There are many top New York museums, so which ones to choose when visiting the city? With over 200 museums in New York, not to mention the countless New York art galleries, it can be hard to pick. I’m not a massive museum lover, but from time to time (when it’s raining or very hot), I can be found inside looking at Roman sculptures or learning about fossils. It’s of course a personal preference, but I’ve made a list of the best museums in New York. I’ll also give you tips on how to save time and money by visiting the various NYC museums.
Top New York Museums
My list of top museums in New York contains a bit of everything; art museums as well as (natural) history museums. I’ve also included a bonus museum that’s really unique to New York as well as tips on what to do in New York when it’s raining or too hot outside. If you are just looking for a list of fun museums in NYC, then scroll to the very bottom.
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The Natural History Museum New York
The Natural History Museum New York (officially called the American Museum of Natural History) is my number one pick and one of the best New York museums for families. When you first enter the museum, you are greeted by a dinosaur, and in the Hall of Saurischian Dinosaurs (or as I like to call it, the “dino room”), you can learn about the great Tyrannosaurus rex.
I would also make sure to see the big blue whale, a great feature of the Natural History Museum. The Museum is also home to the New York Space Museum: the Rose Center for Earth and Space, featuring the Hayden Planetarium.
- Natural History Museum ticket prices: £28 for adults
- Location: Upper West Side
Buy American Museum of Natural History tickets here
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9/11 Museum
The 9/11 Museum in New York (officially called The National September 11 Memorial & Museum, but also known as Ground Zero Museum) commemorates the victims of the September 11, 2001 and 1993 attacks.
I think it’s one of the best attractions in New York and a museum that everyone should visit to pay tribute, together with the 9/11 Memorial. The 9/11 Museum educates about the attacks but also allows room for visitors who do not want to be directly confronted with graphic images or artefacts.
- 9/11 Museum ticket prices: £28 for adults
- Location: Lower Manhattan
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Mercer Labs
Mercer Labs, also known as the Mercer Labs Museum of Art and Technology, is a unique experience where you can immerse yourself completely in the art. Consisting of several spaces, each offers something different. But they all have one thing in common: the art is shaped by modern technology.
There is even an interactive area where you can directly influence the art around you. I really like this modern take on a museum; it’s even become one of my favourite New York museums. Mercer Labs is fun for families as well, and teenagers especially like the museum.
- Mercer Labs ticket prices: £43 for adults
- Location: Lower Manhattan
Buy your Mercer Labs tickets here
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Guggenheim Museum New York
The Guggenheim Museum New York (officially called Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum) is probably one of the most iconic museums in New York. The museum is most famous for its futuristic white building that you can’t miss on Fifth Avenue. It resembles a nautilus shell and is very photogenic, so even if you don’t want to go in, you can snap a photo and have coffee nearby.
The Guggenheim Museum hosts a lot of thought-provoking and edgy exhibitions, and because of the design, it’s an easy museum to navigate through.
- Guggenheim Museum ticket prices: £22 for adults
- Location: Upper East Side
Buy your Guggenheim Museum tickets here
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MoMA – Museum of Modern Art New York
The MoMA is another must-visit among the art museums in NYC on my list. It’s officially called the Museum of Modern Art. MoMA is the place to go if you would like to see work by Andy Warhol, Jackson Pollock or Frida Kahlo. The museum has a collection of modern and contemporary art.
There is also a smaller museum called MoMA PS1 in Long Island City, which has free admission and presents more thought-provoking and experimental works of art.
MoMA is great to combine with a visit to Top of the Rock, as it’s about 10 minutes away.
- MoMA ticket prices: £23 for adults
- Location: Midtown West
Buy your MoMA Museum of Modern Art tickets here
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The Morgan Library & Museum
The Morgan Library & Museum in New York is a great museum for anyone interested in literature, art and history. Originally built as the private library of J.P. Morgan in the early 20th century, the elegant building on Madison Avenue is now open to the public. I’m always very impressed by it.
Inside, you’ll find remarkable items such as handwritten manuscripts by Jane Austen and Charles Dickens, original sheet music by Mozart and even notes by Isaac Newton. The library feels grand yet intimate, and its central Midtown location makes it easy to combine with other nearby sights.
- The Morgan Library ticket prices: $25 for adults
- Location: Midtown
Buy The Morgan Library & Museum tickets here
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Intrepid Museum
Another one of the best New York museums for families is the Intrepid, also known as the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum. The Intrepid is a former aircraft carrier that was used in several wars.
It has now been converted into a museum where you can discover aeroplanes, helicopters, a space shuttle and much more. I always enjoy visiting this NYC museum, either alone or with my family.
- The Intrepid ticket prices: £29 for adults
- Location: Hell’s Kitchen
Buy your Intrepid Museum tickets here
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Museum of Ice Cream
The tastiest museum in New York is definitely the Museum of Ice Cream (or MOIC). Here, you can learn all about ice cream, and there are all kinds of fun areas where you can take social media-worthy photos.
But the best part, of course, is the tasting! That’s my favourite thing to do when I visit this museum, which is also very suitable for children.
- The MOIC ticket prices: £29 for adults
- Location: Hell’s Kitchen
Buy Museum of Ice Cream in New York tickets here
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Statue of Liberty Museum & Ellis Island
The Statue of Liberty is, of course, an icon of New York City and even the entire United States. But did you know that Liberty Island, where the statue stands, also has a small museum? I think it’s a great place to explore and learn more about the history of Lady Liberty.
After visiting the Statue of Liberty, you board the ferry again, and the next stop is Ellis Island. This island is home to The National Museum of Immigration, but it’s basically one large museum in itself. Very much worth a visit!
- Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island ferry ticket prices: £14 for adults
- Location: The ferry departs from Downtown Manhattan
Buy Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island tickets here
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Met Museum New York
The Met (officially called The Metropolitan Museum of Art) is a large museum similar to the British Museum. The Egyptian Art section is worth exploring, and I also like the arms and armour on display.
It’s one of the most popular museums in New York and one of the best NYC museums for adults. The Met Museum offers a wide variety of art – you will have no trouble finding something for everyone – or maybe you will, as there is too much to see. It’s best to plan your visit to make the most of your time.
The great thing about Met tickets is that they also allow you a same-day visit to the other Met museum: The Met Cloisters. However, the Cloisters are further away, and I would only recommend visiting in the spring/summer.
- Met Museum ticket prices: starting at £22 for adults
- Location: Upper East Side
Buy your Metropolitan Museum of Art tickets with guided tour here
New York Museum Pass
If you plan on visiting a lot of museums and are looking for something like a museum pass for New York, then I recommend getting a discount pass. There are a lot of different options, like the Go New York Explorer Pass or the New York Pass, which include entrance to the best museums in New York.
Tickets to most museums are around £20, so it’s worth looking into which option is best for you. Some museums offer an option to ‘pay what you wish’, but this is mainly intended for locals. There are also days when entrance is free to a few NYC museums, but I avoid these days: they will be very crowded.
Are you just looking for fun museums in NYC? If you are travelling with children or teenagers, then I highly recommend the Spyscape Museum. It’s the place to visit if you want to work undercover as Agent 007 or Jason Bourne for a few hours. Is it raining in New York? Then head to Madame Tussauds to meet some celebrities in wax.
List of Museums in New York
There are a lot more great museums in New York. Here are a few others that are worth visiting:
- 9/11 Ground Zero Museum Workshop
- ARTECHOUSE
- Arte Museum
- Brooklyn Botanic Garden
- Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum
- Frick Collection
- International Center of Photography
- Jewish Museum
- Museum at Eldridge Street
- Museum of American Finance
- Museum of Broadway
- Museum of Jewish Heritage
- Museum of the Moving Image
- Museum of Sex
- Museum of the City of New York
- National Museum of the American Indian
- Neue Galerie
- New York Botanical Garden
- New York Historical Museum
- New York Transit Museum
- Skyscraper Museum
- Staten Island Museums
- The Banksy Museum
- United Nations Headquarters
- Whitney Museum of American Art