It’s estimated that there are around 55,000 museums in the world, with the U.S. home to more than 33,000 of these. Unfortunately, no-one has the time to explore all of them in detail, so you’re better off prioritizing the best over all the others.

The National WWII Museum (New Orleans)

The National WWII Museum might be one of the newer institutions out there – it only opened in 2000 – but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth visiting. Far from it, actually. This museum offers some of the best insight into the Second World War that you’ll ever find, with artifacts and memorabilia telling a story that should never be forgotten. A visit here might be haunting, but it’ll be an unforgettable experience.

State Hermitage Museum (St. Petersburg)

Believed to have been founded back in the 1700s, the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg is the oldest institution of its kind. For centuries now, people have been visiting this establishment to peruse its three million works of art, some of which date back to the Middle Ages. If you’re a particular fan of Western European Art, then you’ll be glad to know that there are 120 rooms dedicated to it here.

The British Museum (London)

London isn’t short of museums to explore, but the British Museum is easily the best of the bunch. Not only is it bigger than any other institution in Britain, but it also houses over eight million pieces of global history. Dinosaur bones and royal jewels are just some of the treasures that you’ll find here, with the Egyptian section a particular standout.

The Acropolis (Athens)

Located in Athens is the Acropolis, a museum that offers an incredible glimpse of Greece’s past. The focus of this establishment seems to be archaeological findings from over the years, giving visitors an excellent idea of how the county has changed with time. One of the biggest attractions to this place is the remnants of the Parthenon, which give a nice change of pace from all the sculptures found here.

The Louvre (Paris)

Home to famous works like the Venus de Milo and the Mona Lisa, the Louvre is absolutely one of the world’s greatest museums. The building itself has been around since medieval times, but it’s only in the last two centuries that it’s become the place to find such fine works. There are so many years of history to be explored here if you ever find yourself in the City of Love.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York)

Consistently named as the best museum in the world, it’s clear to see why the Metropolitan Museum of Art is so beloved. Thousands of years of human history is collected in this one location that’s brimming with over two million artifacts. It’s nearly impossible to fully explore this place in one day because it’s so vast, but if you’re a dedicated art lover, then you’ll probably still give it a try.

With so many museums out there worth exploring, you may as well start by visiting the best.