Guggenheim Museum in New York: An Iconic Museum

What You Need to Know About the Guggenheim Museum

• The Guggenheim Museum in New York opened in 1959 on Fifth Avenue in the Upper East Side of Manhattan. It houses the personal collection of American industrialist Solomon Robert Guggenheim. This wealthy art collector spent his lifetime assembling an extraordinary collection with the help of German artist Hilla de Rebay. Solomon R. Guggenheim died in 1949 and never saw his vision completed.
• The Guggenheim Museum’s exterior is equally striking. The building was designed by American architect Frank Lloyd Wright. The design proved so successful that some New York observers criticized Wright at the time for creating an exhibition space whose beauty might rival that of the artworks themselves.
• Unlike a traditional museum where you wander from room to room, the Guggenheim offers a carefully structured visit. After passing through the entrance and ticket counters, take one of the elevators to the top floor. From there, you descend at your own pace through the galleries spiraling down to the ground floor. The galleries line a gentle spiral ramp—a unique design found nowhere else. You cannot get lost.

What to See at the Guggenheim Museum

• When you first enter the Guggenheim Museum, look up at the skylight. You’ll see the museum’s remarkable spiral bathed in natural light. Architect Frank Lloyd Wright perfectly realized Hilla de Rebay’s vision—she asked him to create “a temple of the spirit, a monument.” The Guggenheim Museum ranks among New York’s most iconic landmarks.
• The permanent collection features all the major names in painting: Pablo Picasso, Auguste Renoir, Édouard Manet, Paul Cézanne, Salvador Dalí, Vincent van Gogh, Juan Miró, Paul Klee, and Georges Braque. You’ll also find significant sculptures by Brancusi and Alberto Giacometti. Solomon R. Guggenheim was a discerning collector and shrewd buyer.
• Today the museum holds over 8,000 artworks spanning the 19th century to the present. The collection continues to grow, carrying forward Solomon R. Guggenheim’s legacy.

Visiting the Guggenheim Museum in New York

• Address: 1071 Fifth Avenue, New York. The museum faces Central Park between 88th and 89th Street.
• Subway: 86 St.
• Hours: Open daily from 10 am to 5:30 pm.
• Admission: $25 for adults, $18 for seniors 65+ and students. Free for children under 12.
• Tip: Purchase a combined ticket that includes museum admission and an audioguide. You can pay in US dollars, euros, or Canadian dollars. Visit our ticket and audioguide booking page for the Guggenheim Museum.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Guggenheim Museum at a Glance

Reviews of the Guggenheim Museum in New York

• Pierre P. : “The Guggenheim Museum is essential for 20th-century art lovers. I prefer it to the MoMA, but that’s just my opinion.”
• Jenny H.-D. : “I love art and really enjoyed this. You’ll find mostly modern works but also some classic pieces, and above all, incredible architecture.”
• Philippe B. : “It’s a work of art in itself—Frank Lloyd Wright’s work. He was one of the greatest architects of all time, and this is one of his masterpieces.”
• Anne M. : “You have to go just for the architecture.”
• Isabelle L. : “Go for Wright’s building and the spiral journey! It’s an architectural experience like the Summit.”
• Will M. : “A beautiful museum. Wonderful paintings that complement the other museums.”
• Françoise P. : “Superb architecture, but the interior depends on the exhibitions. It’s inconsistent.”
• Sandrine D.-P. : “The architecture is lovely. The experience depends on the programming. But the Picasso, Degas, and Manet paintings are simply exceptional.”
• Olivier C. : “The Guggenheim is a magnificent museum with beautiful architecture. It has fewer works than the MoMA, so your visit will be shorter—good to know when planning your day. You can combine a museum visit with a walk through Central Park.”
• Philippe V. : “Beautiful exterior and interior architecture. Superb collection. But not enough works.”
• Isabelle R. : “I loved it. Magnificent! I’d go back.”