American Museum of Natural History

We absolutely loved our visit to the American Museum of Natural History! There is so much to see and explore that you could easily spend an entire day here. My favorite exhibit was the Oceans section, seeing the enormous Blue Whale suspended from the ceiling was truly breathtaking and one of the highlights of our trip. We also spent a lot of time in the dinosaur halls, which were incredible. The fossil displays are impressive, and it's amazing to see the massive dinosaur skeletons up close. We also ate at the museum restaurant and were pleasantly surprised by how delicious the food was. It was the perfect place to take a break and recharge before continuing our adventure through the exhibits. This museum is fascinating for both kids and adults, and every gallery offers something unique to discover. We can't wait to come back and explore even more on our next visit!
Michelle Ellis - 2 weeks ago

American Museum of Natural History is a large, multi-building museum complex on the Upper West Side of Manhattan known for its expansive collection of scientific, cultural, and natural history exhibits. The space is spread across multiple floors and interconnected halls, giving it a wide, branching layout where each section leads into a different themed environment. The scale of the building is immediately noticeable, and the interior feels designed for long, continuous exploration rather than a quick walkthrough. The most recognizable sections include the dinosaur fossil halls, where large skeletons and prehistoric displays dominate the space and create a strong sense of scale. The ocean life exhibits and taxidermy dioramas add a more detailed, observational layer, with carefully arranged environments that feel distinct from the fossil-heavy areas. Other sections like the butterfly exhibit and interactive displays introduce a lighter, more hands-on contrast, adding variety across the different floors and wings of the museum. Movement through the museum feels open-ended and self-directed, with visitors often shifting between floors and halls based on visual interest rather than a fixed route. The size of the museum naturally leads to a slower pace, and it is common for sections to feel densely packed with information and exhibits, making it easy to spend extended time inside without fully covering everything.
Nicky's Travels - a month ago

The American Museum of Natural History in New York was honestly such a fun experience for the family. The exhibits were beautiful, the dinosaurs were amazing, and there was so much to see that you could spend all day there. Definitely worth visiting at least once! BUT… be prepared to spend money before you even walk in 😭 I get it it’s Manhattan. It’s New York. But gosh We got there around 9:30 AM thinking we were early, only to realize the museum doesn’t open until 10. We sat waiting for about 45 minutes while the parking garage clock kept running the whole time. Parking ended up costing us $60 alone,18% tax/fee And don’t even get food from the carts outside unless you ask for prices FIRST. $85 for 5 hot dogs, fries, and drinks. Absolutely insane. Overall: amazing museum, but the parking garage prices and food carts outside were crazy expensive. Plan ahead, bring snacks, and expect NYC prices!
Linny R - a month ago

Although we didn’t have the opportunity to visit the museum itself, we spent some time exploring the grounds while walking through the area with our family, and we were very impressed. The building is absolutely beautiful, and the courtyard is stunning. The fountain, benches, and overall atmosphere make it a wonderful place to relax, take photos, and enjoy a peaceful break from the city. We ended up spending quite a bit of time there simply enjoying the surroundings. I would also like to give a special thank you to the security guard who was working at the entrance on May 18, 2026. My daughter urgently needed a restroom, and he was incredibly kind and helpful. He politely guided us and showed us exactly where to go. His friendliness and willingness to help made a great impression on us. Based on this experience alone, we would highly recommend stopping by to admire the beautiful architecture and outdoor spaces. We definitely plan to return and visit the museum itself on our next trip.
Lina - a month ago

You can easily spend a whole day here. There are 5 levels of exhibitions as well as ticketed exhibitions. If you can I would recommend getting the general admission with all ticketed exhibits. Their ticketed exhibits are truly amazing. We went to the milky way ticketed exhibit and it was mind-blowing. Try to come early as long lines forms as it gets nearer to noon. Personally I find the level 1 exhibitions being more interesting. The level 4 dinosaur exhibitions are very cool as well. Most of the bones are real ones!
SL Wong - a month ago