- For many tourists, museums and art galleries are must-see attractions.
- According to the most recent edition of the Global Attractions Attendance Report, there's been considerable growth in the number of visitors to Chinese museums.
- Despite this, institutions across Europe still receive the most visitors in total.
- Visit INSIDER's homepage for more stories.
Visiting a museum or an art gallery is often high on the agenda for many tourists and travelers when planning their vacation.
These must-see attractions offer holidaymakers the opportunity to soak up history, see masterpieces, and ingest knowledge over time, from many artists, across the globe. But which institutions are attracting the most people?
In the most recent edition of the Global Attractions Attendance Report, the Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) has ranked the world's museums that received the most visitors in 2018.
Read more: 10 incredible places around the world where visitors are forbidden
The total number of visitors across the 20 most visited museums in the world has stayed relatively stable, at 108.1 million.
Despite considerable growth in Chinese museums, institutions across Europe still dominate in terms of the number of visitors.
These were the 15 most visited museums and galleries across the globe in 2018.
15. Zhejiang Museum — Hangzhou, China
Number of visitors in 2018: 4.2 million
Growth compared with 2017: +14.4%
According to the TEA, many Chinese museums saw double-digit growth in the amount of visitors they had in 2018.
This was particularly the case for Zheijang Museum.
14. Hermitage Museum — St. Petersburg, Russia
Number of visitors in 2018: 4.2 million
Growth compared with 2017: +1.8%
One of the three largest museums in the world (along with the Louvre and the Met), the Hermitage has been open since 1764.
13. China Science and Technology Museum — Beijing, China
Number of visitors in 2018: 4.4 million
Growth compared with 2017: +10.5%
Located near the Beijing Olympic Stadium, this is the most visited museum in China for which you have to pay entry.
12. National Gallery of Art — Washington, United States
Number of visitors in 2018: 4.4 million
Growth compared with 2017: -15,8%
As well as putting staff there out of work, the US government shutdown has had a serious impact on visitor numbers to the National Gallery of Art — it meant that the institution was off-limits to the public until the end of 2018.
11. National Museum of Natural History — Washington, United States
Number of visitors in 2018: 4.8 million
Growth compared with 2017: -20%
This institution is home to 185 natural history researchers, the largest of its kind in the world.
10. American Museum of Natural History — New York City, United States
Number of visitors in 2018: 5 million
Growth compared with 2017: 0%
Though the movie was actually filmed in studios, the American Museum of Natural History is where the film "Night at the Museum" was set.
9. Natural History Museum — London, United Kingdom
Number of visitors in 2018: 5.2 million
Growth compared with 2017: +9.7%
The Natural History Museum is home to various specimens collected by Charles Darwin.
8. National Gallery — London, United Kingdom
Number of visitors in 2018: 5.736 million
Growth compared with 2017: +9.7%
Based at Trafalgar Square, entry to this museum is free, as it is for many other major museums in London.
7. Tate Modern — London, United Kingdom
Number of visitors in 2018: 5.8 million
Growth compared with 2017: -1.3%
The Tate is the most visited modern art institution in the world.
It also offers panoramic views of London from its top floor, which you can access for free.
6. British Museum — London, United Kingdom
Number of visitors in 2018: 5.8 million
5. National Air and Space Museum — Washington, United States
Number of visitors in 2018: 4.8 million
Growth compared with 2017: -20%
This museum is home to some important items in the history of aviation, including the plane that allowed Charles Lindberg to cross the Atlantic and the Apollo 11 control module.
4. Vatican Museum — Vatican City
Number of visitors in 2018: 6.7 million
Growth compared with 2017: +5.1%
Situated in the papal city, this museum houses the famous Sistine Chapel, which is part of the reason why it's visited by so many people.
3. Metropolitan Museum of Art — New York City, United States
Number of visitors in 2018: 7.36 million
Growth compared with 2017: +5.1%
In 2018, the "Met" held the most attended exhibition in its history.
"Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination", which explores the influence of the Catholic Church on fashion design, was attended by 1.7 million visitors.
2. National Museum of China — Beijing, China
Number of visitors in 2018: 8.6 million
Growth compared with 2017: +6.8%
Situated on Tian'anmen Square, the museum occupies almost 200,000 square meters and traces the history of the country all the way back to roughly one million years ago.
1. Louvre Museum — Paris, France
Number of visitors in 2018: 10.2 million
Growth compared with 2017: +25.9%
The Louvre had a record year in 2018 with over 10 million visitors.
This can probably be put down to the Eugène Delacroix exhibition, a new online booking system, as well as the Beyoncé and Jay-Z video shot in the building, according to the TEA.