Visiting the Best Museums in the World in Retirement

One of the best things that retirement gives you is time. When you’re in the workforce, large amounts of your life are occupied by work. This doesn’t just mean the time when you’re actually working, either. It also means commuting time, preparation time, the time you spend thinking about work, and the time you spend coming down from a busy or stressful day. 

This means you often aren’t able to do all the things you’d like to do, especially if those things are time-consuming or involve travel. Something else that takes a lot of time is visiting a museum. These institutions are often quite large, and you could easily spend an entire day (or more) in some of the largest museums.

This is why, when people retire, they often decide to dedicate some of their time to visiting museums. For a lot of people, that means staying local. Depending on where you live, you might have museums and galleries nearby that you can explore. However, since retirement gives you time, you might want to take this a step farther.

There are incredible museums all around the world and each one offers a unique experience. If you have the time and the financial means, visiting the world’s best museums in retirement can be a great idea. Whether you travel alone, with a partner, or with a tour group, there’s plenty to see and it can be a very enriching experience. 

What Are the Best Museums in the World?

The word “best” is subjective. It really depends on what you like, what you’re interested in, and where you’d like to visit. If you’re just starting the planning phase, think about your interests. Do you prefer learning about historic artifacts or are you more interested in paintings and sculptures? Which time periods and cultures more interest you? Since you’ll be traveling to these museums, you’ll also want to research the countries they’re located in when putting together your trip.

While everyone is different, there are some museums that are internationally recognized as among the best in the world. These are some that you might want to consider adding to your list. 

The Louvre

This is possibly the most famous museum in the world and also the largest by square footage. Located in the center of Paris, it is home to many of the most well-known sculptures, paintings, and antiquities today, including the Venus de Milo and the Mona Lisa. 

The Vatican Museums

Located in Vatican City, a sovereign city-state within an enclave in Rome, these museums display the Catholic Church’s art collections. The Sistine Chapel and its famous painted ceiling are located at the end of the tour of the museum. You’ll also find several sculpture museums, collections of religious art, and some of the most famous frescoes in the world.

The National Museum of China

This art and history museum is located in Tiananmen Square in Beijing. It houses a large collection of Chinese cultural relics and covers Chinese history from as far back as 1.7 million years ago. You’ll find extensive bronze work, beautiful jade objects, and a huge collection of pottery. 

The British Museum

The British Museum in London and was the world’s first public national museum. It has one of the largest artifact collections in the world. Some of the most famous pieces in the museum are the Elgin marble sculptures and a vast collection of ancient Egyptian art (including the Rosetta Stone, which helped unlock the secret to reading Egyptian hieroglyphs). 

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

This large museum can be found in New York City, and it holds almost two million works of art. It also holds collections of musical instruments, costumes, and weapons from around the world. It is well-know for its plein air, impressionist, and post-impressionist paintings.

The Smithsonian Institution

The Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC was created by the United States federal government is actually a museum complex, containing 19 different museums and galleries. Admission to all museums is free. Due to the number of galleries and the no-cost entry, you should plan your trip in advance and probably space out your visits, so you don’t exhaust yourself. 

The Uffizi Gallery

This gallery in Florence houses some of the largest and oldest pieces of Italian Renaissance art in the world. Here you’ll find work by Sandro Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Michaelangelo, Caravaggio, and many other legendary artists. 

The Grand Egyptian Museum

This national archaeological museum in Giza is dedicated to Ancient Egyptian culture and artifacts and is the largest museum in the world for a single civilization. It contains all 5,400 artifacts recovered from King Tutankhamun’s tomb as well as a large 11-meter-tall statue of Ramses II in the atrium. 

The Museum of the Future

Unlike the other museums on this list, this Dubai institution doesn’t look to the past but instead focuses on the future. It focuses on innovation, science, and technology and takes visitors on a fictional journey to 2071, when everything within the museum is predicted to be in existence. 

The Museum of Old and New Art

This museum is located in Hobart, Tasmania, and is primarily located underground. The museums three levels are carved from raw sandstone and there are no set path or traditional labels to be found. You are free to explore the museum in any way you wish. It is home to both ancient art and contemporary pieces. 

Why Visit Museums Around the World

Of course, every person is different, and you’ll have your own interests and things you care about. Visiting great museums may not be on your bucket list right now, but there are a lot of reasons why you should at least consider it. 

The first is sheer enjoyment. It sounds odd to say, but this is what your retirement is about. You’ve worked your entire life and now you deserve to enjoy yourself. You also deserve to set your own schedule. For years, everything you’ve done has been dictated by your career. It’s now time to do something for your self on your timeline. The beauty of traveling to different museums is that you set what you’d like your trips to do. Sometimes, that might mean visiting an area just for a single institution. In other cases, it might mean visiting several museums in one trip, while sometimes it entails stopping in at a museum as a part of a larger visit. Being able to set your own schedule can be very liberating.

There’s also the education that you get from museums. Learning about history and other cultures isn’t just enlightening, but it also helps engage your brain and keep your mind stimulated. This is incredibly important as you age as it can help slow cognitive decline.

Traveling to the best museums in the world also lets you experience other cultures, meet new people, and become exposed to different lifestyles. This is another way to strengthen your cognitive ability and it’s also a great way to elevate your mood and help you stay energized.