Top Rated Attractions in New York

With a permanent collection numbering over two million individual works of art, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, or simply the Met, is not only a New York City landmark, it is the United States' largest art museum and the fifth-most visited museum of any kind in the world. Designed by Richard Morris Hunt, the museum encompasses more than 1.5 million square feet (139,355 square meters) of exhibition space. European paintings on display include those by world-renown masters like Monet, Degas, Van Gogh, Cézanne, Titian, and Vermeer. The vast collection has been split between several galleries, arranged by geographic origin and other thematic schemes. The Egyptian art gallery is especially enticing, as are the Met's repositories of Asian, African and Medieval art. Others include Islamic, Roman, and Greek art, the Arms and Armory section, the Costume Institute, and European Decorative arts. When weather permits, contemporary sculptures are displayed at the open-air roof garden. Apart from being a treasure trove for art lovers, The Metropolitan Museum of Art offers a fun-filled and educational experience for all ages.

This powerhouse in the modern art world doubles as one of the best-known museums on the globe. Its galleries burst with intriguing exhibits showcasing mediums ranging from painting and drawing to print and illustration. Photography fans will also find a lot to love at the MoMA (Museum of Modern Art). Classic artworks closely associated with the museum include Andy Warhol's Marilyn Monroe and Pablo Picasso's Les Demoiselles d'Avignon. Should your appetite for food begin to compete with your appetite for art, there is a charming restaurant on site, as well as a gift shop to browse on your way out.

The American Museum of Natural History is a popular attraction and one of the largest natural history museums in the world. The museum houses a vast collection of artifacts, displays and exhibits, all geared to reveal secrets of the beautiful natural world. The visit begins with skeletons and live-size replicas of elephants, dinosaurs and other extinct creatures, which welcome you as you enter the main hall. Other points of interest include the Hall of Human Biology and Evolution, the Hall of Meteorites, a vast collection of gemstones, an IMAX theater and the Rose Center for Earth and Space planetarium shows (at extra cost), as well as a research library. The museum offers a number of specially customized public and group tours as well as educational programs and trips, enabling visitors to explore the exhibits in detail. Please note, there are separate entry fees for certain exhibitions and programs, the IMAX theater and shows at the Rose Center for Earth and Space. Please check the website for more details.

Designed by celebrated architect Frank Lloyd Wright, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum is admired for its unique architecture as much as it is for its globe-spanning art collection. The modern structure with its rotunda shape beautifully punctuates the concrete jungle of the Big Apple. It houses a comprehensive selection belonging to numerous collectors, curators and art aficionados from across the world. Visit thought-provoking exhibitions of modern and contemporary art as well as a host of cultural events and presentations. Some of the most attractive displays are Picasso's monochromatic work and Thannhauser's still life.

The Cloisters is the medieval outpost of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Overlooking the Hudson River, it is a deeply relaxing and spiritual place. The interlocking cloisters are faithful reconstructions of five French monasteries. They were erected between 1934 and 1938 on a site offered by John D. Rockefeller Jr. The museum here is devoted to medieval architecture and European art. The gardens are as beautiful as the chapels and cloisters.

Located in the Corona neighborhood of Queens, this national and city landmark was the home of New Orleans jazz icon Louis Armstrong during the latter half of his life. Today, the house also operates as a museum, where much of the house and its furnishings remain just the way Armstrong and his wife, Lucille, left it. The museum is shown only through guided tours, which last 40 minutes and begin every hour. The tour takes visitors through the house, while also playing audio clips from Armstrong's life, such as him practicing his trumpet or eating a meal, among other things. After the 40-minute tour, visitors are welcome to explore the exhibit area and a Japanese garden.