May 18 is International Museum Day (IMD). Organized by the International Council of Museums (ICOM), the annual event aims to raise awareness of the role these institutions play in cultural exchange, enriching cultures, and fostering understanding among people.

There are approximately 104,000 museums around the world today. In 1975, there were only 22,000. That’s more than 400% growth in 50 years.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), tracks these figures, which seems to support the theme for IMD 2024 — “Museums for Education and Research.”

These venues are vibrant spaces that cultivate learning, inspire curiosity, and contribute to groundbreaking research.

Museum Visits Rise Amid Booming Cultural Tourism Industry

In 2023, 37,000 museums in 158 countries participated in IMD festivities, pushing many international museums’ attendance figures to near pre-pandemic levels.

A survey by The Art Newspaper found that the world’s top 100 museums welcomed 176 million visitors, a staggering jump from 2021’s estimated 71 million guests. Although less than 2019’s 230 million museum visitors, the data indicates that the most prominent institutions are nearing “normal” rates.

Last year, 3.3 million people visited Madrid’s Prado Museum, just 5% less than the total for 2019. In Paris, the Louvre received 8.9 million visitors — 8% below pre-pandemic levels but still enough to make it the world’s most visited museum.

These positive developments track when aligned with considerable cultural tourism changes. The World Tourism Organization defines cultural tourism as, “tourism activity in which the visitor’s essential motivation is to learn, discover, experience and consume the tangible and intangible cultural attractions/products in a tourism destination.”

According to Yahoo Finance, the global cultural tourism market’s net worth hit $5.9 billion in 2023. Experts anticipate the industry’s value will quadruple to $22.8 billion in the next decade.

Unmatched Museum Cities Around the World

These statistics indicate a fast-growing demand for museum-led cultural experiences. Those looking to engage in culturally significant experiences abroad can travel to Europe’s bucket list cities. United States-based explorers can visit three world-leading museums found in their backyard.

London

Trivia gurus interested in travel facts should note that the United Kingdom’s capital is home to more than 192 museums. The well-known British Museum welcomes six million visitors annually. In addition to its scientific and historical offerings, London boasts iconic art museums, like the Tate Modern.

Alex Caspero, food and travel writer at Delish Knowledge, says, “The Tate Modern in London has some of the most impressive art collections in the world – especially for art enthusiasts who appreciate modern art over the offerings at the National Gallery.”

Vatican City

While all Italian cities are historically and culturally significant, few compare to Rome. Tourist Italy reports that 35 million people visited the Eternal City in 2023. Alongside iconic ancient attractions like the Colosseum, Parthenon, and Roman Forum, it’s home to Vatican City and the inimitable Vatican Museums.

Chantelle Kincy of travel site Flannels or FlipFlops says, “The Vatican Museums are a must-see when visiting Rome. You can spend hours walking through its galleries, seeing incredible art and history. You’ll also get the opportunity to see the Sistine Chapel, which is amazing.”

Washington D.C.

The United States capital is another renowned museum destination. “ Washington D.C. is a goldmine of museums for history lovers,” says Karee Blunt, travel writer at Our Woven Journey.

“You could spend days exploring the Smithsonian museums — all but one offer free admission! — and still not see everything. Our favorite is the National Museum of American History. Where else can you find the Hope Diamond, Dorothy’s ruby slipper, a 94-foot-long, 21,000-pound model of a blue whale, and Abe Lincoln’s hat all in one place?”

Philadelphia

In 2015, UNESCO named Philadelphia America’s first World Heritage City. It’s full of history and has leading cultural venues that celebrate it.

Margarita Ibbott, founder of DownshiftingPRO and freelance travel and arts writer, notes, “The City of Brotherly Love, Philadelphia, has an entire Parkway dedicated to fine art, natural history, and science establishments. From The Barnes Foundation to The Rodin Museum, The Franklin Institute to The Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philly is a must for museum lovers.”

Chicago

The Windy City is home to some of the best museums on earth. Melanie Allen from Partners in Fire shed light on a few of them:

“First, there’s the Museum of Science and Industry, which features a German U-boat from WW2. Next, the Field Museum of Natural History, which has SUE, the largest & most intact T-Rex fossil ever discovered, and Lucy, one of the earliest fossils of a bipedal ape.

“The Shedd Aquarium and Adler Planetarium are also located on the museum campus near the Field Museum, so visitors can explore mankind’s last two frontiers on the same day if they want.

“Finally, there’s my personal favorite, the art institute. Visitors are greeted by two stone lions standing guard outside. The halls burst with artworks spanning centuries, from the medieval hall of armor downstairs to one of the biggest collections of impressionist work outside Paris.”

This article was produced by Media Decision and syndicated by Wealth of Geeks.