American Museum of Natural History

Purchase general admission American Museum of Natural History tickets to explore the permanent exhibits and the Rose Center for Earth and Space. Alternatively, purchase an upgraded ticket that adds access to space shows in the Hayden Planetarium, IMAX films, and ticketed temporary and seasonal exhibitions, such as the annual Butterfly Conservatory.

Guided American Museum of Natural History tours are great for checking off all the must-sees. Choose between family-oriented tours, highlights tours, small-group tours, private tours, and early access tours that allow participants to explore before official opening hours. Some guided tours combine visits to the Natural History Museum with trips to other cultural institutions such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met). Various New York City sightseeing and discount passes include admission to the museum.

• The American Museum of Natural History is a must for families.

• Leave large bags, luggage, and selfie sticks at home, as they are not allowed in the museum.

• Download the AMNH Explorer App on your smartphone to help you navigate.

• The museum is fully-accessible to wheelchairs and strollers.

• A food court can be found on the museum’s lower level, while cafés are situated on the first and fourth floors.

• If you have kids and your days are booked, spend the night at the museum on organized sleepovers.

The museum is in the Upper West Side of Manhattan in New York City. Parking in NYC is expensive, so it’s best to arrive on public transport. Ride the B or C subway lines to 81st Street, or the 1 train to Broadway and West 79th Street. Hop-on hop-off bus tours of New York also stop here.

The museum is very popular among families, so expect bigger crowds on weekends, school vacations, and rainy days. Plan to arrive early and head directly to the more popular exhibits, such as the David H. Koch Dinosaur Wing, which tends to get busier as the day goes on.

Of all the exhibits at the museum, few are as popular among young visitors as the dinosaurs. Highlights include the Allosaurus, depicted hunched over and feeding on a carcass, and a Tyrannosaurus rex shown in stalking mode. Other standout displays include the animal dioramas at the Family Hall of North American Mammals, the Asian elephants at the Akeley Hall of African Mammals, and the 94-foot-long (29-meter-long) blue whale model suspended from the ceiling at the Milstein Hall of Ocean Life.

Visitors should expect to spend two to three hours exploring the American Museum of Natural History’s permanent collection. Add another hour to see one of the special exhibitions or attend a performance. Travelers who aren’t in a hurry can spend a whole day here.

Yes, visiting the American Museum of Natural History requires reservations as it operates on a timed entry basis. However, visitors arriving without reservations can easily use their phones to reserve tickets.

Yes, all exhibits at the American Museum of Natural History are wheelchair-accessible. All public floors are reachable by elevator, and several restrooms are wheelchair-accessible. Non-motorized wheelchairs are available to visitors at no cost on a first-come, first-served basis. Additionally, service animals are welcome inside the museum, as are strollers.

Yes, visitors are welcome to bring their water bottles inside the American Museum of Natural History. Note, however, that eating is not permitted in the museum’s exhibition spaces. Visitors can dine at the museum’s food court or in one of the cafés.

Yes, you can take small bags into the American Museum of Natural History, but they must be small enough to carry on your shoulder. Large backpacks, bulky bags, and suitcases are not allowed inside. Since the coat check isn’t always available, it’s best to leave larger bags at home.

Yes. Except where noted otherwise, visitors are welcome to take photos in the American Museum of Natural History, as long as they are only for personal and not professional use. But leave selfie sticks at home: they’re not allowed inside the museum.