We face a difficult task when it comes to compiling a list of the best museums. Of course, the most famous ones must be included, but there are some lesser-known museums that still deserve to be among the best in the world!
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Best museums in the world
Louvre (Paris)
Who hasn’t heard of perhaps the world’s most famous museum!? The museum has been open to the public since 1793!
It is home to countless artworks. In addition to its European fine arts collection, it also features Egyptian, Eastern, Islamic, Greek, Etruscan, and Roman exhibits.
The iconic glass pyramid in front of the museum is made of 673 glass panes and stands 21 meters high.
American Museum of Natural History (New York)
Located next to Central Park, this museum houses a collection of approximately 32 million items in its 45 halls, making it one of the world’s largest museums in this field.
Its exhibits on early humans, dinosaurs, and North American Native Americans are very popular, but the museum covers many other areas as well.
I had the opportunity to visit in 2018, and I can confidently recommend it for both children and adults!
National Museum of China
Located on the southern side of Tiananmen Square, this is the largest museum in the world. It features traditional Chinese architecture with a pagoda roof and yellow glazed tiles.
The collections and exhibitions showcase Chinese history and culture with an extensive collection of artifacts.
Tokyo National Museum
Japan’s largest and oldest museum focuses on Japanese art and the art of Asia along the Silk Road.
It showcases a wide range of items from the country’s history, from a 40,000-year-old prehistoric chipped stone to invaluable cultural treasures of feudal Japan, and modern art creations.
Uffizi Gallery (Florence)
Founded in 1581, the museum’s building was designed by the Medici family’s famous architect, Giorgio Vasari. It can be safely said that this is the world’s most famous art gallery.
As its name suggests, it has a significant collection of paintings, but it also possesses invaluable ancient sculptures and a tapestry collection.
Some of the world’s most famous works can be seen here: Leonardo da Vinci’s Annunciation, Botticelli’s Birth of Venus, Michelangelo’s Holy Family, and the Roman Medici Venus statue.
Museum of Latin American Art / Museo de Arte Latinoamericano (Buenos Aires)
One of South America’s most important art museums, with over 400 works (paintings, sculptures, photographs).
You can see great works by famous Argentine artists such as Diego Rivera, Antonio Berni, Xul Solar, Jorge de la Vega, and Pedro Figari.
One of its most valuable pieces is a self-portrait by the Mexican artist Frida Kahlo.
National Air and Space Museum (Washington)
One of the most visited museums in the world, it is the premier exhibition site for the history of military, civilian, and space aviation.
It features many significant artifacts and items that were pivotal in aviation and space exploration. These include the Wright brothers’ first airplane, the lunar module, the Apollo 11 command module, and the Air France Concorde supersonic aircraft.
Museum of New Zealand / Te Papa Tongarewa (Wellington)
It can be safely said that this is the most significant museum in the Oceania region.
New Zealand’s national museum, located in Wellington, the country’s capital, is widely known and referred to as Te Papa (which means „The Place” in Maori).
Its collections cover a diverse range of themes. It largely showcases the region’s history through photographs but also includes natural history, clothing, and postal collections.
Rijksmuseum (Amsterdam)
The national museum of the Netherlands houses the world’s most significant collection of Rembrandt works. It also holds the country’s largest public art history library.
Masterpieces of Dutch and Flemish painting are on display. In addition to Rembrandt, you can also view works by Holland’s other most famous painter, Vincent Van Gogh.
Prado Museum (Madrid)
The National Museum of Madrid’s gallery is based on the royal collection that opened in 1819.
The most significant part of its collection is Spanish painting (Murillo, Velázquez, Francisco de Goya). Besides paintings and sculptures, you can see over 5,000 drawings, 1,000 coins, medals, and other fine artworks.
Although I am not a big art enthusiast, I spent several hours in the building, as the artworks are so beautiful!
Vatican Museums (Vatican/Rome)
One of the world’s most important and largest collections is displayed across several museums, the most famous part being the Sistine Chapel.
It showcases masterpieces from ancient Near Eastern (Egyptian and Assyrian), Greek-Roman, and Etruscan-Italic art, through early Christian and medieval artworks (3rd-14th centuries) and Renaissance art (15th century) up to the 19th century, but also includes modern art.
The most visited section is the Vatican Gallery, where you can see paintings by Michelangelo and Raphael.
Hermitage Museum (Saint Petersburg)
Russia’s largest and most famous museum, located in the Winter Palace.
Its name derives from the Hermitage, the private retreat built by Empress Catherine the Great, where she housed her first collection.
The museum features Italian Renaissance, Dutch Baroque, and French masterworks. You can see the throne room, the czar’s carriage, ancient sculptures, and European painting gems from the Enlightenment era. Nearly 8,000 Western European paintings adorn the museum walls.
