6 of the World’s Most Magnificent Museums

When I travel, museums are one of those things I’m instantly attracted to. While I mostly gravitate toward museums you’ve never heard of, I also like to experience the iconic museums that attract people from around the world.  In these museums it’s not only the content but the context.  Tourists come as much for the experience of the museum as they do to see the exhibits.

Here are 6 magnificent museums that are an unbeatable experience inside and out:

Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

The Metropolitan Museum of Art is a destination all on its own. The building is absolutely huge, the largest in the world with over 2 million square feet.  Most people would tell you to reserve at least two days to browse through its enormous and impressive collections.  You could spend half a day there and barely scratch the surface.  I absolutely love the gorgeous views of the city and Central Park from the roof garden.

J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles

If you find yourself in Los Angeles on a fairly regular basis or are traveling with the family, make sure you put the Getty Museum on your list of places to visit.  I tell absolutely everyone who will listen to go and enjoy this amazing place perched high above the city with beautiful architecture, panoramic views of the city, and clear blue skies.  The perfectly manicured gardens and curated artwork from 1400-1900 are a joy to explore, so much you may not want to ever leave.

Guggenheim, Bilbao, Spain

One of the world’s best examples of contemporary architecture, the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao is a stunning spectacle of glass and fantastic chrome and metal walls.  Some come just to see the building itself and admire its unusual shape and curvy lines.  The collections are usually a little less exciting than the building itself, but you can experience some interesting artwork, like the Yoko Ono exhibit.

Guggenheim, NYC

Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, the Guggenheim Museum in New York is a favorite among residents and tourists alike.  The building is nothing short of fabulous. It’s a smaller museum so you’ll be able to fit this in during a New York rainstorm.  The ongoing Frank Lloyd Wright and Thannhauser Collections are worth a look.

The Louvre, Paris, France

Located in the heart of Paris on the banks of the Seine River, the Louvre is one of the most visited and important museums in the world.  The huge art gallery is housed in an old Parisian palace and has nearly 400,000 items of art and historical artifacts, including the Mona Lisa and Venus De Milo.  The museum’s collections are extensive and you can spend hours exploring Egyptian antiques, ancient Greek and Roman sculptures, paintings by the Old Masters, and the lush gardens which surround the museum.  Don’t leave Paris without a trip to the Louvre, but go early or late as it gets quite crowded.

The Natural History Museum, Vienna Austria

You probably wouldn’t find this museum on everyone’s list, but it’s on mine!  The Natural History Museum in Vienna is an unforgettable journey through natural science and the wonders of the world.  Housed in a stunning and historical 19th-century building, you will find an amazing collection of skeletons, stones, meteors, creatures, dinosaurs, and other mind-blowing exhibits.  This year marks the 125th anniversary of the museum and the opening of a new digital planetarium.

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