With everything from ancient ruins in Rome to cutting-edge contemporary art installations in Tokyo, the best museums around the globe spark a sense of wonder. Whether you’re hoping to learn something new or simply to marvel at humanity’s towering achievements, these cultural icons are powerful reminders of why we travel.
If you’re looking to plan a culturally immersive trip, consider this your primer. The following cities offer a diverse selection of world-class museums, all of which more than merit a plane ticket and an extended stay. As always, check for travel guidelines and closures before planning your trip.
New York City, U.S.
New York City is an artistic wonderland filled with famed institutions, countless priceless artifacts, and an unwavering commitment to contemporary culture, art, design, and film.
Start your museum exploration with the Metropolitan Museum of Art (the Met), home to the Temple of Dendur, and reserve a private guided tour to see all the highlights. And make sure to visit the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), with its peerless collection of modern and contemporary art, and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in a building designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. These marvelous collections and architectural masterpieces are quintessential Big Apple stops. Other museums in Manhattan worth visiting are the Whitney Museum of American Art and the Frick Collection. Head to Astoria, Queens, for the impressive Museum of the Moving Image for a deep dive on digital culture.
Where to Stay
JW Marriott Essex House New York
Washington, D.C., U.S.
The iconic structures that fill and surround Washington, D.C., are just some of unparalleled attractions that make up this capital city. Offering free public access to truly excellent establishments and national galleries, the iconic Smithsonian Institution, the world’s largest museum complex, boasts more than 20 museums and galleries, along with the National Zoo. Explore two of the most popular Smithsonian museums during your stay with this private tour of the National Museum of American History and the Museum of Natural History. While in town, the National Gallery of Art, the National Museum of African American History and Culture, and the Renwick Gallery are all well-worth a visit.
Where to Stay
Residence Inn by Marriott Washington, DC National Mall
Toronto, Canada
Toronto is home to myriad diverse cultures that are reflected in its artistic institutions. The Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) is a huge exhibition with 18 million artworks from across the world housed in an architectural wonder; explore on your own or reserve a private tour. Down the road, the Bata Shoe Museum is a Toronto institution, regularly displaying more than 1,000 shoes and related artifacts. Not far from both is the Art Gallery of Ontario, which is among the most distinguished art museums in North America.
Where to Stay
Marriott Downtown at CF Toronto Eaton Centre
Toronto Marriott City Centre Hotel
Ottawa & Gatineau, Canada
With panoramic views of the Ottawa River and Parliament Hill, the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau, Quebec, delves deep into the nation’s heritage and is one of the country’s most visited cultural institutions. Housed in an architectural masterpiece, the museum is especially known for the Grand Hall and First Peoples Hall celebrating Indigenous heritage. The National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa, Ontario, is home to one of the finest collections of Indigenous and Canadian art, while the Canadian War Museum takes visitors back in time.
Where to Stay
Courtyard by Marriott Ottawa Downtown
Residence Inn by Marriott Ottawa Airport
Bogotá, Colombia
Bogotá’s artistic identity highlights its complex history through high-profile contemporary galleries, fabulous museums, and a vibrant street art scene.
Situated in La Candelaria district at the historic heart of Bogotá, the Museo del Oro (Gold Museum) contains the largest collection of pre-Hispanic gold artifacts in the world. Founded in 1939, the museum safeguards more than 34,000 remarkable gold objects and archaeological pieces that offer insights into the history of Colombia’s Indigenous Peoples.
Where to Stay
The Artisan D.C. Hotel, Autograph Collection
Beijing, China
Beijing is an art aficionado’s portal into imperial history and national storytelling. The National Museum of China displays 5,000 years of Chinese civilization. The Palace Museum, a UNESCO-listed national museum complex housed in the Forbidden City, is China’s largest and best-preserved collection of ancient buildings. The Capital Museum displays the city’s 3,000-year urban history and 800-year legacy as an imperial capital. Equally impressive is the Chinese capital’s cutting-edge contemporary art scene, best explored at 798 Art District.
Where to Stay
JW Marriott Hotel Beijing Central
Mexico City, Mexico
Mexico City’s collection of historic artifacts and avant-garde creations are a gateway into cultural storytelling. The National Museum of Anthropology contains the world’s largest collection of art and artifacts from the Mayan and Mexica (sometimes referred to as Aztec) peoples. Delve into the life of the city’s most beloved Mexican painter whose works were inspired by this dynamic city at the Museo Frida Kahlo. Next, be sure to visit Museo Anahuacalli, a pyramid made of volcanic stone that Diego Rivera had built to house his and Kahlo’s bodies after death. Although their remains rest elsewhere, the visually stunning mausoleum houses a remarkable collection of pre-Colombian art, as well as several unfinished murals by Rivera. Other museums of note are the Museo Soumaya and the Palacio de Bellas Artes, home to the National Museum of Architecture and the National Theater.
Where to Stay
Paris, France
As the epicenter of a number of artistic movements, the City of Light is home to many can’t-miss museums and galleries. The Louvre, the most visited and largest art museum in the world, is the city’s center for artistic exploration. You could spend days in the Louvre without seeing it all, so let the experts guide you on a tour. The museum’s striking glass entrance leads to havens that hold Leonardo da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa” and the Venus de Milo, among thousands of other works. The Musée d’Orsay is also a local favorite housed in stunning glassed-arch building housing a rich collection of impressionist and post-impressionist paintings. Lovers of sculpture should pay a visit to the Rodin Museum, where the Thinker and many other evocative cast bronzes reside.
Where to Stay
Paris Marriott Opera Ambassador Hotel
London, United Kingdom
Many of London’s premier institutions offer free general admission, allowing visitors to explore at their own pace. Recently, London has experienced a massive wave of museum openings. V&A East Storehouse in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park features free permanent galleries and major temporary exhibitions. The Paradox Museum London in Knightsbridge includes antigravity rooms and optical illusions, and the Moco Museum London focuses on works by pop-culture legends and street art from artists like Keith Haring. Meanwhile, classics like the Tate Modern, one of the world’s premier contemporary art showcases, and the British Museum, with its impressive collection of antiquities, deserve a place on every traveler’s bucket list.
Where to Stay
Aloft by Marriott London Excel
Rome, Italy
Some of the finest works of art in Rome technically reside in an independent country: Vatican City, home to the papacy and the works of Michelangelo, Rafael, and a multitude of Renaissance masters. The highlight of the Vatican Museums, of course, is the Sistine Chapel with its ceiling lined with dazzling frescoes by Michelangelo. The Galleria Borghese, next to the immense Villa Borghese public park, holds centuries-old artifacts and art from the Borghese collection. Pay special attention the impossibly lifelike marble sculptures by Gian Lorenzo Bernini. Established in 1471, the Capitoline Museum is the oldest public museum in the world.
Where to Stay
Giza (Cairo), Egypt
Cairo connects visitors to a history stretching back thousands of years. Situated near the Pyramids of Giza, the Grand Egyptian Museum is the largest archaeological museum in the world. It features a curated array of remarkable artifacts that highlight the cultural accomplishments of Ancient Egypt. Additionally, don’t’ miss the Egyptian Museum, which contains the largest collection of Egyptian antiquities in existence.
Where to Stay
Tokyo, Japan
Tokyo offers a beguiling blend of history and contemporary innovation. The oldest and largest national art museum in Japan, the Tokyo National Museum, highlights the world’s most comprehensive collection of Japanese art and archaeological artifacts, including striking samurai uniforms, masterful woodblock prints, and generations old Japanese screen paintings. For more modern exhibitions, visit Mori Art Museum. And teamLab Borderless knows no boundaries, with more than 75 immersive light installations and genre-defying works of art flowing seamlessly from one room to another.
Where to Stay
Four Points Flex by Sheraton Tokyo Ueno
Athens, Greece
Steeped in 6,000 years of history, Athens is dotted with ancient ruins and archaeological landmarks bathed in Mediterranean sunshine. Book tickets in advance to ascend the slope to the Acropolis, the UNESCO World Heritage Site perched atop the city. While wandering among the columns is truly awe-inspiring, to get the full experience, you’ll want to visit the Acropolis Museum, which boasts more than 150,000 square feet of exhibition space and houses more than 4,200 artifacts across four levels, including an ongoing archaeological excavation in the basement.
Where to Stay
Academias Hotel, Autograph Collection
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