Museums
The best places for museums are Athens, Key West, Nassau, Juneau and Grand Cayman. Athens has the Acropolis Museum, the National Archaeological Museum, the Archaeological Museum of Piraeus and the Hellenic Maritime Museum. Key West has four museums run by the Key West Art & Historical Society, plus the Hemingway House and the Truman Little White House. Nassau has the Pirates of Nassau Museum, the National Art Gallery of The Bahamas and the Pompey Museum.
Where it's best
The Acropolis Museum shows more than 4,250 objects over 14,000 square metres, 300 metres from the Acropolis monuments. The National Archaeological Museum, the Archaeological Museum of Piraeus and the Hellenic Maritime Museum add antiquities and ship models.
The Key West Art & Historical Society runs four museums: the Museum of Art & History in the old Custom House on the harbor, the Lighthouse & Keeper's Quarters, Fort East Martello and the Tennessee Williams Museum. The Hemingway House, the Truman Little White House and the Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center are also open for tours and exhibits.
The Pirates of Nassau Museum covers Nassau's pirate past with battle recreations, weapons and displays of pirate life. The Pompey Museum, the National Art Gallery of The Bahamas in Villa Doyle and the Heritage Museum of The Bahamas are also in Downtown Nassau.
The Alaska State Museum shows Tlingit and Haida artifacts, gold rush history and rotating art displays. An admission fee applies, and entry is free for children 18 and under.
In George Town, the Cayman Islands National Museum is in the historic Old Courts Building on Harbour Drive, and an hour covers its highlights. The Cayman Maritime Treasure Museum on N Church Street covers boat building, turtling and pirates. The Cayman Motor Museum in West Bay has over 80 rare and classic cars and motorbikes.
The Totem Heritage Center holds the world's largest collection of 19th-century totem poles, with sixteen on permanent display. The Southeast Alaska Discovery Center has interactive rainforest exhibits and a small theater, and Tongass Historical Museum is on Dock Street downtown.
The Museum of Delos on the site holds findings from the excavations, including some 30,000 vessels and small objects, 8,000 sculptures and 3,000 inscriptions, shown in eleven halls; it is open April to November. In Mykonos Town, the Archaeological Museum of Mykonos shows Cycladic and Classical pottery, and the Aegean Maritime Museum follows the merchant ship in the Aegean.
Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park has over 20 historical buildings, four of them museums open to the public, including the Moore House Museum. The Skagway Museum covers town history from the gold rush to today, and Jeff. Smith's Parlor Museum fills three rooms with rare photos and folk art.
The Palace of the Grand Master in the Medieval City is a museum, and the building is much of the exhibit. The Archaeological Museum is a recommended visit in Rhodes town, and the Marble Head of Helios and the Grave Stele of Krito are notable pieces in the island's museums.
The Museum of Belize is a former prison in the city centre with exhibits on Belize's history and culture. Old Belize at Mile 5 on the Western Highway shows relics and a depiction of colonial-era Belize City, and Government House has rooms of colonial glassware, silverware and furniture. The Image Factory Art Foundation shows contemporary local art.
The Museum of Byzantine Culture had 11 permanent exhibitions as of 2017, covering early Christian, Byzantine, medieval and post-Byzantine objects. The Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki covers Macedonia from prehistory to late antiquity, and the White Tower has a permanent exhibition on the city's history.
The Historical Museum in the 1798 Fort Zoutman traces Aruba's history from its earliest days, and about an hour covers it. The National Archaeological Museum of Aruba is free, with donations welcome, and the Dr. Van den Doel Bible Museum is a sightseeing stop in Oranjestad.
The Cozumel Museum on Av. Rafael E. Melgar has four permanent exhibits on local geography, ecosystems, history and culture. It also has two rooms for changing art shows and a room on 146 years of Carnaval tradition.
The museum at Fort Christian has historical photos, artifacts and furniture, and its roof gives panoramic harbor views.
The Olive Oil Museum shows 2,500 years of olive oil manufacturing techniques and is open daily. Pigeon Island castle is a restored museum open during daylight hours, and the Micro Miniature Museum shows miniature art through microscopes, with erratic opening.
Tours to book
Prices are per person, booked with our partner, Shore Excursions Group.
World Famous Conch Tour Train & Key West Shipwreck Museum
Cultural Museum, Island Sightseeing with Optional Beach Drop Off
Ancient Pella Archaeological Site and Guided Museum Visit with Free Time
Private Ancient Thessaloniki Acropolis, Museums and Landmarks Drive and Walk
