An annual report based on data from the most popular museums and theme parks around the world just came out on August 8, with 82 pages of highly detailed data about where travelers are spending their time. And while the world’s most popular theme parks are generally what you’d expect (Disney parks in Florida, California, Japan, and Shanghai), what’s more interesting are the world’s most popular museums.
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New Global Data Shows 10 Most Popular Museums in the World
In the US, the number of visits to the museums in the top 20 grew by more than 33 percent between 2022 and 2023. The report credits this leap in museum attendance to two things: China opening and expanding several museums (all of which have free admission), and many museums in the US undergoing grand-scale, high-tech renovations to be more engaging and interactive. However, attendance levels in the US are still under 2019 (pre-pandemic) levels, likely because more Americans are traveling abroad, and fewer foreign tourists are coming to the states than in past years. If that trend continues for 2024, it may be a good year to do some local sightseeing before international travelers start returning in spades.
It’s no secret that some of the most popular museums in the world can get extremely crowded. Photo: Bumble Dee/Shutterstock
Only two of the 10 most popular museums in the world are in the US, and while there are a few well-known favorites, there are also some unexpected destinations museum-lovers may want to consider adding to their travel bucket lists.
The world’s most popular museums in 2023
No. 1: The Louvre (Paris, France)
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The Louvre is possibly the most famous museum in the world, but now, we know it’s factually the busiest, too. The Louvre had 8,860,000 visits in 2023, which was a 14 percent jump over 2022. That’s probably because the Louvre is more than just a museum; it’s a historical journey and icon of Europe. Its collection spans millennia, from ancient Egyptian artifacts to Renaissance masterpieces. Beyond the iconic Mona Lisa, the museum’s 8 million square feet of exhibit space show the intricate details of Greek sculptures, the grandeur of French royal apartments, and the exotic allure of Islamic art. But if you don’t want to fight the crowds, you’re in luck. It’s Paris, so there are plenty of other fantastic museums nearby.
Don’t miss: “The Mona Lisa” by da Vinci, the Winged Victory (artist unknown), and “The Coronation of Napoleon” by Jacques-Louis David
No 2: The Vatican Museum (Vatican, Vatican City)
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Though it’s often associated with Italy, Vatican City is actually its own country — the tiniest country in the world, in fact, at less than one-fifth of a square mile. However, it probably has the most valuable art per square inch of any other country in the world, considering it’s home to the Vatican Museum. That translates to about nine miles of galleries, and though there are only about 20,000 pieces on display (only!), the museum has about 70,000 total pieces. The Sistine Chapel, with Michelangelo’s iconic ceiling, is undoubtedly the star attraction, but considering how many priceless cultural cornerstones are in the museum, you’ll want to leave time to linger in every gallery.
Plan to spend at least a day there, especially since the Vatican Museum saw 6,765,000 visitors in 2023. So patience will go a long way. If you don’t do well in crowds, you may want to check out one of the other amazing museums in Rome — the Vatican Museum’s hallways get quite packed.
Don’t miss: The Sistine Chapel by Michaelangelo, “The School of Athens” by Raphael, and “The Entombment of Christ” by Caravaggio.
No. 3: The National Museum of China (Beijing, China)
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The National Museum of China is a colossal institution, with a treasure trove of artifacts ranging from ancient bronze vessels to intricate jade carvings, centuries-old porcelain, and modern art. It’s the third-largest museum in the world by square footage, just after the Louvre and the British Museum. It’s heavier on archaeology and artifacts than it is on art, though with 40 galleries, there are few types of historical and artistic relics not represented within. Better still, it’s totally free to enter the museum — though that could be part of the reason it was the third-busiest museum in the world, with 6,757,000 visitors in 2023 (a 30 percent increase over 2022).
Don’t miss: The Jade Dragon from the Hongshan culture (artist unknown), the Four Goat Square Zun from the Shang Dynasty, and the “Gold Thread and Jade Garment” from around 55 BCE.
No. 4: The British Museum (London, UK)
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The massive halls of the British Museum house a collection that represents not just England or Europe, but the whole world, from the dawn of known human culture. Its collection is one of the widest-ranging in the world, represent art, culture, and history, from the intricacies of Assyrian reliefs to the delicate artistry of Japanese prints. Architecturally, it’s almost as recognizable as the Louvre, represented by a columned Greek Revival-style building constructed in the 1800s to house the collection. Today, it’s the second-most popular attraction in London just after the Tower of London, and is totally free to visit, though you’ll want to book your ticket in advance. And don’t expect too much room to yourself — the British Museum saw 5,821,000 visitors in 2023.
Don’t miss: The Rosetta Stone, Bust of Ramesses the Great, and the highly contested Elgin Marbles (all artist unknown).
No. 5: The Natural History Museum (London, UK)
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If you’re less into human-made objects and more into “Jurassic Park,” head to London’s Natural History Museum. It’s renowned for its iconic dinosaur exhibits, including the towering Diplodocus cast, and the fossils of the world’s largest-ever dinosaur: titanosaur, measuring in at 121 feet from tail to nose. You’ll probably also recognize the giant blue whale skeleton hanging from the ceiling of Hintze Hall. If you’re at all interested in earth history, from volcanoes and extinct species to the Big Bang and rare gemstones, you’ll definitely want to visit the Natural History Museum — just like 5,689,000 other people did in 2023. It’s one of the biggest and best of its kind in the world.
Don’t miss: A first-edition copy of “On the Origin of Species” by Charles Darwin, a moon rock from Apollo 17, a Barbary lion skull unearthed from the Tower of London.
The remaining top 10 most popular museums in the world include:
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- No. 6 – The Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York, NY): 5,364,000 visitors
- No. 7 – China Science Technology Museum (Shanghai, China): 5,315,000 visitors
- No. 8 – Nanjing Museum (Nanjing, China): 5,007,000 visitors
- No. 9 – American Museum of Natural History (New York, NY): 5,000,000 visitors
- No. 10 – Suzhou Museum (Suzhou, China): 4,852,000 visitors
The top 10 most popular museums in North America
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The Global Attractions Attendance Reports also breaks down the most popular museums on each continent. In North America, all 20 are in the United States. And it’s clear that one city has the lock on the most popular museums in the US — probably because most of its museums are free.
Seven of the 20 most popular museums in North America are in DC, all of which are part of the taxpayer-funded (a.k.a. free) Smithsonian Institution. That includes the National Museum of Natural History (#3), the National Gallery of Art (#4), the National Museum of American History (#7), the National Air and Space Museum (#8), the National Museum of African-American History and Culture (#11), the Smithsonian American Art Gallery (#13, also known as the Renwick), and the National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center (#20, outside of DC in Chantilly, VA).
However, the top two most popular museums in the world on the North American side are in the Big Apple. New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art and American Museum of Natural History took the one and two spots, at 5,365,000 and 5,000,000 visits, respectively. The rest of the list was:
- No. 3 – The National Museum of Natural History (Washington, DC): 4,400,000 visitors
- No. 4 – The National Gallery of Art (Washington, DC): 3,830,000 visitors
- No. 5 – The NYC Museum of Modern Art (New York, NY): 2,840,000 visitors
- No. 6 – The National 9/11 Museum (New York, NY): 2,265,000 visitors
- No. 7 – The National Museum of American History (Washington, DC): 2,100,000 visitors
- No. 8 – The National Air and Space Museum (Washington, DC): 1,900,000 visitors
- No. 9 – The Houston Museum of Natural Science (Houston, TX): 1,800,000 visitors
- No. 10 – The California Science Center (Los Angeles, CA) 1,700,000 visitors
You can see the full list of the most popular museums around the world, as well as the most popular theme parks around the world, on the Themed Entertainment Association website, as well as reports going back to 2006. 