The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art

The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art

The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
5
Monday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
Closed
Wednesday
Closed
Thursday
10:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
Drop in for an hour, come for lunch, or spend the entire day wandering through world-class galleries. The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art is the cultural jewel of Kansas City and just three blocks from the Country Club Plaza, and admission is free. The Nelson-Atkins, recognized as one of America’s finest art museums, strives to be the place where the power of art engages the spirit of community. With 40,000 works of art, the Nelson-Atkins is best known for its new Bloch Galleries, featuring Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art, plus its Asian art, photography, American paintings, American Indian and Egyptian galleries. The Donald J. Hall Sculpture Park, a beautiful setting for a walk or picnic, is an oasis in the city and home to notable sculptures.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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Address
Neighborhood: Rockhill
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See what travelers are saying

  • Diane Elam
    Columbia, Missouri292 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Kansas City Must See!
    The Nelson should be at the top of your list when visiting Kansas City. I have been multiple times and it never disappoints! There is a lot to see both inside and outside! The mini golf course is a must when it’s available and the holes are replica of famous pieces in the museum.
    Visited July 2023
    Traveled with friends
    Written April 21, 2024
  • sirenazulclaro
    New York City, New York239 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Wonderful visit to this art museum - worth it!
    Had a great Sunday late morning visiting the Nelson-Atkins art museum. It was free and they had a Festival of India program happening during my visit with lots of performances and activities. The exhibits were all interesting and I enjoyed walking through all the different sections. Friendly museum staff as well. It was a pleasant visit.
    Visited April 2024
    Traveled solo
    Written April 22, 2024
  • Tim A
    Seattle, Washington73 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Astounding Encyclo-Museum with the Good Stuff
    How had I not known about this world-class museum? Seriously. A heartbreaking Caravaggio that yanks you in from the hallway like a magnet. Outstanding collection of impressionists and post-impressionists. Greek and Roman sculptures. A few bell ringers by painters like Cranach the Elder. A fragment of a Bosch. Warm and welcoming staff. Although there were lots of school children, they were all respectful and engaged. The museum is free, though parking was $14. Totally worth it.
    Visited May 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written May 2, 2024
  • 523sandrao
    Oklahoma City, Oklahoma911 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    KC Girls’ Trip
    We spent four hours, including a delightful lunch at the museum cafe, and we could have stayed longer. This free museum is one of the best in the mid-west, if not the country! There’s something for everyone, including the lovely landscaped grounds. Tip—To avoid $14 charge for museum parking, get there when it opens at 10 am on the weekend & you’ll find lots of free street parking and in lots across the street.
    Visited May 2024
    Traveled with friends
    Written June 5, 2024
  • Cryptic_Tourist
    Saint Louis, Missouri1,104 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Can’t believe this museum is free
    Wow, I am truly blown away by how cool this museum is. My friend group and I spent a good chunk of time here and we could’ve stayed even longer. The museum itself is just stunning. Really cannot recommend it enough and all of the sections are just amazing.
    Visited June 2024
    Traveled with friends
    Written June 9, 2024
  • ReadRibbet
    1,651 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    The Shuttlecocks and Other Sculptures are Amazing
    We only went to the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art to see the outdoor sculpture garden including the Oldenberg giant shuttlecocks (4 of them on the grounds). There is metered street parking nearby and you can wander on to the grounds without any fee. There are many sculptures beyond the Shuttlecocks and a nice easily accessible path to follow. The grounds also have a mini golf course and a food vendor.
    Visited May 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written July 9, 2024
  • Cruiser08641345813
    United States8 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    It’s a must-visit
    The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art is one of my favorite places in Kansas City. From the moment you see the playful shuttlecocks on the lawn, you know you're in for something special. Inside, the diverse collection takes you on a journey through time and cultures, all in beautifully designed spaces. I love wandering through the galleries, whether I'm admiring ancient artifacts or getting lost in modern masterpieces. The outdoor sculpture park is a peaceful retreat, perfect for a quiet moment with art and nature. It’s a must-visit that never fails to inspire.
    Visited October 2023
    Traveled with friends
    Written August 26, 2024
  • PboroBill
    Chapel Hill, North Carolina311 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Can't beat the price.
    We're not art people. But we had a morning to kill after check out, and then had to get to airport. They offered free bag check, free admission, so why not. The history stuff was cool. Tired of the art pretty quickly (but in all fairness, not our thing). Outdoor structures were kind of cool too.
    Visited August 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written August 26, 2024
  • Karyn W
    Kansas City, Missouri1,647 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great museum with wonderful art, events, store, restaurant, and more
    My family loves the Nelson, while admission is free, we've been members for many years, to support what they do. It has a large indoor space with art from across history. I like the Bloch galleries and the Asian art, but the Egyptian art is cool as well. There are painting, sculptures, ceramics, metal pieces and wood pieces. Outdoors has more modern art with the famous shuttlecocks, a maze you can walk through, plus there is an art themed mini golf course which is fun. The museum is free but their temporary exhibits typically cost money, unless you're a member. They are always well done. They have lots of events through the year from art classes (for kids and adults), celebrations of deaf culture, Indian culture, Day of the Dead celebration, and more. Their Rozelle Court restaurant has good food, but more so the room it's in is gorgeous. I like their gift shop as well, over the years I have gotten several things from it. There is a coffee shop as well on the second level and you can walk out to the reflecting pool from there too. It's a beautiful building with a wonderful collection.
    Visited July 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written September 3, 2024
  • 1of7cs
    15 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Nelson-Atkins Museum: A Must-Visit with Room for Improvement
    I recently visited the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City and had a wonderful experience. The museum boasts a diverse collection of art, with many interesting displays that are thoughtfully curated to provide a good flow from one exhibit to the next. Upon entering the museum, visitors are asked to carry their bags on the front of their bodies, which wasn’t an issue at the start of the day. However, as the museum became more crowded, I noticed that many people were carrying backpacks on their backs and sides. Unfortunately, the docents seemed overwhelmed by the crowds and were unable to enforce this rule consistently, leading to some confusion and frustration. Despite this minor inconvenience, the overall experience was very positive. The museum’s impressive collection and the beautiful layout make it a must-visit destination for art lovers. I highly recommend spending a day exploring the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.
    Visited August 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written September 10, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

5.0
5.0 of 5 bubbles3,352 reviews
Excellent
2,845
Very good
443
Average
50
Poor
4
Terrible
10

CDTrip72
Arlington Heights, IL260 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2023 • Family
Parking at the museum is $14, but we were pleasantly surprised to find out admission to the museum itself is free. They did have a mini-golf exhibit outside for an extra charge, but we didn’t have time to do it and a big storm came through anyway, so they closed the area. We found out the hardway that you can’t even bring a water bottle in, but they do allow you to take pictures. Once nice touch is in many of the rooms, they offer a foldable chair you can take to room to room in case you wanted to sit down to either take a break or study a particular piece.

If you haven’t been there before, definitely take a map as there is more than one building and there are multiple floors on each one. There are sections based on the various styles, period, type, and so on. It’s not just all paintings as well as they have various sculptures, and they claim to have over 40,000 items. Even if you are not that big into art, you can easily spend an afternoon here.

We didn’t order anything, but they have a nice coffee house by the main entrance. The store has a good assortment of items, and we bought a couple of items. Highly recommend this place.
Written July 24, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

NemoTraveler
Aarhus, Denmark909 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2024 • Couples
The museum is located in the southeastern part of Kansas City. Free parking may be available at Rockhill Road, alternatively the parking garage on Oak Street at the museum is USD 14.

Featured exhibitions may require a ticket, but general admission to the museum is free. The collections are quite extensive and we chose to take a closer look at the European paintings. Several beautiful works of art by artists such as Monet, Manet, Degas, and Renoir are on show. We especially enjoyed one of Monet’s Water Lilies paintings.

Also The World’s Largest Shuttlecock situated in front of and behind the museum is worth a closer look. Check hours before visiting to avoid disappointments.
Written September 29, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Kaj J
Atlanta, GA21 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023
The best part of the museum is the sculpture garden, which you can access any time for free. Stroll around, have a picnic, or even play miniature golf. Street parking is limited, so you may need to pay for the parking deck. But the museum is also free so I considered that the price of admission. They have art from every major movement and every corner of the world, so no matter what you are into there is something for you to see. They have at least one piece by most well-known artists. Nothing famous, but you get a good feel for each artist. The shuttlecocks are wonderful and well placed. The museum store has lots of good stuff.
Written August 14, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Ski-U-Mike
Lincoln, NE31 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2023 • Couples
Blown away by this unassuming, unexpected gem hiding in the US Midwest; holds up against world-renowned art destinations. The Impressionist collection alone would be worth an admission fee but it’s free. A can’t miss for real.
Written October 4, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

JohnRegoPark
Rego Park, NY1,278 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2024 • Couples
This is an excellent museum with generous visiting hours and an easy to navigate floor plan. The first floor has a sweeping view of traditional western art history from ancient Egypt through Greece and Rome, onto the Middle Ages, and then European art right up to the end of the 19th Century. Other cultures are upstairs or in the adjacent modern wing. It is one of those institutions whose mission seems to be to represent as many major cornerstones of art history as possible. The list of big name artists is long here: Titian, Bronzino, Caravaggio, Rubens, Rembrandt, Cezanne, Monet, etc. etc. But there are also choice works by lesser known artists as well. The really nice feature of the museum is that it is not overwhelming. You don't feel exhausted when you leave. Paid parking is located underground and adjacent.
Written October 25, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

kevan j
Norman, OK1,529 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2022
This is a really great museum! We spent an afternoon here while visiting KC. Lots of great art and very well organized (i.e., NOT chaotic like some art museums). Benches to sit and enjoy some of the pieces. Portable stools available to carry around so you can sit and enjoy any of the pieces. Super friendly and helpful docents. Museum is free, but underground parking (which I recommend) is $12. We spent most of our time at the Plaza level starting with ancient Egypt all the way through the twentieth century. Wish we could have spent more time to see it all.
Written April 29, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

MelissaWP
Shorewood, IL521 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2023 • Couples
We spent three hours here on a Sunday afternoon in early September. We walked all around and say everything except the photography exhibit which was temporarily under wraps. Some rooms were cool in temperature and some were just regular air temperature. The Beautiful Disruption special interactive activity was not at all worth it. We had to return a few days later in the early morning to walk around the sculpture park outside, which was neat, because it was way too hot on Sunday and much cooler later.
Written October 9, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

johannasheehy
Boca Raton, FL17 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2022
We only had time to see the Thomas Hart Benton paintings but we could see how extensive the collection was. I never imagined such a collection in Kansas City. If I had an opportunity to return I would plan to spend the day. The museum is free but parking in the underground garage, which is very convenient, is $12.00
Written May 24, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Julie H
Siloam Springs, AR36 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2023 • Family
I can’t say enough about how amazing this museum is. My family had been to a concert the night before. We wanted something fun to do before going home that afternoon. The weather forced us to stay indoors, so we chose this museum. We were so happy with our decision. After 3 hours we had toured most of the main floor. We never made it to other areas. When we arrived the person at the counter asked us a few questions and suggested we wait to buy tickets to the special exhibit since it was our first time visiting. He told us that we could purchase tickets at the entrance to the exhibit if we wanted to. He was so right! There is so much to see. I do wish that it was a little more kid-friendly. We love visiting museums and my kids know how to behave in these settings. Our 10 year old was asked to not do this or that a couple of times before attaching herself to me. I never thought anything of what she was doing. I understand they have a tremendous responsibility to care for this art. It might be a good idea to be more clear about their expectations for patrons. A sign or two would probably do the trick. We are already planning a trip back to Kansas City just for this museum!
Written December 1, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Courrierls
Boston, MA16 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2023 • Solo
A friend recommended that I visit this museum when I had a free day in Kansas City. I’m so glad I did! It was beautifully set up, and I very much enjoyed the various exhibits. Unfortunately Monet’s “Water Lillies” was away on tour while I was there, but that didn’t detract from my visit. Admission is free, although you pay for parking if you use their parking garage. Overall very reasonable.
Written June 22, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2025)

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