The world's best museums can be found in New York City. There are many possibilities, ranging from historical exhibits at the Ellis Island Immigration Museum and the Museum of Natural History to the art collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Guggenheim.

Although though it may be tempting to want to see everything, it is advisable to concentrate on a few museums, or perhaps just one, if you only have a limited amount of time. The hours of some museums may change throughout the week, and some are closed on Mondays.

Bring your phone's earphones, don't forget. You can download audio guides for many museums.

This is a ranking of New York City's top museums to get you started.

1. the Metropolitan Museum of Art

One of the most popular tourist destinations in New York is The Metropolitan Museum of Art, or The Met for short. It contains more than two million works of art in a variety of collections. One of the best museums in the nation and one of the most well-known in America, it has been in operation for more than 150 years.

Your hardest choice of the day will likely be which of its two million works of art to see. The Met technically has two locations, but The Met Fifth Avenue is by far the most visited and is where the majority of the collection is kept.

The exhibits span 5,000 years of history and include anything from musical instruments to valuable artworks to Egyptian relics.

2. The Modern Art Museum

The Museum of Modern Art, or MOMA as it is more commonly known, is home to one of the best and largest collections of modern art in existence. The museum showcases architecture, prints, photographs, paintings, and drawings. There are prominent pieces on show by Picasso, Dali, Magritte, Wyeth, Warhol, Van Gogh, Toulouse-Lautrec, and Monet.

The MOMA is better than ever right now. The museum reopened in October 2019 following a $450 million expansion and renovation. The museum is well-organized, and those who simply want to see the most well-known works of art can download the museum map beforehand. This will allow you to quickly find the best works by Warhol, Pollock, and Dali.

The African Art, Ancient American Art, and Oceanic Art galleries will be closed until at least 2024 as a result of the Michael C. Rockefeller Wing being renovated at the time of writing.

3. 9/11 Museum & Monument

At 110,000 square feet in size, this museum's two primary exhibitions—The Historical Exhibition and the Memorial Exhibition—explain the history and events of September 11th, 2001. The FDNY Ladder 3 firetruck is one of the museum's most remarkable items, among its collection of more than 70,000 others.

Because it's one of New York's most popular museums, reserve your tickets through the internet system well in advance.

If you intend to visit this museum as well as others, think about purchasing a New York CityPASS. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the American Museum of Natural History, the Empire State Building, and ferry access to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty will all be accessible to you with savings and skip-the-line privileges thanks to this.

4. American Museum of Natural History

One of the biggest natural history museums in the world, the American Museum of Natural History was established in 1869. Millions of objects from the museum's permanent collection are related to the history of the human race, the ocean, fossils, and outer space.

The Gilder Center, a 230,000-square-foot expansion of the museum that began in late 2019, is now under construction. Although there has been a delay in the construction, the museum hopes to launch the new spaces within the next year or two. It will be magnificent and the site of multiple new galleries, including an insectarium, if the artist's visions come to pass.

The museum is next to the Hayden Planetarium. The museum offers numerous events in addition to frequently changing exhibitions.

Visit the museum and then take a stroll across Central Park. Belvedere Castle and other park attractions are close to the museum.

5. Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, 

The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum's structure is just as well-known as its exhibits. Frank Lloyd Wright created the unusual building in 1943, and it has a large spiral ramp connecting what he considered one continuous story.

The museum has an exceptional collection of modern art on exhibit, with works by all the major artists, including Picasso, Chagall, Leger, and Manet. A trip in Central Park, which is directly across the street, can easily be added to a visit here.

6. Whitney Museum of American Art, 

One of the most prestigious exhibition spaces for American art is the Whitney Museum of American Art. In 1930, after the Metropolitan Museum of Art rejected her collection of works by living artists, sculptor Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney formed it.

There are paintings, sculptures, drawings, prints, and photographs in the permanent collection. Names like Andy Warhol, Georgia O'Keefe, Roy Lichtenstein, Jasper John, and many others are among the artists on show. Recognize any changing exhibitions.

The Whitney is housed in a brand-new, breathtaking structure. Visit this place and then take a stroll along the High Line. The southernmost entrance point is close to the museum.

7. Frick Library

The Frick Collection is not open at the moment because of infrastructural and skylight improvements. Nonetheless, the Frick Madison, a temporary facility at 945 Madison Avenue, houses some of the collection's highlights. The restriction will last until at least 2023.

Henry Clay Frick amassed the art collection known as The Frick Collection. At his passing in 1919, he left the city of New York both his home and his collection. The home, which now functions as the gallery, was constructed in 1913–1914 at an estimated cost of $5 million.

Frick designed the building with the idea of leaving the residence as a public gallery. Even though the collection is tiny, it contains several excellent pieces. Old master paintings, French furniture, Limoges enamels, and Oriental rugs are all on show. There are pieces by famous artists including Turner, Constable, More, and Vermeer on show.

8. Intrepid Sea, Air, and Space Museum

The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, one of New York's most distinctive museums, is housed on a former aircraft carrier. The museum features a wide variety of interactive exhibits and displays that are great for families and kids.

The Space Shuttle Enterprise display, the opportunity to board a British Airways Concorde, and a tour of the submarine Growler are the site's highlights. A unique fully restored Douglas F4D Skyray has just been added to the museum's collection of vintage fighter aircraft.

9. National Museum of the Native American

Around a million works and documentation about Native American peoples and their cultures are kept at the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian. George Gustav Heye purchased a large portion of the collection, the majority of which is always in storage. The neoclassical Alexander Hamilton Customs House serves as the museum's home. Displays frequently vary.

6/ Blek Le Rat's work can be found all over the world, from the streets of Paris to the walls of galleries and museums. He has exhibited his work in major cities like New York, London, and Berlin, and his influence can be seen in the work of many contemporary street artists. pic.twitter.com/rCHYUTSikO

— Justin (@theartofjuss) December 23, 2022

The museum also provides a wide range of free events for the general public, such as concerts and dance shows, movies, and symposiums. To maintain and preserve Native Americans' cultural traditions and expressions, it collaborates closely with them.

Take a stroll through the lovely grounds to the National Native American Veterans Memorial if the weather is good. This unusual and intriguing stainless steel ring is perched atop a drum made of carved stone.

10. Ellis Island Immigrant Museum, 

From 1892 to 1954, Ellis Island functioned as the country's immigration hub. A little over 17 million individuals entered through its doors. It has been restored for $156 million, and is now a national museum.

The history of Ellis Island and the immigration process are covered in exhibits and programs at the Ellis Island Immigration Museum. In Ellis Island, processing immigrants took place in the "Main Building." The Main Building is now a three-floor museum with numerous permanent, self-guided exhibitions. Since many of the displays are entertaining and interactive, they are appropriate for and interesting to visitors of all ages.

11. Brooklyn Museum of Children

The Brooklyn Children's Museum will be your go-to museum destination if your tour group includes younger individuals who might not enjoy Jackson Pollock's artwork. Having been established in 1899, the museum claims to be the first children's museum in the world.

Children can enjoy exhibits that are focused on natural sciences, music, and culture. The Science Inquiry Center, Sensory Room, World Brooklyn, and Neighborhood Nature are a some of the ongoing displays.

The bulk of the displays are interactive, so kids of all ages won't have any trouble participating and becoming interested.

12. MOMA PS1 

The Museum of Modern Art's MOMA PS1 is a venue solely dedicated to showcasing contemporary art. Since it was established in 1971, the museum has housed a collection of art that is unmatched in New York. The inventive exhibit area is interesting to see because exhibits change frequently.

The moment you enter MOMA PS1, you never quite know what to expect. To get the most out of your visit, make sure to arrive with an open mind.

If the exhibits don't appeal to you, you'll probably enjoy the on-site restaurant serving Mina Stone's Mediterranean dishes.

13. New Museum 

The ironic thing about the New Museum is that it's been around for more than 40 years and is therefore not at all new. This less-frequented museum has grown over the years from a modest warehouse room to its famous location today.

Simply seek for the oddly stacked, seven-story-tall gray box-like structure to locate the New Museum. Some of New York's most intriguing modern art may be found within. The New Museum is dedicated to introducing new and obscure artists to general audiences and has a collection of more than 1,000 works of art.

14. Brooklyn Museum, 

This is the third-largest museum in New York, and it is housed in a magnificent structure that was constructed in 1897. Almost 1.5 million works of art are housed in the expansive and varied collection of the Brooklyn Museum. The Egyptian Antiquities and American Art collections, which are mostly centered on the colonial era, are two noteworthy ones. Norman Rockwell, Georgia O'Keefe, and Edward Hopper are some of the artists from that era.

Be sure to see the Brooklyn Botanical Garden, which is directly next door, in addition to seeing the valuable artworks that are housed there. This green area of exquisitely displayed natural species is lovely and a great escape from the urban concrete jungle. Online tickets for entrance that include both the museum and the garden are available.

15. The Lincoln Center for the Arts

The Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts is at the center of New York's cultural life even though it is not a museum. The Metropolitan Opera, the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, the Lincoln Center Theater, the New York Philharmonic, and the New York City Ballet are just a few of the many institutions that make up this arts complex. It covers more than 16 acres and includes a Henry Moore sculpture and a Philip Johnson fountain.

16. The Jewish Museum, 

the Jewish Museum gives a fascinating look at Judaica and is accessible to people of all faiths. Almost 28,000 items related to the Jewish faith, art, and history are housed there and are on display in both dynamic and static exhibits.

The Warburg Mansion, a gorgeous old structure constructed in 1908 and home to the museum, is well worth a visit. In addition to its permanent exhibits, The Jewish Museum frequently features visiting artists. Always check the website for information on future and ongoing activities.

17. The Queen's Museum, 

The Queen's Museum has a few unique and captivating exhibits. The museum features displays that highlight the city of New York, which are especially noteworthy for people from the area. The 9,335-square-foot scale model of the five boroughs called The Panorama of New York City is the most spectacular.

The 540-square-foot relief map of the watershed that surrounds New York City and provides its drinking water is another fascinating exhibit.

But at the museum, models aren't everything. A noteworthy collection of Tiffany Glass is also on display in the Neustadt Collection at the Queen's Museum.