Museums and gallerys

From the world class and monumental to the curious and downright quirky, New York's museums and galleries have it covered. The Metropolitan Museum of Art is an absolute must. Its more than two million exhibits from the last 5,000 years draw nearly five million visitors every year. Pick a gallery to avoid being overwhelmed - stay in the ancient world in the Greek, Roman and Egyptian galleries, visit medieval Europe or chart the history of North America from Native American art to the modern collections - the Met even has a collection of rare baseball cards.

The Museum of Modern Art, best known as MoMA, is another place to lose yourself, such is the vastness of its collection. Home to iconic works by Picasso, Dali and Matisse amongst the Europeans, MoMA also displays the giants of American art - Andy Warhol, Jackson Pollock and Willem de Kooning.

For something more ancient, try the famous dinosaur halls at the American Museum of Natural History, where the giant skeletons are just a few of the more than 30 million exhibits at this museum, covering the origins of the earth and evolution of life. The interactive displays will educate and entertain children of all ages.

Smaller museums and galleries abound - from the Lower East Side Tenement Museum, where you can get a glimpse of early 20th century immigrant life, to the Museo del Barrio chronicling Latino culture, the Skyscraper Museum, and even the Museum of Sex. Sometimes the best museums are the ones you stumble across, where you'll be captivated by something you never even knew you were interested in.