China Leads 2025 Global Museum Rankings: Forbidden City Takes Top Spot

The 2025 annual list of most-visited museums shows China dominating the top three spots, with Beijing's Palace Museum welcoming 19 million visitors.

Beijing’s legendary Palace Museum, also known as the Forbidden City, has officially topped the 2025 rankings with a staggering 19 million visitors. This century-old institution showcases the grandeur of the Ming and Qing dynasties. Closely following are the Summer Palace and the Terracotta Army site in Xi’an, solidifying China's status as a premier global destination for cultural heritage and historical tourism.

While China claims the top three positions, Europe remains a strong contender in the global tourism landscape. France’s Musée du Louvre in Paris ranked fourth with over 9 million visitors, while the Palace of Versailles took the fifth spot. This shift highlights a massive surge in domestic and regional travel within Asia, significantly reshaping global museum attendance figures compared to previous decades.

For travelers inspired by these grand institutions, Vietnam offers its own rich historical tapestry to explore. Cities like Hue and Hanoi feature royal complexes and national museums that mirror the architectural elegance found in Beijing. Understanding these global trends helps tourists appreciate the shared cultural heritage of East Asia while exploring Vietnam’s unique local traditions and preserved historical sites through a modern lens.

When visiting Vietnam's National Museum of History or the Hue Imperial City, book tickets online in advance or arrive early in the morning to enjoy a quieter experience before the peak tourist crowds arrive.

Source reference: VnExpress International