7 countries to visit for some of the world's biggest museums

If you enjoy art, history, science and culture, some countries offer museums that can take hours or even days to explore. From vast collections of ancient objects to major art galleries and natural history institutions, here are seven countries home to some of the world's largest and most important museums.

The United States offers several major museums with large collections and extensive exhibition spaces. In Washington, DC, you can explore the Smithsonian's museums, including the National Museum of Natural History and the National Museum of American History. New York adds the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the American Museum of Natural History. Together, these institutions cover subjects ranging from art and archaeology to science, culture and natural history.

The United Kingdom is a major destination for museum lovers, with London at the centre of its museum scene. The British Museum has a permanent collection of more than 8 million works, spanning human history and cultures from around the world. Visitors can also explore the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Natural History Museum, Tate Modern and the National Gallery, making London a city where several major museums can be visited in one trip.

France is home to the Louvre in Paris, one of the world's best-known museums and a major destination for art lovers. UNESCO noted that the Louvre was the world's most visited museum in 2023, with 8.8 million visitors. Beyond the Louvre, travellers can visit the Musée d'Orsay for works from the 19th century and the Centre Pompidou for modern and contemporary art, giving Paris several major museum stops.

China is home to the National Museum of China in Beijing, which says it has nearly 200,000 square metres of floor space and more than 1.4 million collection items. Its collections cover ancient and modern Chinese history, rare books and works of art. Travellers can combine a museum visit with the Palace Museum at the Forbidden City and other historical institutions across Beijing, making the capital a major destination for culture-focused travel.

Russia's State Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg is one of the world's major museum institutions and is known for its vast art collection. Housed across historic buildings, the museum allows visitors to explore paintings, sculptures and artefacts from different periods and regions. St Petersburg also offers other museums and imperial landmarks, making it possible to combine museum visits with an exploration of the city's history, architecture and royal past.

Egypt is a key destination for travellers interested in museums and ancient archaeology. In the Giza area, the Grand Egyptian Museum brings together a large collection linked to ancient Egyptian civilisation. A museum-focused trip can also be combined with visits to the Pyramids of Giza, Saqqara and other historic sites around Cairo. The country's museums offer context for the temples, tombs and monuments that travellers can explore across Egypt.

The Vatican Museums offer visitors a journey through centuries of art, sculpture and religious history. The museum complex holds tens of thousands of works, including collections built up by popes over several centuries. Visitors can explore galleries filled with classical sculptures, paintings and historic objects before reaching the Sistine Chapel. Located within Vatican City and next to Rome, it can easily be combined with visits to Italy's major historical landmarks and museums.