When one hears the words “museums” and “New York,” one probably conjures up images of Serena Van Der Woodsen and Blair Waldorf sitting on the steps of the Met—no doubt, those Gossip Girl scenes were iconic!

The reality, however, is that New York’s museum scene goes far beyond our beloved Upper East Side. The city is home to some of the best museums in the world, with more than 80 to choose from when you visit.

Do you want to explore art, history or culture? Whatever your interest, there really is a museum for everyone. Here’s a guide to New York’s top museums that are worth your time:

  • Metropolitan Museum of Art

Known as The Met, this museum and its famous steps have been featured in so many movies and TV series that it’s easy to forget that it’s actually a world-class museum and one of New York’s top tourist attractions. York. A whole day might not be enough to discover all the hidden treasures of the museum. But if you have to choose, focus on the Egyptian Wing, the Astor Court and the Anna Wintour Costume Center.

  • Museum of Modern Art

MoMA has the largest collection of contemporary art in the country. So if you like the modern, from paintings by great artists such as Frida Kahlo to works by Picasso, Rousseau and the Parisian avant-garde, this is definitely the right place for you. In fact, if you travel to New York in the summer, you shouldn’t miss the weekly outdoor music and art party at MoMA’s sister venue, MoMA PS1, in Long Island City, Queens. Known as Warm Up, the celebration takes place in the courtyard of MoMA PS1 and is always great, with performances by talented musicians and exclusive art installations. If you miss the party, MoMA PS1 also hosts cool experimental shows throughout the year.

  • American Museum of Natural History

This museum is made for Ross Geller fans. The American Museum of Natural History is where it all happened for our favorite paleontologist, but of course, the 150-year-old institution is also considered a gem. The sight of the giant 28.5m blue whale hanging over the Hall of Ocean Life will be unforgettable, while the Dinosaur Hall features the bones of an imposing T. Rex and dozens of other dinosaurs. If you’re drawn to fossils, you might be more drawn to the newly redesigned Allison and Roberto Mignone Halls of Gems and Minerals, a glittering showcase for the museum’s impressive collection of more than 5,000 gems and minerals from 98 countries.

  • The Frick

If you want to learn more about European art history, you need only visit The Frick’s sweeping collection of Old Master paintings and European fine and decorative arts. Founded by industrialist Henry Clay Frick in 1935, the museum houses works of all kinds by famous European artists, from Rembrandt to Goya and Vermeer.

  • The Guggenheim

Thanks to the impressive work of architect Frank Lloyd Wright, the Guggenheim is one of the most Instagrammed museums for its cool modern design alone – and it’s definitely worth a look, both inside and out. The white circular building somewhat resembles a spaceship, having an internal spiral ramp, leading to a skylight, which diffuses light in an impressive way. Start at the top and work your way down the circular paths, stopping at paintings and sculptures and, of course, stopping to capture the view from the huge patio. Hosting exhibits by artists from Marina Abromovic to Jean-Michel Basquiat, the Guggenheim remains a place of stunning architecture, well worth seeing.

  • Whitney Museum of American Art

The Whitney is New York’s premier museum for American art, home to artists as diverse as Edward Hopper and Mickalene Thomas. In the art world, this museum is best known for the Whitney Biennial, an exhibition of lesser-known, up-and-coming American artists, held every two years.

  • The Met Cloisters

If you’re looking for a breath of fresh air and a quick escape from the hustle and bustle of the city, The Met Cloisters – the Met’s historic sister venue – is well worth the trip up to Fort Tryon Park at the top of Manhattan. What to expect? Stunning gardens, incredible art and architecture from medieval Europe, including the stunning Unicorn Tapestries, a series of seven intricate tapestries depicting unicorns. No one knows what they really mean, despite many theories.

  • The Tenement Museum

The Tenement Museum maintains two tenement buildings on the Lower East Side. Rather than encouraging visitors to wander on their own, the museum organizes guided tours of the buildings, which have been restored and recreated as homes of former residents, who lived there between the 1860s and 1980s (it’s estimated that these tenements housed around 15,000 different people over the course of years). There is also a short walking tour of the surrounding neighborhood, which has hosted thousands of immigrants over the past centuries.

  • Noguchi Museum

On a quiet, tree-lined street in Long Island City, this often-overlooked museum and sculpture garden honors the work of Japanese-American sculptor Isamu Noguchi. Filled with the creations of the talented sculptor, the Noguchi Museum is truly a peaceful oasis in New York, resembling an undiscovered secret.

  • Museum of Chinese in America

This museum, known as MOCA, was originally founded in 1980 with just four small rooms on Chinatown’s Mulberry Street and spent the next 25 years collecting and documenting Chinese and American history. Today, it is located in a much larger space on Center Street and houses more than 85,000 objects and works, celebrating the living history of the Chinese experience in America. The museum has grown so much that it recently announced plans to open a new main building in 2025, designed by world-renowned architect Maya Lin.

  • Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum

If you’re obsessed with design, you’ll love the Cooper Hewitt, one of three Smithsonian museums in New York – and the only museum in the country dedicated exclusively to historic and contemporary design. It was opened by the three granddaughters of the industrialist Peter Cooper in 1897. The sisters had, in fact, taken over the management of the museum until 1930. Since 1970, it has been in its current location, inside the Andrew Carnegie Mansion, on the Upper East Side. Past exhibitions have included a variety of objects, from the works of designer Lilly Pulitzer, to American style during the 1920s Jazz Age, and an exploration of the science of color.

  • El Museo del Barrio

Known to locals simply as El Museo, this Upper East Side museum focuses on Latin American and Caribbean art, particularly works by Puerto Rican artists. It was founded by artist, activist and educator Raphael Montañez Ortiz in 1969 as a way to celebrate Puerto Rican art and culture. Today, it is one of the city’s leading museums, known for hosting impressive exhibitions in its extensive space.

  • The New Museum

The New Museum, a typical example of the coolness of the center, is dedicated to contemporary art. Located on the Bowery – New York’s oldest street. The iconic metal building, designed by architects Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa, is a local landmark. The museum does not have a permanent collection—instead, it has an extremely diverse program of rotating and touring exhibitions by contemporary artists from around the world, such as Faith Ringold, Raymond Pettibon, and Genesis Belanger.

  • Museum of the Moving Image

If you’re a fan of old Hollywood glamour, head to Astoria to visit this fascinating museum dedicated to the art, history, technique and technology of film, television and digital media. The museum has tons of old Hollywood memorabilia on display – 130,000 pieces, to be exact. Other exhibits are dedicated to Hollywood legends such as Jim Henson and Barry Jenkins, while there are ongoing screenings of series and films, with themes such as Disreputable Cinema and cartoons.

  • Rubin Museum of Art

Dedicated to Himalayan culture and art, this museum exhibits works from countries including India, Tibet and Nepal. Highlights include incredible Buddhist and Hindu sculptures and paintings, as well as the interactive Mandala Lab, which invites you to confront the power of your emotions. The museum even offers free guided tours at 2:00 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

  • 9/11 Memorial & Museum

Although reliving the moments of 9/11 is painful, it is also the best way to honor those lost in the 2001 attack on the World Trade Center. Therefore, this spot is a must visit place. The moving tribute consists of two massive fountains, placed where the towers once stood, while adjacent to the memorial is a museum that delves into the 9/11 attack and its continuing impact on the world through media, storytelling and a collection of memorabilia and authentic items. The stories of victims and survivors will move you.

  • Fotografiska

Fotografiska is New York’s newest museum. It opened in 2020, just before the pandemic and is modeled after the original Fotografiska in Sweden. As its name suggests, the museum is dedicated to photography. But it’s more than just a museum that exhibits art – it also hosts a host of events, has a bustling restaurant and bar, and acts as a community gathering place amid evocative photographs from diverse artists from around the world.

  • The Morgan Library & Museum

This stunning library with an outstanding literary collection began as the personal library of financier Pierpont Morgan, who collected manuscripts and early printed publications from the 1890s. Charles McKim designed the library adjacent to Morgan’s residence on Madison Avenue. The site was converted into a museum in 1924. In 2006, world-renowned architect Renzo Piano designed a 75,000 square meter extension, making the museum structure even more architecturally significant. Don’t miss the chance to browse through artifacts such as an original Gutenberg Bible, Henry David Thoreau’s signed manuscript, and a handwritten Mozart symphony.

  • Brooklyn Museum

If you want to get an authentic taste of what life is like in Brooklyn, the Brooklyn Museum is a must on your list. It is located next to the Botanical Gardens and is an institution. The museum has hosted landmark exhibitions by artists as diverse as Georgia O’Keefe, Frida Kahlo, Marilyn Minter and Christian Dior, and is home to feminist artist Judy Chicago’s Dinner Party. And for that alone, it’s worth paying the price of admission.

  • The Museum of the City of New York

Think: You, at the Museum of the City of New York, learn the real – and really juicy – history of the city. This museum is dedicated to its unique culture and its incredibly resilient and inventive people, through exhibits like New York, New Music, and Activist New York. When you pass by, don’t forget to take a picture of the lighting installation.