There are thousands of art museums worldwide, making a selection of the best, an exacting task. Yet, some art galleries stand tall. Beyond commercial triumphs, exemplary exhibition centers have the ability to tell a story and invoke imagination. We have done the heavy lifting and present some famous art galleries that are worth visiting.

Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Met is a gallery like no other. The colossal museum is located in New York. It’s home to over two million artworks, both local and from different countries. From Egyptian works to classical Greek antiquity, this art center is the definition of ancient civilizations. The don’t-miss works include Venus Italica, the Sphinx of Hatshepsut, the Gertrude Stein, Dancing Celestial Deity (Devata), and Paolo Panini’s striking creation, The Interior of Saint Peter’s Rome.

The Met operates daily from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Extended visiting hours are on Fridays and Saturdays. It remains open until 9 p.m. in the days mentioned above. To make the most of this art gallery, you have to spend more than a day enjoying what it offers.

National Palace Museum

If you’re a fervent fan of Chinese art, then the National Palace Museum is where you should be headed for. Located in Taipei, this exhibition center features the finest Chinese craft dating thousands of years back. Some of the exquisite items they house include ancient embroidery, ceramics, rare books, Neolithic carvings, paintings, calligraphy, among other Chinese work.

Free English tours are available daily between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. However, they are limited to 30 people, and one has to book 20 minutes before the tour commences. The gallery also features the alluring Silks Palace restaurant where visitors can relax as they savor the museum.

Musee d’Orsay in Paris

Paris is home to an abundance of art exhibitions. However, few come close to what Musee d’Orsay offers. The building’s architecture itself serves the purpose. It signals its intentions by reminding the average visitor of a bygone era.

Step inside, and you’re welcomed to 1848 to 1914 art. The focus is on extensive collections of impressionist art. Here, you come face to face with works of ingenious artists such as Vincent van Gogh. The gallery operates daily between 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. except for Mondays. Late-night views are open on Thursdays, where it’s closed at 9.45 p.m.

National Gallery in London

The National Gallery was formed in 1824. It remains among the UK’s oldest art museums. It takes pride in housing diverse Western European collections from the 13th to the 19th century. It features loads of exhibits from household art names like Van Gogh, Botticelli, Monet, without forgetting Michelangelo. The must-see masterpieces that grace its labyrinth interior are Sunflowers, Water Lillies, plus Venus and Mars.

Visitors are welcomed to the National Gallery daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Each Friday, however, the gallery doesn’t close until 9 p.m. Children are also catered for by audio maps and tours.

Tate Modern

London is also blessed with another great art museum, the Tate Modern. Their gritty industrial interior brings to life the many collections on display. Tate features works from Rothko, Picasso, and Warhol. It opens from Monday to Thursday between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. On Friday and Sunday, it closes at 10 p.m. Free guided tours in this gallery lasts for 45 minutes.