Best Museums in New York City

New York City is one of the most culturally rich cities in the United States of America, with plenty of fascinating art galleries, outstanding restaurants, and impressive landmarks. One thing that makes the big apple such a hot tourist destination, however, is the large number of truly outstanding museums that are housed here.

Whether you’re interested in art, history, science, or something completely off-beat and strange, there’s a museum in New York City that covers it for you (probably!). From an outstanding collection of 5,000 years of art history at The Metropolitan Museum, to a stunning commentary on architectural design over at the Skyscraper Museum, NYC has it all!

So, if you’re looking to find the perfect museum for your next visit to New York City, there’s guaranteed to be one with your name on it on this list!

The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Manhattan, NYC

Located in the stunning area near Central Park, The Metropolitan Museum of Art is one of New York City’s most iconic art museums, so much so that there was simply no way we could place it anywhere else but first on this list!

This museum is not just famous in New York City; it is actually one of the most famous art museums in the entire world, thanks to its huge collection of artwork that dates back over 5,000 years. Pieces in their vast collection range from prehistoric pieces to the latest in contemporary works of art, providing visitors with a deep insight into how art has developed and changed over time.

With a collection of over two million objects, visitors can enjoy seeing masterpieces of art from any era or genre they desire. From Old Master paintings, the famous period rooms, and even the Ancient Egyptian Temple of Dendur, there’s so much to witness here! 

Queens Museum, Queens, NYC

This art and educational centre, located in Queens, New York City, sits in the popular Corona Park, and is a great day out for all the family.

No matter what age you are, there are many fascinating and insightful exhibitions and installations at this museum, including a truly breathtaking 9,335-square-foot scale model of New York City’s five boroughs, known as The Panorama of the City of New York. This piece was originally created in 1964 for the World’s Fair.

Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum, Manhattan, NYC

Located just a short walk up the road from the aforementioned Metropolitan Museum, just by central park in Manhattan, is the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Museum of Design. One of two Smithsonial museums located in New York City, this one is housed in a stunning former mansion, and is entirely dedicated to the field of design.

Browse a huge collection of objects and pieces that span across a 3,000 year period, exploring design through the ages, and be sure to visit some of their most iconic exhibits. One of the most unmissable sights here is 

The Morgan Library & Museum, Murray Hill, Manhattan, NYC

Sitting in downtown Manhattan, in the popular neighborhood of Murray Hill, is a truly lavish library-turned-museum that is truly unmissable for fans of design, literature, and history.

Previously the private library of of famous investment banker, J. Pierpont Morgan, the Morgan Museum was gifted to the city, alongside his impressive collection of outstanding artworks and rare books. This large collection of items included a first edition of Charles Dickens’ ‘A Christmas Carol’ which is displayed at the museum every christmas; drawings by Michelangelo; and three Gutenberg Bibles.

A complete dream for art lovers and literature enthusiasts alike, this museum also offers special exhibitions pretty frequently, so be sure to keep your eyes peeled for what’s taking place here during your next visit to New York City.

The Skyscraper Museum, Battery Park, Financial District, NYC

New York City is infamous for it’s tall buildings, towering skyscrapers, and stunning skyline views from lookout points raised high up all across the city - So what better place for there to be a Skyscraper Museum than in the Big Apple?

Notable skyscrapers across the city include the Flatiron Building, the Empire State Building, the Chrysler Building, the Woolworth Building, One World Observatory, and the infamous Rockefeller Center, all of which are not just popular sight for locals in the city, but these buildings are infamous all across the world!

At this museum, visitors have the opportunity to explore the design, technology, real investments, and construction techniques that make these buildings - and therefore New York City itself - Possible.

Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), Manhattan, NYC

The Museum of Modern Art is one of New York City’s most famous art museums, and is a fan favourite amongst art lovers worldwide for it’s outstanding collection of modern pieces.

At this spacious 708,000 square foot museum, you can find everything from the classics in contemporary art (think the likes of Jackson Pollock, Matisse, and Pablo Picasso), to brand new artworks by new and up-and-coming artists, with a large focus on female artists and artists of color. Galleries are split up by era, giving visitors the opportunity to quite literally  walk their way through the evolution of modern art.

It’s not just paintings that can be found here either, as the museum has a huge collection of sculpture, installations and film pieces too. 

The Museum of FIT, Manhattan, NYC

The Fashion Institute of Technology, located in Midtown Manhattan, is home to one of the largest and most impressive clothing collections in the world. 

Their collection includes around 50,000 costumes and fabrics from history, with some dating all the way back to the 5th century. Overseen by fashion historian Valerie Steele, the museum boasts a selection of garments and materials in its permanent collection, as well as temporary exhibitions that focus on individual designers or the role fashion plays in society.

What makes this museum even better is the fact that it is completely free to enter, and they also offer a huge range of events and educational resources, so be sure to check if there’s anything going on here that you’d like to attend during your time in NYC.

American Museum of Natural History, Manhattan, NYC

While many of the museums on this list have been focused on art and design (as to be expected from New York City), this intriguing history museum is arguably one of the best of its kind in the entire world.

Located in Manhattan, this stunning museum houses a huge range of artifacts and specimens from all across the globe. Originally founded in 1869, this museum covers everything from the creation of the universe at the Big Bang, right up to the present day.

Some of the most popular exhibits at this museum include the brand new Gilder Center, the infamous Hayden Planetarium, a 94-foot long blue whale, and the stunning butterfly vivarium.

Museum of the Moving Image, Queens, NYC

Film fanatics and art fans alike simply must make a visit to the Museum of the Moving Image, located in the neighborhood of Astoria, in Queens, New York City.

This stunning museum presents a range of great exhibitions across screenings that relay the history and cultural impact of movies, television, and other digital media. It houses a state-of-the-art 267-seat cinema which boasts ongoing installations such as “behind the screen”, which deep-dives into the film-making process.

The Banksy Museum (Unauthorised), Manhattan, NYC

Though this museum is unaffiliated with the artist in question (mostly due to his anonymity and public pieces), it truly is a must-see for fans of art and unique museums alike.

Serving as a love letter to the most famous street artist in the world, this museum, located in Lower Manhattan, is home to the largest collection of Banksy’s life-size murals and artworks in the world.

Step inside this immersive museum, passing through an industrial door, where you can see city walls, re-creations of art pieces that have been destroyed or removed from their original locations, and over 160 works on display, including plenty of original pieces that pay homage to Banksy.