The Most Popular Museums in the World
Museums hold some of humanity's most cherished treasures, so it's not surprising that the most famous museums around the world host millions of visitors each year.
A Study in Switzerland report highlighted which museums are the most visited around the globe. Which museum took the top spot? And which other cultural institutions made the list?
Let’s take a closer look at the 20 most popular museums in the world to see exactly where we should plan our next museum-centric trip.
20. Musée d'Orsay
Location: Paris, France
Number of annual visitors: 3.65 million
The Musée d'Orsay houses one of the most valuable Impressionist and post-Impressionist collections in the world, mainly focusing on French art from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
*Rankings come from a Study in Switzerland report based on 2019 numbers. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, 2020 numbers were not considered.
Must-See at Musee d'Orsay
Piece: "Le déjeuner sur l'herbe" by Edouard Manet
This painting was extremely controversial when it was first exhibited in 1963 because of its depiction of a nude woman and a bathing woman casually interacting with fully clothed men. It was also considered an insult to art because Manet departed from the realist and stylized version that had been the norm since the Renaissance.
The piece is one of the first — if not the first — example of post-modern art.
19. National Palace Museum
Location: Taipei, Taiwan
Number of annual visitors: 3.83 million
With works that encompass 8,000 years of history, the National Palace Museum in Taipei is one of Asia's greatest cultural treasures. There are more than 700,000 pieces displayed, mostly concentrating on Chinese imperial art.
Must-See at National Palace Museum
Piece: The Jadeite Cabbage
This odd sculpture, which some believe represents female virtue, is a crowd favorite. It is carved in the form of a cabbage with insects hiding within its leaves.
18. China Science and Technology Museum
Location: Beijing, China
Number of annual visitors: 3.89 million
Located in the Beijing Olympic Village is China's most important museum dedicated to science and technology. It hosts training programs as well as interactive exhibitions.
Must-See at China Science Museum
Piece: Dinosaur fossils
You can see the remains of a Chinese Dilophosaurus positioned to attack a Lufengosaurus huenei. Some dinosaur bones are also set up to be touched by the public — a rare experience you won't find in many other museums!
17. Victoria and Albert Museum
Location: London, England
Number of annual visitors: 3.92 million
The V&A is the world's largest museum of decorative arts and design. The collection includes beautiful jewelry, delicate ceramics, sculptures, medieval objects and more.
Its garment collection is one of the best in the world, tracing the history of British fashion from the 1700s to the present.
Must-See at Victoria and Albert
Piece: "Tipu's Tiger"
This automaton is one of the most famous pieces at the Victoria and Albert Museum. This gruesome piece features a tiger mauling a British soldier. The tiger emits grunts while the man yells and moves its arm in despair.
It doesn't take too much to realize the piece is a symbolic resistance to British colonialism, which plagued India until well into the 20th century.
16. National Gallery of Art
Location: Washington, D.C.
Number of annual visitors: 4.07 million
The National Gallery is located on D.C.'s culturally rich National Mall and has some of the most important pieces of Western art found in the U.S. — including "Ginevra de' Benci," Da Vinci's only publicly displayed painting in the Americas.
Must-See at National Gallery of Art
Piece: "The Japanese Footbridge" by Claude Monet
One of Monet's famous paintings is Impressionism at its finest. The Japanese bridge over a lily pond can still be seen in the artist's home in Giverny, France. Unsurprisingly, it is one of his most common themes.
15. Zhejiang Museum
Location: Hangzhou, China
Number of annual visitors: 4.15 million
This provincial museum holds over 100,000 items that provide an overview into the history and culture of Zhejiang province. It also has a large collection of pottery.
Must-See at Zhejiang Museum
Piece: Armor collection
You'll see an array of traditional armors and garments, many from the Qing Dynasty. Although some are replicas, they are still well worth seeing.
14. Nanjing Museum
Location: Nanjing, China
Number of annual visitors: 4.17 million
With over 400,000 items, the Nanjing Museum has one of the largest collections of art in all of China. Because of this, many national and international visitors make their way to it when visiting Nanjing, the modern capital of Jiangsu Province.
Must-See at Nanjing Museum
Piece: Arched door from the Glazed Pagoda of Grand Bao’en Temple
This beautiful arched door once belonged in the Glazed Pagoda of Grand Bao'en Temple, which Westerners refer to as the Porcelain Tower of Nanjing. The pagoda was unfortunately destroyed in the mid-1800s, but the door was recovered from archaeological excavations and put back together.
13. Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
Location: Washington, D.C.
Number of annual visitors: 4.2 million
This museum's vast collections encompass more than 126 million specimens. You can see dinosaur skeletons, get deep into the lives of insects and discover the mysteries of the deep blue sea in Ocean Hall. The best thing about the museum is that it is always free.
Must-See at National Museum of Natural History
Item: Hope Diamond
The Hope Diamond is one of the most famous jewels in the world, with ownership records dating back almost four centuries.
12. Reina Sofía
Location: Madrid, Spain
Number of annual visitors: 4.43 million
Spain's national museum of modern art is named after Queen Sofia and was inaugurated in 1990. The museum has 20th century masterpieces that include works by Salvador Dalí, Joan Miró and Juan Gris.
Must-See at Reina Sofia
Piece: "Gernica" by Pablo Picasso
One of Pablo Picasso's most famous and heart-wrenching works is an abstract depiction of the bombing of the city of Gernica during the Spanish Civil War.
11. Shanghai Science and Technology Museum
Location: Shanghai, China
Number of annual visitors: 4.82 million
One of China's most popular museums, Shanghai's Science and Technology Museum offers fun exhibitions that will nurture your mind. The museum has permanent exhibitions dedicated to the wonders of the Earth, the human body, innovation and invention, robotics and more.
Must-See at Shanghai Science and Technology Museum
Item: IMAX shows
Four IMAX cinemas comprise the largest Asian cineplex dedicated to science education, with over 10,000 showtimes each year.
10. State Hermitage Museum
Location: St. Petersburg, Russia
Number of annual visitors: 4.96 million
The State Hermitage is the second-largest art museum in the world, after the Louvre.
The museum has in its collection over 3 million items and boasts the world's largest collection of paintings. Only a part of the collection is on permanent display and includes Greek, Egyptian and Roman antiquities, Renaissance paintings, Impressionist works and much more.
Must-See at Hermitage Museum
Piece: "On the Shore" by Kuzma Petrov-Vodkin
Finished in 1924, this Russian painting is nationally beloved for its simple and colorful depiction of women bathing in a large body of water.
9. American Museum of Natural History
Location: New York, New York
Number of annual visitors: 5 million
The Smithsonian already has a natural history museum, but New York's is very much worth the visit. You can see the reconstructed skeleton of a T-Rex, a giant blue whale hanging from above and many other animals throughout the several mammal and insect halls.
The museum also has an awesome planetarium.
Must-See at American Museum of Natural History
Item: Giant sequoia slab
It seems unlikely that a slab from a tree could take the spotlight in one of the best museums in the U.S., but trust us, this is a display you won't want to miss.
What makes it so noteworthy is the sheer size of it, which will take you aback as you turn a corner and are suddenly faced with your own puny measurements.
8. Natural History Museum
Location: London, England
Number of annual visitors: 5.42 million
Another popular natural history museum, some 80 million items are on display at this extraordinary cultural institution.
The skeleton of a blue whale hangs above the central hall and you can see several specimens collected by Charles Darwin himself.
Must-See at Natural History Museum
Item: The dinosaurs
Fierce dino exhibits educate visitors on fun facts. For instance, did you know that the T-Rex had the largest bite force of any known land animal?
7. National Gallery
Location: London, England
Number of annual visitors: 6.01 million
This distinguished museum dates back to 1824 and is one of England's most renowned institutions.
It proudly exhibits paintings that cover most major Western movements from the 13th century to the end of the 19th century.
Must-See at National Gallery
Piece: "Sunflowers" by Vincent van Gogh
This gorgeous 1888 painting is part of an iconic van Gogh series and one of his most universally recognized pieces.
6. Tate Modern
Location: London, England
Number of annual visitors: 6.1 million
Built as a response to the limited space at London's National Gallery, the Tate is now one of the most important contemporary art institutions on the planet.
You can see Cubist paintings by Georges Braque and Pablo Picasso as well as works by Juan Gris, Paul Klee, Monet, Dali and more.
Must-See at Tate Modern
Piece: "Metamorphosis of Narcissus" by Salvador Dalí
This Surrealist painting uses Greek mythology to explore the human psyche, capturing the myth of Narcissus, who fell in love with his own reflection and wasted away.
5. British Museum
Location: London, England
Number of annual visitors: 6.21 million
Yet another British institution to break into the top 10, the British Museum holds collections of important historical artifacts from all over the world, including several that were plundered by the British Empire during its many Imperial and Colonial campaigns.
Must-See at British Museum
Item: The Rosetta Stone
This archaeological finding was the key to deciphering Egyptian hieroglyphs and changed our understanding of Ancient Egypt.
4. Metropolitan Museum of Art
Location: New York, New York
Number of annual visitors: 6.77 million
Known simply as The Met, this cultural institution is one of the most important in the world, with collections spanning Ancient Egyptian mummies, Greek and Roman sculptures, East Asian arts, Renaissance paintings, modernist works and more.
Must-See at The Met
Piece: "Young Mother Sewing" by Mary Cassatt
One of the most renowned Impressionists, Mary Cassatt often focused on domestic scenes. This is one of her most well-known works.
3. Vatican Museums
Location: Holy See
Number of annual visitors: 6.88 million
Instituted in the 16th century, the Vatican Museums display the numerous works of art that the Catholic Church amassed throughout its centuries of political power. They hold some of the most important pieces of Western art, including the famous Sistine Chapel and the Four Raphael Rooms.
Must-See at Vatican Museums
Piece: "The Last Judgement" by Michelangelo
Completed in 1541 by Michelangelo, this fresco depicts the second coming of Christ. It covers the entirety of the altar wall at the Sistine Chapel.
2. National Museum of China
Location: Beijing, China
Number of annual visitors: 7.39 million
This museumis located in Beijing's famous Tiananmen Square. It is dedicated to the history of China, covering civilizations that lived in the area more than a million years ago all the way to the end of the Qing Dynasty in the early 20th century.
Must-See at National Museum of China
Item: Chairman Mao Zedong's First Flag
In 1949, Chairman Mao Zedong raised this flag to celebrate the establishment of the People’s Republic of China.
1. Musée du Louvre
Location: Paris, France
Number of annual visitors: 9.6 million
With more than 2 million more visitors than its runner-up, the Louvre wins the popularity contest by a long shot. This world-famous establishment is also the largest museum in the world.
Its collection spans the world, from Egypt to the Middle East, East Asia to Europe and covers ancient history to the modernist paintings of the early 20th century.
Must-See at the Louvre
Piece: "Liberty Leading the People" by Eugène Delacroix
This famous painting commemorates the French Revolution of 1830, which toppled King Charles X. You will not find a single French person who has not seen this painting, which is often used in textbooks, postcards and souvenirs.
Honorable Mentions
While they didn't make the top 20 visited museums in the world, the following museums deserve an honorable mention because of the cultural significance of their collections.
Centre Pompidou
Location: Paris, France
Number of annual visitors in 2017: 3.4 million
Europe's largest collection of modern and contemporary art is housed in this incredibly fun and interesting museum, which sets itself apart right from the start with its unique architecture. This vast complex also houses a massive library and a center for music research.
The museum will, sadly, be closed for massive renovations until the end of 2026.
*2017 numbers come from the TEA and AECOM annual Museum Index report.
Must-See at Centre Pompidou
Piece: "Number 26A, Black and White" by Jackson Pollock
This iconic Pollock was painted in 1948 and is one of the chaotic artist's most recognized works.
National Air and Space Museum
Location: Washington, D.C.
Number of annual visitors: 3.2 million
This Smithsonian museum placed amongst the top three most visited museums in the world in 2017, with 7 billion people crossing through its doors. While its visitor numbers have gone down dramatically, the quality of the museum is still the same.
Come to learn about the history of aviation, from the Renaissance prototypes to the Wright brother's groundbreaking model all the way to space exploration.
Must-See at National Air and Space Museum
Item: Spirit of St. Louis
In 1927, Charles Lindbergh completed the first solo nonstop transatlantic flight in history on this plane.
National Museum of American History
Location: Washington, D.C.
Number of annual visitors: 2.8 million
Located in the iconic National Mall, this museum is dedicated to the history of the United States. Although it does focus mostly on history from the time of European settlement, it encompasses most major historic events in modern U.S. history.
Must-See at National Museum
Item: "Advertising War" exhibition
This permanent exhibition explains how art was used to rally patriotism during World War I. It is interesting to see the different kinds of art propaganda that were widely used, including the iconic Uncle Sam figure.