Brimming with national and international masterpieces, America is home to some of the most esteemed art and history museums in the world. Every city has a unique thumbprint, and with some of the finest cultural institutions on their doorstep, American art and history lovers are truly spoiled for choice.
To uncover some of the best cultural experiences in the country, we studied the number of art galleries, specialty museums, history museums, science museums and landmarks in the U.S. We scored each city based on how many attractions they had to offer, revealing the top destinations for art and history enthusiasts to explore in 2025.
Read on to discover which cities and attractions to add to your travel itinerary with our breakdown of the top cultural hotspots in America.
Top Cities for Art and Museums
Top Cities for Landmarks and History
Top Cities for Art and Museums
To find the most artistic cities in the U.S., we scored each city based on the number of art galleries, specialty museums, art museums, history museums and science museums. The top five include:
New York City
With almost 800 art galleries, 74 art museums, 125 specialty museums and 42 history museums, New York City secures the top spot as America’s art capital. Scoring an impressive 88.6, NYC wins this title by a mile.
Here are some of the key highlights:
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art – Featuring works by Claude Monet, Pablo Picasso and beyond, the Met is the largest art museum in New York City and one of the most prestigious in the world.
- The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) – The MoMA houses an impressive collection of 20th-century artwork, including Salvador Dalì’s The Persistence of Memory and Vincent van Gogh’s The Starry Night.
- The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum – Explore the comprehensive collection of impressionist, post-impressionist and abstract contemporary art at the Guggenheim Museum in NYC, including works by Édouard Manet, Paul Gauguin and Paul Cézanne.
If you’re flying into JFK Airport to explore the sights of NYC, don’t forget to prebook your airport parking and hotels to secure the best deals.
Philadelphia
Locking in a score of 51.7, Philadelphia affirms its position as one of the top destinations for culture and arts with 124 art galleries, 46 specialty museums, 19 art museums and 35 history museums.
Unmissable museums include the Philadelphia Museum of Art, where movie buffs will recognize the famous 72 stone steps from Rocky (1976). Meanwhile, make sure to add the Barnes Foundation and the eccentric mosaic tiles of Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens to your travel agenda.
With seven science museums, Philadelphia offers more attractions for those seeking innovative, hands-on exhibitions than any other city – with sights including the Franklin Institute and the Mütter Museum.
Chicago
Chicago’s thriving art scene makes it a cultural hub for local creatives and tourists alike. Boasting an astonishing 250 art galleries, 31 art museums and 23 history museums, the Windy City earns a score of 48.6 overall.
And with public sculptures like Anish Kapoor’s Cloud Gate (affectionately known as The Bean) that have become defining features of the city’s identity – it’s no surprise that Chicago takes third place.
Other highlights include the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago and the Art Institute of Chicago, featuring masterpieces such as Edward Hopper’s Nighthawks, Grant Wood’s American Gothic, and A Sunday on La Grande Jatte by Georges Seurat.
Los Angeles
With 97 art galleries, 36 art museums, 63 specialty museums and 34 history museums, Los Angeles earns a place in the top five arts and cultural hotspots with a score of 46.5.
Drawing visitors from around the globe, Los Angeles is known for its immersive art exhibitions. The enchanting Urban Light (shown above) by Chris Burden at Los Angeles County Museum of Art and Yayoi Kusama’s Infinity Mirrored Room at the Broad are two such exhibits that have become synonymous with LA’s art scene.
At the Getty Center, visitors can admire Vincent van Gogh’s stunning Irises. Meanwhile, cinephiles can explore the world’s largest filmmaking museum at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures.
So, if you’re flying into LAX Airport to explore Hollywood’s finest art and landmarks, make sure these iconic institutes are on your itinerary.
Washington, D.C.
Steeped in cultural heritage, the Nation’s Capital earns a score of 42.6 as one of the top five most artistic cities in the US. And with 35 history museums, 74 art galleries and 25 art museums, it’s easy to see why.
Hosting an impressive collection of national and international works, the National Gallery of Art showcases masterpieces by Johannes Vermeer, Thomas Gainsborough, Jackson Pollock and more.
Among other must-visit museums in Washington, D.C., lose yourself in the seemingly never-ending galleries at the world’s largest museum complex. The Smithsonian Institute features 21 history, art and science museums, and the National Zoo.
Top Cities for Landmarks and History
We also studied each city based on the number of historic sites, monuments and statues, and architectural buildings to visit. Uncover cultural heritage at every turn with the best cities historical attractions to explore in 2025.
New York City
Once again, the Big Apple comes out on top, claiming the title of the top cultural hotspot for historical landmarks in the U.S. Promising world-renowned landmarks and architectural delights, New York City is a cultural powerhouse for amazing sights.
NYC earns an impressive score of 92, boasting 65 historic sites, 89 monuments and statues and 94 architectural buildings of cultural significance. The New York City skyline is internationally recognized for good reason, with landmarks such as:
- The Statue of Liberty
- The Empire State Building
- Central Park
- Brooklyn Bridge
- Times Square
- One World Trade Center
- Rockefeller Center
- Grand Central Terminal
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art
San Francisco
As we hop back to the West Coast, we found that San Fransisco is the second-most attractive city for exploring significant landmarks and buildings.
Falling only narrowly behind NYC with a score of 91.7, San Fran draws travelers with its impressive 66 historic sites, 67 monuments and statues, and 121 architectural buildings.
You’ll find awe-inspiring landmarks such as the Golden Gate Bridge, Lombard Street – the world’s most crooked street – and a charming row of colorful Victorian homes known as the Painted Ladies of San Fransisco. Meanwhile, visitors can explore the dark history of the former prison, Alcatraz Island – now a National Historic Landmark and national park.
Los Angeles
The iconography of Los Angeles is lost on no one. Earning a score of 61.6, the City of Angels is the third-most attractive city in the country for landmarks and architectural sights.
Effortlessly Insta-worthy, our study found that LA boasts a healthy total of 44 historical sites, 61 monuments and statues, and 61 architectural buildings.
Highlights include the Hollywood Sign, the modernist Getty Center, the cosmic wonders of the Griffith Observatory, and the coastal hubbub of Venice Beach. These attractions reinforce Los Angeles as a bucket-list travel destination.
Chicago
Known for its iconic architecture, the so-called ‘birthplace of the skyscraper’ returns to our agenda as one of the top five cities for incredible landmarks and sights. And it’s plain to see why.
Making waves in American architecture throughout the 20th and 21st centuries, the streets of Chicago offer plenty to see and explore.
Chicago earns a score of 57.1 overall with 44 historic sites, 66 key monuments and statues, and 58 architectural buildings to discover. Highlights include Willis Tower – one of the tallest buildings in the U.S. – Millennium Park, the Magnificent Mile, Wrigley Field ballpark, Navy Pier and the Field Museum.
Washington, D.C.
Home to some of the most nationally recognized and significant landmarks in the U.S., Washington, D.C. takes another spot in the top five cities for arts, culture and landmarks.
The distinct architecture and monuments of Washington, D.C. are known across the world, offering a total of 50 historic sites, 65 monuments and statues, and 20 architectural buildings.
An emblem of national identity, no other building reinforces this more than the White House. Meanwhile, other key landmarks include the Lincoln Memorial, U.S. Capitol Building, the towering Washington Monument, the Smithsonian Institution and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial.
With so many treasured art galleries and landmarks to check off your travel bucket list, the question is – where are you heading next? From New York City to the Nation’s Capital, secure unbeatable deals on affordable airport parking and hotels with Airport Parking Reservations.
Methodology
We analyzed Tripadvisor data to determine the number of art venues, museums, and monuments in each city. The data was then ranked and indexed to identify America’s cultural and art capitals.
Photos by:
Ostap Senyuk – Unsplash | Micaela Parente – Unsplash | George Bakos – Unsplash | Chang Ye – Unsplash | Intricate Explorer – Unsplash | Tomasz Zielonka – Unsplash
