The 15 Best Natural History Museum Tours Around the World

1.American Museum of Natural History Ticket

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

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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2.Natural History Museum Entrance Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 3,382 reviews · 30 minutes - 1 hour · from $12

Visit Berlin’s Museum für Naturkunde to see Giraffatitan, one of the world’s tallest mounted dinosaur skeletons, the rare Archaeopteryx, T. rex Tristan Otto, and a million animals preserved in alcohol. Your ticket includes cloakroom access and downloadable audio content in 10 languages.

“Amazing exhibits and whole organization of the museum. NOTE you should bring your phone and headphones for great masę audioguide via website (free wifi avaliable)”

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3.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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4.Field Museum of Natural History Ticket or VIP Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 717 reviews · 1 day · from $29

Spend a full day at Chicago’s Field Museum with general admission, added exhibitions, or an early VIP dinosaur tour. Meet Sue, Maximo, and the Lions of Tsavo, then explore ancient Egypt, the Americas, gems, jade, and underground life. The VIP option includes a docent-led hour for up to 20 people.

“The Field Museum was definitely exciting and fun. It was pretty cool seeing dinosaurs up close and learning about different cultures as well as animals. The weekends get pretty crowded with families in attendance. I would recommend visiting during the week for a quieter visit.”

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5.Field Museum of Natural History Admission Tickets

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 489 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $29

Spend about four hours at Chicago’s Field Museum on Museum Campus. See SUE, the most complete T. Rex skeleton found, 23 Egyptian mummies, dinosaur fossils, ancient American artifacts, Chinese jade, and special exhibits. Free docent tours are included, while 3D films cost extra.

“Wear walking shoes Gift shop wasn’t as great as some I’ve been to Restrooms well located Food was so so”

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6.Natural History Museum of LA Entry Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 457 reviews · 1 day · from $18

Spend a full day exploring LA’s Natural History Museum, from 300 real dinosaur fossils and the world’s only T. rex growth series to gems, mammals, LA history, and Nature Gardens. General admission covers permanent exhibits, with a separate option for rotating special exhibitions.

“Incredible scenery and educational. Good for dates, family and friends.”

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7.Smithsonian Museum of Natural History – Exclusive Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 446 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $89Top rated

See the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History with a private guide in about two hours. Expect major displays such as the Hope Diamond, Egyptian mummies, dinosaurs, Henry the elephant, and Phoenix the 45-ton whale replica, with morning and afternoon departures.

“My friend and I had our own private tour Amanda, the tour guide was very informative and we enjoyed the time spent with her seeing the Capital the Library of Congress”

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8.Natural History Museum Entry Ticket and Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.8 · 212 reviews · 1 hour · from $76

Join an English-speaking guide, often Paul, for a one-hour tour of London’s Natural History Museum. See the Diplodocus, 82-foot blue whale, dinosaur skeletons, gems, fossils, and key galleries, with an entry ticket, headset, and express security access included.

“A guided tour let’s you fast track entering without queuing. Loved the background infos on the items in the museum. Defiantly better with older children - not recommendable with toddlers”

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9.Natural History Museum Guided Tour w/ Priority Entry

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 202 reviews · 1h 30m · from $33

Meet your English-speaking guide near South Kensington and enter the Natural History Museum with priority access. In 90 minutes, see the blue whale, dinosaurs, human evolution, geology, volcanoes, gemstones, and the Darwin Centre. Guides including Strabo and Mr. Newman bring clear explanations and humor.

“The guide is a really sweet young man. Told us some interesting facts about the museum and its pieces. Recomend.”

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10.Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 159 reviews · 2 hours · from $75

Explore the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History with an English-speaking guide for two hours. Guides such as Nur, DC, and Maurice lead you to major dinosaur, gemstone, mummy, and human-history displays while adding context and Washington background. Museum entry is included, though admission itself is free.

“loved the tour person he did a great job explaining to us has alot of knowledge”

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11.Natural History Museum Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 87 reviews · 2.5 hours · from $112

Spend 2.5 hours with an English-speaking art historian guide exploring the Natural History Museum's greatest sights, including Iguanodon teeth, Sophie the Stegosaurus, a Dodo skeleton, Pompeii casts, the Cursed Amethyst, and a first edition of Darwin's On the Origin of Species. Choose a private tour or group of up to eight.

“Overall great focus on the key highlights. Pleasant discussion. Right no of group attendees.”

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12.Natural History Museum Express Tour & Audio App

★★★★★★★★★★3.6 · 60 reviews · 3 hours · from $10Best value

Meet your English-speaking guide at Exhibition Road Courtyard for a short look at the museum exterior and Evolution Garden. Then use your phone and headphones to explore the Natural History Museum independently, with audio commentary on the blue whale, T. rex, triceratops, and more.

“Nao teve tour… fomos sozinhos pelo museu… nao qcho que vale o custo”

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13.Natural History Museum Private Tour & Skip the line

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 42 reviews · 2 hours

Spend two hours with a private English or Italian guide, such as Damiano or Stefania, at London’s Natural History Museum. See dinosaurs, Hope the blue whale, Sophie the stegosaurus, fossils, volcanoes, and interactive science exhibits without following a large group.

“Our first time using a guide for a tour so didn’t really know whet to expect. Had a brilliant time at the NHM. Our guide, Damiano, was fantastic. Took our ten year old son for the tour and Damiano was great within him. Knew exactly what highlights of the museum to see, where to stand, and was very informative. Teddy really enjoyed his day. Really good tour and glad we decided to try it.”

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14.Smithsonian Natural History Museum Tour Semi-Private 8ppl

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 34 reviews · 2h 30m · from $95

Spend 2.5 hours with an English-speaking guide at the Smithsonian Natural History Museum. In a group of no more than eight, see the Hope Diamond, Dom Pedro Aquamarine, mummies, Phoenix the whale, fossils, ocean life, and giant animals, with time for your own questions.

“Our family enjoyed this tour. Tony was a great guide. We saw everything we wanted to see and learned a lot. Tony was very responsive to questions and gave us suggestions on what to see around DC. Highly recommend.”

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15.San Diego: San Diego Natural History Museum Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 33 reviews · from $12

Spend a full day at San Diego Natural History Museum in Balboa Park. See dinosaurs, mastodons, Baja wildlife, live scorpions, citizen-science displays, and daily films such as T. REX and Wild San Diego. Admission also includes the giant-screen theater, four floors of exhibits, and the Foucault pendulum.

“Very good I enjoy how it’s helping animals around the world while still informing the general public about what they’re doing”

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