The Most Popular Museums in the World

Ready to soak up some culture?

Introduction

Last year, over 8 million people visited the world's most popular museum, according to the Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) and AECOM in their 12th annual Museum Index report.

What 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 on the planet. Some might surprise you.

#20. Centre Pompidou, Paris – 3.4 Million Visitors per Year

Must-See at Centre Pompidou: "Number 26A, Black and White" by Jackson Pollock

#19. Victoria and Albert Museum, London – 3.8 Million Visitors per Year

Must-See at Victoria and Albert: "Fashioned from Nature"

#18. National Museum of American History, Washington, DC – 3.8 Million Visitors per Year

Must-See at National Museum: "Advertising War"

#17. Reina Sofía, Madrid – 3.9 Million Visitors per Year

Must-See at Reina Sofia: "Guernica" by Pablo Picasso

#16. China Science and Technology Museum, Beijing – 4 Million Visitors per Year

Must-See at China Science Museum: Hands-On Exhibits

#15. State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg – 4.2 Million Visitors per Year

Must-See at Hermitage: "On the Shore" by Kuzma Petrov-Vodkin

#14. Natural History Museum, London – 4.4 Million Visitors per Year

Must-See at Natural History Museum: The Dinosaurs

#13. National Palace Museum, Taipei – 4.4 Million Visitors per Year

Must-See at National Palace Museum: The Jadeite Cabbage

#12. American Museum of Natural History, New York – 5 Million Visitors per Year

Must-See at American Museum of Natural History: "Unseen Oceans"

#11. National Gallery, London – 5.2 Million Visitors per Year

Must-See at National Gallery: "Sunflowers" by Vincent van Gogh

#10. National Gallery of Art, Washington – 5.2 Million Visitors per Year

Must-See at National Gallery of Art: "The Japanese Footbridge" by Claude Monet

#9. Tate Modern, London – 5.7 Million Visitors per Year

Must-See at Tate Modern: "Metamorphosis of Narcissus" by Salvador Dalí

#8. British Museum, London – 5.9 Million Visitors per Year

Must-See at British Museum: The Rosetta Stone

#7. National Museum of Natural History, Washington – 6 Million Visitors per Year

Must-See at National Museum of Natural History: Hope Diamond

#6. Shanghai Science and Technology Museum – 6.4 Million Visitors per Year

Must-See at Shanghai Science and Technology Museum: An IMAX Show

#5. Vatican Museums, Vatican City – 6.4 Million Visitors per Year

Must-See at Vatican Museums: "The Last Judgement" by Michelangelo

#3. (Tied) Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York – 7 Million Visitors per Year

Must-See at The Met: "Young Mother Sewing" by Mary Cassatt

#3. (Tied) National Air and Space Museum, Washington – 7 Million Visitors per Year