Museums
Photo: Remi Mathis, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Museums are institutions that showcase a collection of artifacts or other objects, to educate visitors about some topic. Museums exist for practically every subject you can imagine, from typical areas like history, art, or science to strange niche topics like eccentric collections, espionage, and even fringe phenomena.
UnderstandMuseums can be traced back over 2,000 years to private collections of wealthy individuals. Public museums started in the late middle ages. The Capitoline Museums were founded in 1471 and opened to the public in 1734.
Get inSome museums charge admission (to support the work of the museum), whereas others have free entry. Some museums have agreements where members of one museum get free or reduced admission to others.
SeeGuided tours are usually possible and may even be free. In certain museums a guided tour may be the only way visitors are allowed in.
DoMuseums, especially if oriented towards kids, may have performances or interactive activities. Science museums in particular often have elaborate interactive exhibits exploring scientific phenomena.
BuyThere will often be a souvenir shop on-site.
EatThe food at museum cafes or restaurants is likely to be overpriced; therefore, if the museum is in a city with other restaurants within walking distance, you may be able to save money by getting your meal at a…
SleepWhile most museums (and their curators) are not hôteliers or pub and tavern landlords, a few organise occasional sleepovers aimed at children (typically around 10 years old, maybe with a parent).
RespectIn a museum, especially one with valuable or historically significant objects on display, you must have respect toward the objects being shown.
DestinationsMuseums can be found all over the world. Even small cities will often have one or two, maybe to educate visitors about local history or display some local resident's unusual interest.
See also
Sources and licences
- Guide text adapted from the Wikivoyage article "Museums" by its contributors, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read on Wikivoyage · Contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Photo: Remi Mathis, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons