Top Spots for Art Lovers in New York City

Perhaps New York's most celebrated museum, the encyclopedic Metropolitan Museum of Art is a must-see arts institution. It's easy to get overwhelmed by the vast collection, showcasing artistic styles from Dutch genre painting to abstract expressionism. Choose a tour to see the collection highlights, and enjoy access to the Met's three locations with your ticket.

Located across from Central Park on New York's iconic Museum Mile, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum is a beacon of modern art, offering numerous exhibitions annually in a building designed by renowned American architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Stop by after a tour of Central Park, and be sure to purchase tickets in advance to beat the lines at this tourist hot spot.

The Whitney is a standout museum in New York City devoted exclusively to showing American art, primarily from living artists. Visitors find a robust collection of modern and contemporary art, several floors of galleries, and a café offering fantastic views of the city skyline. Be sure to purchase tickets with special exhibition access, since the museum is known for its temporary exhibits.

There's bound to be something happening at the always popular Museum of Modern Art. Visitors can get lost in the permanent collection—featuring standout drip paintings from Jackson Pollock and Vincent Van Gogh's The Starry Night—but shouldn't miss the temporary shows and sculpture garden. Avoid weekend crowds with a skip-the-line ticket, and get access to the museum's contemporary art center, MoMA PS1, included in the price.

The Chelsea neighborhood is home to numerous world-class art galleries, as well as public art installations on the High Line elevated park. Visitors find most galleries from 20th to 29th streets, between 9th and 10th avenues. To avoid getting lost in Chelsea's maze of galleries, guided walking tours and High Line tours are ideal, since most cover the must-see art spaces.