As someone who has been to New York City three times, it’s hard to do it all! But a necessity of any trip is visiting museums.
In this list, I’ve put together essential NYC museums, so no matter what you’re into, you’ll find something for you and whoever else you’re traveling with.
If you’re a first-timer in the city, you might want to start with the most famous of them all, the Metropolitan Museum (and also check out this guide of other things to do in NYC). Or perhaps you want something more niche, in which case the New York Transit and Seltzer museums will be right up your alley.
Before we dive into the details, the Klook Pass New York City bundles together multiple things to do in NYC, including some of the museums in the list! See what the Klook Pass NYC offers and how much you can save with it.
1. New York Transit Museum
Explore the oldest subway cars (and snap the perfect photo!)
Visit Length: 1- 2 hours
You’ll find the New York Transit Museum in an old underground metro station, and the displays take you on a ride through time. You’ll see the stories of those who built the NYC metro, the first ticketing booths, and old turnstiles. This is one of the NYC museums that’s perfect for transport, history, and culture lovers.
I’ve been to a couple of transport museums around the world, and this one is one of my favorites! The museum is also really cheap for NYC – only about $11 USD! I bought my ticket on the spot, but you can also buy tickets in advance.
2. Metropolitan Museum of Art (The MET)
The ancient arts, including the “Marble Head of a Youth” from Roman times line the endless halls of the Met.
Visit Length: 3-5 hours for the Met of 5th Ave (but could do even longer!) // 2-3 hours for Met Cloisters
The MET museum also has two locations—the Met on 5th Avenue and the Met Cloisters.
The Met on 5th Avenue is the main museum and one of the NYC museums that requires a time commitment, but is well worth it! The works encompass creativity from all walks of life and across time, including battlefield shields, ancient African ceramics, and 18th-century American furniture. To appreciate works from across the globe and the United States, the MET on Fifth Avenue has you covered.
If you’re short on time but still want to visit, you can also consider the MET Cloisters. The museum is smaller, and its exhibitions are more focused on medieval art than on its more general 5th Avenue location.
3. Museum of Modern Art NYC
Wander five floors at the Museum of Modern Art
Visit Length: 2-4 hours
For exploring the arts of recent centuries in NYC museums, the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) is the place to go! Plus, unlike the Met, you can get through everything faster, which makes it ideal if you’re short on time but actually want to absorb everything the museum has to offer!
You’ll find the work of famous names like Van Gogh and Henri Matisse, as well as colorful prints, abstract sculptures, and old architectural blueprints. The arts aren’t always just pretty things to admire but cultural statements or historical insights that resonate with us today.
The Museum of Modern Art is part of the Klook Pass New York City, so you can include it as part of a money-saving deal with other museums. And of course, you can also book your MoMA tickets separately!
4. Brooklyn Museum of Seltzer
One of New York’s most niche museums? We think so!
Visit Length: 1.5 hours
I bet you’ve never even thought of it, but what’s the deal with seltzer water anyway? People are obsessed with this crispy refreshment, but how many of us stop to think about where it comes from?
Well, if you’re planning to spend a day in Brooklyn, it’s easy to make a quick visit to the Brooklyn Seltzer Museum. Yep, it’s quite a niche museum! The museum takes you on a walk through over 2,000 years of history in the oldest seltzer factory in NYC. The guided group tour dives into the science of seltzer and its manufacturing, and you might even get spritzed in the end.
If you’re set on visiting this museum, check the group tour schedule and book ahead of time, as there is very limited availability!
5. Museum of the City of New York
The Museum of NYC has it all – from artwork to historical displays.
Visit Length: 2-4 hours
I don’t think any NYC visit would be complete without a visit to the Museum of the City of New York. After all, you’re in NYC and this is the only place to find it.
Walk through the halls and uncover the story of NYC, from the foundations of its birth to social movements and music. Temporary exhibits also cover unique aspects of NYC’s energy through the eyes of photographers and the footwork of dance revolutions born in NYC.
After you’ve visited this museum, you’ll wander the streets of the city with a whole new perspective and appreciation.
6. Museum of Broadway
Broadway fan or not, the Broadway Museum doesn’t disappoint with all its glamour!
Visit Length: 1-2 hours
This wouldn’t be a complete list of NYC museums without the Museum of Broadway! After all, NYC is incredibly famous for Broadway shows and is quite the draw for tourists and theater lovers alike!
The three-floor museum is packed with Broadway history, including costumes, stories, and behind-the-scenes glimpses of the most famous Broadway shows.
And if you’re planning to visit the museum, you can’t skip out on a Broadway show either! Broadway shows such as Aladdin, Chicago, and Wicked run almost daily, so you can easily plan one into your NYC experience!
7. Brooklyn Museum
After the museum, be sure to explore the rest of amazing Brooklyn, including DUMBO.
Visit Length: 2-4 hours
The Brooklyn Museum is the second-largest museum in NYC, with collections of global and ancient art similar to those of the Met. It’s the perfect alternative to the Met if you want to avoid large crowds and save some time, as the Brooklyn Museum has just 500,000 works in comparison to the Met’s 2 million!
I visited last year and trust me, it’s fantastic! The arts from East Asia, and in particular those from ancient Greece and Rome, stood out to me. It’s almost hard to comprehend how old these artifacts are!
Plus, while I do love museums, it’s hard for me to spend a lot of time at them, so the Brooklyn Museum is just the right amount of time and still leaves more space for other things to do in the day (and explore Brooklyn while you’re there!)
8. The Guggenheim Museum
The Guggenheim Museum always has unique exhibits along with the permanent collection.
Visit Length: 1-3 hours
If you’re searching for modern and contemporary art, then consider your search over – the Guggenheim Museum has got you covered! In particular, the museum hosts a large number of European works.
Now the Guggenheim isn’t just famous for the art. In fact, one of the biggest reasons to visit is the museum's architecture. From the outside, you already know something unique is held within its doors. The museum layout breaks the typical mold with a massive spiral staircase that visitors follow and lots of natural light.
The Guggenheim also offers “pay-what-you-wish” admission on Sundays from 4 to 5:30 PM.
9. American Museum of Natural History
The American Museum of Natural History even has a planetarium!
Visit Length: 2-4 hours
The American Museum of Natural History is one of the NYC museums that will wow both adults and children! Two of the stars of the permanent exhibit are a 94-foot-long blue whale and a T. rex fossil. My personal favorite, though, is the collection of over 2,000 gemstones and minerals, one of the largest in the world.
10. Arte Museum New York
The Arte Museum draws all your senses…even smell with designer fragrances!
Visit Length: 1.5 - 2 hours
If you love immersive and digital art museums, then don’t skip out on the Arte Museum! These rooms heavily focus on natural scenes, where you can escape the busy city and trot through lively flower fields or sense waves crashing around you (you won’t get wet, I promise!). There are even rooms dedicated to tornadoes and the Milky Way.
The museum has its own cafe, the Arte Cafe, which brings the digital art experience right onto your table!
FAQs about NYC Museums
Which NYC museums are free or offer "pay-what-you-wish" admission?
There are plenty of NYC museums that have free or “pay-what-you-wish” admission. A couple include the Bronx Museum of the Arts, the American Folk Art Museum, the Queens Museum, and the National Museum of the American Indian - Smithsonian. You can find an extensive list of pay-what-you-wish museums here.
What is the biggest museum in New York City?
The Metropolitan Museum of Art (the Met) is the largest museum in NYC with over 1.5 million works.
Which NYC museums are included in the Culture Pass program?
The culture pass includes admission to over 100 institutions in NYC, such as the Intrepid Museum. Only holders of New York, Bronx, and Queens public library cards are eligible to get the Culture Pass.
Which day is the Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met) free?
The only time the Met is free is in June during the Museum Mile Festival—but it is only on select days, so plan accordingly.
Plus, if you’re a New York resident, you are eligible for the Met’s “pay-what-you-wish” program.
What are the must-see smaller, unique museums in NYC outside of the big ones?
Visiting the smaller, more unique museums in NYC is bound to offer a glimpse into the arts tourists don’t often see. For transit lovers, my personal favorite is the New York Transit Museum. Some other unique ones would be the Seltzer Museum and the Ice Cream Museum (and who doesn’t love ice cream?!)
Do you now know which NYC Museums you want to visit?
I hope this post of both the most popular and more unique NYC has inspired your trip to the Big Apple! Don’t forget to check out our Klook Pass NYC as well to bundle together all the best NYC has to offer. There is also a Klook Pass New York City just for museums!
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