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The 23 Best Museums To Visit In NYC

By Aishah French By Aishah French | April 8, 2024 | Lifestyle, Guides,

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Whether you’re into paintings and fashion or animals and ships, there’s a museum for you amongst the 100+ in our city. We’ve curated our favorite and most engaging spots in the city so you can spend a day learning your way.

See also: The 25 Best Things To Do In New York City

Best Art Museums

The Met

1000 5th Ave. / 212.535.7710 / Website

New Yorker or not, you’ve probably heard of The Met. It’s hard to miss the grandiose museum sitting in Central Park with its red banners and iconic steps constantly graced by tourists and locals alike. If you’re feeling ambitious, we suggest setting aside a day to take a peek at all 30 exhibits. New York State residents and students in New York, New Jersey or Connecticut can pay by donation, making this a must-visit on our list.

Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum

1071 5th Ave. / 212.423.3500 / Website

The Guggenheim is a classic picture of experiential architecture. Its one-path spiral ramp guides you through its exhibits at your pace, leading you up to the bright skylight. You might recognize some classic works by Van Gogh or could stumble by some more recently-viral works like “Can’t Help Myself”, which struck the hearts of TikTok users. If you’re a fan of easter eggs, you can even find the famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s initials on a red tile on the outside of the building just like an artist signing off a piece.

New Museum

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235 Bowery / 212.219.1222 / Website

Searching for something new? Look no further than The New Museum of Contemporary Art. Down in Manhattan’s Lower East side, this spot is exclusively dedicated to living contemporary artists. Head over with timed tickets between 7PM and 9PM on a Thursday to pay what you wish for admission. Be sure to check out The Sky Room while you’re there for a panoramic view of Manhattan.

Neue Galerie New York

1048 5th Ave. / 212.628.6200 / Website

This is your chance to meet the glittering gold “Portrait of Adele Block-Bauer I” by the famed Gustav Klimt. In a house made by the architects of the New York Public Library sits the fine collection of Neue Galerie New York. From fine art to furniture, this museum entirely houses 20th-century German and Austrian art and design. Come on the first Friday of the month for free admission.

The Met Cloisters

99 Margaret Corbin Dr. / 212.923.3700 / Website

Need a space to get inspired? The Cloisters is the nation’s only museum exclusively dedicated to medieval European art and architecture. Its charming, serene spaces were crafted to transport you back in time. Historically, a cloister is part of a monastery where monks meditated, studied and exercised. The crown jewel is the gardens, with a living collection of plants and herbs cultivated to call back to the Middle Ages.

Whitney Museum of American Art

99 Gansevoort St. / 212.570.3600 / Website

Check out The Whitney to see the nation’s best 20th-century and contemporary American art collection. “The Whitney Biennial” is the museum’s star exhibition, and is the longest-running survey of American art nationally. The exhibit rotates with artwork created in the preceding two years and has been since the early 70s. Admission is “pay what you wish” on Fridays between seven and 10PM, but be sure to book advance tickets first.

The Museum at FIT

227 W. 27th St. / 212.217.4558 / Website

Interested in innovative fashion? Take a look at FIT’s collection of more than 50,000 garments and accessories. You’ll be able to see pieces important to fashion and textile history and even student and faculty works. If you get a chance to visit in May, you’ll be able to see the annual “Art and Design Graduating Student Exhibition”. It’s the only museum in the city completely dedicated to fashion, and is always free!

The Brooklyn Museum

200 Eastern Pkwy, Brooklyn / 718.638.5000 / Website

Rockwell, Degas, KAWS, Picasso. This is one of the oldest art museums in the nation, with a diverse collection of about 1.5 million pieces. Be sure to check out the museum’s Elizabeth Sackler Center for Feminist Art, the first of its kind in the country. This space focuses on feminism in the past, present and future. It currently houses “The Dinner Party” by Judy Chicago, which honors important women from history. Take a look at their website for free admission specials, usually held on the first Saturday of the month.

MoMA

11 W. 53 St. / 212.708.9400 / Website

Let’s enter the world of the avant-garde. The Museum of Modern Art is a must-see for lovers of all things art, and for those just beginning to dip their toes into the craft. From architecture and printmaking to film and performance art, there is always something that will catch your eye. Free admission for residents of New York City is available on the first Friday evening of every month.

The Frick Collection

1 E. 70th St. / 212.288.0700 / Website

Walk among old master paintings at The Frick Collection. This is art-lover Henry Frick’s own collection of works, kept in his mansion on Fifth Avenue. The house was designed around his accumulated artwork and was often rearranged to accommodate new additions. Truly an art lover’s dream. Although this location is under renovation, you can still see some highlights of the collection just five blocks away at Frick Madison.

The Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum

2 E. 91st St. / 212.849.8400 / Website

Imagine yourself being surrounded by any wallpaper of your choosing from the largest collection in North America. Head to the Cooper Hewitt in the Andrew Carnegie Mansion in Manhattan to experience the only museum in the country committed solely to historical and contemporary design. Embrace your inner designer with its interactive spaces such as the Immersion Room and Process Lab. Pay what you wish for admission between 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. daily.

Rubin Museum of Art

150 W. 17th St. / 212.620.5000 / Website

The Rubin is a must-see for lovers of Asian art and culture. The museum has an impressive collection from regions of the Himalayas and a permanent collection of Tibetan art. It’s a unique set of works aimed at educating the public about Asian art that might otherwise be underrepresented. You can even step into its Café Serai, which transforms into a lounge with cocktails and a DJ every Friday night. Admission to the museum is free on Fridays between 6PM and 10PM.

Best Science Museums

Intrepid Sea, Art & Space Museum

Pier 86, W. 46th St. / 212.245.0072 / Website

Dive into military and maritime history at the Intrepid, which houses the world’s fastest jets, guided missile submarines and other legendary machinery. Celebrity appearances include the space shuttle Enterprise and the historic aircraft carrier (and namesake), Intrepid. New York City residents can receive 50% off general admission.

American Museum of Natural History

200 Central Park West / 212.769.5100 / Website

You might recognize this iconic spot from the comedy, “Night at the Museum”. This gigantic space has something to see for the whole family, with several impressive animal displays, huge dinosaur fossils, immersive cultural halls and glittering gems. You’ll be craning your neck and reading more at every display. Entry is pay-as-you-wish for New York, New Jersey and Connecticut residents.

Best History Museum

The New-York Historical Society

170 Central Park West / 212.873.3400 / Website

Explore New York’s very first museum and nationally renowned independent research library at the New-York Historical Society. Diverse exhibitions stretch from the colonial era to the modern day, and house historical collections like Tiffany Lamps and Audubon’s Birds of America. Bring the whole family and check out the DiMenna Children’s History Museum, the first history museum in the U.S. made specifically for kids.

The Ellis Island Museum of Immigration

Ellis Island Bridge, Jersey City, NJ / 832.960.0009 / Website

Learn about the famous history of U.S. immigration at Ellis Island. Housed in a restored immigration complex, you can walk in the steps of arrivals decades before us. The museum continues to update its content as it investigates what immigration looks like today. We recommend planning a day trip to both Ellis and Liberty Islands.

The Morgan Library & Museum

225 Madison Ave. / 212.685.0008 / Website

Live out your dark academia dreams at The Morgan Library & Museum. Venture through what was Pierpont Morgan’s personal library of early printed books, manuscripts and master drawings. Reserve tickets one week in advance for free admission on Fridays between 5PM to 7OM or visit its historic rooms for free on Tuesdays and Sundays between 3PM and 5PM.

The Jewish Museum

1109 5th Ave. & E 92nd St. / 212.423.3200 / Website

The Warburg mansion currently holds art and cultural artifacts committed to Jewish culture. It is the first establishment of its kind in the nation and is one of the oldest Jewish museums in the world. Free admission is available on Saturdays and select Jewish holidays.

New York City Fire Museum

278 Spring St. / 212.691.1303 / Website

Learn about all things firefighter at the former quarters of FDNY’s Engine Company No. 30. Dedicated to the New York City Fire Department, the bright red doors open to a collection of equipment historically used by volunteer and paid firefighters. There’s also a separate 9/11 memorial to honor members of FDNY-EMS who made the Supreme Sacrifice.

The Tenement Museum

103 Orchard St. / 877.975.3786 / Website

This National Historic Site focuses on the working-class tenement residents who moved to New York City from different parts of the world near and far. Stories of these residents are told through guided tours of two historical tenement buildings in the Lower East Side. We recommend purchasing tickets in advance as spots usually sell fast!

New York Transit Museum

99 Schermerhorn St., Brooklyn / 718.694.1600 / Website

Interested in trains? Check out the historical artifacts of the subway, bus and other commuter rail systems in the NYC metro area. Step into the vintage cars, walk through turnstiles and learn more about the city’s mass transit system. It’s all held in a decommissioned subway station, and entry is between five to 10 dollars.

Museum of the City of New York

1220 5th Ave. / 212.534.1672 / Website

Learn about past and present New York City at the Museum of the City of New York. From garments representing NYC fashion historically to exhibitions on social activism, this museum gives you the inside scoop on what it’s like to be a true New Yorker.

The National September 11 Memorial & Museum

180 Greenwich St. / Website

The attack on September 11, 2001, changed the lives of everyone around the world. Sitting right where it happened, the 9/11 Memorial and Museum tells the stories of its impact through media, artifacts and narratives. The memorial is free and open to the public all week, while the museum requires an advance ticket purchase.

Photography by: Noam Galai / Getty Images

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