🏛️ Hi readers! Today, I’m excited to share a fresh, updated list of the top 10 most visited museums in the world based on the latest annual attendance figures.
Before we dive into the rankings, let's look at what makes these places so special. Generally, a museum is a permanent institution that collects, preserves and exhibits objects of historical, scientific or artistic importance. They make these treasures available to the public to inspire and educate.
Post-pandemic travel has reached new heights and the numbers for 2024/2025 show that people are more curious than ever about global heritage. Let's see which museums are leading the way!
👉 1. Louvre Museum – Paris, France
The Louvre remains the undisputed king of museums. In 2024, it welcomed approximately 8.7 million visitors. Spanning over 652,000 square feet, it is home to thousands of masterpieces, including the world-famous Mona Lisa. Despite implementing a daily visitor cap of 30,000 to improve the experience, it still sits comfortably at number one.
👉 2. National Museum of China – Beijing, China
Rising rapidly in popularity, this museum recorded nearly 7 million visitors this past year. It serves as the ultimate center for Chinese history and art, housing over a million artifacts that narrate the long and profound culture of China.
👉 3. Vatican Museums – Vatican City
A staple for art and religious history, the Vatican Museums welcomed roughly 6.8 million visitors in 2024. The 2025 "Jubilee Year" has seen these numbers climb even higher. Visitors flock here to see the breathtaking Sistine Chapel ceiling painted by Michelangelo.
👉 4. British Museum – London, United Kingdom
The British Museum remains the most visited attraction in the UK, with roughly 6.5 million annual visitors. Established in 1753, it houses world-famous items like the Rosetta Stone and the Elgin Marbles, representing two million years of human history.
👉 5. Natural History Museum – London, United Kingdom
Known for its massive dinosaur skeletons and the iconic blue whale model, this museum has seen a surge in popularity, reaching about 6.3 million visitors. It is a favorite for families and science enthusiasts alike.
👉 6. Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met) – New York, USA
As the largest museum in the United States, "The Met" welcomed over 5.7 million visitors in its most recent fiscal year. Located in Central Park, its collection spans 5,000 years of art from every corner of the globe.
👉 7. American Museum of Natural History – New York, USA
Located just across the park from the Met, this institution saw around 5.4 million visitors. It is world-renowned for its exhibitions on human biology, evolution, and space (the Hayden Planetarium).
👉 8. Tate Modern – London, United Kingdom
London’s hub for contemporary art continues to draw large crowds, with approximately 4.6 million visitors. Since its opening in 2000, it has become one of the most influential modern art galleries in the world.
👉 9. National Gallery of Art – Washington D.C., USA
This museum is a jewel of the U.S. capital, attracting roughly 4 million visitors annually. It is famous for being the only museum in the Americas to house a painting by Leonardo da Vinci (Ginevra de' Benci).
👉 10. National Museum of Korea – Seoul, South Korea
With about 3.8 million visitors, this museum rounds out our top 10. It is a massive facility that showcases the fascinating history and traditional art of the Korean peninsula from ancient times to the modern era.
I hope you found this updated list helpful for your next travel plans! Which of these museums is on your bucket list? I am waiting for your valuable comments and suggestions. Thanks for reading!