World's Top Museums Revealed

— -- intro: Ask a traveler what they plan to do on their next city jaunt and no doubt museum-hopping will be near the top of the list.

TripAdvisor has just announced its Travelers' Choice Awards for museums, naming the top 10 in the world. Turns out the world's greatest museum is pretty close to home, so if you've got a trip to the Windy City coming up put this attraction on your must-see list.

quicklist: 1title: Art Institute of Chicagotext: According to TripAdvisor's members, the Art Institute of Chicago is the world's best museum. With more than 6,000 reviews, travelers have plenty to say about this gem of the Midwest. “I've been visiting Chicago for 40 years, and on every visit, I go here. It never gets old. Paintings from every era, works from every great artist." said one TripAdvisor member.

From TripAdvisor: Founded in 1879, this museum is home to more than 300,000 pieces of art including the famous “American Gothic” painting by Grant Wood and “Stack of Wheat” by Claude Monet. In addition to its permanent displays, the museum hosts 30 rotating exhibitions and hundreds of gallery talks and performances each year. media: 25539619

quicklist: 2title: National Museum of Anthropology (Museo Nacional de Antropologia), Mexico City text: Mexico City's top museum and the number two museum in the world. “Imposing architecture sets the scene for the first-rate sculptures, murals, carvings and artifacts giving an overview of the region pre-conquest.”media: 25539719

quicklist: 3title: State Hermitage Museum and Winter Palace, St. Petersburg, Russiatext: If you can get there, you must. “All of the world's beauty in one museum. It lets your mind travel to all the places and eras you always wanted to go.”media: 25539771

quicklist: 4title: The Getty Center, Los Angelestext: Situated in the Santa Monica Mountains, the Getty Center features impressive art such as the “Arii Matamoe” painting by Paul Gauguin and Vincent van Gogh’s “Irises.” Beyond its impressive gallery, guests can enjoy views of the Los Angeles skyline from the museum’s lush gardens. “If you appreciate design, art, stunning gardens, and one of the best views of L.A., the Getty is a must-see,” noted a TripAdvisor reviewer. media: 25539873

quicklist: 5title: Galleria dell'Accademia/Statue of David, Florence, Italytext: Says one traveler: “No matter how many photos you've seen, it's not the same as standing in the shadow of this magnificent sculpture.”media: 25540304

quicklist: 6title: Musee d'Orsay, Paris text: One reviewer noted: “All the masters. Awestruck. Started on the bottom and spiraled over several hours to the top. The building is the perfect backdrop to the art work.”media: 25540702

quicklist: 7title: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York Citytext: One of the world’s largest art museums, this Big Apple attraction includes more than two million magnificent pieces from around the world, including works by Gustave Courbet, Nicolas Poussin, and Caravaggio. On display, guests can view a variety of art work including paintings, drawings, musical instruments, and photographs. “Simply one of the best art museums in the world. It’s hard to overstate how fantastic it is – a must-see for art lovers,” said a TripAdvisor reviewer.media: 25540873

quicklist: 8title: The Acropolis Museum, Athens text: An absolute must for any visitor to Greece. "The brand new building is as stunning as the treasures it houses. A clear glass walkway reveals the ruins and current excavations below.”media: 25539315

quicklist: 9title: Prado Museum, Madrid text: One TripAdvisor reviewer wrote, “So many masterpieces, so little time. Be touristy and check them all off or just sit back and enjoy a few that speak to you.”media: 25539264

quicklist: 10title: Yad Vashem Holocaust Memoriatext: Per TripAdvisor: “Not an easy place to visit, but I cannot think of any place more important to go. Everyone should go to see how plain and common the faces of evil were.”media: 25539052