I'm not really an art fan but I'd like to be able to visit some of these some day.
TripAdvisor®, the world's largest travel community, today announced the top 10 art museums in the world, based on traffic to the attractions on tripadvisor.com.
1. Louvre Affair: Musee du Louvre, Paris, France
Once a fortified palace that was the home to kings of France, the Louvre is now the world's most famous museum, renowned for some of the finest pieces of art in the world, including the Venus de Milo and the Mona Lisa. According to one TripAdvisor traveler, "The world's greatest museum-from its Italian Renaissance Masters, to its Dutch Masters and the exquisite collection from Egypt's Pharaonic period. Each time I visit I always discover new treasures and I reacquaint myself with my favorites."
2. Religious Experience: Vatican Museums, Vatican City, Rome, Italy
Spanning nearly nine miles, the Roman Catholic Church's Vatican collection is one of the largest and most stunning in the world. Estimated to have more than four million visitors annually, the Vatican museums feature the art of Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael and, of course, Michelangelo's ceiling in the Sistine Chapel. As one TripAdvisor traveler commented, "The amount of history and art that is located here is mind-boggling, from the frescoes to the statues, virtually every nook and corner (even the floor) is a treasure."
3. Art in the Apple: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, New York
From Picasso to Pollock, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, on New York City's Museum Mile, is one of the world's largest museums with over two million pieces of artwork and enough variety for any enthusiast. Peruse the Greek sculptures, admire the armory or browse the 2,000 European paintings, all contained in a magnificent Beaux-Art façade building. As one TripAdvisor traveler said, "The building itself is a work of art. This would be a great place to spend a day alone!"
4. Grand Getty: J. Paul Getty Center, Los Angeles, California
The Getty features a remarkable collection, including the works of Van Gogh, Monet and Cezanne. The museum's structure is a piece of art in itself, and the grounds also feature beautiful gardens, and views of Los Angeles. As one TripAdvisor traveler offered, "Prepare to be spoiled-from the free admission, gorgeous gardens, views, good food, unsurpassed attention to detail, and oh yeah, the art-this place is one in a million!"
5. d'Orsay d'Light: Musee d'Orsay, Paris, France
Enjoy Van Gogh's "Starry Night," inside the Musee D'Orsay, a former train station built for the Universal Exhibition of 1900, with a dramatic glass roof. Specializing in 19th and 20th century artwork, the museum displays a striking collection of Impressionism, including famous works by Monet, Manet, Renoir, Van Gogh and Degas. As one TripAdvisor traveler said, "It is much less crowded than the Louvre and features wonderful pieces of art. The museum is just the right size to see everything, including famous painter Whistler and Van Gogh self-portraits."
6. Magnifico: Uffizi Gallery, Florence, Italy
Experience (or at least admire) Botticelli's "Birth of Venus," in the Uffizi Gallery, one of the oldest museums in the world featuring works from Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci in the heart of Florence. As one TripAdvisor traveler said, "The building was originally built several centuries ago to display the vast Medici art collection. This is an absolutely wonderful museum and worth a tour."
7. Millennium Museum: Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
Located on Chicago's Loop, The Art Institute of Chicago boasts extensive Impressionist and Post-Impressionist collections, including more than 30 pieces by Monet. Visit France from afar through Monet's "Haystacks" and spending time "At the Moulin Rouge," one of Henri Toulouse-Lautrec's famous paintings. As one TripAdvisor traveler said, "Art buffs will be able to spend all day here! Their regular exhibit is fabulous -- one of my personal favorites is 'Sunday in the Park.' They also usually have an impressive special exhibit, too."
8. Modern Mecca: Tate Modern, London, England
Enjoy the electric art at the Tate Modern, displayed in a former Bankside Power Station, with views of the Thames River and Millennium Bridge. Remember the "Forgotten Horizon," one of Dali's many masterpieces and part of one of the largest collections of Surrealism in the World. As one TripAdvisor member said, "It is a must see, both for its setting (along the Thames, housed in a defunct power plant) and its installations and stationary art collections."
9. Painter's Place: Prado Museum, Madrid, Spain
One of the largest and most impressive collections in the world, not surprisingly, the Prado Museum is most famous for its assortment of works from Spanish artists such as Goya, Velasquez, Murillo, and El Greco. As one TripAdvisor traveler said, "This is a first-class museum. Of course, the highlight is 'Las Meninas' but there is so much to see in this place."
10. Capital Culture: National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., the National Gallery of Art is comprised of an east and west building, and features a sculpture garden surrounding a large fountain. Modern art fans should head to the east building, where works by Jackson Pollock, Roy Lichtenstein and Andy Warhol are displayed. As one TripAdvisor traveler said, "For the art lover, it is paradise. Forget most of the other museums, spend a day or two in these galleries."
"These museums are truly destinations in themselves, as travelers could easily get lost in them for at least a day," said Michele Perry, director of communications for TripAdvisor. "This top 10 is a check list to see the very finest artwork in the world."
