The 15 Best Museum Tours in New York City

1.Empire State Building Tickets – Observatory & Museum

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 25,757 reviews · 45 minutes - 2 hours · from $47Our pick

Visit the Empire State Building’s 86th-floor observatory, explore its museum and Art Deco spaces, and add the 102nd floor for wider views. Choose a standard or Express ticket, plan for airport-style security, and allow 45 minutes to 2 hours.

“it was a nice experience, i find it very worthy but i went at night so i had amazing pictures but i would love to go in daytime as well to see the view there. but overall it was a very pleasant experience”

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2.American Museum of Natural History Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 15,447 reviews · 1 day · from $37

Explore more than 40 permanent halls, the Rose Center, and the new Gilder Center at your own pace. Add one or more timed special exhibits, such as Impact, the butterfly vivarium, a space show, or a giant-screen film. The Explorer app helps you find your way.

“Overwhelming exiting day! Price paid, only allowed access to one themed entry, which was disappointing. Fantastic day out just a great learning experience 😀”

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3.Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) Entry Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 12,540 reviews · 1 day · from $30Best value

Enter MoMA at 11 West 53rd Street with a barcoded voucher and explore six floors of modern and contemporary art. See Van Gogh, Monet, Picasso, Matisse, Warhol, and Pollock, then use the free multilingual audio guide, film screenings, art labs, and included MoMA PS1 access.

“Finally got to see, Starry Night. Traveled to Amsterdam to see this painting-was in NYC all along. So many thought provoking pieces of art.”

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4.9/11 Memorial, Ground Zero Tour with Optional 9/11 Museum Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 6,381 reviews · 2 to 4 hours (approx.) · from $39Top rated

Meet outside the Oculus for a small-group walk with guides such as Sean, Paul, Amy, and James. Visit St. Paul’s Chapel, the FDNY Memorial Wall, Ten House, and the memorial pools. Add a timed museum ticket or one-hour VIP museum tour.

“The tour description did not say the museum was CLOSED on Tuesdays! I get it said walking tour only - however in my mind it includes the museum. I can do a “walking” tour only my own…right? Ridiculous to not see the museum!! I feel it was Not explained well. I’m very disappointed in how this was portrayed and how it worked out. I mean $79 for what?? Doesn’t even include the museum!”

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5.9/11 Memorial Museum Admission Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 6,376 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $36

Use a timed mobile ticket to enter the 9/11 Memorial Museum beneath the memorial pools. Explore artifacts, first-person accounts, multimedia displays, and memorial exhibits at your own pace. Plan at least two hours, and expect a serious, emotional visit rather than a quick sightseeing stop.

“This was an unforgettable experience in many ways. The view from the boat was extraordinary and kept everyone out of the winter cold. We saw many iconic buildings and the December tour was given by Santa Claus, nice touch! The tour added to everyone's experience. Additionally, I got the upgraded package, and it included a beautiful souvenir book with pictures to guide and memorialize the trip. I had access to a less crowded seating area with the best view, and a private deck at the front of the boat. It was freezing cold and windy, so that was the best way to get incredible pictures but not be waiting in…”

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6.All-Access 9/11: Ground Zero Tour, Memorial and Museum, One World Observatory

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4,886 reviews · 2 to 5 hours (approx.) · from $109

Walk Ground Zero with guides such as Rob, Megan, James, or Tony, hear personal 9/11 stories, then enter the museum and One World Observatory. Choose a self-guided museum visit or a one-hour VIP tour. Plan for outdoor walking, security lines, and several hours on site.

“Emphasize that tour is conducted almost entirely outside. Also, mention that group is led by a single tour guide.”

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7.Intrepid Museum Entry Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 4,687 reviews · 1 day · from $38

Walk four decks of the USS Intrepid, inspect historic aircraft on the flight deck, see Enterprise in the Space Shuttle Pavilion, and visit the Cold War-era Growler submarine. Allow at least 2 to 3 hours, or most of a day if you want time for every exhibit.

“Was good to see the changes over the life of the ship. Access to the engine room and lower decks would be interesting as I expected to see these areas and was disappointed”

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8.Museum of Ice Cream Entry Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 2,619 reviews · 1h 30m · from $40

Enter the Museum of Ice Cream on Broadway for a 90-minute, self-guided trip through playful rooms, ice cream tastings, a pink subway, a three-story slide, and a giant sprinkle pool. It suits families, couples, and anyone who enjoys colorful photo spots and hands-on fun.

“It was so much fun! The ice cream was delish. 2 nd time there and had an even better experience this time.”

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9.Guggenheim Museum Entry Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 2,201 reviews · 1 day · from $30

Visit the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum on Fifth Avenue with access to every open exhibition, the Thannhauser Collection, and a downloadable audio guide in 11 languages. Take your time with Picasso, Monet, van Gogh, and changing contemporary art inside Frank Lloyd Wright’s famous spiral building.

“Great set up, the plants in the spiral looked great. Improvement would be a better audio guide as it was difficult to navigate, we have been to the national gallery in London where the guide takes you around each exhibit individually which was better than this one which gave more general information.”

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10.American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 1,931 reviews · 3 to 4 hours (approx.) · from $37

Visit more than 40 permanent galleries at New York’s American Museum of Natural History, including the dinosaur halls, Akeley Hall, Rose Center, Gilder Center, and the giant blue whale. Plan for three to four hours, and note that special exhibits and planetarium shows cost extra.

“This wasted so much of our time, especially with a one and three year old. If you buy from Expedia, Viator or anywhere EXCEPT directly from the museum—you have to wait in line to get your actual ticket. It took over an hour just to do this. Anyone who hadn’t purchased a ticket got theirs directly thru the museum in 10 min or less.”

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11.Ground Zero 9/11 Memorial Tour & Optional 9/11 Museum Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,584 reviews · 90 - 210 minutes · from $39

Meet your English-speaking guide at the Oculus for a 90-minute Ground Zero walk covering St. Paul’s Chapel, the Memorial pools, Survivor Tree, and stories of 9/11. Add a self-guided museum ticket or VIP museum tour. Guides such as Ray, Russell, Sean, and James bring local experience to the history.

“James was excellent just felt the group was too big.”

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12.Whitney Museum of American Art Admission Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 1,579 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $30

Visit Renzo Piano’s Whitney Museum in the Meatpacking District with a mobile ticket and access to permanent displays, temporary shows, and the 2024 Biennial. Explore at your own pace, join a free daily tour, and save time for the outdoor terraces overlooking the High Line and Hudson River.

“We were sold a 5 o’clock ticket at $25. Each for a special exhibit in a museum that closed at 6. Too crowded to see the entire show let alone anything else in the museum including the shop. In addition, the artist’s most beloved piece was not included. Very disappointed in theWhitney.”

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13.Museum of Ice Cream New York City Admission Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 1,154 reviews · 1 to 2 hours (approx.) · from $49

Spend about one to two hours at New York’s Museum of Ice Cream, moving through 12 colorful, multisensory rooms with games, edible slime crafts, historic ice cream displays, and several ice cream stations. Children two and under enter free, and anyone under 16 must attend with an adult.

“Unlimited ice cream. My nephew enjoyed all the kids activities. I think this might be very boring as a date, just take your kids”

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14.Intrepid Museum Admission Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,027 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $38

Walk through the USS Intrepid, see Space Shuttle Enterprise, and enter the USS Growler submarine at your own pace. Films and hands-on exhibits add context, while the flight deck offers city and Hudson River views. Allow 3 hours if you want more than a quick visit.

“Waited a few years to do this so really glad I have been now and definitely worth the wait. An amazing experience all round and very informative and interesting.”

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15.Metropolitan Museum Guided Group Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,013 reviews · 2 to 3 hours (approx.) · from $65

Follow an English-speaking guide through the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s major galleries, from the Temple of Dendur and Greek sculpture to Sargent’s Madame X. Choose a 2 or 3-hour route, with guides such as Rob, Katie, Stephan, and Jett bringing art and history to life for groups of up to 18.

“Katy was an incredible host full of stories, kindness and gifts… we saw so much and she was very patient with us all. I highly recommend this tour which gives you a decent insight in key parts. Away from this, the place is massive and you need at least a full day or two to explore.”

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