While visiting new places, it is always good to know what your options are. Beyond the standard fare of landmarks and museums, whenever you hear about a destination you plan on visiting, most likely, they will tell you about some museums that are worth seeing. Whether the attraction is full of art, culture, or simply artefacts from different periods, they are always worth visiting. The following are the top reasons why you should visit museums while travelling.

Photo, Chris Nguyen.

1. Museums make your trip more interesting

While some think of museums as being boring, they are attractive. If you’re visiting Florida, there are lots of things to do in Orlando and in other cities of the state, one of them is visiting museums. If you’re some people who can’t stand art or exhibits, you should still try out a museum because they are full of art, culture, history, and more.

2. Museums have interesting exhibits

Exhibits in museums are often noteworthy enough to make your trip worthwhile by itself. From medieval-style armour to the crown jewels of England, you’ll find pieces that will interest you at every museum.

3. Museums are educational

Museums have a lot to teach about many things, from insects to dinosaurs. While you may not think that a museum has anything to do with your trip, it is bound to be educational in some way or another. If you visit museums while travelling then you can learn lots of fun facts whilst still enjoying yourself.

Photo, Werner Du Plessis.

4. Museums are fun

Museums are lots of fun. From the great exhibitions to the talkative guides, museums can be lots of fun. Who knows? You may even want to stay in one city you didn’t plan to visit so that you could go to a museum or two.

5. You can meet new people

In a museum, you can meet lots of interesting people from lots of different places. In most cases, you’ll find someone with the same interests in the museum! Museums are a great place to meet new friends who share your interests.

Not only will you be able to share lots of interests, but everyone in a museum is there for the same thing: To learn and have fun. After talking to many people in museums, it’s hard not to walk away with lots of new friends.

6. Museums can cover every topic

Museums cover every topic known to man. For example, the museum of natural history covers everything from prehistoric times to the present day. This can be great if you are interested in anything and want to learn about it because there is probably a museum out there covering your interests. Museums often cover topics you might not expect them to.

Photo, Matteo Maretto.

7. To get inspired

Being surrounded by many arts can be very inspiring. Museums are filled with paintings, sculptures, and other forms of expression that may give you new ideas on your projects or inspire new ones entirely! Even if you are not an artist, museums can inspire you to try new things.

8. You get to see history come alive

Museums often host displays that show what life would have been like in other times and places. They contain genuine artefacts, clothing, furniture, etc., that were used in those periods or locations. This allows you to feel what it was like during that time, which can be very interesting.

9. Museums are great for little kids

Got kids in tow? Then it’s a must to visit museums while travelling. Museums are often filled with lots of hands-on activities and hands-off things that younger children can interact with. They may even have areas where children can play and explore on their own.

Photo, Jonas Smith.

10. They can be free

Some museums are entirely free to enter, so you don’t have to worry about spending money if your budget is tight. If they do cost something, it’s usually very cheap and affordable for even the poorest of households.

11. Museums can teach you about other cultures

Museums often cover topics that are very specific to certain places or times. They can show you what life was like in ancient Egypt, what the Mayans did for fun, and much more! These museums allow you to learn how people lived thousands of years ago, which is very interesting.

12. Exploring new places and seeing things you may not see otherwise

Museums are often housed in beautiful buildings that you might not get to see otherwise. For example, the museum of modern art is housed inside a building designed by an architect who won a prestigious award for their design. Museums often give you a deeper insight into how beautiful the world is, and they help you appreciate it.

Photo, Gilber Franco.

13. Find new things to do with your free time

Museums can be a great way to kill some time on a day when you have nothing else planned. They’re often relaxing, quiet places where you can walk around and think or observe the things that interest you. It’s an excellent way to clear your mind of the stress that may come with modern life.

14. Museums host events other than art and artifacts

There are a lot of different museums, and they all specialise in uncommon knowledge. Museums host events that can vary from showing off their collections to hosting lectures. While they may not be the highlight for going to a museum, the events add the layer to what you can get out of it.

15. Museums are an enlightening experience

As you walk around a museum, you can be exposed to different cultures and ideas, straight from the source. Whether through seeing masterpieces of art or reading about the history that leads up to it, museums can offer some exciting experiences. The history surrounding us is pretty exciting, and museums are a great way of giving us an intriguing perspective on it.

16. Museums have been around for a long time

Museums aren’t just a new brand of entertainment. They’ve been around for a long time. Powerful empires hosted the first museums primarily to show off their power and wealth. As time went on, they became repositories for our history and knowledge, which they are now.

Photo, Kelvin Han.

17. Museums can be interactive

With some museums offering behind-the-scenes tours, or even special events, your experience doesn’t have to be completely informative. You can actively take part in your learning; instead of just passively watching a video or reading a sign.

18. The knowledge at museums can be applied to your everyday life

Knowledge gained at museums is applicable. Whether you learn about the history of something or how something works, there’s always an application to everyday life. Even just getting information can help you.

19. Museums can help you travel without leaving home

If museums inspire you enough that they want to see it in person, then you can. Many museums offer virtual tours through their web pages, giving you the same experience as if you were there in person. Museums are also great for when you want something to look at while on your commute; use your phone or tablet to check out some art.

Museums are a must-see for any traveller. There are so many types to choose from. One can have a difficult time deciding what exactly they would like to visit. Everyone should decide on their own. But most importantly, if you visit museums while travelling, then you can enjoy all of the above benefits and more.