USA · MUSEUM TOURS IN NEW YORK CITY

15 Museum Tours in New York City to Build a Day Around

22 tours  ·  from $25

Good museum tours in New York City fill up weeks ahead and the great ones go first. Below: the 15 to book early, what each includes and how they differ.

NYC: 9/11 Memorial & Museum Timed-Entry Ticket - The Historical Exhibition: before, during, and after
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NYC: 9/11 Memorial & Museum Timed-Entry Ticket

1.9/11 Memorial & Museum Timed-Entry Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 31,428 reviews · 1 day · from $25Our pick

Enter the 9/11 Memorial Museum at a reserved time, then visit the twin reflecting pools, Survivor Tree, and Memorial Glades. Inside, follow the story through artifacts, films, personal accounts, and memorial records covering the 2001 attacks and 1993 bombing. Allow at least two hours, and more if you read everything.

“This was a really poignant experience, very thought provoking and sad. We felt the power of the tragedy that this museum commemorates, but the celebration of the people who lost their lives and carrying on their memories. I love that the money goes towards the charity and would recommend this museum to anyone visiting.”

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NYC: Empire State Building Tickets - Observatory & Museum - The 86th-floor deck gives you New York in every direction
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NYC: Empire State Building Tickets – Observatory & Museum

2.Empire State Building Tickets – Observatory & Museum

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

Visit New York’s Empire State Building for 360-degree views from the 86th-floor deck, optional floor-to-ceiling panoramas from the 102nd floor, and interactive galleries covering construction, Art Deco design, King Kong, and film history. Choose a standard or Express ticket, with visits lasting 45 minutes to two hours.

“It was a smooth and easy experience from start to finish. The whole experience was interesting and very informative inside the building with the history behind the building. The views from the 86th floor were amazing and we had the bonus of seeing the sunset this made my trip to NYC complete. A definite must do in NYC”

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New York City: American Museum of Natural History Ticket - The fourth floor is the natural place to begin
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New York City: American Museum of Natural History Ticket

3.American Museum of Natural History Ticket

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

You get all-day entry to more than 40 permanent halls, the Rose Center, and the new Gilder Center. Add one or all ticketed exhibits for shows such as Encounters in the Milky Way, the butterfly vivarium, or the dinosaur extinction exhibit. The Explorer app helps you find your way.

“Great experience. We spent few hours and didn’t see everything. Great for a rainy or cold day. We visited NYE week and it was very crowded. It would be nice if they had a max number of ticket sales to prevent overcrowding. And maybe kids area would also be nice.”

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NYC: Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) Entry Ticket - Entering at 11 West 53rd Street
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NYC: Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) Entry Ticket

4.Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) Entry Ticket

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

Enter New York’s Museum of Modern Art with a one-day ticket, bypassing the ticket desk. Explore six floors of modern and contemporary art, including Starry Night, Water Lilies, Warhol’s soup cans, films, design, and special exhibitions. Bring a charged phone and headphones for the free multilingual audio guide.

“One of the best museums I’ve seen in my life. Monet, Klimt, Picasso, Van Gogh, Kahlo, Hopper, Magritte.. I am just sorry that not all the artwork they have is displayed, sadly”

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9/11 Memorial, Ground Zero Tour with Optional 9/11 Museum Ticket - St. Paul’s Chapel and the first signs of survival
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9/11 Memorial, Ground Zero Tour with Optional 9/11 Museum Ticket

5.9/11 Memorial, Ground Zero Tour with Optional 9/11 Museum Ticket

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

Meet near the Oculus for a small-group Ground Zero walk led by guides such as Sean, Paul, Amy, or James. Visit St. Paul’s Chapel, the FDNY Memorial Wall, and the 9/11 Memorial pools. Choose a self-guided museum ticket or a one-hour guided museum visit.

“It’s cold out dress warm. Be prepared to do a lot of walking. Take lots of pictures and take it all in”

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9/11 Memorial Museum Admission Ticket - In Memoriam and the personal cost of the attacks
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9/11 Memorial Museum Admission Ticket

6.9/11 Memorial Museum Admission Ticket

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

Visit the 9/11 Memorial Museum below the Twin Towers’ former footprints with a timed mobile ticket. Explore first-person accounts, artifacts, memorial displays, and exhibits on the 2001 attacks at your own pace. Plan at least two hours, and allow more time if you want to hear and read everything.

“It’s a lot to take in given I was born 8 months and 8 days later it was just sad about what happened and the items in the museum just was wow. Will come back again one day.”

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All-Access 9/11: Ground Zero Tour, Memorial and Museum, One World Observatory - The FDNY Memorial Wall and the Survivor Tree
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All-Access 9/11: Ground Zero Tour, Memorial and Museum, One World Observatory

7.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

Start near Ground Zero with a local guide such as Meghan, Rob, James, or Jimmy, then visit the Oculus, FDNY Memorial Wall, Survivor Tree, and memorial pools. Choose a self-guided or VIP museum visit before taking in New York from One World Observatory.

“Excellent tour outside 911 Memorial. Be prepared to walk outdoors, espein the cold. . Rob was excellent guide!!”

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NYC: Intrepid Museum Entry Ticket - Starting on the Hangar Deck
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NYC: Intrepid Museum Entry Ticket

8.Intrepid Museum Entry Ticket

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

Visit the USS Intrepid on Manhattan’s Hudson River, walk four historic decks, see 28 restored aircraft, view NASA’s Enterprise shuttle, and enter the Cold War submarine Growler. Allow two to three hours, or longer if you want time for the Apollo exhibit and detailed displays.

“Really good value for money Very interesting and lots and lots to see and experience”

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NYC: Museum of Ice Cream Entry Ticket - Your route through the colorful rooms
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NYC: Museum of Ice Cream Entry Ticket

9.Museum of Ice Cream Entry Ticket

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

Spend about 90 minutes exploring New York’s Museum of Ice Cream, where colorful art, ice cream tastings, a three-story slide, a pink subway, and a giant sprinkle pool turn dessert into an interactive outing.

“It was a wonderful experience and the staff was amazing!”

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NYC: Guggenheim Museum Entry Ticket - Following the Spiral From the Rotunda
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NYC: Guggenheim Museum Entry Ticket

10.Guggenheim Museum Entry Ticket

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

Visit New York’s Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum with a one-day entry ticket covering every exhibition, the Thannhauser Collection, Wi-Fi, and a multilingual audio guide. You’ll see Frank Lloyd Wright’s famous spiral building, modern masterpieces, and changing shows at your own pace.

“A magnificent collection of paintings and the stunning architecture of the museum building”

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American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket - The dinosaur halls: the strongest first stop
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American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

11.American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

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

Visit New York’s American Museum of Natural History at your own pace with admission to more than 40 permanent galleries, the Rose Center, and Richard Gilder Center. Plan three to four hours for the main halls, and budget extra for the planetarium, films, butterflies, and special exhibitions.

“Anyone visiting NYC should have the AMNH high up on their lists of things to see and do. It’s a place which allows you to delve into the past and present in a very exciting and informative way and it’s an event to be experienced by young and old alike.”

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Ground Zero 9/11 Memorial Tour & Optional 9/11 Museum Ticket - Meeting inside the Oculus
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Ground Zero 9/11 Memorial Tour & Optional 9/11 Museum Ticket

12.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 by L'Arte del Gelato inside the Oculus for a 90-minute Ground Zero walk. Hear personal accounts, visit St. Paul's Chapel and the memorial pools, then add a self-guided or VIP museum visit. Guides such as Russell, James, Ray, and Sean are praised for sensitive storytelling.

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

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Museum of Ice Cream New York City Admission Ticket - The sprinkle pool, slide, and ball areas
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Museum of Ice Cream New York City Admission Ticket

13.Museum of Ice Cream New York City Admission Ticket

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

Visit New York’s Museum of Ice Cream for about one to two hours of colorful rooms, playful installations, edible slime crafts, games, drinks, and repeated ice cream tastings. You can enter on a weekday or weekend, use a mobile ticket, and let children age two and under enter free.

“It was better than I thought. The activities for the kids and all the ice cream choices was the best.”

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Intrepid Museum Admission Ticket - The flight deck: aircraft, river views, and the ship’s scale
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Intrepid Museum Admission Ticket

14.Intrepid Museum Admission Ticket

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

Make your own way to Manhattan’s Hudson River waterfront and explore the USS Intrepid, Space Shuttle Pavilion, and USS Growler submarine. Watch two short films, see aircraft and carrier exhibits, and plan on more than 90 minutes if you enjoy hands-on displays and military history.

“See everything! Nothing is a waste of time, speak to the veterans, they have some remarkable stories and take plenty of pictures my 12 year old son was mesmerized by the aircraft carrier and submarine. Highly recommend and well worth the money”

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Metropolitan Museum Guided Group Tour - Starting on the Met’s Famous Steps
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Metropolitan Museum Guided Group Tour

15.Metropolitan Museum Guided Group Tour

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

Meet your English-speaking guide at New York’s Met for a focused walk through 6,000 years of art. In two or three hours, you may see the Temple of Dendur, Henry VIII’s armor, Greek and Roman sculpture, and Madame X, with guides such as Katie, Rob, Stephan, and Jett bringing the collection to life.

“This was an excellent tour. Our guide, Stephan, was exceptional. His love for the Met could be felt in each exhibit we passed. He answered questions with confidence, dates and comparisons to peers or periods. Whatever the question merited. The Met is huge. It was awesome to see if with someone who loved it and also could help open me up to its treasures.”

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New in Museum Tours in New York City

★ 5.0Metropolitan Museum of Art Highlights TourFrom $65372 reviews

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