Top 10 Museum Bucket List

Whether you're a history buff, culture-vulture or simply love to explore, there is no better way to discover the history and cultural heritage of a destination than by visiting its finest museums.

From ancient archaeological artefacts to contemporary artworks and everything in between, here is our pick for the top 10 museums in the world!

The Louvre - Paris

With close to 10 million annual visitors The Louvre is the most visited museum on the planet and an absolute must-visit for anyone holidaying in the French Capital.

A paradise for culture-lovers, it is the largest art museum on the planet, and houses a truly incredible collection of sculptures, archaeological artefacts, artistic objects, drawings and paintings, including (most famously, Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa) whilst its unique architecture, is a truly impressive sight to behold!

Read more about the 'The Louvre - Paris' experience here: https://www.bookitlist.co/entries/go-to-the-louvre-museum

The Metropolitan Museum of Art - New York City

A must explore when visiting ‘The Big Apple’ New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art (more commonly known as ‘The Met’) is the largest art museum in all the United States and the fourth largest on the planet. Boasting over two million exhibits, encompassing everything from ancient Egyptian sphinxes and prehistoric artefacts to iconic paintings by the likes of Picasso, Matisse, and Van Gogh, Native American artworks and modernist sculptures, and is a true paradise for lovers of art!

Read more about the 'The Metropolitan Museum of Art - New York City' experience here: https://www.bookitlist.co/entries/visit-metropolitan-museum-of-art-new-york

The Rijksmuseum - Amsterdam

Despite its relatively small size, Holland boasts a rich artistic heritage to rival that of much larger nations, and The Rijksmuseum (the country’s national museum), is undoubtedly one of the finest on the planet.

A beautiful period building situated in the iconic Museumplein in the heart of Amsterdam, the museum is home to one million exhibits that span eight centuries and includes masterpieces from the likes of Rembrandt and Van Gogh, whilst it also houses a beautiful library featuring an extensive collection of historic books and manuscripts browse, and a Michelin-Starred restaurant!

Read more about the 'The Rijksmuseum - Amsterdam' experience here: https://www.bookitlist.co/entries/visit-rijksmuseum-amsterdam

The Vatican Museum - Rome

Situated in the heart of the Italian capital, Vatican City is the world’s smallest independent state and the home of the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church.

One of the oldest and most visited in the world, the Vatican Museum was founded in the 16th century by Pope Julius II, and comprises a complex of public galleries that feature an extensive collection of pieces, including masterpieces of antiquity (from Egypt to Greece to Rome) early Christian, medieval and Renaissance art, and contemporary works from the likes of Vincent Van Gogh, Henri Matisse, and Salvador Dalì!

Read more about the 'The Vatican Museum - Rome' experience here: https://www.bookitlist.co/entries/visit-the-vatican

The National Museum of Anthropology - Mexico City

One of the most interesting museums on earth and the largest in all of Latin America, Mexico City’s Museo Nacional de Antropología (National Museum of Anthropology) is dedicated to the country’s long and storied past.

Boasting 23 permanent exhibit halls, and a collection totalling some 7 million objects, the museum is best known for its extensive of ancient mesoamerican artefacts which include the legendary Aztec Sun Stone (also known as the Calendar Stone), and the feathered headdress of Aztec ruler Moctezuma II.

Read more about the 'The National Museum of Anthropology - Mexico City' experience here: https://www.bookitlist.co/entries/go-to-mexico

Tate Modern - London

Widely regarded as one of the finest on earth, Tate Modern (The UK’s national gallery of modern art) is truly magnificent, a cavernous former power station set on the banks of the River Thames, and home to a remarkable collection of works encompassing paintings, photographs, drawings, film, video, sculpture, installations and even performance.

A must-visit for lovers of art and culture, the museum permanent collection includes works from legendary names like Salvador Dali, Pablo Picasso and Andy Warhol, as well as a host of present-day practitioners, and they also host temporary exhibitions from world-renowned artists and a regular programme of live events, encompassing talks, workshops, DJ sets, screenings and more!

Read more about the 'Tate Modern - London' experience here: https://www.bookitlist.co/entries/visit-tate-modern

The Acropolis Museum - Athens

One of the most iconic landmarks on earth and an international symbol of Greece, Athen’s spectacular hilltop Acropolis dominates the cities skyline and stands as a testament to the fascinating history of this captivating nation.

An ancient citadel comprised of 4 separate temples, The Acropolis is truly magnificent and is a must-see when visiting the city, whilst its excellent museum was constructed in 2009 as a home for every single artefact found in the area and, features thousands of objects spanning the Greek Bronze Age, the Romans and Byzantine Greece.

Read more about the 'The Acropolis Museum - Athens' experiences here: https://www.bookitlist.co/entries/go-to-the-acropolis-museum

The Smithsonian - Washington DC

The largest museum, education, and research complex in the world, Washington DC’s Smithsonian Institute is made up of an incredible 20 different museums and galleries (which are estimated to house over 150 million exhibits) along with the National Zoo.

Highlights include the National Museum of Natural History, (the most visited natural history museum in the world) which houses millions of natural science specimens and cultural artefacts; The National Museum of American History and the National Air & Space Museum.

Read more about the 'The Smithsonian - Washington DC' experience here: https://www.instagram.com/p/BbkvGCigD0m/

The Palace Museum - Beijing

The centrepiece of the world-famous Forbidden City, the political and ritual centre of China during the Ming and Qing dynasties, Beijing’s Palace Museum is, without doubt, one of the most beautiful, and fascinating in the world.

Dating back to the early 15th century, the well-preserved palace buildings are striking examples of the iconic Chinese palatial architectural style, and house an incredible array of exhibits that total close to 2 million in number, and include ceramics, paintings, sculpture, jewellery and jade.

Read more about the 'The Palace Museum - Beijing' experience here: https://www.bookitlist.co/entries/go-to-beijing

The State Hermitage Museum - St. Petersburg

One of the world’s largest museums, The State Hermitage Museum is situated in Russia’s picturesque second city of St Petersburg and is dedicated to the country’s rich cultural and artistic heritage.

Founded in 1764 by empress Catherine II (more commonly known as Catherine the Great) to showcase her extensive private collection, today the magnificent Baroque palace houses around 3 million exhibits, including paintings, sculptures, graphic works and archaeological artefacts, from some of the most legendary artists in history.

Read more about the 'The State Hermitage Museum - St. Petersburg' experience here: https://www.bookitlist.co/entries/go-to-russia

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