TripAdvisor Showcases the World’s Best Museums With

The Metropolitan Museum of Art Named #1 Museum in the U.S. and World for  Second Year in a Row

TripAdvisor Highlights Reasons to Visit Now as Well as Top-Rated Tours and   Skip-the-Line Passes Available to Book on TripAdvisor

NEEDHAM, Mass., Sept. 13, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TripAdvisor ^® , the travel planning and booking site, today announced the winners of its Travelers’ Choice™ awards for Museums. Award winners were determined using an algorithm that took into account the quantity and quality of reviews and ratings for museums worldwide, gathered over a 12-month period. 

“From awe-inspiring art galleries to thought-provoking memorials, Travelers’ Choice Museums provide enlightening experiences whether a traveler is visiting for the first time or the fiftieth,” said Barbara Messing, chief marketing officer for TripAdvisor. “Travelers planning to go to one of these top museums can save valuable time and have a better experience by booking special access tours or skip-the-line passes on TripAdvisor before they go.”

TripAdvisor has also highlighted top-rated tours and passes bookable on the site, reasons to visit now and the cost of admission for each winner. ¹

Top 10 Museums in the U.S:

1. The Metropolitan Museum of Art – New York City, New York Top-rated tour to book: Viator VIP: EmptyMet Tour at The Metropolitan Museum of Art – tickets start at $125 per person Reason to visit now: Transitional Object (PsychoBarn) is a large-scale sculpture temporarily on display on The Met’s Roof Garden through October 31 that combines the colors of a classic red barn with the eerie architecture of the Bates mansion from Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho .  Recommended admission: Adult – $25, Senior – $17, Student – $12, Child Under 12 – Free
2. Art Institute of Chicago – Chicago, Illinois Top-rated pass to book: Art Institute of Chicago Admission – tickets start at $25 per person Reason to visit now: The recently-opened Master Drawings Unveiled: 25 Years of Major Acquisitions exhibit on display through January showcases a wide range of 17 ^th to mid-20 ^th century drawings from well-known artists such as Edgar Degas and Grant Wood.  Admission: Adult – $25; Senior, Student, Teen – $19; Child Under 14 – Free
3. The National 9/11 Memorial & Museum – New York City, New York Top-rated tour to book: 9/11 Memorial and World Trade Center Walking Tour – tickets start at $35 per person Reason to visit now: Just opened on September 12, Rendering the Unthinkable: Artists Respond to 9/11 , recognizes the 15 ^th anniversary of the attacks with a collection of artwork from 13 different artists that depicts their reactions to the events.  Admission: Adult – $24; Senior, Veteran, College Student – $18; Youth (7-17) – $15; Child Under 7 – Free 
4. The National WWII Museum – New Orleans, Louisiana Top-rated pass to book: The National WWII Museum Ticket New Orleans – tickets start at $27 per person Reason to visit now: On display through January 1, Tom Lea: LIFE and World War II features 26 well-known pieces of original artwork from Tom Lea, who covered the war as a correspondent for LIFE magazine.  Admission: Adult – $26; Senior – $22.50; Child, College Student, Military – $16.50
5. Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum – Washington, D.C. Top-rated activity to book: Washington DC Essential Hop-On Hop-Off – tickets start at $38 per person Reason to visit now: Trekkies can marvel at the newly refurbished studio model of the Star Trek starship Enterprise , which is now on exhibit in the Boeing Milestones of Flight Hall after being taken down for restoration in September 2014.  Admission: Free
6. USS Midway Museum – San Diego, California Top-rated pass to book: USS Midway Museum Admission – tickets start at $18 per person Reason to visit now: Travelers who visit in November can participate in the museum’s Veterans Day celebration , which includes a parade, book fair, music festival and more. Admission: Adult – $20; Senior – $17; Student – $15; Retired Military, Youth – $10; Child Under 6 – Free 
7. The Getty Center – Los Angeles, California Reason to visit now: With works from Bacon, Freud, Kosoff, Andrews, Auerbach and Kitaj, the museum’s featured exhibition, London Calling , is a must-see for travelers interested in late 20 ^th century figurative painting. Admission: Free
8. Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex – Titusville, Florida Top-rated pass to book: Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral Admission – tickets start at $53 per person Reason to visit now: Travelers who visit the center in November will be the first to experience the new Heroes & Legends attraction , which includes multiple interactive exhibits and the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame.  Admission: Adult – $50; Seniors, Military – $46; Child – $40
9. National Gallery of Art – Washington, D.C. Top-rated tour to book: National Gallery of Art Small-Group Walking Tour – tickets start at $85 per person Reason to visit now: Damien Hirst’s The Last Supper , a 13-print series that examines the intersection of medicine and religion, is currently on special display at the museum through the end of the year. Admission: Free
10. American Museum of Natural History – New York City, New York Top-rated pass to book: American Museum of Natural History Admission – tickets start at $22 per person Reason to visit now: The recently-opened Wonders of the Arctic exhibit features an informative 3D film that explores recent research into the unique ecosystem of the northernmost part of the world. Admission: Adult – $22; Senior, Student – $17; Child (2-12) – $12.50; Child Under 2 – Free

Top 10 Museums in the World:

1. The Metropolitan Museum of Art – New York City, New York Top-rated tour to book: Viator VIP: EmptyMet Tour at The Metropolitan Museum of Art – tickets start at $125 per person Recommended admission: Adult – $25, Senior – $17, Student – $12, Child Under 12 – Free
2. Art Institute of Chicago – Chicago, Illinois Top-rated pass to book: Art Institute of Chicago Admission – tickets start at $25 per person Admission: Adult – $25; Senior, Student, Teen – $19; Child Under 14 – Free
3. State Hermitage Museum and Winter Palace – St. Petersburg, Russia Top-rated tour to book: State Hermitage Museum Small-Group Walking Tour – tickets start at $40 per person Admission: Adult, Senior, Student – $9; Child – Free 
4. Musée d'Orsay – Paris, France Top-rated pass to book: Musée d'Orsay Skip-The-Line Ticket – tickets start at $16 per person Admission: Adult – $14, Under 18 – Free
5. National Museum of Anthropology (Museo Nacional de Antropologia) – Mexico City, Mexico Top-rated tour to book: National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City: Admission and Guide – tickets start at $21 per person Admission: Adult – $4, Child – Free
6. The National 9/11 Memorial & Museum – New York City, New York Top-rated tour to book: 9/11 Memorial and World Trade Center Walking Tour – tickets start at $35 per person Admission: Adult – $24; Senior, Veteran, College Student – $18; Youth (7-17) – $15; Child Under 7 – Free 
7. Prado National Museum – Madrid, Spain Top-rated tour to book: Viator VIP: Early Access to Museo del Prado with Reina Sofia – tickets start at $49 per person Admission: Free
8. British Museum – London, United Kingdom Top-rated tour to book: British Museum Highlights Tour in London including the Rosetta Stone – tickets start at $31 per person Admission: Free
9. Acropolis Museum – Athens, Greece Top-rated tour to book: Skip the Line: Guided Tour of Athens New Acropolis Museum – tickets start at $23 per person Admission: Adult – $6; Senior, Student – $3; Child Under 5 – Free
10. Vasa Museum – Stockholm, Sweden Top-rated tour to book: 2-hour Guided Tour of the Vasa Museum - tickets start at $73 per person Admission: Adult – $16, Student – $12, Child Under 18 – Free

For the complete list of winners from the 2016 Travelers’ Choice awards for Museums, as well as reviews and candid traveler photos, go to: https://www.tripadvisor.com/TravelersChoice-Museums

TripAdvisor is the world’s largest travel site**. Travelers can read millions of reviews and opinions and book their next trip at: www.tripadvisor.com .

Notes to editors: ¹ Current/upcoming exhibits and events and admission prices sourced from museum websites.

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CONTACT: Ellie Botelho (781) 800-5542 ebotelho@tripadvisor.com