7 New York City Museums to Visit
If you’re traveling to New York City or live here, then visiting some of the best museums in the world should be one of your top priorities. Here are some of my favorites:
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Established in 1870, The Met houses over 5,000 years of art from all over the world. Explore this massive historic museum, then eat lunch on the steps while you people watch. Be sure to check out the various exhibits including the annual Met Gala fashion display. Admission for NY residents (NY state ID) pay as you wish, meaning you can contribute any amount you like.
Check out date night at The Met on Fridays and Saturdays with live music, small bites and drinks free with museum admission. Learn more here.
General admission: NY residents pay as you wish, otherwise $25 | Hours: Mon-Tue: 10am–5pm, Fri-Sat: 10am–9pm, Closed Wednesdays | Map it
The Met Cloisters
Head over to Inwood in Manhattan and prepare for a day of exploring a wide collection of medieval art, beautiful architecture and a large garden overseeing the Hudson River.
General admission: NY residents pay as you wish, otherwise $30 | Hours: Thu-Tue: 10am–4:30pm, Closed Wednesdays | Map it
Modern Museum of Art (MoMa)
The Museum of Modern Art (aka the MoMa) has centuries worth of modern and contemporary art. See the world famous Van Gogh painting “Starry Night."
General admission: $25 | Open daily: 10:30am–5:30pm, open until 8pm on Fridays | Map it
Tip: Admission is FREE every Friday from 4-8pm. It’s a bigger crowd than normal but worth saving the money.
Brooklyn Museum
A massive museum located in the Prospect Heights neighborhood in Brooklyn. Their collections vary across centuries ranging from Asian art, antique furniture, and they rotate their exhibits often.
Experience First Saturdays at Brooklyn Museum taking place the first Saturday of each month. The fun event features a live DJ, a market of local vendors, cocktails and access to the entire museum (exhibits require paid tickets). Learn more here.
General admission: Pay as you wish | Wed-Sun: 11am–6pm, Closed Mondays and Tuesdays | Map it
The Frick Collection
An underrated museum in NYC that has an extensive collection of historical paintings, antique furniture, and boasts a beautiful indoor courtyard.
General admission: $22 | Closed Mondays, Tue-Sun: 10am–6pm, closes at 5pm on Sundays | Map it
Tip: Admission is FREE every first Friday of the month (except September and January) from 6pm-9pm. Wednesdays, between 2pm-6pm, is pays as you wish.
The Tenement Museum
Learn about the Lower East Side immigration movement years following World War II. The museum offers guided tours of the tenement homes they lived in and walking tours of the neighborhood. There are various home tours to choose from, see all types here.
General admission: $25 | Closed Mon-Tue, Wed-Fri: 10am–6:30pm, open until 8:30pm on Thursdays | Map it
The New York Transit Museum
How can you come to NYC and not learn about the history of the subway system? It’s what keeps the city moving! This super fun, family-friendly museum is located underground in an old train stop and has about 20 vintage train cars that once ran the train lines of the city. The best part is that you can wander through them freely, walking through a time capsule of sorts.
General admission: $10 | Closed Mondays, Tue-Fri: 10am-4pm, Sat-Sun: 11am-5pm | Map it
