Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum Tours

The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, located on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, was designed in 1959 by world-renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright. In addition to its vast collection of modern and contemporary art, the museum draws crowds for its iconic white interior, which spirals up toward a skylight.

The Basics
As one of the city’s top landmarks, the Guggenheim is included on most New York City attractions passes, which grant discounted access to a bundle of sights such as the Empire State Building Observatory and the Museum of Modern Art. The Guggenheim is located on Museum Mile, the stretch of Fifth Avenue that houses nine renowned museums and is a stop on most hop-on hop-off bus tours.

Private tours of New York offer a more intimate experience and allow guests to tack a visit to the Guggenheim onto the day’s customized itinerary. Guggenheim-specific tours often private and ensure the guide’s full attention, while early access tours offer a quiet VIP experience before regular opening hours.

Things to Know Before You Go

• The Guggenheim is a must for art and architecture lovers.
• Purchase an admission ticket in advance online to avoid long lines.
• Coat check and Wi-Fi are free.
• Every Saturday from 5pm to 7:45pm, admission is pay what you wish (cash only).
• Cafe 3 offers a casual lunch and drink menu and is open every day except Thursday. The Wright, an upscale bistro, is open on weekends and takes reservations.
• Download the Guggenheim app for audio guides in five languages, as well as children’s guides.
• The museum is wheelchair accessible.

How to Get There
Located on the Upper East Side just steps from Central Park, the Guggenheim is easily accessed using the city’s comprehensive public transit system. The nearest stops are 86th Street on subway trains Q, R, 4, 5, and 6 and Madison Avenue and 89th Street on buses M1, M2, M3, and M4. Alternatively, the museum is a 15–minute walk through Central Park from the 86th Street subway station on the Upper West Side.

When to Get There
The Guggenheim is closed on Thursdays. Admission is pay what you wish every Saturday from 5pm to 7:45pm, and the museum is busiest then. The Guggenheim rarely feels overly crowded on weekdays. For a quiet experience, visit when the museum first opens. See the Guggenheim website for a calendar of public talks, concerts, and performances.

Frank Lloyd Wright
The Guggenheim was the last project ever completed by world-renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright, who passed away six months after the museum’s opening at the age of 91. After a long deliberation among four initial plans, the final design was criticized because of concern that it might overshadow the works of art contained within. After its grand opening in 1959, the building was lauded and has since become a source of inspiration for architects around the globe.