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What's the Best Museum in Your City?


Museums are the crown jewel of a city. Even a mediocre city usually has at least one solid museum you can blow an afternoon on; most have enough to fill an entire trip. Some are universally acknowledged as treasures: everyone knows the value of the Louvre, the Smithsonian, the Met. Fewer, but still many, know about Rochester’s Strong Museum of Play, or the playable pinball machines at New Jersey’s Silverball Museum.

When I recently visited Tokyo, I wish I’d spent less time in the musty main wing of the National Museum, and more in the several art museums that circle the same park. I’m glad I dropped by the Ueno Royal Museum, currently featuring accessible and exciting contemporary art like Ishiba Ayako’s “outline” photography.

What are the greatest museums in your city? What are the underrated ones? And which ones are overhyped or are basically a for-profit “experience”? What’s the most specialized museum that you’ve enjoyed—one that you’d only recommend to people with a certain taste? What is your kid’s favorite museum? Who has the best audio tour? What’s the museum that has educated you the most? What museum was the most amazing physical experience?

What’s your best museum hack? (Is it the independent tours given by the actual company Museum Hack?) How do you get a discounted rate, or what reciprocal memberships have you discovered? How do you avoid museum fatigue? Are there hidden parts of the museum that you can see if you talk to the right person? What museums have the best events? What museum has the best café, and can you get in without the admission fee?

Tell us in the comments, and we’ll feature all the best tips under the Staff tab. (Remember to specify which city you’re talking about!) Bonus points if you tell us your single favorite thing in the museum.