The 5 Best New York Museums and Art Galleries

New York is home to a whole host of museums and art galleries that will capture your imagination, inspire your creativity, and quench your thirst for knowledge.

But, with so many world-class venues in one city, alongside the Big Apple’s other must-visit sites and sounds, it can be difficult to know where to begin.

So, here’s our run down of the best New York Museums and Galleries…

American Museum of Natural History

Located on the west side of Central Park, the American Museum of Natural History is one of the largest museums in the world.

Made up of 28 interconnected buildings, 45 permanent exhibition halls, a planetarium, and a library, the museum is home to over 33 million specimens of plants, animals, fossils, minerals, meteorites, and cultural artefacts – so it’s safe to say that there’s plenty to see!

A full-size model of the blue whale suspended in the main atrium, the Hall of Meteorites, and the Hall of Reptiles and Amphibians are particularly popular amongst visitors of all ages, so make sure you check them out.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Affectionately known by locals as ‘The Met’, the Metropolitan Museum of Art will allow you to explore over two million works of art spanning 5,000 years of culture.

Featuring the best of human creativity from all across the globe, the Museum hosts world-famous collections including favourites such as the Ancient Egyptian treasures and the New American Wing. You’ll also find over 30 annual special exhibitions, a stunning roof garden, and the Balcony Bar. Enjoy!

Ellis Island

The USA is proudly a nation of immigrants. Acting as the main immigration station for entry to America between 1892 and 1954, Ellis Island processed over 12 million arrivals. So it’s fair to say that the Island played a key roll in the nation’s history – in fact, almost 50% of Americans have an ancestor who arrived on the island!

Set in the shadow of the Statue of Liberty, the Ellis Island Museum offers an insight into the experience of over 12 million immigrants who entered the US through the halls of the Ellis Island Immigration Museum. Take the fascinating self-guided tour and experience photos, films, archive material, recordings, and the American Family Immigration History Centre.

Guggenheim Museum 

For seasoned art-lovers and novices alike, the Guggenheim Museum should not be missed!

The museum is home to an ever-evolving collection of impressionist, post-impressionist, modern, and contemporary art, including permanent pieces by Jason Pollock, Francis Bacon, and Louise Bourgeois.

While you’re there, make sure you take one of the free educator-led tours for an expert insight into the art on view.

And it’s not just the exhibits inside the museum that attract visitors from far and wide. Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, the Guggenheim’s iconic; conch-shell shaped building is a work of art in itself.

9/11 Memorial Museum

Located at thee World Trade Centre, the National September 11 Memorial & Museum commemorates the attacks of September 11, 2001, which killed 2,977.

The memorial consists of two reflecting pools set in the footprints of the Twin Towers and a plaza of trees, including the Survivor Tree, whilst the Museum offers a fascinating yet sombre insight into the events, implications, and continuing significance of 9/11.

As well as a range of significant artefacts, you’ll also experience stories of loss, compassion, reckoning and recovery – an emotional yet essential visit.

Thinking of taking your own cultural voyage to the Big Apple? There’s no better way to visit than on a cruise. Check out our full selection of Transatlantic cruises or call our friendly experts on 0808 2746 777.

Image credits: Allison Meier, David Jones, Edward Stojakovic