The World's Top Museums, According to Travelers

The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City rates as both the top museum in the world and as the top museum in the US, according to TripAdvisor. The travel site released its Travelers’ Choice awards on Tuesday, acknowledging 591 winners based on the site’s millions of reviewers.

“Honoring nearly 600 institutions worldwide, the Travelers’ Choice awards have recognized the favorite museums that serve as cultural treasure troves for our community of millions,” says Barbara Messing, chief marketing officer for TripAdvisor. “These world-class museums provide an enriching experience that can be both inspiring and educational for travelers around the globe.”

Art museums dominate both the national and the international Top 10. On the US list, 6 of the 10 best showcase art; internationally, the number climbs to 8 out of the 10. That’s predictable, since most travelers think of touring art museums before browsing history or scientific facilities. The non-art museums that make the list — along with the art museums, of course – also make for memorable travels.

Travelers’ Choice Awards — Non-Art Museums in the US Top 10:

#3. The National World War II Museum, New Orleans, LA, presents WW II’s themes and also the perspective of individual men and women.

#5 Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, Washington, DC, details flight from first attempts to far-reaching space missions.

#9. USS Midway Museum, San Diego, CA., lets visitors board one of the longest-serving aircraft carriers.

#10. American Museum of Natural History, New York City, explores earth’s biodiversity with halls devoted to birds, reptiles, dinosaurs and delves into the mysteries of the cosmos at its Rose Center for Earth and Space.

Travelers’ Choice Awards — Non-Art Museums in the Global Top 10:

#9. Vasa Museum, Stockholm, Sweden, is built around a commanding warship that sink in 1628 almost as soon as it left the dock.

#10. National Museum of Anthropology (Museo Nacional de Anthropologia), Mexico City, Mexico, showcases pottery and art objects dating from 5000 BC and frescoes and statues from 200 BC to the 16^th century.

Travelers’ Choice Awards — Art Museums in the US Top 10:

#1. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City

#2. Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago

#4. The Getty Center, Los Angeles

#6. National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC

#7. Frick Collection, New York City

#8. Chihuly Garden and Glass, Seattle

Travelers’ Choice Awards — Art Museums in the Global Top 10:

#1. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City

#2. Musee d’Orsay, Paris, France

#3. Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago

#4. Museo Nacional del Prado, Madrid, Spain

#5. Musee du Louvre, Paris, France (pictured above)

#6. State Hermitage Museum and Winter Palace, St. Petersburg, Russia

#7. National Gallery, London, England

#8. The Rijksmuseum (National Museum), Amsterdam, The Netherlands

What are your favorite museums? What are your favorite non-art museums? Comment below or connect with me on Twitter, @familyitrips.