List of Museums in New York City

New York City Museums

List of Museums in New York City

Click for NYC's Most Popular Museum Map

Many of the best museums in the world can be found in New York City. From the sprawling American Museum of Natural History to the eclectic Frick Collection, there's bound to be something that appeals to you.

With so many NYC museums to choose from, it's hard to know where to begin. The good news is, you're in the right place. Below is a highly selective (but representative) list of museums in New York City. Use New York City promo codes to save on certain things to do so that you can see even more of the best NYC museums.

Many of the best museums in New York City stand on Manhattan's Fifth Avenue, across the street from Central Park. These 5th Avenue Museums, known collectively as the Museum Mile Consortium, are dedicated to promoting the fine arts in NYC.

New York Art Museums List

Here are two of our favorite Fifth Avenue art museums:

Hokusai's The Great Wave off Kanagawa

Hokusai's The Great Wave off Kanagawa featured at the MMOA

  • Metropolitan Museum of Art: Occupying two million square feet, with a permanent collection of over two million works of art, the Metropolitan Museum of Art is one of the largest art galleries in the world. This famous fine arts museum in NYC boasts works from classical antiquity, Ancient Egypt, Asia, Byzantium, and Europe, with nearly all of the European masters represented.
The skylight in the center of the Guggenheim museum

The skylight in the center of the Guggenheim museum

  • Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum: As the final project of legendary American architect Frank Lloyd Wright, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum is one of the most iconic museums in the world. Housed within the museum are 300 representative works culled from the Guggenheim Foundation's 7,000-piece collection, including works by Picasso, Monet, and van Gogh. This must-see museum on 5th Avenue in New York is truly one-of-a-kind.

 

NYCTourist Travel Info

"Must See" New York City Museums, Art and Museum Tours

  Tour Info
1. Natural History Museum


ActiveFamily FriendlyScenicHistoricArtsyHoliday FunSportsCulturalMuseumBroadwayNightlifeNYC SightsRomanticShoppingTV and MoviesCentral Park
Location
Near Central ParkDetails
3.6125
5 Reviews
2. Guggenheim Museum


ActiveFamily FriendlyScenicHistoricArtsyHoliday FunSportsCulturalMuseumBroadwayNightlifeNYC SightsRomanticShoppingTV and MoviesCentral Park
Location
Upper East SideDetails
4.13
6 Reviews
3. The Met


ActiveFamily FriendlyScenicHistoricArtsyHoliday FunSportsCulturalMuseumBroadwayNightlifeNYC SightsRomanticShoppingTV and MoviesCentral Park
Location
Upper East SideDetails
3.35
1 Reviews
4. MoMA


ActiveFamily FriendlyScenicHistoricArtsyHoliday FunSportsCulturalMuseumBroadwayNightlifeNYC SightsRomanticShoppingTV and MoviesCentral Park
Location
Midtown EastDetails
4.35
2 Reviews
5. Ripley’s Believe It or Not!


ActiveFamily FriendlyScenicHistoricArtsyHoliday FunSportsCulturalMuseumBroadwayNightlifeNYC SightsRomanticShoppingTV and MoviesCentral Park
Location
Midtown West, Theater District, Times SquareDetails
4.65
2 Reviews
6. NY Botanic Garden


ActiveFamily FriendlyScenicHistoricArtsyHoliday FunSportsCulturalMuseumBroadwayNightlifeNYC SightsRomanticShoppingTV and MoviesCentral Park
Location
Prospect HeightsDetails
3.325
2 Reviews
7. Liberty Island NY & Ellis Island


ActiveFamily FriendlyScenicHistoricArtsyHoliday FunSportsCulturalMuseumBroadwayNightlifeNYC SightsRomanticShoppingTV and MoviesCentral Park
Location
Liberty IslandDetails
3.75
2 Reviews
8. Museum of Sex


ActiveFamily FriendlyScenicHistoricArtsyHoliday FunSportsCulturalMuseumBroadwayNightlifeNYC SightsRomanticShoppingTV and MoviesCentral Park
Location
ManhattanDetails
0
0 Reviews
9. Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum Madame Tussauds Museum


ActiveFamily FriendlyScenicHistoricArtsyHoliday FunSportsCulturalMuseumBroadwayNightlifeNYC SightsRomanticShoppingTV and MoviesCentral Park
Location
Times SquareDetails
3.75
4 Reviews
10. The Metropolitan Opera


ActiveFamily FriendlyScenicHistoricArtsyHoliday FunSportsCulturalMuseumBroadwayNightlifeNYC SightsRomanticShoppingTV and MoviesCentral Park
Location
Details
0
0 Reviews
11. Museum of the Arts


ActiveFamily FriendlyScenicHistoricArtsyHoliday FunSportsCulturalMuseumBroadwayNightlifeNYC SightsRomanticShoppingTV and MoviesCentral Park
Location
The BronxDetails
3.5
1 Reviews
12. Childrens Museum of Art


ActiveFamily FriendlyScenicHistoricArtsyHoliday FunSportsCulturalMuseumBroadwayNightlifeNYC SightsRomanticShoppingTV and MoviesCentral Park
Location
SoHoDetails
4
1 Reviews
13. Cooper-Hewitt Design Museum


ActiveFamily FriendlyScenicHistoricArtsyHoliday FunSportsCulturalMuseumBroadwayNightlifeNYC SightsRomanticShoppingTV and MoviesCentral Park
Location
Upper East SideDetails
3.65
1 Reviews
14. ICP


ActiveFamily FriendlyScenicHistoricArtsyHoliday FunSportsCulturalMuseumBroadwayNightlifeNYC SightsRomanticShoppingTV and MoviesCentral Park
Location
NolitaDetails
4
1 Reviews
15. Tenement Museum


ActiveFamily FriendlyScenicHistoricArtsyHoliday FunSportsCulturalMuseumBroadwayNightlifeNYC SightsRomanticShoppingTV and MoviesCentral Park
Location
Lower East SideDetails
4.5
1 Reviews
16. NYC Fire Museum


ActiveFamily FriendlyScenicHistoricArtsyHoliday FunSportsCulturalMuseumBroadwayNightlifeNYC SightsRomanticShoppingTV and MoviesCentral Park
Location
South VillageDetails
3.825
2 Reviews
17. NYC Police Museum


ActiveFamily FriendlyScenicHistoricArtsyHoliday FunSportsCulturalMuseumBroadwayNightlifeNYC SightsRomanticShoppingTV and MoviesCentral Park
Location
Financial DistrictDetails
3.35
1 Reviews
18. NY Hall of Science


ActiveFamily FriendlyScenicHistoricArtsyHoliday FunSportsCulturalMuseumBroadwayNightlifeNYC SightsRomanticShoppingTV and MoviesCentral Park
Location
QueensDetails
3.35
1 Reviews
19. NY Transit Museum


ActiveFamily FriendlyScenicHistoricArtsyHoliday FunSportsCulturalMuseumBroadwayNightlifeNYC SightsRomanticShoppingTV and MoviesCentral Park
Location
BrooklynDetails
3.5
2 Reviews
20. MoMa PS1


ActiveFamily FriendlyScenicHistoricArtsyHoliday FunSportsCulturalMuseumBroadwayNightlifeNYC SightsRomanticShoppingTV and MoviesCentral Park
Location
Long Island CityDetails
2.65
1 Reviews
21. Queens Museum of Art


ActiveFamily FriendlyScenicHistoricArtsyHoliday FunSportsCulturalMuseumBroadwayNightlifeNYC SightsRomanticShoppingTV and MoviesCentral Park
Location
QueensDetails
2.65
1 Reviews
22. The Rose Center NY


ActiveFamily FriendlyScenicHistoricArtsyHoliday FunSportsCulturalMuseumBroadwayNightlifeNYC SightsRomanticShoppingTV and MoviesCentral Park
Location
Central ParkDetails
4.116665
3 Reviews
23. Seaport Museum New York


ActiveFamily FriendlyScenicHistoricArtsyHoliday FunSportsCulturalMuseumBroadwayNightlifeNYC SightsRomanticShoppingTV and MoviesCentral Park
Location
South Street SeaportDetails
3.35
1 Reviews
24. NY Aquarium


ActiveFamily FriendlyScenicHistoricArtsyHoliday FunSportsCulturalMuseumBroadwayNightlifeNYC SightsRomanticShoppingTV and MoviesCentral Park
Location
BrooklynDetails
3.35
2 Reviews
25. Childrens Museum NYC


ActiveFamily FriendlyScenicHistoricArtsyHoliday FunSportsCulturalMuseumBroadwayNightlifeNYC SightsRomanticShoppingTV and MoviesCentral Park
Location
Upper West SideDetails
3.65
1 Reviews
More Tours...
NYCTourist Travel Info

New York City Museum Discounts

  Tour Info
1. Big Apple in a Day


ActiveFamily FriendlyScenicHistoricArtsyHoliday FunSportsCulturalMuseumBroadwayNightlifeNYC SightsRomanticShoppingTV and MoviesCentral Park
Price
$79.99 Details
0
0 reviews
2. NYC Museum Pass


ActiveFamily FriendlyScenicHistoricArtsyHoliday FunSportsCulturalMuseumBroadwayNightlifeNYC SightsRomanticShoppingTV and MoviesCentral Park
Price
$59.50 Details
0
0 reviews
3. Spectacular City Views


ActiveFamily FriendlyScenicHistoricArtsyHoliday FunSportsCulturalMuseumBroadwayNightlifeNYC SightsRomanticShoppingTV and MoviesCentral Park
Price
$44.00 Details
0
0 reviews
4. New York City Explorer Pass


ActiveFamily FriendlyScenicHistoricArtsyHoliday FunSportsCulturalMuseumBroadwayNightlifeNYC SightsRomanticShoppingTV and MoviesCentral Park
Price
$74.99 Details
0
0 reviews
More Tours...


*Terms & Conditions: Offers, promotions and rates subject to change and may vary based upon date, length of stay and other factors. Some offers do not include taxes and fees. All offers based on availability and are subject to change without notice.

Fun Museums NYC

Who says all museums must be boring? If you're not inclined to the lofty Fine Arts, think about paying a visit to one of these fun museums in New York City:

Madame Tussauds in NYC

Madame Tussauds in NYC

  • Madame Tussauds Wax Museum: If you're looking for a surreal NYC experience, look no further than Madame Tussauds Wax Museum. Here at this fun NYC museum you'll find the expertly crafted, disarmingly lifelike wax statues of celebrities and public figures such as Robert Pattinson, President Obama, and Lady Gaga. You can even get your picture taken with Leonardo DiCaprio or strike a pose with Taylor Swift!
  • Lower East Side Tenement Museum: The Lower East Side Tenement Museum is housed in a five-story brick tenement house on Manhattan's Lower East Side. Between 1863 and 1935, this landmark structure was home to over 7,000 working-class immigrants from over 20 nations. Tours of this fascinating NYC museum are highly interactive, with some featuring live music and dancing. Reservations must be made in advance.

African-American Art Museums in NYC

The Studio Museum

The Studio Museum

As one of the most ethnically diverse cities in the world, New York City has a lot to offer in the way of arts and culture. You'll find museums dedicated to American folk art, Ukrainian folk art, and Asian art, along with museums dedicated to the art of New York. You'll also find several cool NYC museums devoted exclusively to African art, such as the ones below:

  • The Studio Museum: Widely regarded as one of the best cultural institutions in Harlem, The Studio Museum NYC specializes in 19th- and 20th-century art by people of African descent. Founded in 1968, this Harlem museum was the first American contemporary art museum dedicated to the art of African-Americans. The museum's permanent collection features over 1,700 works of art.
  • The Museum for African Art: Founded in 1984, the Museum for African Art strives to increase public understanding of African art and culture with excellence in exhibitions. Among its most acclaimed exhibitions are Africa Explores: 20th-Century African Art, Liberated Voices: Contemporary Art from South Africa, and Material Differences: Art and Identity in Africa. This popular NYC museum will be joining the other famous NY museums on Museum Mile in 2011.

Science Museums in NYC

The NY Hall of Science

The NY Hall of Science

If you've already been to all the famous fine arts museums like the Met and the Guggenheim, consider visiting one of these cool science museums in New York City:

  • New York Hall of Science: Originally built as a pavilion for the 1964 World's Fair, the New York Hall of Science is now a fun and educational escape for children and their parents. This cool NY museum stands in Flushing Meadows Corona Park and features 450 exhibits, including a mechanical surfboard, real NASA rockets, and a massive spider web.
  • Intrepid Sea Air Space Museum: Located on Pier 86 in Midtown Manhattan, the Intrepid Sea Air Space Museum features historical and highly interactive exhibits that both educate and entertain. At this fun New York City museum, you'll learn all about the history of the U.S. Military and NASA, with memorable, hands-on experiences.

Children's Museums in NYC

Children's Museum of the Arts

Children's Museum of the Arts

Of course, adults aren't the only ones who enjoy museums. Here are a few excellent children's museums in NYC:

  • Children's Museum of the Arts: Located in the SoHo neighborhood of Manhattan, the Childrens Museum of the Arts is one of only a few NYC museums specifically geared towards young children. This kid-friendly NYC museum allows kids to create their own art and view works by other children from around the world.
  • Brooklyn Children's Museum: Perhaps the most stimulating of all the children's museums in New York, the Brooklyn Children's Museum was the first museum in the United States to cater specifically to children. This popular children's museum features a permanent collection of nearly 30,000 cultural objects and natural history specimens, including toy cars, kites, mechanical banks, and fossils.

Museum Index

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

F

  • Forbes Magazine Galleries

G

H

  • Hayden Planetarium
  • The Hispanic Society of America

M

N

R

S

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ