10 most visited museums in the world worth travelling for
Discover the 10 most visited museums in the world in 2024, from the Louvre in Paris to the Met in New York. Explore where history, art, and culture converge—perfect additions to your 2025 travel plans.
Museums may often appear as quiet corners on a fast-paced travel itinerary—but within their walls, centuries unfold. They offer more than curated galleries; they offer insight into how civilizations dreamed, fought, built, adorned, and endured. These are not merely halls of history; they are spaces where culture speaks back, where interpretation matters, and where each visitor becomes a participant in an ongoing story. In 2024, ten museums stood apart—drawing millions not only for their masterworks but for their ability to evolve with the times. As recorded by The Art Newspaper, these institutions were the most visited globally, and each one warrants a place on any traveller’s list in 2025. (Image: Canva)
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1. Musée du Louvre, Paris 2024 visitors: 8,737,050 The Louvre continues to reign as the most visited museum on the planet—and it’s not difficult to understand why. Located on the banks of the Seine in a former royal palace, it is home to an unparalleled collection that includes the Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo, and the Winged Victory of Samothrace. But the museum’s draw extends beyond its classics. With every visit, the Louvre invites you to uncover new narratives, framed through centuries of global creativity. (Image: Canva)
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2. Vatican Museums, Vatican City 2024 visitors: 6,825,436 No visit to Rome—or faith-driven journey—is complete without stepping into the Vatican Museums. Beyond its spiritual gravity, this collection of galleries and corridors houses some of the greatest artistic achievements of Western civilisation. From Raphael’s frescoes to the Sistine Chapel ceiling painted by Michelangelo, the museums offer an overwhelming yet awe-inspiring experience. In 2024, it remained a magnet for pilgrims and art enthusiasts alike. (Image: Canva)
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3. British Museum, London 2024 visitors: 6,479,952 Free to enter and vast in scope, the British Museum welcomes millions into a world of global history. From the Rosetta Stone to Assyrian sculptures and Anglo-Saxon treasures, its artefacts speak across time and empire. Located in central London, it’s a museum that has mastered the balance between accessibility and depth—whether you're passing through for an hour or staying the day. (Image: Canva)
4. The Metropolitan Museum of Art (Fifth Avenue), New York 2024 visitors: 5,727,258 The Met on Fifth Avenue is not so much a museum as a microcosm of world culture. With galleries spanning from ancient Egypt to modern America, it invites its visitors into immersive time-travel through objects, textiles, paintings, and sculpture. From the marble steps of its neoclassical façade to the silent drama of a Vermeer painting, every corner of The Met holds a moment of pause—and reflection. (Image: Canva)
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5. Tate Modern, London 2024 visitors: 4,603,025 Standing firm along the Thames in what was once a power station, Tate Modern delivers a different kind of cultural current—one that challenges, provokes, and redefines. With artists like Rothko, Bourgeois, and Ai Weiwei taking centre stage, the museum leads visitors through the turbulent energy of modern and contemporary art. In 2024, its sharp programming and free admission continued to draw record-breaking crowds. (Image: Canva)
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6. Shanghai Museum East, China Visitors in 2024: 4,234,046 A rising star in global museum culture, Shanghai Museum East blends ancient Chinese heritage with a sleek, modern presentation. Its collections span ceramics, calligraphy, bronzes, and ethnography—offering both national pride and international appeal in equal measure. (Image: Canva)
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7. National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C., USA Visitors in 2024: 3,936,543 Set along the National Mall, this museum balances European masters with American icons. Works by da Vinci, Rembrandt, O’Keeffe, and Hopper share space in beautifully lit halls that feel contemplative rather than overwhelming. (Image: Canva)
8. National Museum of Korea, Seoul Visitors in 2024: 3,788,785 With elegant architecture and spacious galleries, this museum presents Korea’s dynastic history, Buddhist art, and archaeological treasures with clarity and reverence. Its growing popularity reflects Seoul’s rising status as a cultural capital. (Image: Canva)
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9. Musée d'Orsay, Paris Visitors in 2024: 3,751,141 Housed in a Beaux-Arts railway station, the Musée d’Orsay celebrates 19th-century innovation—from Impressionism to Art Nouveau. Monet, Degas, Van Gogh, and more are presented with warmth and intimacy, making it a Parisian favourite that rivals even the Louvre. (Image: Canva)
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10. Museo Nacional de Antropología, Mexico City Visitors in 2024: 3,700,000 A monumental space dedicated to Mexico’s rich pre-Columbian and Indigenous cultures, this museum is both a historical epic and a present-day reckoning. Highlights include the Aztec Sun Stone, Mayan stelae, and intricate goldwork—told through a curatorial lens that centres indigenous voices. (Image: Wikipedia)
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To walk through these museums is to cross continents without leaving a single city. They are not simply about preservation—they are about dialogue, evolution, and perspective. In 2025, if your travels aim for more than souvenirs, let these museums be your compass. Their stories wait not just to be seen, but understood. (Image: Canva)
Priyanka Roshan With over eight years in multimedia journalism, is passionate about storytelling—both visual and textual—across travel, jobs, business, markets, politics, and daily news. From crafting engaging articles to producing compelling videos, she blends creativity with strategy to bring stories to life. With a strong foundation in SEO, and video production she ensures content not only informs but also resonates with audiences.
