Whether you’re an art aficionado or you just want to see some of the world’s great paintings, there are many wonderful art museums and galleries across the globe that are well worth adding to your bucket list. Here are ten of the best art museums in the world.
The Louvre, Paris, France
This Parisian art gallery is one of the oldest and most popular art galleries in the world, attracting over ten million visitors per year. One of its most iconic artefacts, Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, has hung in the Louvre since 1804. If you’re planning a visit, bear in mind that the museum recently placed a limit on daily numbers to try and reduce overcrowding around the Mona Lisa and improve the experience for visitors.
Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Those of you who are planning a Europe trip won’t want to miss the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam. Exclusively dedicated to the many works of Vincent Van Gogh, the museum opened in the 1970s and houses the largest collection of Van Gogh artwork worldwide – an impressive 1,300 individual pieces, including iconic paintings such as Sunflowers, The Bedroom and his famous Self-Portrait.
State Hermitage Museum, Saint Petersburg, Russia
One of the largest museums in the world, Russia’s State Hermitage Museum houses over three million pieces. With iconic art by greats such as Picasso and Rembrandt, the museum is well worth a visit, though you’ll want to make sure you give yourself plenty of time to get around – if you only looked at every piece for one minute, it would take a mind-blowing eleven years to see everything!
The Vatican Museums, Rome, Italy
Located in Vatican City, this is the oldest art museum on our list, having opened its doors back in 1506. The Vatican Museums is a series of galleries featuring works of great importance such as the Sistine Chapel, and the Raphael Rooms and is the fifth most popular museum in the world.
The National Gallery, London, UK
Located in London’s Trafalgar Square, the National Gallery is home to over 2,300 paintings including pieces by Monet, Rembrandt and Michelangelo. With new exhibitions and a packed program of events, the National Gallery is a must-visit for art lovers planning a trip to the UK.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA
Better known as The Met, this world-famous museum is located on Fifth Avenue, Manhattan and is the largest art museum in the USA. With works by Jackson Pollock, Pablo Picasso and Johannes Vermeer, it’s the second most visited museum in the world, attracting over seven million visitors each year.
National Art Center, Tokyo, Japan
Japan’s National Art Center in Tokyo opened in 2007 and is a little different in that it doesn’t have a permanent collection. Instead, it only hosts temporary exhibitions but don’t let this put you off, as it hosted an impressive 69 different exhibitions in its first year alone!
Shanghai Museum, China
The Shanghai Museum in People’s Square, Shanghai has eleven galleries, housing more than 120,000 individual pieces. It’s also home to some significant items considered to be of national importance, including pieces from the Han Dynasty.
Museum of Modern Art, New York, USA
New York’s Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) holds the largest collection of contemporary art in the world. Opened by Abby Aldrich Rockefeller just nine days after the famous Wall Street Crash, the gallery is now home to 150,000 pieces including Van Gogh’s Starry Night, as well as work by Andy Warhol, Henri Matisse, Salvador Dali, Frida Kahlo, and Henri Rousseau,
Reina Sofia, Madrid, Spain
Spain’s national museum of 20th-century art, the Reina Sofia is located in Madrid and opened its doors in 1986. If you’re a fan of Spanish greats like Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dali, a visit to the Reina Sofia is a must.
Conclusion
These are just a handful of the many fantastic art museums you can visit during your travels. There are, of course, many more throughout Europe and across the world, meaning art enthusiasts are spoiled for choice.