox so we slid right on through into the museum. Would recommend.<\/p>\n

        – Daria, Headout, April 2022<\/p>\n

        #4 <\/span>American Museum of Natural History<\/h2>\n
        Must-see Museum in New York City<\/h6>\n

        from $28<\/a><\/h3>\n
        Tickets<\/h6>\n

        \"Museums Fossils<\/span>Astronomy<\/span><\/p>\n

        One of the largest museums in the world, the American Museum of Natural History<\/a> consists of a complex of 28 interconnected buildings that are home to 45 permanent exhibition halls, a planetarium and a library. The museum collections contain over 33 million specimens of animals, plants, fossils, rocks, meteorites, human remains, and cultural artifacts. Established in 1869, the American Museum of Natural History has the largest collection of dinosaur fossils in the world, making it a must-visit for children and adults alike. Through its 45 halls of permanent collection and exhibitions, the museum gives visitors the chance to engage, discover, and learn about the past, present, and the future of the natural world, human culture, and the universe. It is also home to the Rose Center for Earth and Space, which houses the Hayden Planetarium, and has exhibitions on history of the universe and our journey through space.<\/p>\n

        Best Time to Visit 10am in the mornings and after 3pm in the evenings Recommended Duration 2.5 Hours<\/p>\n

        American Museum of Natural History Highlights<\/p>\n
          \n
        1. Tyrannosaurus Rex in the Hall of Saurischian Dinosaurs<\/li>\n
        2. Dynamic Earth Globe in Gottesman Hall of Planet Earth<\/li>\n
        3. The Blue Whale in Milstein Hall of Ocean Life<\/li>\n
        4. Giant Sequoia in North American Forests<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/h3>\n

          Recommended American Museum of Natural History Tickets<\/h3>\n

          Read More<\/a> Book Tickets<\/a><\/p>\n

          American Museum of Natural History Reviews<\/h3>\n

          For me the best part has to be the exhibitions. Supremely informative about the cultures around the world, prehistoric fossils, as well as the ocean and space<\/p>\n

          – Nicole, Headout, October 2018<\/p>\n

          The museum is spectacular and displays collections that are amazing examples of astronomy, planetary galaxies and many more. Highly recommended for all!<\/p>\n

          – Robbi, Headout, November 2017<\/p>\n

          #5 <\/span>Morgan Library and Museum<\/h2>\n
          Private Library in New York City<\/h6>\n

          <\/a><\/h3>\n
          <\/h6>\n

          \"Museums Private Library<\/span>Manuscripts<\/span><\/p>\n

          The Morgan Library and Museum is a museum and research library that was founded in 1906 to house the private library of J. P. Morgan. The museum’s collection consists of old manuscripts and printed books in rare bindings and a vast collection of prints and drawings. The Morgan Library and Museum will take you on a journey of literary excellence; the rarity and quality of the collections here are quite elevating. These include prints and drawings by Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, Rembrandt, Rubens and Picasso; three Gutenberg Bibles, ancient Egypt and medieval literature, autographed scores from Beethoven, Mozart, Chopin, and Verdi as well as hundreds of other valuable pieces of our culture.<\/p>\n

          Best Time to Visit Friday nights between 7pm and 9pm Recommended Duration More than 2 hours<\/p>\n

          Highlights of Morgan Library and Museum<\/p>\n
            \n
          1. Mozart\u2019s handwritten score of the Haffner Symphony<\/li>\n
          2. Gutenberg Bibles<\/li>\n
          3. Albert Einstein\u2019s manuscript article describing how he developed his General Theory of Relativity<\/li>\n
          4. Manuscript of \u2018A Christmas Carol\u2019 by Charles Dickens<\/li>\n
          5. scraps of paper on which Bob Dylan wrote \u2018Blowin\u2019 in the Wind\u2019 and \u2018It Ain\u2019t Me Babe\u2019<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/h3>\n

            #6 <\/span>Rubin Museum of Art<\/h2>\n
            Cultural Museum in New York City<\/h6>\n

            <\/a><\/h3>\n
            <\/h6>\n

            \"Museums Unique<\/span>Tibetan Art<\/span>Culture<\/span><\/p>\n

            Opened in 2004, with Donald and Shelley Rubin\u2019s private collection of Himalayan art at its core, the Rubin Museum of Art is a one-of-a-kind museum experience with immersive exhibits which encourage a path of personal discovery and a feeling of unity in diversity. A unique space to sit back and contemplate ideas that are beyond history and culture, the museum also offers a diverse range of exhibitions and programs, like films and concerts. While the museum displays art and artifacts from India and its neighbouring regions, its main focus is on Tibetan art, including a Tibetan Shrine Room. The Rubin Museum’s collection of Himalayan art includes over 3,800 objects ranging from more than 1,500 years to the present day.<\/p>\n

            Best Time to Visit Wednesdays or Fridays Recommended Duration 1.5 hours<\/p>\n

            Highlights of Rubin Museum of Art<\/p>\n
              \n
            1. Hammer from fifteenth century Ming Dynasty<\/li>\n
            2. Nineteenth century Tibetan Prayer Beads<\/li>\n
            3. Fifteenth century Drenpa Namkha Statue, Nineteenth century Amulet Box<\/li>\n
            4. Early eighteenth century portrait of Terdak Lingpa Gyurme Dorje<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/h3>\n

              #7 <\/span>Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum<\/h2>\n
              Military Museum in New York City<\/h6>\n

              <\/a><\/h3>\n
              <\/h6>\n

              \"Museums Neoclassical Buildings<\/span>Prehistoric Art<\/span><\/p>\n

              A collection of museum ships, the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum is an American military and maritime history museum in New York City. The main highlights of the museum consist of the aircraft carrier the submarine USS Growler, a Concorde SST, a Lockheed A-12 supersonic plane, and the Space Shuttle Enterprise. The museum also includes exhibits from around the world like an Israeli Kfir and a Polish Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-17.However, the most popular exhibit is the eponymous carrier, the USS Intrepid which played a massive role in the Pacific theater of the Second World War and is hailed historically for surviving five kamikaze attacks and a torpedo strike. Through its exhibitions and educational programs, the museum aims at showcasing the best of America’s maritime and military history.<\/p>\n

              Best Time to Visit 10am in the mornings Recommended Duration 2-3 hours<\/p>\n

              Highlights of Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum<\/p>\n
                \n
              1. General Dynamics F-16 Fighter Falcon that was flown in Operation Desert Storm<\/li>\n
              2. USS Growler diesel electric submarine, Bell AH-IJ Sea Cobra Gunship<\/li>\n
              3. Space Shuttle Enterprise<\/li>\n
              4. Exploreum-an interactive hall showing life on an aircraft carrier<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/h3>\n

                #8 <\/span>Museum of the City of New York<\/h2>\n
                Historical Museum in New York City<\/h6>\n

                <\/a><\/h3>\n
                <\/h6>\n

                \"Museums History<\/span>Art<\/span><\/p>\n

                Founded in 1923 by Henry Collins Brown, The Museum of the City of New York aims to preserve and display the history of New York City. The museum’s collection consists of over 1.5 million items from the 19th and early 20th centuries and includes paintings, drawings and photographs featuring New York City. The collection also consists of costumes, furniture and antique toys. Other New York related artifacts on exhibit at the museum include ship models, books, military, police and fire collections.The museum is home to some very rare and unique items, like a number of Eugene O\u2019Neill\u2019s handwritten manuscripts, a room full of Duncan Phyfe furniture, a suit worn by a man to George Washington\u2019s Inaugural Ball, and the Carrie Walter Stettheimer dollhouse, containing miniature works by Alexander, Archipenko, George Bellows, Gaston Lachaise, Marcel Duchamp, and Marguerite Zorach.<\/p>\n

                Best Time to Visit April to June and September to early November Recommended Duration 3-4 hours<\/p>\n

                Highlights of Museum of the City of New York<\/p>\n
                  \n
                1. Depression-era Federal Art Project Photographs<\/li>\n
                2. Still photography by director Stanley Kulrick<\/li>\n
                3. Furnished rooms from John D. Rockefeller\u2019s House<\/li>\n
                4. Samuel Waugh\u2019s \u2018The Bay and the Harbour of New York\u2019<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/h3>\n

                  #9 <\/span>Whitney Museum of American Art<\/h2>\n
                  Must-visit Museums in New York City<\/h6>\n

                  from $25<\/a><\/h3>\n
                  Tickets<\/h6>\n

                  \"Museums 20th Century Art<\/span>Education<\/span>Art<\/span><\/p>\n

                  The Whitney Museum<\/a> was established in 1931 as a museum dedicated exclusively to American art, with a special focus on living artists. The museum was located in the Upper East Side for 50 years before moving to its current location. The building, spread over 220,000 square feet and distributed through 9 floors, was designed by the renowned Italian architect Renzo Piano and is a work of art in itself. The museum consists of exhibition spaces, an education center, a reading room, a theater and a conservation lab. The museum’s collection has helped define what is innovative and influential in American art since the beginning of the twentieth century.The permanent collection at the Whitney consists of works by artists such as Louise Bourgeois, Man Ray, Jasper Johns and Andy Warhol, Peggy Bacon, Charles Demuth, Edward Hopper, Reginald Marsh, and more.<\/p>\n

                  Best Time to Visit Monday and Wednesday Recommended Duration 1 Hours<\/p>\n

                  Whitney Museum of American Art Highlights<\/p>\n
                    \n
                  1. Theodore Robinson\u2019s \u2018Etude\u2019<\/li>\n
                  2. Maurice Prendergast\u2019s \u2018Central Park\u2019<\/li>\n
                  3. Robert Henri\u2019s \u2018Laughing Child\u2019<\/li>\n
                  4. Thomas Hart Benton\u2019s \u2018House in Cubist Landscape\u2019<\/li>\n
                  5. George Bellows\u2019 \u2018Drupay and Firpo\u2019<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/h3>\n

                    Recommended Whitney Museum of American Art Tickets<\/h3>\n

                    Read More<\/a> Book Tickets<\/a><\/p>\n

                    Whitney Museum of American Art Reviews<\/h3>\n

                    While visiting in October, we went on the last day of the Calder Exhibit. It was very well done and gave an iteresting retrospective of his work<\/p>\n

                    – Evelia, Headout, November 2017<\/p>\n

                    Do check out the rooftop of the museum , its got some breathtaking views of the Hudson<\/p>\n

                    – Georgeanna, Headout, November 2017<\/p>\n

                    #10 <\/span>Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum<\/h2>\n
                    Recent Museum in New York City<\/h6>\n

                    <\/a><\/h3>\n
                    <\/h6>\n

                    \"Museums Contemporary Art<\/span>Architecture<\/span><\/p>\n

                    The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum is the home to an ever-expanding collection of Impressionist, Post-Impressionist, early Modern and contemporary art. Its collection spans mid-19th century Realism to Postmodern artwork, sculptures, and installations. Designed by the genius Frank Lloyd Wright, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum is now known as the youngest New York City landmark. Following the architect’s vision behind “one continuous floor” for the art exhibits, the exhibits are lined along a spiral walkway that goes up all the way to the glass dome at the top.Founded in 1937, the museum was known for its display of the most vibrant and dynamic styles of European modernism artworks, including over 150 works by Vasily Kandinsky. At this museum, you can view works by artists from the 19th Century through the 20th Century, such as Brancusi, Braque, Calder, Chagall, Robert Delaunay, Giacometti, Klee, Leger, Miro, Picasso, and Van Gogh.<\/p>\n

                    Best Time to Visit Monday mornings Recommended Duration 1-3 hours<\/p>\n

                    Highlights of Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum<\/p>\n
                      \n
                    1. Edgar Degas\u2019 \u2018Spanish Dance\u2019<\/li>\n
                    2. Pablo Picasso\u2019s \u2018Woman Ironing\u2019<\/li>\n
                    3. Paul Czanne\u2019s \u2018Bibmus\u2019<\/li>\n
                    4. Paul Ganguin\u2019s \u2018In the Vanilla Grove, Man and Horse,\u2019<\/li>\n
                    5. Georges Seurat\u2019s \u2018Farm Women at Work\u2019<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/h3>\n

                      \"BestTravel<\/a><\/p>\n

                      <\/p>\n

                      Best Destinations for Art Lovers<\/h2>\n

                      <\/a>Discover the ultimate guide to the best destinations for art lovers. Explore vibrant galleries, iconic museums, and hidden gems around the world. <\/a><\/p>\n

                      Tips For Visiting Museums In New York<\/h2>\n