There is no single objective “best” art museum: this selection, drawn from Travel + Leisure’s March 15, 2026 editorial roundup, spans encyclopedic collections, modern and contemporary art, distinctive displays, and museums where the setting is part of the visit. Use the guide below to match a museum to the art you want to see and the kind of day you want to have.
For a broad survey, start with The Met or the National Gallery of Art. For modern art, consider MoMA; for a distinctive presentation, look at The Barnes. The Getty Center and the National Gallery are practical options for visitors weighing cost, though Getty admission requires a timed-entry reservation.
How to choose among the ten
“Best” here means a set of editorial recommendations, not a scored national ranking. The museums differ in collection breadth, historical and cultural focus, presentation, location, and visitor setting. The descriptions below follow Travel + Leisure’s roundup; confirm current hours, admission rules, reservations, and exhibitions with the museum before visiting.
Ten standout art museums in the U.S.
1. The Metropolitan Museum of Art — New York City
Choose The Met for breadth across 5,000 years of art. Its Fifth Avenue building brings together major collections and settings, including the Temple of Dendur, American Wing period rooms, and European painting. The Met Cloisters, a separate site in Upper Manhattan, offers another way to explore the institution’s holdings and atmosphere.
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2. The Getty Center — Los Angeles
The Getty Center pairs European art from the Middle Ages through the early 20th century with modern architecture, gardens, and city views. Its Central Garden is part of the experience, not simply a route between galleries. Do not confuse it with the Getty Villa: the Villa focuses on Greek and Roman antiquities in a setting inspired by a Roman house. Getty admission is free, but visitors need a timed-entry reservation; check the official visitor information before setting out.
3. National Gallery of Art — Washington, D.C.
The National Gallery is a strong choice for a free museum visit with substantial range. Its West Building covers art from the 11th through the 20th century, while the East Building focuses on modern and contemporary art. The two buildings and sculpture garden make it easy to shape the visit around different periods and spaces. Admission is always free, and the Gallery lists daily hours of 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; verify hours around holidays or before travel.
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4. Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) — New York City
MoMA is the clearest fit for modern and contemporary work, with celebrated paintings by artists including Van Gogh, Picasso, Monet, and Warhol among its draws. Its galleries offer a focused alternative to a museum whose main appeal is a survey of many periods. MoMA’s visitor page lists current hours and says the museum is open daily except Thanksgiving and Christmas; galleries close about 15 minutes before the museum itself.
5. Art Institute of Chicago — Chicago
Visit for a broad collection and especially strong Impressionist and Post-Impressionist holdings. The Modern Wing adds a distinct architectural setting and makes the museum a useful choice for visitors who want to move between familiar European paintings and more recent art. Travel + Leisure reported nearly 300,000 works in its 2026 article; treat that as the roundup’s figure rather than a current collection-database count.
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6. Philadelphia Museum of Art — Philadelphia
This museum spans periods and cultures, with Impressionist works among its highlights. Its architectural features also reward a visit: the collection includes a reconstructed Japanese teahouse and a medieval cloister. The museum’s association with the Rocky films is a recognizable bit of Philadelphia context, but the art and spaces are the stronger reasons to go. Travel + Leisure reported more than 240,000 works in 2026.
7. Museum of Fine Arts, Boston — Boston
The MFA suits visitors looking for range across American paintings, ancient Egyptian objects, Asian art, and Impressionism. Those varied strengths make it a useful option when a group has different interests or when you want to move between cultures and periods in one museum. Travel + Leisure reported nearly 500,000 works in 2026.
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8. The Barnes — Philadelphia
The Barnes offers a different experience from a conventional chronological gallery. Albert Barnes arranged paintings in ensembles alongside African sculpture, metalwork, and Pennsylvania German furniture, so the relationships among objects are central to how visitors encounter the collection. Travel + Leisure’s 2026 article gives artist-specific counts of 181 Renoirs, 69 Cézannes, 59 Matisses, and 46 Picassos; these are figures reported by that article, not independently verified here.
9. Detroit Institute of Arts — Detroit
The DIA is particularly known for Diego Rivera’s Detroit Industry Murals, a major reason to make it a destination. Its broader collection is described as culturally and historically expansive, giving visitors more to explore than the celebrated mural cycle alone. Travel + Leisure reported more than 65,000 works in 2026.
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10. The Menil Collection — Houston
The Menil offers a collection that ranges from prehistoric art to the present, with works and artists named in the roundup including Matisse, Pollock, Picasso, Man Ray, and Marcel Duchamp. Travel + Leisure reported 25,000 works in 2026. It is a good fit for visitors seeking a distinctive collection rather than a single-period museum.
Quick Recap
Practical details to check before you go
- For free admission: The National Gallery of Art states that admission is always free. Getty admission is also free, but a timed-entry reservation is required.
- For art across many periods: The Met, the National Gallery of Art, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and the MFA Boston are described as broad-ranging choices, each with its own strengths.
- For modern and contemporary work: MoMA and the National Gallery’s East Building are the most directly relevant options in this selection.
- For architecture, gardens, or a distinctive display: Consider the Getty Center’s gardens and views, the Philadelphia Museum of Art’s architectural spaces, or the Barnes’s object ensembles.
- For current logistics: Use each museum’s official visitor page to check opening hours, closures, admission, reservation requirements, accessibility, and temporary exhibitions. Policies and exhibitions can change.
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