240 museums across 48 countries
A curated directory of 240 prestigious museums across 48 countries. Search and filter by region.
World Museum Guide maintains independent visitor guides to 240 museums in 48 countries — each with verified admission prices, opening hours, must-see highlights, and getting-there directions. 76 are always free to enter. Browse below by name, city, or region, or start from the most visited museums on the homepage.
Showing 1–12 of 240 museums
Athens, Greece
The Acropolis Museum is an archaeological museum focused on the findings of the archaeological site of the Acropolis of Athens. The museum was built to house every artifact found on the rock and on its feet, from the Greek Bronze Age to Roman and Byzantine Greece.
Yasugi, Japan
Founded by businessman Zenko Adachi in 1970, the museum is built around six interconnected Japanese gardens that change with the seasons. Adachi believed the gardens themselves should be considered living scrolls.
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Al Shindagha is the historic district where the ruling Al Maktoum family settled in the nineteenth century. The museum opened in 2019 across more than twenty restored coral-and-gypsum houses along the creek.
Munich, Germany
The Alte Pinakothek is one of the world's oldest public art galleries, opened in 1836 by King Ludwig I of Bavaria to house the Wittelsbach dynasty's extraordinary painting collection. Designed by Leo von Klenze, its long neoclassical facade on Barer Strasse anchors Munich's Kunstareal — a museum quarter that also includes the Neue Pinakothek, the Pinakothek der Moderne, and the Brandhorst Museum.
New York City, United States
The American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) on Central Park West is one of the world's preeminent scientific and cultural institutions, founded in 1869 and now encompassing 25 interconnected buildings across four city blocks. Its collections exceed 34 million specimens and cultural artifacts — among the largest holdings of any natural history museum on Earth.
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Otto Frank, the only member of the Frank family to survive the Holocaust, opened the house as a museum in 1960. The original Secret Annex remains preserved behind the famous bookcase entrance.
Johannesburg, South Africa
The Apartheid Museum opened in 2001 on a seven-hectare site next to Gold Reef City in Johannesburg. It was the first museum in South Africa dedicated to documenting the apartheid era and the struggle for democracy — conceived before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission had completed its work.
Sydney, Australia
Australia's leading public art museum opened in 1871 in The Domain overlooking Sydney Harbour. A major expansion in 2022 added the SANAA-designed Sydney Modern building — a sunken, terraced structure connected to the original neoclassical gallery by an art garden.
Toronto, Canada
One of North America's largest art museums, redesigned by Frank Gehry — home to the world's largest collection of Henry Moore sculptures and the largest public collection of Canadian art.
Chicago, United States
The Art Institute of Chicago, founded in 1879, is one of the oldest and largest art museums in the United States. Recognized for its curatorial efforts and popularity among visitors, the museum hosts approximately 1.5 million people annually.
Singapore, Singapore
Designed by Moshe Safdie, the ArtScience Museum opened in 2011 as part of the Marina Bay Sands integrated resort. Its ten curving 'petals' channel rainwater into a central reflecting pool.
Singapore, Singapore
The Asian Civilisations Museum sits in the Empress Place Building, a 19th-century neoclassical landmark on the north bank of the Singapore River. Founded in 1997, it is the only museum in the region devoted to exploring the rich artistic heritage of Asia, especially the ancestral cultures of Singaporeans.