Summary
- History of the Guggenheim Museum in New York City
- Our tips for a good visit to the Guggenheim Museum in New York City
- - Best time to visit the Guggenheim Museum
- - Some practical information
- What to do when you visit the Guggenheim Museum in New York?
- - The Collections
- - After the visit
- How much does a ticket to the Guggenheim Museum in New York cost?
- - How do I book a ticket for the Guggenheim Museum online?
- Are there guided tours of the Guggenheim Museum?
- Are there combined tours with other monuments?
- Opening Hours for the Guggenheim Museum in New York City
- How do I get to the Guggenheim Museum in New York?
- - Where to park near the Guggenheim Museum?
- Where to stay near the Guggenheim Museum in New York City?
Would you like to discover the "Big Apple"? Then be sure to visit the Guggenheim Museum in New York!
Also known as the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, or more commonly known as the Guggenheim, the Guggenheim Museum is one of the most important museums in New York City. Located on Fifth Avenue on the Upper East Side, it is dedicated to modern and contemporary art. Inside, you will discover many well-organized and highly interesting collections and exhibitions. The exterior of the Guggenheim also does not go unnoticed! Its rounded shape is truly atypical in its architecture.
Would you like to visit the Guggenheim Museum in New York? Then you will find all the information you need to discover this temple of modern art in this article. From tips, history and practical information to prices and opening hours, you'll find all the information you need to plan your visit and make the most of it!
Also read: The 25 must-do things to do in New York City
History of the Guggenheim Museum in New York City
There are several Guggenheim museums around the world. The Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, established in 1937 by industrialist and patron Solomon R. Guggenheim and artist Hilla Rebay, has opened three: one in Bilbao, one in Venice, and one in New York. The illustrious architect Frank Lloyd Wright designed the latter. He started working on the project in 1943, but several events meant that construction did not begin until 1956! The museum finally opened its doors on October 21, 1959, six months after the death of its architect and ten years after the death of Solomon R. Guggenheim.
The museum was refurbished several times in the 1990s to allow public access to all floors of the building designed by Wright. In 2015, this surprising building was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The museum itself is already a work to contemplate. Admiring its exterior will mark the beginning of your visit to the New York Guggenheim!
Our tips for a good visit to the Guggenheim Museum in New York City
Are you arriving soon in New York and would like to organize your discoveries? We understand you perfectly, time is precious! To help you discover this must-see museum, here is some advice and information on how to best visit it:
Best time to visit the Guggenheim Museum
The Guggenheim Museum is very busy on Saturdays. We therefore recommend that you visit it during the week. The museum also organizes a guided tour at 2pm. If you would like to learn more about the works on display, we recommend it. However, plan to come early to make sure you have a place, and especially to choose a day during the week!
Some practical information
Here is some practical information you should know before visiting the Guggenheim Museum in New York :
- There is a free deposit box for your bags (56x36x23 cm maximum), strollers and umbrellas. These items are not allowed inside the museum, for big bags. So plan to leave them at your accommodation.
- You can take pictures in the Guggenheim, but you don't have to use a tripod.
The museum offers a free Wi-Fi connection. To take advantage of it, you need to download the museum's application (Google Play or iOS) to your phone. It also allows you to find out more about the works on display. - It is forbidden to throw coins into the fountain.
- Drinks, food and baby bottles are not allowed in the museum.
- The Guggenheim Museum is fully accessible to people with disabilities.
The museum accepts guide dogs in its enclosure.
If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact the Guggenheim before your visit.
What to do when you visit the Guggenheim Museum in New York?
Before visiting the museum, you will need to leave your personal belongings at the free luggage locker. The works are on display in the rotunda and in the halls. Temporary exhibitions are located in both blocks of the museum.
Visitors are then free to choose the direction of their visit to the Guggenheim Museum. Each visitor can live his or her own experience of this unconventional facility, which presents art in a continuous, open space. You can begin your visit by taking the gently sloping ramp that runs along the rotunda.
It is also possible to go directly up to the top floor by elevator and then down through the rotunda! Throughout your visit, you will be able to contemplate paintings by different artists. These exceptional works are displayed on the walls of the rotunda and in small rooms can appear as a labyrinth. In fact, you can go from the tower to the rotunda during the exhibitions without necessarily noticing it!
The collections
The Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation began exhibiting works in the Museum of Non-Objective Painting as early as 1939. This institution prefigured the current Guggenheim Museum. Behind the word "non-figurative painting" lies a current of modern and contemporary art born in the early 1940s. The works on display date from the end of the 19th and 20th centuries.
The Guggenheim Collection is located on Level 3. It features works by great artists such as Marc Chagall and Piet Mondrian. The Thannhauser Collection is on level 2. This collection exhibits works by great artists such as Picasso, Cézanne and others. You can also discover the Kandinsky Collection. It presents more than 150 paintings by this famous Russian painter.
The museum also hosts temporary exhibitions. Do not hesitate to consult the calendar on the official website of the museum to learn more about them. You will then know which exhibitions are planned and if one of them might interest you!
After the visit
In the tower, you will find a cafeteria, Café 3, which offers sandwiches, pastries and hot drinks. Its rounded shape offers a beautiful view of Central Park.
On the ground floor of the rotunda you can have lunch at The Wright, a charming American bistro designed by Andre Kikoski. You will also find two shops for souvenirs, one on the ground floor and the other on level 5 of the tower.
How much does a ticket to the Guggenheim Museum in New York City cost?
Good plan: on Saturdays from 5:45 pm to 7:45 pm, it is possible to pay the entrance fee you want. However, the entrance is not free, you just have to give the amount you want, usually we recommend $10. To take advantage of this, plan to come in advance, around 5:15 pm for example. The last entrance is also at 7:15 pm.
How do I book a ticket for the Guggenheim Museum online?
You can book your ticket to visit the Guggenheim Museum in New York City directly on the museum's official website. But before you buy it, you should be aware that admission to the Guggenheim Museum is included in several New York passes.
You can visit the Guggenheim Museum for free with the New York Explorer Pass, the New York Pass, and the New York City Pass. These three passes are a great way to save on the cost of museum admission. It also offers line-cancellation tickets. This way you will avoid long queues at the entrance. These passes will therefore save you time and money! You can of course buy them before your trip to New York and online.
Are there guided tours of the Guggenheim Museum?
The museum offers free guided tours every day at 2pm.
Are there combined tours with other monuments?
There are no combination tours with other monuments or museums. However, with your pass, you can access many other must-see sites in New York City. They offer you admission to between ten and a hundred activities and monuments.
Opening hours of the Guggenheim Museum in New York City
The Guggenheim Museum is open:
- Every day from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
- On Saturdays and Tuesdays, it opens until 8 pm.
The museum is closed on December 25th. It has special opening hours for the Christmas and New Year's Eve celebrations:
- December 24th: 10am to 4pm
- December 26th: 10am to 8pm
- January 1st: 11am to 6pm
How do I get to the Guggenheim Museum in New York?
The museum is located on Fifth Avenue. Its full address is 1071 5th Avenue, New York, NY 10128. To reach it, you can take:
- The subway, with lines 4, 5 or 6 to the 86th Street station. From this stop, walk up East 86 Street to Central Park and turn right. The Museum is located between 88th and 89th Streets and is not to be missed.
- The bus, thanks to the M1, M2, M3 or M4 lines to Madison or Fifth Avenue stops.
Where to park near the Guggenheim Museum?
There are several parking lots near the Guggenheim Museum. However, this option is quite expensive. The minimum charge is $29 for one hour of parking. There are also half-day options at the Icon Parking for an average of $69 (reserve online).
Where to stay near the Guggenheim Museum in New York City?
The Guggenheim Museum is located on the Upper East Side, one of the best neighborhoods to stay in Manhattan. Adjacent to Central Park and very popular with New Yorkers, it will delight lovers of culture, museums and art galleries because it is full of them! This chic neighborhood is perfect for a stay in New York. Well located, you won't be bored. However, the prices here are very high. Count from 100 to 200€ per night in an Airbnb accommodation and at least 200€ for a night in a hotel.
Also read: In which neighborhood to stay in New York?
