British Museum, London

Founded in 1753, British Museum is now one of the greatest museums in the world. It houses ancient art and artefacts from all across the ancient world. There are seven million artefacts, four million of which are on display at any one time. It has the most comprehensive collection of ancient Egyptian material outside Cairo.

Main attraction: The magnificent domed grandeur of the Reading Room, which was recently restored and now contains a modern information centre.

The Vatican Museums, Vatican City, Rome

Below the actual Vatican, as seen in the movie The Da Vinci Code, is a treasure house of amazing artefacts, separated into 22 separate collections. The Vatican Museums have one of the best collections to be found anywhere, from Etruscan and Egyptian art to maps and modern religious art. All this is surrounded by even more stunning art, ranging from the magnificence of Michelangelo?s dome in St Peter?s right above and Bernini?s famous spiral columns in St Peter?s Square.

Main attraction: The Sistine Chapel and the Raphael Rooms.

The Louvre, Paris, France

Easily the most famous museum in the world, the Louvre was the palace of the kings of France before it became a museum two centuries ago. The historical allure of the Louvre is still extant and the museum?s collections are among the most important in the world. It houses works by some of the most famous artists in history, including da Vinci and Rembrandt.

Main attraction: The Mona Lisa, arguably the most famous painting in the world, by Leonardo da Vinci.

The Smithsonian, Washington, DC

This is the world?s largest museum complex and research organisation. It comprises 16 museums and galleries housing 142 million objects representing the country?s most important achievements. There?s the Air and Space Museum, the African Art Museum and much more.

Main attraction: The National Museum of American History?s exhibition commemorating the events of 9/11, which includes personal stories, photographs and artefacts from the attacks.

Egyptian Museum, Cairo, Egypt

The Egyptian government established the museum to stop the plundering of archeological sites. In 1900, the Egyptian Museum was opened to the public and houses over 1,20,000 objects from the pre-historic era to the Greco-Roman period, including ancient sculptures of the Sphinx and well-preserved mummies.

Main attraction: Artefacts from the tombs of kings and royal families, particularly those belonging to King Tutankhamun.

The Uffizi Gallery, Florence, Italy

The artwork and sculptures in the streets of Florence are amazing enough, but this museum has one of the finest collections of paintings and sculptures anywhere, with works by Renaissance masters like da Vinci, Raphael, Michelangelo, Rembrandt, Caravaggio and others.

Main attraction: The Birth of Venus by Botticelli.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

The Met, as it is called, has more than two million works of art from around the world. The range covers Islamic art and European paintings to collections of arms and armour.

Main attraction: Adam and Eve, a well-known engraving by Albrecht Durer.

Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, Netherlands

With almost one million objects, the Rijksmuseum houses the largest collection of art and history. It is famous for its paintings by 17th-century Dutch masters, including the largest number of Rembrandts. The museum also displays art from the Middle Ages and the 18th and 19th centuries, and has a vast collection of sculptures and applied art.

Main attraction: The Night Watch by Rembrandt.

The State Hermitage,

St Petersburg, Russia

The Hermitage has some three million objects, which span three centuries. Its Western European Art section covers French, English, Italian, Dutch, Spanish, German and Flemish art. The Hermitage possesses two of the 10 or 12 original works by Leonardo da Vinci.

Main attraction: The Golden Rooms, which house an enormous collection of jewellery fashioned from gold, silverware and gems by Russian, European and Oriental craftsmen, including the famed Faberge Eggs.

The Prado, Madrid, Spain

The Prado is one of the most respected museums in the world, mainly housing Spanish art. It has works by Goya, El Greco, Velasquez and Murillo, among others. It also has an extensive collections of drawings, coins, medals and decorative art.

Main attraction: The Three Graces by Rubens.