At least one of these most-visited museums in the world, which feature everything from fine art to natural history to interactive science exhibits, are guaranteed to pique your interest. Whether you’re traveling to Europe, Asia, or around the U.S., consider visiting one of these captivating locations that contain some of the world's most beautiful and culturally significant art and artifacts.
The Louvre
The Louvre, located in Paris, France, is one of the largest museums in the world. It exhibits 38,000 works of art and has 422,000 more in storage. What’s more, the museum continues to collect pieces to this day. The building itself dates back to the mid-1500s—a number of French kings added additions over the centuries, providing visitors the chance to witness a wide range of changing architectural styles. According to Travel and Leisure, if you purchase tickets at an FNAC bookstore, you can enter through the Passage Richelieu and skip the lines. The museum also has an app that provides helpful navigation instructions and information from Louvre curators.
The National Museum of China
Located in Bejing’s Tiān’ānmén Square, The National Museum of China boasts the largest display space in the world. It features works from Ancient China, such as a 2,000-year-old jade burial suit, as well as an exhibition on Mao Zedong and the People’s Republic of China. And don’t forget to check out the Salvador Dali sculptures on the ground floor.
National Air and Space Museum
The National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. receives over 8 million visitors every year, making it the most trafficked museum in the United States. It covers a massive amount of space and air travel history, from one of NASA's shuttles, the Discovery, to other important artifacts. The museum also boasts interactive elements, such as an IMAX theater and an observation tower from which you can view planes landing and taking off from the Washington Dulles International Airport.
Metropolitan Museum of Art
Given that New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, or the Met, contains 6,000 years of art and culture, visiting can feel daunting. If you have a limited amount of time, The New York Times recommends viewing the Greek and Roman Sculpture Court, the Vermeer collection, the Asian Art collection, the Impressionists Treasury, and the Temple of Dendur. The Met itself is an architectural marvel, so be sure to swing by on your next visit to the Big Apple.
Vatican Museums
The Vatican Museums are a complex of buildings in Rome's Vatican City featuring everything from Egyptian mummies to classical sculptures. On display in the Raphael Rooms are beautiful, detailed frescoes from the Renaissance painter. But the museums’ crowning glory is the Sistine Chapel, at which you can see two of Michelangelo’s most famous pieces, his ceiling fresco and "The Last Judgment".
Shanghai Science and Technology Museum
Opened in 2001, the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum features interactive exhibits that explore everything from anatomy to space to robots to animal life. In one exhibit, for instance, you can explore the interior of the human heart. The theater on the third floor plays films with which the audience can interact by pushing buttons on their seats. It’s educational and engaging for children and adults alike.
National Museum of Natural History
Part of the Smithsonian Institute, the Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. is as large as 18 football fields. It houses 30 million insects, 4 ½ million plants, and 7 million fish—and more. It covers agriculture, geology, marine life, and entomology. Whatever part of nature you feel most passionate about, the Museum of Natural History will have a little something for you.
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