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20 WOTC Approved Museums
Australian Museum
Science fan? We got you. The australian museum is in.. you’ve guessed it, Australia. Based in Sydney, the Australian Museum offers a unique experience to immerse yourself in a dynamic source of scientific information and debates about some of the most pressing environmental and social issues facing the region. The museum boasts a collection of over 21 million objects representing the timeline of environmental and cultural histories of the Australian and Pacific regions. From fossils to minerals, and meteorites to specimens of native Australian mammals, reptiles, birds, fish and invertebrates - this museum has all your science desires. The museum is currently closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but due to open on the 17th July 2021. Admission and opening times will be published on their website around this date.
Biomuseo, Panama
Next up is the Biomuseo, a museum based on the natural history of Panama. The design for the museum was conceived in 1999 but not built until October 2014, however despite the long wait - it was worth the while.. The museum’s purpose is to emphasise the role of humans in the XXI century. It’s galleries tell the story of how the rise of Isthmus of Panama changed the world. Thus, the museum offers an exciting insight into life in Panama. The museum is open 1pm to 5pm Saturdays and Sundays. The entry fee is $18.
Canadian Museum of History - Gatineau, Quebec, Canada
The Candian Museum of History is Canada’s national museum of human history. The museum’s primary purpose is to present and preserve important objects of Canada which present its diverse history and people. As a unique museum which showcases the best of Canada, tourists and the public alike love this museum when visiting Canada. The museum is open 9am to 5pm Wednesday to Sunday. Admission fee is $20.
Louvre Museum - Paris, France
The Louvre Museum takes top place as the world’s largest art museum and is home to the infamous Mona Lisa (yes that famous painting of the woman by Leonardo Da Vinci). The iconic historic monument in Paris acts as a central landmark of the city and a great tourist attraction. Offering a perfect tourist attraction as well as photography spot, the museum is situated on the right bank of the Seine in the city’s 1st arrondissement. This popular museum, also used to be a palace, offers an idyllic location for photos as well as taking in the culture and history of the art of France. Entry is 17€.
Museo Nacional de Antropología - México
The National Museum of Anthropology is a national museum of Mexico, it is also the largest and most visited museum in Mexico. Located in central Mexico city, the museum showcases significant archeological and anthropological artefacts from Mexico’s pre-Colombian heritage. The museum is open 10am to 5pm Tuesday to Saturday, and costs MX$80.00 pesos (around £2.91).
Museo Nacional del Prado, Madrid, Spain
Off to Spain to El Prado Museum, which is one of the most visited sites in the world, considered to be among the greatest museums of art. The museum is widely considered as having one of the world’s finest collections of european Art, dating from the 12th century to the early 20th century. Located in central Madrid, the museum is open Monday to Saturday 10am to 8pm, Sundays and Holidays 10am to 7pm. Admission is 15€, but free between 6pm and 8pm Monday to Saturday, and 5pm and 7pm Sundays and Holidays.
National Museum, New Delhi
Now moving to New Delhi in India, the National Museum, also known as the National Museum of India was established in 1949 and showcases a range of artifacts spanning from the prehistoric era to modern works of art. The museum functions under The Ministry of Culture, Government of India. The museum also houses the National Museum Institute of History of Art, Conservation and Museology on the first floor which was established in 1983. With such a vast collection there is something for everyone to explore. The museum is open 10am to 6pm, Tuesday to Sunday and admission only costs Rs. 20/- (that’s the equivalent of 19p!).
Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, Netherlands
The Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam is the Dutsch national museum focusing on the arts and history of Amsterdam. Close to the Van Gogh Museum, the Rijksmuseum is open daily from 9:00 to 17:00. The museum explores over 800 years of Dutsch history, and each year hosts multiple exhibitions for the public and tourists to enjoy. Definitely one to go to if you’re interested in the history of the Netherlands. The entry fee is 20€.
State Hermitage Museum - Saint Petersburg, Russia
The State Hermitage Museum is a top attraction and the world's largest and most prestigious museum. To ensure you get the best out of your visit, it will be best to get a tour guide as this museum presents the art and culture of Russia for tourists and the public to enjoy. The impressive museum is also connected to the Winter Palace, the gallery served as a private gallery for the art amassed by the empress. Opening times are 10:30 - 18:00 (Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday & Thursday) and 10:30 - 21:00 (Friday and Wednesdays. The gallery is closed on Mondays. Admission is free on the first Thursday of each month, but other than that entry is $17.95.
The Acropolis Museum - Athens, Greece
The Acropolis Museum, situated in Athens, Greece, is a museum based on the archeological findings of the site of the Acropolis of Athens. The museum was built with the sole purpose of showcasing every artefact found on the rocks and surrounding slopes from the Greek Bronze Age to Roman and Greek Byzantine. The museum is open Monday to Friday but has different times depending on the season, check out their website for more information on this. Admission is 5€ in the Winter season and 10€ in the Summer season.
The Hong Kong Museum of Art
The museum of art is the main art museum of Hong Kong, located in Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui. The museum has a collection of over 17,000 pieces of mainly sculpture, calligraphy and paintings from Hong Kong. This great museum which shows the wonders of Hong Kong throughout history is open Friday to Wednesday 10am to 6pm (Weekends until 7pm). Admission is also free, so definitely a great place to go on a budget when in Hong Kong!
The Louvre - Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
The Louvre has made its second appearance on the list but this time in … Abu Dhabi?! Yes, that is right Abu Dhabi have their very own Louvre, which is an art and civilisation museum. The museum is based on the Saadiyat Island Cultural District, and hosts over 8,000 square metres of galleries, enabling it to be the largest art museum in the Arabian peninsula. Not only does it host an amazing array of galleries, but the architecture of the museum itself is one to enjoy also. The museum is open 10am to 6:30pm, Tuesday to Sunday. Admission costs 60 AED (around £11.80).
The Metropolitan Museum of Art - New York City, New York, United States of America
Now off to New York, in the United States of America, the museum informally known as "the Met," is the largest art museum in the United States and one of the largest art galleries in the world. Its permanent collection of over 2 million works is divided amongst 17 different cultural departments showing over 5,000 years of history from across the world. This beautiful museum is situated across two sites: The Met Fifth Avenue and The Met Cloisters, and is open every day except Tuesday and Wednesday, from 10:00-17:00. Entry is $25.
The National Art Center - Tokyo, Japan
The National Art Center is a museum in Roppongi, Minato, Tokyo, Japan. Unlike most museums discussed, NACT is an ‘empty museum’, without a collection or permanent display. Rather, the museum accommodates temporary exhibitions and displays sponsored and curated by other organisations. The museum is open everyday 10am to 6pm, except Tuesdays. Admission is determined by each exhibition, check out their website for more information.
The National Gallery of Art - Washington D.C
The National Gallery of Art situated in Washington D.C, was originally founded as a gift to the nation. With over 150,000 pieces of art, the gallery serves as a centre that showcases different cultures, education and visual arts. The gallery offers several exhibitions and public programs free of charge. The gallery is located along Pennsylvania and Constitution Avenues between 3rd and 9th streets, and is free to visit, seven days a week.
The Shanghai Museum, Shanghai
The Shanghai Museum, situated in Shanghai, China, is a museum of Chinese art and was considered as one of China’s first world-class modern museums. The museum has a collection of over 120,000 works, from bronze to ceramics and coins to sculptures. To get your intake of Chinese culture this museum is a must when in china. Open 9am to 5pm Tuesday to Sunday, and admission is free, but acquiring a ticket is essential.
Uffizi Gallery - Florence, Italy
The Uffizi Gallery is a famous art gallery located next to the Piazza della Signoria in the centre of Florence, in Tuscany, Italy. Just a three minute walk from the Ponte Vecchio, the gallery occupies the first and second floors of the 1560-1580 building, designed by Giorgio Varsari. The gallery is most known for its collections of ancient sculptures and paintings dating back to the Middle Ages. The gallery also holds famous sculptures and busts from the Medici family. With regular ticket entry costing 20€, and the gallery is open from Tuesday to Sunday 8:15am to 6:50pm, it is definitely one to not miss in Florence.
Vatican Museums – Vatican City
Finally to Italy, the Vatican Museums are the art and sculptures of the Vatican City. They show the vast collection of art obtained by the Catholic Church and papacy throughout the past centuries. These great museums were founded by Pope Juluis II in the 16th century, and to date, are visited by millions of tourists each year. In total, there are 54 galleries to explore, with notably the Sistine Chapel situated in the last sala within the museum. The museum is open Monday to Saturday, 8:30am to 4:30pm. Admission is 14€ and includes access to the Sistine Chapel.
Victoria and Albert Museum - London, England
The famous Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) in central London is the world’s largest museum of applied arts, decorative arts and design, boasting a permanent collection of over 2.2 million permanent objects. The museum, founded in 1852 and named after Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, is free to visit, and is open Wednesday to Sunday 10:00 to 17:45. Booking in advance is essential. The museum hosts regular exhibitions, with their most recent being Alice: Curiouser and Curiouser, which focuses on Lewis Caroll’s famous children’s novel, Alice in Wonderland.