This article presents an overview of the 10 Most Visited Museums in the World. For a detailed look into the museums’ economy, museum visitors statistics, and more, read 25 Most Visited Museums in the World.
10. State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg
Total visitors in 2022: 2.81 million
The State Hermitage Museum is one of the world’s oldest museums, boasting a collection of over three million items spanning the globe and crossing centuries. These pieces are distributed among six historic buildings, the most prominent of which is the Winter Palace. Its collections embrace all aspects of world culture, with items ranging from prehistoric artifacts to post-Impressionist masterpieces.
9. Centre Pompidou, Paris
Total visitors in 2022: 3.0 million
Known for its radical, high-tech architectural design, the Centre Pompidou houses the National Museum of Modern Art, Europe’s largest modern art museum. With over 140,000 works from 20th- and 21st-century artists, it offers a comprehensive look into modern and contemporary creativity. Notable collections include works of iconic artists such as Picasso, Kandinsky, and Matisse.
8. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
Total visitors in 2022: 3.2 million
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, colloquially known as the Met, is among the largest art museums in the world. With a diverse collection spanning 5,000 years and featuring over two million works divided among seventeen curatorial departments, it offers an unparalleled journey through the world’s artistic heritage. It’s particularly famous for its comprehensive collection of American art and its encyclopedic collections of costumes, musical instruments, and antique weapons and armor from around the world.
7. National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC
Total visitors in 2022: 3.25 million
The National Gallery of Art serves as a monument to the power of visual arts, housing over 150,000 paintings, sculptures, decorative arts, photographs, prints, and drawings spanning the Middle Ages to the present. The museum showcases works of universal and enduring value, with pieces from iconic artists like Leonardo da Vinci, Johannes Vermeer, and Mark Rothko. In addition to its permanent collections, the museum annually organizes several exhibitions, and it offers more than 3,500 educational programs and events.
6. Musee d’Orsay, Paris
Total visitors in 2022: 3.27 million
The Musee d’Orsay showcases an exceptional collection of French art, including more than 2,000 paintings and 600 sculptures. Housed in a stunning Beaux-Arts building that was originally a railway station, the museum showcases an exceptional collection of French art from the mid-19th to early 20th centuries. Visitors can marvel at the masterpieces of renowned artists such as Monet, Renoir, Van Gogh, and Degas.
5. National Museum of Korea, Seoul
Total visitors in 2022: 3.41 million
The National Museum of Korea is a cultural treasure trove that chronicles the rich history and art of Korea from ancient times to the modern era. It boasts a vast collection, including precious archaeological objects like the Pensive Bodhisattva, elegant Goryeo celadon pottery, and Joseon dynasty calligraphy. It’s not just the extensive range of exhibits that captivates visitors, but also the museum’s commitment to educational programs and cultural events.
4. Tate Modern, London
Total visitors in 2022: 3.9 million
Housed in a former power station on the banks of the River Thames in London, Tate Modern is a groundbreaking modern art museum. As one of the largest museums of modern and contemporary art in the world, it presents works from international artists spanning from 1900 to the present day. The museum’s collection includes pieces by renowned artists such as Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dalí, and Andy Warhol.
3. British Museum, London
Total visitors in 2022: 4.097 million
One of the world’s oldest museums, the British Museum is renowned for its vast collection of world art and artifacts, dedicated to human history, art, and culture. The museum’s collection, encompassing over two million years of history, includes world-famous objects such as the Rosetta Stone, the Elgin Marbles, and the Egyptian mummies. The museum is designed around the grand Great Court, the largest covered public square in Europe.
2. Vatican Museums, Vatican City
Total visitors in 2022: 5.08 million
One of the world’s most famous museums, the Vatican Museums are a conglomerate of art museums that house an immense collection of artworks and historical pieces acquired by the Roman Catholic Church over centuries. Comprising 54 galleries and housing around 70,000 works, the collection includes renowned Roman sculptures, important masterpieces of Renaissance art, and artifacts from ancient Egypt and Etruria. One of the most visited sites within the Vatican Museums is the Sistine Chapel, home to Michelangelo’s iconic frescoes.
1. The Louvre Museum, Paris
Total visitors in 2022: 7.72 million
Located in the heart of Paris, the Louvre Museum is the world’s largest and busiest museum which attracts more than 70,00000 visitors. Originally a royal palace, the Louvre showcases an extensive collection spanning several centuries and cultures, housing about 380,000 objects and displaying around 35,000 works of art. This includes renowned pieces such as the “Mona Lisa” and the “Venus de Milo.” Its distinctive glass pyramid entrance, designed by architect Leoh Ming Pei, is an iconic symbol of the Louvre.
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