Metropolitan Museum of Art

No museum in the United States is as celebrated as the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Spilling over with masterpieces from all over the world, including notable collections from Ancient Egypt and classical antiquity, "the Met" is an art experience unlike any other, and like much in New York, it's impossible to see all the museum has to offer in one day (or even two days, for that matter). If you've never been there, then you should definitely visit its permanent collections (the first floor's Greek and Roman art, Egyptian art and the second floor's Islamic art exhibits are especially popular with travelers). If you've already visited the Met a time or two, then plan your next trip around the bi-annual exhibits by the Costume Institute, or head to Cloisters, an offshoot museum of the Met that's dedicated to medieval Europe's art and architecture located in Fort Tyron Park.

You can take the 4, 5 or 6 train to the Metropolitan Museum of Art; it's located at 1000 Fifth Avenue, on the eastern perimeter of Central Park. The museum is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday through Thursday and Sunday. On Friday and Saturday you can stay and browse until 9 p.m. (You can also patron the museum's Great Hall Balcony Bar or Petri Court Café and Wine Bar for a quick cocktail). Admission to the Main Building and The Cloisters Museum and Gardens costs up to $25. Be sure to visit the art museum's website before you make your trip.