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Art Museums in New York City

THE 10 BEST New York City Art Museums

Art Museums in New York City

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What travellers are saying

  • Curtis F
    Easton, MD34 contributions
    To call it a massive museum doesn't do it justice
    Was in the area for a concert, and came here during the afternoon to kill some time. I had no idea the museum was this big. I was there for probably two hours and barely got through one floor, let alone three. The guy at the coat check (which is free, BTW....very nice in a city where it seems everything costs something) told me that the floor space is roughly equivalent to the space in the Empire State Building.

    If you really want to explore and delve into some detail on the exhibits, you're gonna need all day. Plenty of food options in the building itself, but be advised it ain't cheap (I bought an antipasto salad and a Colombo coffee for $23, and that was one of the cheaper options). Food vendors set up outside the front steps know this, and those options don't seem to be a lot cheaper.
    Review of: The Metropolitan Museum of Art
    Written 6 February 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Dave P
    13 contributions
    Great half day out !
    Fantastic exhibitions in a museum I've been looking to visit for years.
    Well laid out but huge. We intended spending a couple of hours and ended up spending half a day doing it justice.

    Highly recommended for any modern art fans
    Review of: The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)
    Written 6 February 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Justin W
    Hasbrouck Heights, NJ2,954 contributions
    Taking the Holiday Decoration walking tour
    What a perfect day to visit the Cloisters! It was a warm (for the winter) day and clear beautiful skies and the perfect day to walk to the Cloisters from the subway.

    The museum was having a "Holiday Tour" of Medieval Christmas decorations and a talk on how people decorated for the Christmas holidays during the Middle Ages. Our tour was packed with people. There must have been forty of us on the tour. The tour guide explained the symbolism of items like ivy, holly, pine, fruits and roses during the holiday season and how they were part of the way the churches were decorated for services back then. There still was that Pagan influence in the way the church was run.

    We talked about how the museum was decorated and how the ideas for decorating came about, the museum pieces that were influenced by the holidays and the story of the Magi and how the beginnings of Christmas were established. It was a really interesting talk. The tour guide gave detailed accounts of the protocol of the holidays during that time. Things seemed to loosen up by the Middle Ages.

    The staff of the museum did a nice job decorating the museum for the holidays and it looked very festive. I also got to see the "Hunt of the Unicorn" tapestries and go outside onto the terraces and admire the views on this beautiful warm afternoon.

    It was a great visit.
    Review of: The Met Cloisters
    Written 31 December 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • mark dobson
    5 contributions
    Hurry! Hurry! Don't miss the chance to see these masterpieces up close in a beautiful gallery
    One of the world's great collections - a greatest hits of old masters - on show in a gallery for the only time while its home is refurbished. A brilliant experience - these paintings just glow. Not to be missed!
    Review of: Frick Collection
    Written 29 October 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Conny Wylie
    Ottawa, Canada502 contributions
    The Architecture is as fine as the Collections.
    The Whitney Museum of American Art is situated between the High Line and the Hudson River and the exterior reveals the design genius of Renzo Piano. I was enthralled with the engineering of the property and the collection of Edward Hopper depicting NYC's iconic skyline and picturesque landmarks. The 2 Lizards was an amusing piece, looking like a pair of lizards that could be used for a Geico TV commercial.

    A retail shop provided me with a selection of assorted museum fare and the Whitney Cafe offered grab-and-go dining.
    Review of: Whitney Museum of American Art
    Written 23 January 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Dawson C
    3 contributions
    Spectacular!
    What a treasure. Quaint, gorgeous, beautiful! We fell in love w the work of Gustav Klimt while visiting Vienna many years ago. When we learned this gallery houses a large collection of Klimt works (and much, much, more) we decided to visit.

    It’s absolutely one of our favorite galleries/ museums ever visited!

    We will return, for sure
    Review of: Neue Galerie
    Written 25 December 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • BarryandJackie
    Berkeley, CA1,040 contributions
    Amazing place -- hidden gem
    The oldest museum in NYC, dating back to 1804, with lots of interesting exhibits, and the docent "highlight" tour is well worth it (thanks PAM!). Spent three hours there, which wasn't enough, but got tired standing on our feet.
    Review of: New-York Historical Society Museum & Library
    Written 28 November 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Brookvt
    33 contributions
    Not for teens or children
    I agree with others, the exhibits are overrated and the cost is steep. Go for the design of the building and works by Picasso, Renoir, Cézanne and Gaugin. Winding up from the later to earlier works of Vasily Kandinsky had us wishing we'd started at the top and worked our way down. I didn't care for the style of Cecilia Vicuña.
    Review of: Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
    Written 6 July 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Derek O
    Kingston-upon-Hull, UK60 contributions
    Very interesting place.
    Nice little museum that is a little bit different. Focussed on Himalayan art and has a good collection of artifacts which are all well described. We weren't sure if we would enjoy it but it was well worth the visit.
    Review of: Rubin Museum of Art
    Written 16 July 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Jonathan C.
    La Jolla, California, USA289 contributions
    cooper hewitt design museum
    Visited this museum during Museum Mile Week - there was a line out the door and around the corner, but the staff moved everyone along quickly. It was definitely a very interesting museum that showcased the broad diversity of design, from epidemiological and medical design during COVID to designing peace between populations and countries.
    Review of: Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum
    Written 5 August 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Witoldzio
    Manhattan, KS597 contributions
    preciuous and unique
    Wonderful, precious, unique, magical. The collection is impressively big, but not big enough to make you tired. There are also photographs from his life, and other objects of art other than paintings. This is a free museum, a true gem, where you can escape from the busyness of the city.
    Review of: Nicholas Roerich Museum
    Written 16 November 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • NYC Supermom
    New York City, NY25 contributions
    Small but unique exhibitions
    Museum of Art and Design is a small museum at the Columbus Circle but it has fantastic and unique exhibits. It includes stained glass, modern installation and jewelry. Artists featured are from all over the world. This place is not crowded - when we were there, we saw max of 5 other people on the same floor.

    Price: $18 (adults)/ child under 12 (Free)

    Hours: Thursday 11 am–8 pm*
    Friday 11 am–7 pm*
    Saturday 11 am–7 pm
    Sunday 11 am–7 pm
    *11 am to noon reserved for Members and seniors ages 65+

    Tips: On select Thursdays and Saturdays, live music activates the galleries. Also, @robertrestaurant just re-opened on 9th floor of the museum where you can enjoy the Central Park view.

    COVID safety protocols
    · Advanced timed tickets
    · 25% capacity
    · Masks are required (security guard ensures both nose and mouth are covered)
    · Elevators have capacity limits
    · Hand sanitizers are throughout the Museum

    If you want to read more about NYC family event reviews, please follow me at @nyc_super_mom
    Review of: Museum of Arts and Design
    Written 22 February 2021
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • JasonOfTheRulo
    Woburn, MA17 contributions
    Perfect for art and intimacy
    The intricacy of the projected and coordinated displays is astounding. The drama and immersion they are able to create in such a vast and unique space is enthralling.

    However, it was in getting to listen to the unique woman with whom I attended the installation that made this day memorable. I appreciated every thoughtful response she offered in response to my genuine questions. Or her random ideas that she would share freely as the morphing, shimmering images sparked her imagination.

    It was the loveliest glowing cocoon and a day I will remember.
    Review of: Hall Des Lumières
    Written 1 January 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Frank Sories
    San Francisco, CA243 contributions
    Good Way to Spend a Couple of Hours
    I can't help but marvel at the people who say they can't stand abstract art or modern art or contemporary art and then assign a poor rating to this museum. I wonder what they expected.

    The $25.00 admission fee would be terribly overpriced if it didn't permit THREE DAYS of entry to not only Met Breuer but also the Met and Met Cloisters. That is a very good deal. Because only two floors of exhibits were open when I visited, the clerk at the desk informed me I could pay what I wished. Fair enough. I enjoyed the two exhibits I did see, "Home Is a Foreign Place: Recent Acquisitions in Context" and "From Géricault to Rockburne: Selections from the Michael and Juliet Rubenstein Collection."

    I find the architecture to be monumental, despite the building's actual size. My only real complaint is the lack of seating. I had a foot problem the day I was there and appreciated the many benches, some padded, where I could sit and rest my foot. The second floor, however had zero benches, which I thought was very poor planning and not very visitor-focused. I think management could easily move at least one of the fifth floor benches to the second. I've never been to a museum without a single bench on an entire floor. I might not have noticed had my foot not been hurting, but I'm certain I'm not the only person who has a mobility impairment and could appreciate a place to perch for a few minutes. Overall, however, I recommend the Met Breuer.
    Review of: The Met Breuer
    Written 3 February 2020
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • CTE
    New York City, NY167 contributions
    Hidden treasure
    This small museum has beautiful exhibits of Greek antiquities and is normally quiet and lovely. Entrance is down stairs in Olympic Towers public atrium.
    Review of: Onassis Cultural Center New York
    Written 15 September 2017
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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