Museums all over the world inspire us with their collection of priceless masterpieces. From a painting by Monet to a bronze hippopotamus from ancient Egypt, they offer an awe-inspiring glimpse into the past and the present. With the rise of social media and online travel, museums are more popular than ever before, attracting millions of visitors each year.
While these grand structures showcase a city’s culture and history, it’s not just the art that keeps people coming back. The architecture and grounds are just as impressive, drawing travelers to the museum’s renowned collections and transcending exhibitions. In fact, according to Statista’s report on the most visited museums, many of them are as popular in 2020 as they were in 2019. Whether it’s because of their extensive collection or awe-inspiring architecture, the world’s top 20 museums continue to see record visitation numbers, with one even breaking the 100 million mark for the first time.
Known as the world’s most famous museum, The Louvre is home to a multitude of treasures and awe-inspiring exhibits. From Leonardo DaVinci’s Mona Lisa to the stunning Sistine Chapel, this museum is a must-visit for any art lover. The museum is split into several different wings, each displaying a range of art and history from various cultures and eras. The Louvre is also known for its vast collection of paintings, including works by masters such as Van Gogh and Picasso.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, or the Met, is the largest art museum in the United States and among the 10 largest in the world. Its unrivaled collection of more than two million pieces is sure to impress art lovers. This includes sculptures by the likes of Rodin and the Great Wave by Katsushika Hokusai, along with paintings from the Renaissance period such as Botticelli’s Birth of Venus. This museum is also well-known for its displays of ancient Egyptian art and the Rosetta Stone, which provided the key to deciphering hieroglyphs.
Established in 1759, the British Museum was created after physician Sir Hans Sloane sold his remarkable collection of relics to King George II. Since then, this museum has grown into one of the world’s greatest institutions, boasting 8 million artifacts. This collection covers all of the world’s history and culture, with highlights including the Elgin Marbles that once decorated the Parthenon in Athens and the Rosetta Stone, which provided a key to deciphering Egyptian hieroglyphs.
The National Museum of Modern Art, or the MoMA, is the most visited museum in the world dedicated to modern and contemporary art. Its massive collection of over a million pieces demonstrates the changing world through a variety of styles and periods.
It is known for its spectacular rotating exhibitions that bring in big crowds, as well as its fixed collection of iconic artworks by artists such as Monet and Picasso. Its reputation ranking within Asia, Europe and the Americas is a little lower than its global position, perhaps because it has a low familiarity rating.
