Are You Looking For The Most Fun Museums In Nyc If So Keep Reading
If youre searching for the most fun museums in NYC then youre going to find so much inspiration on this list! Lets face it NYC is full of museums, from the traditional museums, to the more modern ones!
Museums definitely depends on your interests and what youre into, and some museums do have a bit of a reputation for being on the boring end of the scale.
There are plenty of fun museums in NYC so get reading!
BUT, fear not, if youre looking for fun museums in NYC, this list is going to give you 15 amazing places to visit during your trip!
South Street Seaport Museum
If youre looking for a break from the bustle of Midtown, head on down to the South Street Seaport Museum for a chilled-out day by the water.
Located in Lower Manhattan at Pier 16, this maritime museum tells the story of New York City and its relationship with the ocean from its earliest days as a Dutch colony all the way up to present times.
With nautical artifacts, interactive displays, and historical reenactments, theres something for everyone at this underrated attraction plus, with a fleet of historic ships lining the docks and floors, including the 1885 schooner Pioneer 1885 tall ship Wavertree, 1907 lightship Ambrose, and 1930 tugboat W.O. Decker, its a surefire hit for the kids too
Bonus: The Seaport is also home to some of the best waterfront views in all of NYC, so be sure to wander around a bit once youve finished up with the exhibits to admire the Brooklyn Bridge.
Museums Included In Tourist Passes
Entry to some number of ticketed museums is included in most tourist attraction discount passes, which bundle several tours and attractions, including museums, into one pass at a flat rate price.
Also, having a pass saves you time because you dont have to wait online to purchase tickets and some passes offer skip-the-line privileges.
Buying a tourist pass makes a lot of sense if you are planning on visiting several museums, especially those that required a paid ticket.
With the major art museums costing $25 each, youd be wise to consider a pass if you plan on going to 3 or more such museums.
This is one of the top museums in the world and its collection of over two million works includes pieces from several different periods in human history.
This is a must-see museum, but tickets are $25 and they do not offer any free hours.
This very popular museum, located on an aircraft carrier is very engaging. Its mission is to educate the public about the history and science of sea, air, and space travel.
It is very interactive and great for kids.
Tickets are pricey, and though they have free hours one Friday a month, the best way to save on tickets is to consider a tourist pass.
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Metropolitan Museum Of Art
Putting aside Paris Lourve, The Met is arguably the worlds most famous art museum, and for good reason. With more than two million works on display , this Midtown behemoth is an unrivaled treasure trove of culture thats worth dedicating an entire day to explore.
Boasting everything from armor and weapons to musical instruments and costumes, the Mets vast collections are spread across seventeen curatorial departments , with special exhibitions that come and go throughout the year .
Featuring an overflowing gift shop and cafe to recharge the batteries, plus offering insightful historian-led tours, this Central Park-straddling institution is not to be missed.
Jewish Childrens Museum Crown Heights Brooklyn
This museum is perfect for learning about Jewish history and the life of Jewish people, and its best suited for kids from age 3 to 12. The kids here can learn about the story of creation, what is Shabbat, what are kosher ingredients and kosher meals, and many more. They can also learn about Mar Mitzvah and Jewish weddings through an interactive game of mini golf. The fourth-floor gallery is reserved for Jewish history, where you can learn about the Patriarchs and Matriarchs, the Holocaust and the modern day Israel. But dont be afraid, everything is made so that kids can understand it.
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New York Hall Of Science
Totally interactive and always fun, the New York Hall of Science is a great place to bring the kids for an educational day out.
With over 450 exhibits on everything from space and rocketry to DNA and robotics, theres something to catch everyones interest, no matter what their age.
The Design Lab provides kids with opportunities to engineer solutions to real-world problems Wild Minds exhibit uses videos, games, and interactive displays to outline the fascinating similarities between how humans and animals think while The Happiness Experiment teaches visitors about the culture and science behind joy, and shows that its okay to not feel happy all the time.
And if thats not enough to tire the youngsters out, theres also a bunch of outdoor science-themed playgrounds where they can let off some steam.
It might be located in Queens, a little further out from the main Manhattan haunts, but with a plethora of attractions on offer in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, its easy to spend an entire day exploring the area.
Camp X Disney’s Mickey& Friends: An Extra Big Adventure
A new interactive retail experience is coming to the flagship CAMP store on Fifth Avenue. Disney fans will not want to miss CAMP x Disney’s “Mickey& Friends: An Extra Big Adventure. Behind CAMPs signature Magic Door is an immersive experience where families are guided by a CAMP Counselor through a narrative-driven adventure, packed Disney and CAMP magic. Guests climb, slide, bounce, and dance their way through a themed environment. Expect plenty of photo ops along the way. Tickets are $24 each. Closes September 11th! 110 Fifth Ave., 917-997-0439, camp.com
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The Museum Of Modern Art
Home to world-renowned paintings like Vincent van Goghs The Starry Night, Claude Monets Water Lilies and notable works by Warhol, Basquiat and Dali, its no wonder MoMA is constantly crowded with happy visitors.
You dont have to be an avid art connoisseur to appreciate the real-life paintings you grew up studying in school. The painting are well curated and displayed in a modern and airy environment for an experience anyone can enjoy.
Must see at MoMA: The Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh, Andy Warhols Campbell Soup Cans, Frida Kahlos Self-Portrait with Cropped Hair, Monets Water Lilies, The Persistence of Memory by Dali, and Picassos work.
Address: 11 W 53rd St, New York, NY 10019
The Intrepid Sea Air And Space Museum
If planes and air travel is your jam, then you will LOVE the Intrepid sea, air and space museum. Its a crazy cool museum, full of real planes, real stories and incredibly educational and immersive experiences.
The fun museum in NYC is actually aboard the aircraft carrier Intrepid , which in itself is a National Historic Landmark.
This is one of the fun museums in NYC you wont want to miss!
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The Metropolitan Museum Of Art
This is a fun museum in New York City and the largest museum with over 2 million works of art. Its so big that you can spend several days looking at the exhibitions.
Admission is $25 for adults, $17 for seniors, $12 for students, and free for children under the age of 12.
The most amazing thing is that the ticket is valid for 3 consecutive days to enable you to enjoy the museum because its very large. You might still not be able to see all the beautiful works of art after three days.
Location: 1000 5th Ave, New York, NY 10028
Opening days: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM and Friday and Saturday from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM.
Website:metmuseum.org
Where Is The Museum Of The City Of New York
The Museum of the City of New York is located at the top of Museum Mile on Fifth Avenue and across from Central Park.
The exact address for the Museum of the City of New York is 1220 5th Ave, New York, NY 10029.
NearestSubway: 103rd Street or 110th Street / Central Park North .
Bus: Use lines M1, M2, M3, M4 and M106 bus at 104th St.
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Best Museums In New York City
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The sheer number of museums and cultural institutions in New York can boggle the mindit doesn’t have just world-class museums spanning neighborhoods from the Upper East Side all the way to the Lower East Side it has entire neighborhoods, like Chelsea, dedicated to smaller galleries. With specialties ranging from Chinese, Hispanic, and Jewish art to photography, natural history, and cutting-edge contemporary, theres truly something for any interestall you have to do is decide what that is. We’ve got you covered no matter what you’re interested in with our list of the best museums in New York City.
Intrepid Sea Air & Space Museum
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Location: Pier 86, W 46th St, New York, NY 10036
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Hours: Monday to Sunday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
With a vast collection of technologically groundbreaking aircraft and vessels, such as the legendary aircraft carrier Intrepid, the space shuttle Enterprise, and the worlds fastest jets, the museum takes you on an interactive journey through history to learn about American innovation and bravery.
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Admission is $33 for adults, $31 for seniors and $24 for children between 5 – 12. Buy tickets here.
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Museum Of Arts And Design
Contemporary, creative, edgy, and found at the southwestern tip of Central Park in Columbus Circle, the Museum of Arts and Design might seem like a relative newcomer to the NYC museum scene, having opened its doors in 2002, but its history actually transcends to the mid-1900s making it a longstanding, and heavily underrated year-round attraction.
Across four floors of exhibition galleries for works by established and emerging artists, this family-friendly space makes a big impact thanks to its eclectic and innovative exhibitions that explore all aspects of art and design from the 1950s through to the present day.
From ceramics and glassware to furniture, textiles, architecture, graphics, jewelry and product design, MAD touches of all areas of how creativity shapes our everyday lives.
Whats more, the museum also hosts ambitious temporary exhibitions as well a theater for lecutes and workshops, and a handful visitable artistic studios where you can see designs come to life.
Hot tips: plan to visit on Saturday, when occasional live music is performed in the garden, and make booking for the 9th-floor restaurant for some amazing views!
The Modern Museum Of Art
The Museum of Modern Art, otherwise known as the MoMa, is often referred to the largest as well as most influential museum of modern and contemporary art in the world.
This art institution was the citys first museum focused exclusively on modern art featuring architecture, paintings, sculpture, photography, prints, illustrated books, electronic media and film.
If you enjoyed this museum, dont miss MoMA PS1 . The MoMA PS1 is the largest art institutions in the US which is dedicated solely to contemporary art located in the borough of Queens.
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Museum Of The Moving Image Astoria Queens
This museum is perfect if you have a bit older kids, from age 5 for example. There are a lot of things you can do here, visit the famous Muppets, take a picture with the Jedi master Yoda and many more. You need to visit the Behind the Scenes, where you see a lot of famous movie memorabilia, and learn a lot about movies, and you can even make an interactive film clip. Your kids will love it, but you will also be amazed. There is also an on-site theatre that screens various movies that are related to the current exhibitions, and some of the popular up-to-date hits. On Fridays, you can enter for free from 4 pm to 8 pm.
The Studio Museum In Harlem
One of the worlds leading institutions devoted to contemporary African art made by people locally, nationally, and internationally The Studio Museum in Harlem is a must-visit for anyone interested in learning more about this vital part of American culture.
It links the art world with the larger cultural scene and the local Harlem community, and the result is both intriguing and insightful.
Founded in 1968 in the heart of central Harlem on 125th St, the museum has a long and proud history of championing artists of color, with a mission to promote understanding and appreciation of African art through exhibitions, educational programs, and publications.
With a constantly changing schedule of exhibitions both featuring works from the museums extensive permanent collection and touring shows theres always something new to see at The Studio Museum.
Keep in mind: in 2022, The Studio Museum is going through a renovation, however, art continues to be shown in public spaces through the inHarlem initiative check the website to see whats on!
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Pay What You Wish Admission For Nyc Museums
The pay-what-you-wish scheme lets you choose the price you pay for your admission to a New York museum. Keep in mind this type of ticket is only available at the ticket desk and cannot be purchased in advance.
Technically, you could pay nothing for your NYC museum visit but you should consider making a small contribution. Some New York museums offer a suggested minimum to give you a guideline on what you should pay when you visit.
Overall, with a little bit of planning, you could easily save some serious cash when visiting New Yorks best museums and we will help you do just that!
Lets get stuck into the top 10 museums in NYC:
The Alice Austen House Museum
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Location: 2 Hylan Blvd, Staten Island, NY 10305
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Hours: Tuesday to Saturday: 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Many museums in NYC are transformed from the residency of the famed, and the Alice Austen House is no exception. It was the home of Alice Austen, one of the earliest female photographers, and was opened by the New York Parks Department as a museum to educate the public.
Here, you can enjoy Austens work and get inspiration from her life. This is a great place to sit by the water and debate whether you should quit your job and pursue your dream as Austen did.
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Admission is $5 per person.
The Alice Austen House on a beautiful summer afternoon.
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Morgan Library & Museum
The former private collection of JP Morgan one of the finest collections of drawings, books, and manuscripts in the world can be found at Morgan Library & Museum .
A stones throw from the Empire State Building, the brownstone venues 350,000-item collection is made up of important literary works from authors such as Charles Dickens and Mark Twain, complemented by a treasure trove of diverse Egyptian art, Renaissance paintings, Chinese porcelains, and old drawings and prints.
Despite the building being close to 120 years old, today, its been transformed into far more than a multi-millionaires personal collection the little-known museum actually houses 20 different spaces, including galleries, libraries, and a performance hall.
Hot tip: if short on time, the free 60-minute highlights tour, running Tuesday through Sunday at 12.30pm, is highly regarded.
The New York Public Library
The New York Public Library is the 2nd largest public library in the US and 4th largest in the world. Founded in 1895, the NPL features 92 locations in the Bronx, Manhattan and Staten Island. The NPL serves more than 16 million people per year and is home to more than 56 million items.
The New York Public Library is free to enter. But you will need a library card, if you want to check something out of the museum.
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Museums To See In New York City
Museums are definitely a must see when you are in New York City. There are so many museums and cultural spots to visit and explore when you are visiting NYC.
When it comes to museums, I dont know if there is anywhere with a larger collection of cultural museums on every subject available.
Wave Hill Public Garden & Cultural Center
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Hours: Tuesday to Sunday: 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM
If you dont mind a little bit of travel, check out Wave Hill, a 28-acre outdoor museum in the Bronx overlooking the Hudson River. If you depart from Times Square to the parks entrance at West 249th Street, it takes about an hour by subway and 30 minutes by car.
Once inside, you can head straight to the main outlook under the pergola for spectacular views of the Hudson River. Or stop by the Wave Hill House, built in 1843 in the style of an English country residence. There, you can grab some food at the cafe or shop at the gift shop for items like handcrafted soaps, ceramics, glass, and jewelry.
Looking for a spot to rest? Sit on the Wave Hill Chairs, which are a signature item of the park and protected as part of the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
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Tickets are $10 for adults, $6 for students and seniors above 65, $4 for children above 6, and free to members and children under 6.
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