(1) Musée du Louvre, Paris
Visiting this repository of artistry may be a daunting experience, if only for the large crowds (8.5 million annually) that flock to it. But when one looks at the big picture, so to speak, the long lineups to see immortal pieces such as the Mona Lisa are minor inconveniences.
(2) Forbidden City (Palace Museum) Bejing, China
The epicentre of Chinese imperial power for six centuries (1416-1911), the site located at the edge of Tiananmen Square now projects the countless achievements of Chinese civilization to a global audience.
(3) National Air and Space Museum, Washington D.C., U.S.
Featuring the largest collection of historic air and space crafts in the world, it recently added the decommissioned Space Shuttle Discovery to its collection.
(4) Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, Washington D.C., U.S.
One of 19 museums under the umbrella of the Smithsonian Institution, it is the most-visited natural history museum in the world, featuring 126.5 million artifacts and specimens.
(5) Palace of Versailles, Versailles, France
Once synonymous with the Age of Absolutism and the site of key historical events such as the signing of the Treaty of Versailles (1919), it balances the human desire for pleasure with the need for order. While countless European monarchies (both large and small) imitated the form of Versailles, none could replicate its essence.
(6) British Museum, London, England
With four kilometres of exhibition space and seven million objects (including the Rosetta Stone), the British Museum is nothing short of a cultural Noah’s Ark. Even better, it offers free admission.
(7) Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City, U.S.
In a city bursting with museums and educational attractions, including the spectacular Museum of Modern Art, the historic “Met” arguably remains the gold standard.
(8) Vatican Museums, Vatican City, Italy
A shrine to the cultural and religious history of classical and western civilization, this complex includes the Sistine Chapel, which is part of the official residence of the Pope. The chapel’s famous ceiling is, of course, nothing less than a biblical picturebook of stunning grandeur.
(9) Natural History Museum, London, England
Part exhibition space, part research facility, the Natural History Museum houses 70 million exhibits, some of which were first collected by none other than Charles Darwin himself.
(10) Museumsinsel, Berlin, Germany
This Island of Museums in the heart of historic Berlin features five thematically diverse museums within a space of eight hectares. Must-stops include the Pergamonmuseum and the Neues Museum, whose exhibits include the bust of Nefertiti.
