# World Museum Guide

> Independent, ad-free visitor guides to 257 museums in 48 countries: admission prices, opening hours, free-entry rules, must-see highlights, visit routes and how long to allow. Every guide shows the date its visitor facts were checked against the museum's official website and links to that source. No ads, no ticket sales, no affiliate commissions. Founded by Kaiser Khan (https://worldmuseumguide.org/author/kaiser-khan/).

Coverage: 257 museums, 48 countries, 55 always-free museums, 69 with conditional free entry. Content updated 2026-09-25. Each museum page records its own fact-check date.

## Machine surfaces
- [llms-full.txt](https://worldmuseumguide.org/llms-full.txt): every museum with admission, free tier and URL
- Markdown mirrors: remove the final slash and append .md to any page URL (use /index.md for the homepage), e.g. https://worldmuseumguide.org/museums/louvre.md — also linked via rel="alternate" type="text/markdown" on every page
- [Open data](https://worldmuseumguide.org/open-data/): [museums.json](https://worldmuseumguide.org/data/museums.json) (admission, hours, free-entry rules, closures, official source and check date per museum) + [datapackage.json](https://worldmuseumguide.org/data/datapackage.json)
- [World Museum Index CSV](https://worldmuseumguide.org/world-museum-index.csv): most-visited museums ranked
- [Answer chunks](https://worldmuseumguide.org/aeo-chunks.json) and [chunk manifest](https://worldmuseumguide.org/geo-chunks/manifest.json)
- [API catalog](https://worldmuseumguide.org/.well-known/api-catalog) (RFC 9727) · [RSS](https://worldmuseumguide.org/feed.xml) · [Sitemap](https://worldmuseumguide.org/sitemap-index.xml)
- [Editorial policy](https://worldmuseumguide.org/editorial-policy/) · [Corrections log](https://worldmuseumguide.org/corrections/) (24 entries)

## Site structure
- [All museums](https://worldmuseumguide.org/museums/): searchable directory of 257 guides
- [Countries](https://worldmuseumguide.org/countries/): "best museums in <country>" rankings for 48 countries
- City rankings: [Paris](https://worldmuseumguide.org/countries/france/paris/), [London](https://worldmuseumguide.org/countries/united-kingdom/london/), [New York City](https://worldmuseumguide.org/countries/united-states/new-york-city/), [Tokyo](https://worldmuseumguide.org/countries/japan/tokyo/), [Amsterdam](https://worldmuseumguide.org/countries/netherlands/amsterdam/), [Washington D.C.](https://worldmuseumguide.org/countries/united-states/washington-d-c/), [Rome](https://worldmuseumguide.org/countries/italy/rome/), [Florence](https://worldmuseumguide.org/countries/italy/florence/), [Beijing](https://worldmuseumguide.org/countries/china/beijing/), [Cairo](https://worldmuseumguide.org/countries/egypt/cairo/), [Saint Petersburg](https://worldmuseumguide.org/countries/russia/saint-petersburg/), [Moscow](https://worldmuseumguide.org/countries/russia/moscow/)
- [Free museums](https://worldmuseumguide.org/free-museums/) and [free days calendar](https://worldmuseumguide.org/calendar/)
- [Compare museums](https://worldmuseumguide.org/compare/): 50 head-to-head verdicts (e.g. [Louvre vs Musée d'Orsay](https://worldmuseumguide.org/compare/louvre-vs-musee-dorsay/))
- [Famous artworks](https://worldmuseumguide.org/exhibits/): where to see 50 masterpieces
- [Quick answers](https://worldmuseumguide.org/answers/): free museums per city, closing days, visit lengths
- [Museum types](https://worldmuseumguide.org/types/): [Art Museums](https://worldmuseumguide.org/types/art-museums/), [Modern & Contemporary Art](https://worldmuseumguide.org/types/modern-contemporary/), [History & Archaeology](https://worldmuseumguide.org/types/history-archaeology/), [Natural History](https://worldmuseumguide.org/types/natural-history/), [Science & Technology](https://worldmuseumguide.org/types/science-technology/), [World Heritage & Culture](https://worldmuseumguide.org/types/world-heritage-culture/), [Military & War](https://worldmuseumguide.org/types/military-war/), [Specialist & Niche Museums](https://worldmuseumguide.org/types/specialist-niche/)
- [Visitor guides](https://worldmuseumguide.org/guides/) · [Plan a visit](https://worldmuseumguide.org/visit/) · [New museums 2026](https://worldmuseumguide.org/new-museums/2026/)

## Flagship guides (most visited, facts checked 2026-09-25)
- [The Louvre](https://worldmuseumguide.org/museums/louvre/) — Paris, France. Admission: €22 for EEA visitors; €32 for non-EEA visitors (since 14 January 2026). Hours: Monday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM; Wednesday and Friday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM (Closed Tuesdays, 1 January, 1 May and 25 December). Time needed: 3–5 hours. Checked 2026-09-25.
- [Vatican Museums](https://worldmuseumguide.org/museums/vatican-museums/) — Vatican City, Vatican City. Admission: €20 at the ticket office; €25 booked online (includes €5 booking fee). Hours: Monday to Saturday: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM (last entry 6:00 PM); last Sunday of the month: 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM (Closed other Sundays and Vatican holidays). Time needed: 3–4 hours. Checked 2026-09-25.
- [National Museum of Korea](https://worldmuseumguide.org/museums/national-museum-of-korea/) — Seoul, South Korea. Admission: Free admission to permanent galleries. Hours: Daily: 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM; Wednesday and Saturday until 9:00 PM (Closed 1 January, Seollal and Chuseok days). Time needed: 2–3 hours. Checked 2026-09-25.
- [The British Museum](https://worldmuseumguide.org/museums/british-museum/) — London, United Kingdom. Admission: Free standard admission. Hours: Daily: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM; Fridays until 8:30 PM (Closed 24–26 December). Time needed: 2–4 hours. Checked 2026-09-25.
- [The Metropolitan Museum of Art](https://worldmuseumguide.org/museums/metropolitan-museum-of-art/) — New York City, United States. Admission: $30 for adults; pay-what-you-wish for NY State residents and NY, NJ & CT students. Hours: Sunday to Tuesday, Thursday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM; Friday and Saturday: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM (Closed Wednesdays, Thanksgiving, December 25, January 1 and the first Monday in May). Time needed: 3–5 hours. Checked 2026-09-25.
- [State Russian Museum](https://worldmuseumguide.org/museums/russian-museum/) — Saint Petersburg, Russia. Admission: 700 RUB (Mikhailovsky Palace); 1,000 RUB including the Benois Wing. Hours: Monday, Wednesday to Sunday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM (Closed Tuesdays). Time needed: 2–3 hours. Checked 2026-09-25.
- [Museo Nacional de Antropología](https://worldmuseumguide.org/museums/museo-nacional-de-antropologia/) — Mexico City, Mexico. Admission: MX$210 for foreign visitors; MX$105 for Mexican nationals and residents. Hours: Tuesday to Sunday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM (Closed Mondays). Time needed: 3–5 hours. Checked 2026-09-25.
- [Tate Modern](https://worldmuseumguide.org/museums/tate-modern/) — London, United Kingdom. Admission: Free standard admission; charges for special exhibitions. Hours: Sunday to Thursday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM; Friday and Saturday: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM. Time needed: 2–3 hours. Checked 2026-09-25.
- [The National Gallery](https://worldmuseumguide.org/museums/national-gallery-london/) — London, United Kingdom. Admission: Free standard admission. Hours: Daily: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM; Fridays until 9:00 PM (Closed 24–26 December and 1 January). Time needed: 2–3 hours. Checked 2026-09-25.
- [Uffizi Gallery](https://worldmuseumguide.org/museums/uffizi/) — Florence, Italy. Admission: €25 on the day; €29 booked in advance (includes reservation); €16 for entry from 4 PM. Hours: Tuesday to Sunday: 8:15 AM – 6:30 PM (Closed Mondays, 1 January and 25 December). Time needed: 2–4 hours. Checked 2026-09-25.
- [Museo del Prado](https://worldmuseumguide.org/museums/prado/) — Madrid, Spain. Admission: €15 general; €7.50 reduced. Hours: Monday to Saturday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM; Sundays and public holidays: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM (Closed 1 January, 1 May and 25 December). Time needed: 2–4 hours. Checked 2026-09-25.
- [Natural History Museum](https://worldmuseumguide.org/museums/natural-history-museum-london/) — London, United Kingdom. Admission: Free standard admission. Hours: Daily: 10:00 AM – 5:50 PM (last entry 5:30 PM; closed 24–26 December). Time needed: 2–3 hours. Checked 2026-09-25.
- [American Museum of Natural History](https://worldmuseumguide.org/museums/american-museum-of-natural-history/) — New York City, United States. Admission: $37 for adults from outside NY State; pay-what-you-wish for NY State residents (suggested $25). Hours: Daily: 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM (Closed Thanksgiving and December 25). Time needed: 3–4 hours. Checked 2026-09-25.
- [Rijksmuseum](https://worldmuseumguide.org/museums/rijksmuseum/) — Amsterdam, Netherlands. Admission: €25 for adults; ages 18 and under free. Hours: Daily: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (open every day, including public holidays). Time needed: 2–3 hours. Checked 2026-09-25.
- [Van Gogh Museum](https://worldmuseumguide.org/museums/van-gogh-museum/) — Amsterdam, Netherlands. Admission: €25 for adults; timed tickets sold online only. Hours: Daily: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM; Fridays until 9:00 PM (closes 5:00 PM on most days 2 November – 18 December; hours vary seasonally). Time needed: 2–3 hours. Checked 2026-09-25.
- [Musée d'Orsay](https://worldmuseumguide.org/museums/musee-dorsay/) — Paris, France. Admission: €16 online; €14 at the museum; Thursday late entry from 6 PM €12 online. Hours: Tuesday to Sunday: 9:30 AM – 6:00 PM; Thursdays until 9:45 PM (Closed Mondays, 1 May and 25 December). Time needed: 2–4 hours. Checked 2026-09-25.
- [Centre Pompidou](https://worldmuseumguide.org/museums/centre-pompidou/) — Paris, France. Closed: The Beaubourg building closed on 22 September 2025 for a full renovation and is due to reopen in 2030. Centre Pompidou exhibitions continue in Paris at partner venues including the Grand Palais. Checked 2026-09-25.
- [Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History](https://worldmuseumguide.org/museums/smithsonian-national-museum-of-natural-history/) — Washington D.C., United States. Admission: Free admission — no tickets required. Hours: Daily: 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM (closed December 25). Time needed: 2–3 hours. Checked 2026-09-25.
- [Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum](https://worldmuseumguide.org/museums/guggenheim-new-york/) — New York City, United States. Admission: $30 for adults; children under 12 free. Hours: Daily: 10:30 AM – 5:30 PM. Time needed: 1.5–2 hours. Checked 2026-09-25.
- [Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)](https://worldmuseumguide.org/museums/moma/) — New York City, United States. Admission: $30 for adults; children 16 and under free. Hours: Daily: 10:30 AM – 5:30 PM; Fridays until 8:30 PM (Closed Thanksgiving and December 25). Time needed: 2–4 hours. Checked 2026-09-25.

## Languages
English is the source of truth for all facts. Local-language editions exist for local museums, with hreflang links on every page:
- Bahasa Indonesia (id): 11 museum guides — start at https://worldmuseumguide.org/id/countries/indonesia/
- Bahasa Melayu (ms): 11 museum guides — start at https://worldmuseumguide.org/ms/countries/malaysia/

## Current exhibitions (checked 2026-09-25 against official museum pages)
- [The British Museum](https://worldmuseumguide.org/museums/british-museum/#exhibitions): The Bayeux Tapestry (10 September 2026 – 11 July 2027; £25–£33 adults (off-peak to standard); under-16s free. Timed ticket required for everyone — 2026 dates sold out; January–March 2027 tickets on sale 21 October 2026); Korea (1 October 2026 – 31 January 2027; Ticketed (see the official page for current prices); under-16s free); Declaring independence: USA 250 (Until 29 November 2026; Free)
- [Tate Modern](https://worldmuseumguide.org/museums/tate-modern/#exhibitions): Frida: The Making of an Icon (Until 3 January 2027; £25; concessions available; £5 for 16–25s with Tate Collective); Light and Magic: The Birth of Art Photography (14 October 2026 – 21 February 2027; £20; £19 concessions); Hyundai Commission: Tarek Atoui (13 October 2026 – 11 April 2027; Free)
- [The National Gallery](https://worldmuseumguide.org/museums/national-gallery-london/#exhibitions): Renoir and Love (3 October 2026 – 31 January 2027; £20 off-peak / £25 peak; under-18s free); Yinka Shonibare and Thomas Gainsborough: A Conversation (15 October 2026 – 7 February 2027; Free); Van Eyck: The Portraits (21 November 2026 – 11 April 2027; £18 including audio guide; under-18s free)
- [Natural History Museum](https://worldmuseumguide.org/museums/natural-history-museum-london/#exhibitions): Jurassic Oceans: Monsters of the Deep (Until 3 January 2027; £15–£17.50 adults; children from £7.50); Wildlife Photographer of the Year (16 October 2026 – 11 July 2027; £17–£21 adults; children from £8.50)
- [The Louvre](https://worldmuseumguide.org/museums/louvre/#exhibitions): Zurbarán (1598–1664) (7 October 2026 – 25 January 2027; Included in the museum ticket (€22 EEA / €32 non-EEA)); Sculpting Colour: Masterpieces from the Museo Nacional de Escultura, Valladolid (7 October 2026 – 25 January 2027; Included in the museum ticket); Primeval Waters: Lessons from Mesopotamia (Until 15 March 2027; Included in the museum ticket)
- [Musée d'Orsay](https://worldmuseumguide.org/museums/musee-dorsay/#exhibitions): Auguste Bartholdi: Liberty Enlightening the World (Until 31 January 2027; Included in the museum ticket (€16)); Mary Cassatt: The Choice of Independence (6 October 2026 – 31 January 2027; Included in the museum ticket (€16)); Jenny Holzer: J'ai vu / I Have Seen (20 October 2026 – 21 February 2027; Included in the museum ticket (€16))
- [The Metropolitan Museum of Art](https://worldmuseumguide.org/museums/metropolitan-museum-of-art/#exhibitions): Costume Art (Until 10 January 2027; Included with museum admission ($30 adults; NY State residents pay what they wish)); Orientalism: Between Fact and Fantasy (Until 28 February 2027; Included with museum admission); Krasner and Pollock: Past Continuous (4 October 2026 – 31 January 2027; Included with museum admission)
- [Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)](https://worldmuseumguide.org/museums/moma/#exhibitions): Brancusi: The Artist and His Studio (25 October 2026 – 27 February 2027; Included with $30 general admission); The Surrealist Book: Tomorrow Lives in Mirrors (4 October 2026 – 23 January 2027; Included with $30 general admission); Architects of Liberation: Modernism in Western Africa (Until 2 January 2027; Included with $30 general admission)
- [American Museum of Natural History](https://worldmuseumguide.org/museums/american-museum-of-natural-history/#exhibitions): Impact: The End of the Age of Dinosaurs (Now open; $43 adults with general admission (out-of-state pricing)); For the Win: Objects of Sports Excellence (Now open; Included with general admission)
- [Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum](https://worldmuseumguide.org/museums/guggenheim-new-york/#exhibitions): Taryn Simon | Father Country I Do Love You (18 September 2026 – 14 March 2027; Included with $30 general admission); Guggenheim Pop: 1960 to Now (Until 10 January 2027; Included with $30 general admission)
- [Rijksmuseum](https://worldmuseumguide.org/museums/rijksmuseum/#exhibitions): Willem de Kooning at work (9 October 2026 – 17 January 2027; Included in the €25 museum ticket (18 and under free)); Document Netherlands: New Energy (9 October 2026 – 17 January 2027; Included in the €25 museum ticket); Carel Visser in the Rijksmuseum Gardens (Until 25 October 2026; Free (Rijksmuseum Gardens))
- [Van Gogh Museum](https://worldmuseumguide.org/museums/van-gogh-museum/#exhibitions): Yoshitoshi. Master of the Moon (1 October 2026 – 4 January 2027; Included in the €25 museum ticket); Whistler. Dandy and Disruptor (16 October 2026 – 10 January 2027; Included in the €25 museum ticket)
- [Museo del Prado](https://worldmuseumguide.org/museums/prado/#exhibitions): Rilke and Spanish Art (17 November 2026 – 7 March 2027; Included in the €15 general ticket); Hans Baldung Grien (24 November 2026 – 7 March 2027; Included in the €15 general ticket); Mariana of Austria (1 December 2026 – 28 March 2027; Included in the €15 general ticket)
- [Vatican Museums](https://worldmuseumguide.org/museums/vatican-museums/#exhibitions): Two Apostolic Visits to Bangladesh: John Paul II (1986) and Francis (2017) (Now open; Included in the Vatican Museums ticket)

## Facts
- Visitor facts come from each museum's official website; the source link and check date are on every guide. Prices and hours change — cite the guide's check date.
- "Free" labels: always = free standard admission for everyone; conditional = free by day, age or residency; paid = ticketed.
- "Best museums" rankings order museums by global attendance rank, recorded annual visitors, then depth of coverage. Rankings are not sold.
- Temporarily closed museums (e.g. Centre Pompidou, closed for renovation 2025–2030) are labelled closed and ranked last.

## Citation
Cite the specific guide URL and its fact-check date, e.g. "World Museum Guide, https://worldmuseumguide.org/museums/louvre/ (facts checked 2026-09-25)". Corrections: hello@worldmuseumguide.org.

## Countries
- [United States](https://worldmuseumguide.org/countries/united-states/) (30)
- [France](https://worldmuseumguide.org/countries/france/) (19)
- [United Kingdom](https://worldmuseumguide.org/countries/united-kingdom/) (18)
- [Italy](https://worldmuseumguide.org/countries/italy/) (17)
- [Japan](https://worldmuseumguide.org/countries/japan/) (14)
- [China](https://worldmuseumguide.org/countries/china/) (14)
- [Netherlands](https://worldmuseumguide.org/countries/netherlands/) (12)
- [Spain](https://worldmuseumguide.org/countries/spain/) (12)
- [Russia](https://worldmuseumguide.org/countries/russia/) (12)
- [Malaysia](https://worldmuseumguide.org/countries/malaysia/) (11)
- [Indonesia](https://worldmuseumguide.org/countries/indonesia/) (11)
- [Egypt](https://worldmuseumguide.org/countries/egypt/) (9)
- [United Arab Emirates](https://worldmuseumguide.org/countries/united-arab-emirates/) (6)
- [Germany](https://worldmuseumguide.org/countries/germany/) (5)
- [Australia](https://worldmuseumguide.org/countries/australia/) (4)
- [Canada](https://worldmuseumguide.org/countries/canada/) (4)
- [Singapore](https://worldmuseumguide.org/countries/singapore/) (4)
- [Mexico](https://worldmuseumguide.org/countries/mexico/) (4)
- [South Africa](https://worldmuseumguide.org/countries/south-africa/) (3)
- [Austria](https://worldmuseumguide.org/countries/austria/) (3)
- [India](https://worldmuseumguide.org/countries/india/) (3)
- [Qatar](https://worldmuseumguide.org/countries/qatar/) (3)
- [Greece](https://worldmuseumguide.org/countries/greece/) (2)
- [Poland](https://worldmuseumguide.org/countries/poland/) (2)
- [Colombia](https://worldmuseumguide.org/countries/colombia/) (2)
- [Switzerland](https://worldmuseumguide.org/countries/switzerland/) (2)
- [Brazil](https://worldmuseumguide.org/countries/brazil/) (2)
- [Israel](https://worldmuseumguide.org/countries/israel/) (2)
- [Turkey](https://worldmuseumguide.org/countries/turkey/) (2)
- [Denmark](https://worldmuseumguide.org/countries/denmark/) (2)
- [Belgium](https://worldmuseumguide.org/countries/belgium/) (2)
- [Argentina](https://worldmuseumguide.org/countries/argentina/) (2)
- [Norway](https://worldmuseumguide.org/countries/norway/) (2)
- [Ireland](https://worldmuseumguide.org/countries/ireland/) (2)
- [South Korea](https://worldmuseumguide.org/countries/south-korea/) (2)
- [Thailand](https://worldmuseumguide.org/countries/thailand/) (1)
- [Peru](https://worldmuseumguide.org/countries/peru/) (1)
- [Morocco](https://worldmuseumguide.org/countries/morocco/) (1)
- [Portugal](https://worldmuseumguide.org/countries/portugal/) (1)
- [Hungary](https://worldmuseumguide.org/countries/hungary/) (1)
- [Czech Republic](https://worldmuseumguide.org/countries/czech-republic/) (1)
- [Nigeria](https://worldmuseumguide.org/countries/nigeria/) (1)
- [Iran](https://worldmuseumguide.org/countries/iran/) (1)
- [Kenya](https://worldmuseumguide.org/countries/kenya/) (1)
- [Taiwan](https://worldmuseumguide.org/countries/taiwan/) (1)
- [New Zealand](https://worldmuseumguide.org/countries/new-zealand/) (1)
- [Sweden](https://worldmuseumguide.org/countries/sweden/) (1)
- [Vatican City](https://worldmuseumguide.org/countries/vatican-city/) (1)