If you love immersing yourself in the history of a place or reveling in beautiful art, you'll want to add these beautiful museums to your travel bucket list. From the iconic Louvre in Paris to the Museum of Pop Culture in Seattle, there's something here for every traveler.
Museums are a gateway into the history of humankind. Best of all? They're open to everyone, and some of them are even free!
Within these museum walls are countless artifacts and paintings that date back centuries, letting us take a walk back in time.
But not all museums are the same. Some cover big historical events, while others are packed with masterpieces by the world's most famous artists. And some are so stunning that the building itself is the main attraction.
The possibilities are truly endless, which is why I put together this list of the most beautiful museums in the world. These museums are worth visiting at least once in a lifetime!
1 - The Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao, Spain
The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao is all about modern and contemporary art. Its collection includes Richard Serra's huge walk-through steel sculptures, The Matter of Time, and the museum hosts rotating exhibitions along with concerts, courses and workshops.
But the building itself is a work of art, thanks to architect Frank Gehry, who designed this curving, titanium-clad masterpiece (it opened in 1997). Don't miss the giant flower-covered Puppy by Jeff Koons out front and Louise Bourgeois' enormous spider, Maman, by the river. You'll stare in awe the moment you lay eyes on it! If you're planning a bigger trip, Bilbao is one of our best places to visit in Spain.
2 - Moscow State Historical Museum, Moscow
Located between Moscow's Red Square and Manezhnaya Square is the State Historical Museum, Russia's largest history museum. Its collection runs to millions of objects, from prehistoric relics found in what is now Russia all the way to modern times.
Guests start out in the ceremonial entrance hall, with "The Genealogical Tree of Russian Rulers" painted on the vaults, and move through the halls to learn about the development of civilization in the region. The building itself is a work of art too, wrapped in a vivid shade of red. The museum was founded in 1872 and opened to the public in 1883.
Good to know: many governments, including the US, currently advise against travel to Russia. Check your government's latest travel advisory before planning a trip to Moscow or St. Petersburg.
3 - Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia
Founded in 1764 by Catherine the Great and often called the second largest art museum on the planet, The Hermitage Museum holds an incredible collection of more than three million items. Much of it is housed in the Winter Palace, the former home of the Russian tsars. Among the highlights are Leonardo da Vinci's Madonna Litta and Rembrandt's Danaë.
Take a guided tour to see the glittering state rooms, the golden Peacock Clock and galleries full of Old Masters. Honestly, you could spend days here and still not see everything.
4 - Vatican Museums, Vatican City
Over the centuries, the Catholic Church and the popes have collected an astonishing number of sculptures and works of art, and they're now proudly displayed at the Vatican Museums, right in the heart of Rome.
The Vatican Museums aren't just one museum but several. The visit ends in the Sistine Chapel, with Michelangelo's famous ceiling, and along the way you'll pass the Raphael Rooms and rooms that Renaissance popes once lived in or used for private prayer, such as the Borgia Apartment and the Niccoline Chapel. There's also the Gregorian Egyptian Museum, with a vast collection of ancient artifacts.
Its rooms also teach visitors about the funeral customs of ancient Egypt. You'll also find the Jewish Lapidarium, a collection of ancient Jewish inscriptions carved in stone, and that's just the tip of the iceberg. If Rome is on your list, here's our guide to where to stay in Rome.
5 - MoPOP Museum of Pop Culture, Seattle, Washington
The Museum of Pop Culture is dedicated to modern pop culture, from music to movies to video games. Its rotating exhibits have ranged from tattoo culture to Minecraft, and its long-running galleries cover genres like science fiction and horror cinema, plus Seattle music legends like Jimi Hendrix and Nirvana.
The wavy, brightly colored building was also designed by Frank Gehry (the same architect as the Guggenheim Bilbao), and the Seattle Center Monorail runs right through it!
6 - The Louvre, Paris, France
The Louvre Museum is a major Parisian landmark, and it's considered the biggest art museum on the planet. Besides the ornate former royal palace and its famous glass pyramid, there are plenty of art exhibitions to enjoy, so check the official site to see what's on display. The Louvre is also home to permanent masterpieces such as the Venus de Milo and the Mona Lisa. It gets very busy, so book a timed-entry ticket ahead of your visit.
Planning a trip? Here's our guide to where to stay in Paris.
7 - Doge's Palace, Venice, Italy
The first Doge's Palace was built as a fortified castle around the 9th and 10th centuries, and after centuries of fires and rebuilding, it became the grand Gothic palace you see today, mostly built in the 14th and 15th centuries. It was the seat of Venice's government for hundreds of years. Today it's a museum filled with paintings by Venetian masters like Tintoretto and Veronese, and special tours take you through secret passages and across the Bridge of Sighs to the old prisons.
But many visitors come here simply to bask in the palace's Gothic architecture and lavish rooms. Keep an eye out for the Bocca di Leone, a slot shaped like a lion's mouth where Venetians once dropped anonymous accusations. The palace sits right next to St. Mark's Basilica, whose terrace has a great view over St. Mark's Square in the center of Venice. Venice is also on our list of the best places to visit in Italy.
8 - Museu do Amanhã, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
If you're a science enthusiast, your heart will skip a beat at the Museu do Amanhã (Museum of Tomorrow) in Rio. Located on Pier Mauá, this science museum, designed by Santiago Calatrava, is a unique, out-of-this-world architectural wonder. Its exhibitions make guests ponder what tomorrow will bring while exploring big questions about how the universe came into existence.
If you're planning on visiting this fantastic work of architecture, make sure to check out the Lab of Activities of Tomorrow, which shows how new technology and scientific research may shape the future.
9 - Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna, Austria
The Kunsthistorisches Museum (Museum of Art History) in Vienna is the place to go if you're an art lover. Designed by Gottfried Semper and Carl Hasenauer and opened in 1891, its monumental and richly decorated building will take your breath away. It faces its twin, the Natural History Museum, across Maria-Theresien-Platz.
Once inside, guests can enjoy huge collections of Renaissance and Baroque art, including the world's largest collection of paintings by Pieter Bruegel the Elder. Among the many masterpieces are Diego Velázquez's portraits of the young Infanta Margarita Teresa.
The museum is also home to a striking Egyptian collection with coffins, mummies and jewelry, along with a collection of Greek and Roman antiquities. And if you're a coin collector, you're in for a treat at the Coin Cabinet, one of the largest coin collections in the world, with hundreds of thousands of coins, medals and banknotes. Need a place to stay? Here's our guide to where to stay in Vienna.
It's safe to say these museums are worth a trip just to visit. If you're looking for more fun and unique travel experiences, check out these ideas:
James Udell says
There is nothing more stunning, day or night then the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Even Rocky knows that!