New York is home to some of the best museums in the world . In addition to the world-famous museums such as the “MET” (Metropolitan Museum), the “Guggenheim” and the “American Museum of Natural History” known from film and television, New York also has many other great museums to offer. Below we will introduce you to one Selection that you should definitely take a look at.
General information about the museums
Basically, visiting a museum in New York is very different from visiting a museum in Europe. The hustle and bustle and the unlimited range of activities and possibilities are also reflected in the museums. Many of the visitors walk through the exhibitions quite quickly , snap a photo of their favorite exhibits and then quickly disappear again so that they can concentrate on other activities. Flash photography is permitted almost everywhere. Many art objects or paintings are hardly separated by glass walls or something similar and are easily accessible. However, you shouldn't touch anything, even if other visitors don't always follow this rule. As in Europe , eating and drinking is also not permitted . The “gift shops” in the museums are particularly great, where you can bring great and unusual gifts for your loved ones at home.
Museums included in the City Pass:
The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The MET)
The MET is one of the most famous and largest art museums in America. It houses a remarkable collection with over 3 million works on an exhibition area of 130,000 square meters of great art-historical importance. The MET can cover all art eras.
Opening hours:
Sundays - Thursdays: 10:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m
Fridays and Saturdays: 10:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m
Closed: January 1st, 1st Monday in May, Thanksgiving, December 25th,
Address: 1000 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10028
American Museum of Natural History
From the MET you can combine a visit to this museum with a leisurely stroll through Central Park. The American Museum of Natural History, which was the filming location for the film “Night at the Museum,” is located directly on the west side of Central Park. It is the largest natural history museum and is also ideal for a trip with children .
Opening hours:
Open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:45 p.m
Closed: December 25 and Thanksgiving
Address: Central Park West & 79th St, New York, NY 10024, USA
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
The Guggenheim was founded in 1939 and exhibits modern art. It is located in the affluent district of the city, the Upper East Side. The architecture of the building itself is already worth a visit.
Opening hours:
Sundays to Wednesdays and Fridays: 10:00 a.m. – 5:45 p.m
Thursdays: Closed
Saturdays: 10:00 a.m. – 7:45 p.m
Closed: December 25th, further differences in opening hours on public holidays can be seen on the homepage.
Address: 1071 5th Avenue, New York, NY (between 88th & 89th Streets)
9/11 Memorial Museum
This museum is a memorial and is intended to commemorate the 3,000 victims who died in the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001 . Directly in front of the museum, where the twin towers stood, two memorials were built where all the names of the victims are listed.
Opening hours:
Sunday to Thursday: 9:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m
Friday to Saturday: 9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m
Address: 180 Greenwich St, New York, NY 10007
Intrepid Sea Air & Space Museum
This museum is located directly on the Hudson River on the west side of Manhattan. The former aircraft carrier USS Intrepid has been converted into a museum ship and displays exhibits from the US naval forces, aviation and space travel.
Opening hours:
April 1st to October 31st
Monday to Friday: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m
Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m
November 1st to March 31st
daily (including public holidays): 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m
Address: Pier 86, W 46th St & 12th Ave, New York, NY 10036
If you are interested in these museums, then the CityPASS may be really worth it for you, as you pay one price for all the attractions. In addition to the museums, the CityPASS also includes entry to the Empire State Building and optionally the “Top of the Rock”, a visit to the Statue of Liberty or a boat tour on the Hudson and East Rivers. For more information or to book your pass, CLICK HERE.
Museums for art lovers:
MoMA
This museum houses one of the world's most important and influential collections of modern and contemporary art. A little insider tip : The museum also has a small branch . It is a part of the Berlin Wall , which can be viewed in an office building in the reception hall. Simply ask the person at the front desk to let you in and then you can look at the piece of history and take photos (address: 520 Madison Ave (just around the block from MoMa)).
Opening hours:
Saturday to Thursday: 10:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m
Fridays: 10:30 a.m. - 8:00 p.m
Address: 11 West 53 Street, New York, NY 10019
New gallery
The German-Austrian Gallery is located on the Upper East Side right next to Central Park. It is a smaller museum , but it exhibits great works such as the “Scream” by Edward Munch or a work of art by the well-known North German painter, Emil Nolde .
Opening hours:
daily from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays
Address: 1048 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10028
Whitney Museum
In this museum you will find American art from the 20th and 21st centuries. You can look at around 700 works of art here in the beautiful Chelsea district and possibly combine them with a walk on the Highline Rail Park .
Opening hours: open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., closed on Tuesdays
Address: 99 Gansevoort Street, New York, NY 10014
Frick Collection
The Frick Collection is located in the former residence of Henry Clay Frick. The atmosphere of Mr. Frick's residence should be maintained here. The collection contains numerous well-known paintings by Europe's most famous artists, important sculptures, collections of small bronzes, furniture and French porcelain of the 18th century, Limoges enamel, Oriental carpets, and other notable works of art.
Opening hours:
Closed on Monday
Tuesday to Saturday: 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m
First Friday of the month: 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m
The gallery is closed on public holidays
Address: 1 E 70th St, New York, NY 10021
Other interesting exhibitions:
Museum of Sex
Here you will find a very interesting exhibition about the history, development and cultural differences of human sexuality. The museum is very centrally located, directly on 5th Avenue.
Opening hours:
Sunday to Thursday: 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m
Fridays and Saturdays: 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m
Opening times vary on public holidays. You can view these on the homepage.
Address: Museum of Sex, 233 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Brooklyn Museum
The Brooklyn Museum is the second largest museum in New York City and one of the largest and oldest museums in the United States . The offering includes a large collection of ancient Egyptian art and the work of many cultures from around the world, particularly Chinese, Korean and Middle Eastern art.
Opening hours:
Wednesday to Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., closed Monday and Tuesday
Closed on Thanks Giving and December 25th
Address: 200 Eastern Pkwy, Brooklyn, NY 11238
There are countless other great museums in New York. New York City is a melting pot of cultures and therefore almost every nationality and culture is represented with its own exhibition.