12 best museums in New York City

New York is a great city with enormous leisure possibilities no matter what time of year you travel to the city.

It has become one of the great cultural centers of the planet thanks to its museums of all kinds for all tastes and there is no doubt that a tour of the best museums in New York is one of the essential plans to do there, but which ones can not be missed?

For all of us who in one way or another witnessed the events of September 11, 2001, visiting the National September 11 Memorial & Museum is a very emotional moment during a trip to New York. The world was paralyzed by the terrorist attacks on the Twin Towers and the Manhattan skyline changed forever that morning.

With this audio tour ticket to the 9/11 Museum, you will have direct access to the museum itself and the 9/11 Memorial where you can learn more about this episode in American history and New York City's heroic response to the terrible event.

A visit to remember, what is the 9/11 Museum like?

This museum documents the history and significance of the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York, through an extensive collection of more than 10,000 objects that bear witness to that tragic date.

On the day of my visit I started at the Memorial Plaza, two huge water fountains with waterfalls located in the exact spot where the towers once stood. The sight is absolutely breathtaking in its emotional significance. On the edges of the fountains you can read on bronze plaques the names of the people who perished in the attacks.

Visiting the living history of 9/11

The museum is located underneath Memorial Plaza, within the remains of the original World Trade Center structure. After passing through the security arch, there is nothing that can prepare you for what you will see inside the 9/11 Museum as it stirs up many emotions and it is impossible not to have a lump in your throat throughout the tour.

The remains of the original columns of the Twin Towers, the stairs by which hundreds of people tried to flee for their lives, as well as the objects of the victims recovered from the rubble and the testimonies of the survivors.

Many people sacrificed their lives that day to save the lives of others and thanks to all those anonymous heroes, hundreds of people managed to survive.

Practical Information

• Where is the 9/11 Museum? 180 Greenwich Street in the World Trade Center, south of Manhattan.
• How long does it take to see it? Because of the significance of this museum, it is a place that should be seen at your own pace. My advice is to set aside at least 2 hours to visit it.
• Hours: The 9/11 Museum is open on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays from 9AM to 8PM and on Fridays and Saturdays from 9AM to 9PM.
• How to get there Bus lines M5, M20, M22 / Subway Chambers Street (lines A, C, 1, 2 and 3), Park Place (lines 2 and 3), World Trade Center (line E) and Fulton Street (lines A, C, J, Z, 2, 3, 4 and 5).
• Extra information: please refer to our article on 9/11 Memorial Tickets and Tours in NYC.

Another of the best museums in New York is the Museum of Natural History. Many people will know it from Ben Stiller's movie Night at the Museum, especially the younger ones. However, although its collection does not come to life in the real world, it is worth a visit for the importance of its collections and how well structured they are in an enjoyable and exciting tour.

In fact, it is one of the must-see museums in the city and one of the most visited, so to skip the queues at the ticket office and go directly to what interests you, it is best that you get this ticket to the Museum of Natural History of New York.

What to see at the Natural History Museum

It was created in 1869 for the study of the universe, the Earth, the human being and the dissemination of science thanks to the efforts of naturalist Albert S. Bickmore, so here you can see a lot of things and very interesting: from fossils and dinosaur bones, to meteorites and the origins of human beings.

Given the size of the Natural History Museum and the large number of exhibits it has, the visit can be overwhelming, especially if it is the first time. With this ticket you will have access to nearly 50 permanent and special exhibits, including the Rose Center for Earth and Space.

How to plan your visit

The Natural History Museum is made up of 28 interconnected buildings that house its popular library, research laboratories and dozens of permanent exhibition halls.

Some of the most famous are the Biodiversity and Environmental Halls (where a 28-meter-long blue whale specimen is on display), the Earth and Planetary Sciences Halls (where the Ahnighito meteorite that crashed in Greenland is exhibited) and my favorite Fossil Halls, the room that exhibits the largest collection of dinosaur fossils and features life-size reproductions.

My advice is to plan it well and at least set aside 3 hours to explore the museum at your leisure, either to discover its most relevant rooms or to go at your own pace seeing what you like the most.

Visiting with children

If you go to the Museum of New York History with children, I advise you to set aside some time to go to the Discovery Room, a room where kids from 5 to 12 years old can learn about nature and science by experimenting interactively with puzzles and scientific challenges accompanied by their parents. They will love it!

Practical Information

• Where is the Natural History Museum? It is located on 79th Street west of Central Park.
• How long does it take to see it? Its collection is considered the largest on the planet with more than 35 million pieces of all kinds. If you don't have much time it is best to be selective and go directly to the rooms you want to see.
• How to get there? Bus (lines M7, M10, M11, M79, M86 and M104) / Subway (81st St. Museum of Natural History Station, lines B and C).
• Hours: Open Wednesday to Sunday from 10 AM to 5:30 PM.
• Extra info: You can read more details in my article about the Museum of Natural History. Museum of Natural History New York Tickets.

If we talk about modern and contemporary art, MoMA is the most important museum in the world and one of the essential visits to make in New York.

Its popularity lies not only in the incalculable value of its collections but also in offering a complete experience suitable for all ages, which is why there are often long lines at the entrance.

However, with this skip-the-line ticket, you will gain immediate access to the
MoMA Museum and its vast collection of 200,000 works signed by famous artists such as Dali, Picasso, Andy Warhol and Van Gogh among many others. You'll love it so much you won't want to leave!

What to see at MoMA

It is surprising to discover that from the eight canvases and one drawing with which MoMA began in 1929, now its repertoire exceeds hundreds of thousands of pieces including paintings, sculpture, drawings, prints, design, photography, film, architecture and prints, all spread over 6 floors!

If you like art as much as I do, I'm sure you won't mind wandering for hours through its facilities enjoying every detail but if what you want is to make a short visit to MoMA, I advise you to focus on floors 4 and 5, which is where the works of the most famous artists such as Warhol, Pollock, Matisse or Cézanne are located.

But its stimulating repertoire goes beyond that. The great thing about this skip-the-line MoMA ticket is that you can also explore MoMA PS1, Long Island City's contemporary art center, during the 14 days following your visit to the Manhattan venue to soak up even more art. This cultural space hosts exhibitions that address both artist retrospectives and site-specific shows.

Before you leave MoMA

When you're done, before hitting the streets of New York, I suggest you take a break at MoMA's Sculpture Garden, an oasis in the middle of the city where you can enjoy a coffee in a very unique setting designed by Philip Johnson in the 1950s.

Practical information

• Where is MoMA? It is located on 53rd Street between 5th and 6th Avenue.
• How long does it take to see it? It depends on how fond you are of modern and contemporary art. For a quick visit you will have to spend a minimum of 90 minutes.
• How to get there? Bus lines M1, M2, M3, M4 and M5 / Subway 5th Avenue - 53rd Street (lines E and V).
• Opening hours: Saturday to Thursday from 10:30 AM to 17:30 PM and Friday from 10:30 AM to 20 PM.
• Extra information: I tell you more details about my visit to MoMa in the article on MoMA New York Tickets.

Isabel's Traveller Tip

Go up to the 6th floor to take in the amazing views of Midtown Manhattan from MoMA's large windows. You'll see Rockefeller Center, St. Patrick's Cathedral or Grand Central Station.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art, popularly known as the MET, is the largest museum in the city and one of the best museums in New York. Its collection brings together works of art from all over the world with more than 5,000 years of history. It is the temple for travelers with the soul of Indiana Jones!

Being one of the most visited museums, the queues to access the MET can sometimes be very long. However, this skip-the-line ticket to the MET is valid for 3 consecutive days and you will be able to enter directly to the three venues that make up the
MET Museum(The Met Fifth Avenue, The Met Breuer and The Met Cloisters) to enjoy all the art.

What to see at the MET

You might almost ask, what not to see at the MET Museum? Everything here is absolutely fascinating. If you are passionate about history and art, you will enjoy every nook and cranny of the museum like a child and should not miss it during your trip to New York. This ticket includes all exhibitions and free public guided tours, which are available in 10 languages.

Since the MET opened in February 1872 when Robert Lee Jenkins donated his private collection, the museum has continued to grow and attract visitors. Each year more than 6 million people visit its halls filled with treasures from ancient Egypt, ancient Greece and Rome, the Middle Ages, Islamic art, art from the Americas, Africa, Oceania and much more.

In order to bring art and art education to Americans, the MET organizes dozens of exhibitions annually as well as events and programs that include films, lectures, performances, guided tours and family activities.

Speaking of families, did you know that children under 12 get in free when accompanied by an adult?

How to plan your visit

A good start is to take a look at the MET map to locate the permanent collections and discard those areas that are not of interest to you. I know that once there it is difficult to do it because you will want to see as much as possible, it has happened to me but believe me, to avoid going crazy the ideal is to select the areas that catch your attention and leave the rest for another time.

What I like most about this skip-the-line ticket to the MET valid for 3 consecutive days is that you can return to any of the museum's venues to continue the visit right where you left off the day before. So, take it easy!

All the pieces housed in the MET are fascinating but, in my opinion, the Egyptian, Greek, Roman and Medieval art rooms are a must-see treasure next to the European painting room.

If you have some time left, don't forget to stop by the MET Museum's other venues: The Met Breuer (dedicated to modern and contemporary art) and The Met Cloisters (dedicated to medieval art and architecture).

Practical information

• Where is the MET? It is on 82nd Street and 5th Avenue.
• How long does it take to see it? You will need a minimum of 3 hours for a short visit knowing in advance what you want to see. Ideally, you should have a whole morning or afternoon to visit the museum, but as this is a three-day ticket, you can take your time to organize your visit as you wish.
• How to get there? Bus lines M1, M2, M3 and M4 / Subway 86th Street (lines 4, 5 and 6).
• Hours: Open Tuesday to Sunday from 9:30 AM to 17:30 PM. Fridays and Saturdays open until 9:00 PM. Closed every Monday, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day.

After a pleasant stroll through High Line Park you can continue your sightseeing tour by entering the Whitney Museum, a space specializing in 20th century American art.

With this skip-the-line entrance to the Whitney Museum of American Art, you'll have direct access to the best of modern and contemporary American art in one place with breathtaking scenery from the museum's open-air terraces. Plus, there are free daily tours to learn all its secrets in depth.

What to see at the Whitney Museum of American Art?

There are many interesting museums in New York, but the curious thing about this one is that it was born from a failure. Its founder, sculptor Gertrude Vandelbilt Whitney, created it in 1930 after the MET refused to exhibit her collection.

Today, its collection is made up of works of art by 20th century American artists such as Jackson Pollock, Edward Hopper, Georgia O'Keeffe or Andy Warhol and, what I find most interesting, by living contemporary artists who find in this museum a space to present their works in public for the first time.

How to plan your visit

The Whitney Museum consists of several floors among which are distributed the temporary exhibitions and the permanent collection, which has 21,000 pieces created by more than 3,000 artists and the own collection of founder Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney according to different historical periods.

The atmosphere at the Whitney Museum is relaxed and seems designed to appeal to a young-spirited public.

If you don't have much time to make the visit, my advice is to look for the works and artists you like the most and take the opportunity to get to know the rest of the museum from above. As interesting is its interior (with the largest column-free gallery in the city) as the outdoor terraces on floors 5, 6, 7 and 8 that serve as art galleries and viewpoints of the city at the same time.

Why I like it

In addition to its own theme, contemporary art, I love the Whitney Museum because it is not crowded like other museums and the architecture of the building, which has a spectacular facade. And from its terraces there are wonderful views of the Hudson River, the Meatpacking District and even New Jersey and southern Manhattan.

Practical information about the Whitney Museum of American Art

• Where is the Whitney Museum? It is located at 99 Gansevoort St, New York.
• How long does it take to see it? Book at least a couple of hours, because it is a very large museum, with hundreds of permanent works spread over nine floors.
• Hours: The Whitney Museum is open Sunday through Thursday from 10:30 AM to 6 PM; Fridays and Saturdays until 10 PM. Closed on Tuesdays, Thanksgiving Day, December 25 and January 1.
• How to get there Bus lines M1, M2, M3 and M4 / 77th Street Subway (line 6).

Are the wax figures at Madame Tussauds as spectacular as they say they are? Well, yes! The truth is that this New York museum has a well-deserved fame, not only because of how much the wax sculptures resemble the people they represent, something fundamental, but also because you can interact with them in different sets and take home a souvenir album a-lu-ci-nan-te of your visit.

With this ticket to the Madame Tussauds Museum in New York, you will have full access to its more than five floors of exhibitions with all kinds of scenarios in which to take pictures with your favorite actors, musicians and athletes. For example, imagine posing on Oprah Winfrey's interview couch or in the Oval Office with the President of the United States. Sounds like fun, doesn't it?

What to see at Madame Tussauds?

The Madame Tussauds Museum welcomes you with the Opening Night Party room, set as a big party where you can mingle with different celebrities. The visit continues with other themed rooms such as the Sports Zone or Pop Culture, where you will meet athletes, musicians and other famous personalities.

One of the areas I was most excited about was the Star On Broadway exhibit, an interactive experience where you get to step into the role of a real Broadway star. It was hilarious to play a tune on a giant floor piano, just like in the movies! And singing at the top of your lungs one of the songs from "Phantom of the Opera" along with the stars.

The Marvel 4-D Cinema Experience is also highly recommended if you like super heroes. This is a 4-D movie that incorporates 3-D movie technology with special effects that include wind, water and even smell. It's as if the movie puts you in the middle of the battle between good and evil. Truly, a fantastic experience.

Perfect to go with children

If you are traveling with children or teenagers this is one of the best museums in New York to visit as a family because they will have a great time.

They will be able to tour Madame Tussauds from top to bottom, taking pictures without fear of spoiling the wax figures (after all they are all celebrities used to the flashes) and pose with E.T. or the ghostbusters among many other characters.

Practical information about Madame Tussauds

• Where is it located? It is located at 232 West 42nd Street (in Times Square).
• How long does it take to see it?: 90 minutes will be enough to see the highlights of Madame Tussauds although it all depends on how much time you want to spend taking pictures.
• Hours: Madame Tussauds is open Sunday through Thursday from 10 AM to 8 PM while on Fridays and Saturdays it is open from 10 AM to 10 PM.
• How to get there. Bus lines M6, M7, M10, M20, M27, M42 and M104. / Subway 42nd Street & 8th Avenue (lines A, C and E), 42nd Street & 6th Avenue (lines B, D, F and V) or 42nd Street-Times Square (lines 1, 2, 3, 7, N, Q, R, W and S).

During the Upper East Side tour, a must-see is the Guggenheim Museum, one of the best museums in New York.

Not only for the magnificent collection of modern art that houses works by Marc Chagall, Vasily Kandinsky, Edouard Manet and Vincent van Gogh but also for its spectacular architecture. A modernist building designed by Frank Lloyd Wright that has become an icon of the twentieth century.

That is why the Guggenheim Museum does not disappoint. I assure you that you will not get tired of walking through its corridors, with a spiral interior design that leads the visitor naturally from one space to another or as Wright himself called it an "uninterrupted symphony".

With these credentials, it is not surprising that it is one of the most popular museums in the city, with long lines at the doors. To save the time you can spend on your visit, this skip-the-line ticket to the Guggenheim Museum gives you direct access to one of the world's finest collections of modern and contemporary art.

What to see at the Guggenheim Museum

Upon arrival, you will be surprised by the impressive building designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, his last major project before his death. The exterior is designed as a large white cylindrical structure that seems to rotate like a whirlwind towards the sky.

As you walk through the entrance, the first thing you notice is a great sense of spaciousness and emptiness. On either side of it is a very long ramp that flows along six floors until it rises towards a glass dome through which natural light penetrates. This slope creates the illusion of experiencing the art on display as you ascend upward in a very natural, organic way.

Among the criticisms the building received, some people believed that its design would overshadow the artwork displayed on its walls but nothing could be further from the truth. Architecture and painting have merged into one to become an emblem of New York.

As for painting, its collection is spectacular: Kandinsky, Toulouse-Lautrec, Magritte, Chagall, Picasso and Miró, among others. All this together with very interesting temporary exhibitions and a collection of photographs by Robert Mapplethorpe, famous for his large black and white images.

Why I like it

The great thing about this ticket is that you can explore the museum with a guide for free every day at 2PM, which gives you a super complete and different view of the Guggenheim.

Practical information about the Guggenheim Museum

• Where is it located? 89th Street and 5th Avenue.
• How long does it take to see the Guggenheim Museum? For a quick visit to enjoy the architecture and the building's collection, at least 2 hours.
• Hours: The Guggenheim Museum is open Friday through Wednesday from 10AM to 5:45PM. Saturdays are open until 7:45PM.
• How to get there. 86th Street Subway (lines 4, 5 and 6) / Bus lines M1, M2, M3 and M4.

If you are going to spend several days in the Big Apple to soak up the history of the city, what life was like for New Yorkers and how it became one of the most important cities on the planet you have to go to the Museum of the City of New York, south of East Harlem.

What to see at the Museum of the City of New York

Housed in a beautiful colonial and Georgian style building, the Museum of the City of New York exhibits objects, paintings, photographs and recreations that help to compose the history of New York from its origins and its future.

In addition, with this ticket you will have access to the Timescapes documentary, a half-hour multimedia narration that takes you on a journey through 400 years of the city's history. Highly recommended!

Why I like it the Museum of New York

Along with the documentary, I loved this museum 's exhibit of antique toys and full-scale models.

Practical information about the Museum

Do you like stories about spies during the Cold War? Then you should include this one in your list of the best museums in New York to visit. It is an amazing exhibition of objects used by Soviet agents in their missions against the United States to try to get their secrets.

The funny thing is that the KGB Spy Museum is the work of one person, Julius Urbatis, a Lithuanian historian who has spent decades collecting original pieces such as iconographies of Lenin or Stalin, cameras and microphones hidden in books, rings or belts, gas masks, guns in the shape of lipsticks... some objects have almost a century of history!

Why visit this museum

If you like history and spy adventures, with this ticket to the KGB Spy Museum, you will have direct and skip-the-line access to the world's largest collection of KGB items, some of them never seen before!

In addition, you will discover the secret activities, strategies and methods used in many of the most important top secret espionage operations in history.

Practical information

• Where is it located? This museum is located at 245 West 14th Street.
• How long does it take to see it? About 90 minutes for a quick visit is enough.
• Hours: Open Monday through Sunday from 10AM to 8PM.

During a visit to the borough of Brooklyn, mark on your activity plan a visit to the Brooklyn Museum, one of the largest in the country and one of the best museums in New York.

It was founded in 1895 with the idea of becoming the largest museum in the world and although it could not achieve its purpose, its collections of antiquities and American art are of great value and well worth seeing if you are interested in history and art.

Why visit the Brooklyn Museum

I loved the experience because with this ticket I had access to the museum's permanent collection, which includes art from all corners of the world from ancient Egypt to the present day and the free guided tour.

One of my favorite exhibits was the Spanish colonial and Native American art although its collection of African, Pacific Islander or Islamic art also deserves a special mention because it is simply spectacular as is the American art collection with works by Edward Hopper, Norman Rockwell or Winslow Homer.

In addition, with this ticket to the Brooklyn Museum, you will have a 10% discount in the gift store, which never hurts. Take advantage of your visit to the museum to tour the Brooklyn area, one of my favorites in the city. I tell you more details in my article about Things to Do in Brooklyn NYC.

Practical info

• Where is it located? The Brooklyn Museum is at 200 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn.
• How long does it take to see the museum? My advice is to plan your visit to the Brooklyn Museum well and at least set aside at least 2 hours to explore the museum at your leisure. If you don't have much time it is best to be selective and go directly to the rooms you want to see.
• Hours: Open Wednesday through Sunday from 11AM to 6PM. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
• How to get there? Metro lines B, D, Q, N, R. / Bus lines B41, B45 and B69.

Fotografiska New York is anything but a regular museum. On the outside the building is a marvel, but inside it never ceases to amaze because there is no permanent collection - each exhibition is unique! It is a mix of photography, art, music and nightlife.

A living artistic space in constant change capable of adapting and showing the latest movements and social issues by emerging and established artists through a vibrant cultural program.

Why I like it Fotografiska New York

Precisely because it is not just another museum with the typical atmosphere of a traditional museum.

The ambient lighting of the rooms, the elegant interior design and the relaxing music is a novel approach to photography that, together with a temporary collection, makes the experience totally different every time and a reason to visit Fotografiska New York on every trip to the city.

Practical info

• Where is it located? It is located at 281 Park Avenue South.
• How long does it take to see Fotografiska New York? At least 2 hours to enjoy the atmosphere and the collection.
• Hours: Fotografiska New York is open Wednesday through Sunday from 11AM to 9PM. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
• How to get there. Bus M1, M2, M3.

Isabel's Traveller Tip

Fotografiska New York often organizes events with live music and special exhibitions - it's worth dropping by on New York nights!

Have you ever imagined being a spy on a secret mission? Think you could pass a lie detector? Then put on a hat and trench coat because at the Spyscape Museum and Experience in New York you'll be taught how to think like a spy and put the tricks of the trade into practice.

With this ticket you'll get to experience those mysterious spy stories and in an immersive environment, you'll participate in a real spy challenge to test your own skills.

At the end you will be shown your own profile to find out what kind of spy you would be: will it be 007, Mata Hari, Alan Turing or Joan Clarke?

Why I like it Spyscape Museum and Experience

Because it is not just another museum about espionage but a mix between a museum and an interactive experience where I had a blast.

Spyscape Museum is divided into seven sections that are dedicated to different facets of espionage such as intelligence operations, deception or cyber attacks.

Before starting the adventure, a video is shown explaining the missions to be completed and each participant receives a wristband, which is scanned in each section to load the details of the next job.

For example, in "Deception" you have to tell which subject is lying or telling the truth after watching various interviews while in "Surveillance" you can test your talent for finding suspects on security cameras. The tests are so well done that you really get into the role and the time in the museum flies by.

The best part comes at the end though, when all the tests have been completed, the results are analyzed to determine what kind of spy you are and what branch of military intelligence you would be instrumental in making the mission successful.

When you leave Spyscape Museum and Experience you will feel ready to perform any mission incognito, like a real spy.

Practical Information

• Where is it located? It is located at 928 8th Ave Between 54th-55th Street.
• How long does it take to get around the Spyscape Museum? It will take approximately 90 minutes.
• Is it suitable for children? The Spyscape Museum and Experience is best suited for children ages 10 or 12 and up as some of the exhibits can be challenging.
• How to get there. Subway: 50th Street (lines C, E), 59th Street Columbus Circle (lines A, B, C, D), 57th Street (lines N, Q, R, o, W) / Bus M7, M20, M104.

Have you thought about purchasing a New York Pass to get the most out of your trip to New York? It is a tourist card that gives access to the main museums, monuments and points of interest in the city. These are the tourist passes that exist in New York:

• New York Pass
• New York CityPass
• New York Explorer Pass
• New York Sightseeing Pass

Getting one of these passes has several advantages but the main one is that if you take advantage of it you will save money and time by not having to buy individual tickets for each place you visit. Even in some cases, with a New York Pass you won't have to wait in the boring entrance lines and having all the tickets in one place is very convenient.

Which pass to buy?

The million dollar question that every traveler asks himself! In this sense, the most important thing to keep in mind is that there are two types of New York Pass: by number of days and by number of attractions.

Finding the perfect pass depends on the type of trip you are going to do in New York and your budget. In our post about New York sightseeing cards we help you to choose the right one for you, take a look at it!