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We’re long past the idea that museums only exist within four walls. From UNESCO-listed rock inscriptions to architectural icons, the idea of a museum now includes open-air sites, living heritage landscapes, and even digital archives. That’s what makes International Museum Day—celebrated each year on 18 May—so timely. It’s a moment to recognize the full breadth of how we experience and share Islamic art across spaces, traditions, and continents.
The Museum of Islamic Art – Doha, Qatar
An iconic place to start your journey for International Museum Day, celebrated annually on 18 May. Qatar’s crown jewel, the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) in Doha, isn’t just a museum—it’s a masterpiece. Designed by the legendary I.M. Pei, the building floats like a desert mirage on its own island.
MIA houses one of the most comprehensive collections of Islamic art in the world, covering 1,400 years and three continents, featuring pieces from Andalusia, the Mughal Empire, and Safavid Persia. You’ll find everything from Andalusian calligraphy to Mughal miniatures, Persian carpets, and rare Qur’ans.
Fun fact: The museum’s geometric architecture was inspired by Cairo’s Ibn Tulun Mosque. It’s just as Instagram-worthy as the art inside.
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The Louvre Museum – Paris, France
Yes, the Louvre has the Mona Lisa, but its Islamic Art Department, launched in 2012, is equally breathtaking and deserves just as much attention.
Covering over a millennium of artistic expression, this expansive collection features over 14,000 artifacts, offering a deep dive into the artistic and cultural heritage of the Islamic world. An additional 3,500 pieces are on long-term loan from the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, showcasing the Louvre’s commitment to preserving and presenting Islamic art at a global level. The department showcases a diverse range of media, including ceramics, glassware, metalwork, textiles, and manuscripts, which reflect the aesthetic richness and geographical breadth of Islamic civilizations.
Don’t miss: The intricately carved mihrab (prayer niche) from 13th-century Iran and the celestial Mamluk basin—both masterful examples of Islamic devotional art and design. These artifacts not only showcase technical brilliance but also reflect the spiritual and cultural values deeply embedded in Islamic artistic traditions.
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The Metropolitan Museum of Art – New York City, USA
The Met’s Islamic galleries are a peaceful oasis in the heart of Manhattan, offering a transcendent space that honors the rich, multi-layered heritage of Muslim civilizations across Africa, Asia, and Europe.
With a collection of more than 15,000 objects, the Met showcases the vast artistic traditions of the Islamic world, spanning from the 7th to the 21st century. The galleries highlight the cultural and geographic range of Islamic art—from the intricately glazed ceramics of Iran and Türkiye to the geometric woodwork of North Africa, and the luminous manuscripts of South Asia. The museum’s curatorial vision thoughtfully connects historical depth with aesthetic brilliance, allowing visitors to appreciate the diversity and evolution of Islamic art in a global context.
Look out for: The Damascus Room, a dazzling 18th-century reception room from Ottoman Syria, painstakingly reassembled piece by piece. Decorated with carved wood, calligraphy, and painted panels, it offers an immersive glimpse into the architecture and domestic beauty of Islamic homes from the period.
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The British Museum – London, UK
A meaningful stop for International Museum Day explorers tracing Islamic cultural footprints in Europe. London’s British Museum is a global treasure trove, and its Islamic World gallery is a key highlight for culture lovers and history enthusiasts alike. Established in 1753, the museum has been collecting Islamic artifacts since the 19th century, building one of the most extensive and diverse collections of Islamic art outside the Muslim world.
The museum’s Islamic collection includes over 100,000 objects, documenting artistic traditions across centuries of Islamic history. The gallery spans a vast geographic range, encompassing Moorish Spain, Mamluk Egypt, Mughal India, and Safavid Iran. The display highlights the diversity of Islamic artistic expression—from architectural fragments and carved wood panels to ceramics, textiles, metalwork, and rare Qur’anic manuscripts. The British Museum’s presentation emphasizes both the religious and secular dimensions of Islamic art, making it a rich learning ground for anyone interested in how Islamic culture has evolved across regions and time.
Interesting artifact: The Bahrain Pearl Diving chest, a humble yet beautiful reminder of Gulf maritime heritage, offers a tactile connection to the region’s economic and artistic history, particularly in terms of the craftsmanship and trade networks tied to the Arabian Peninsula.
The Aga Khan Museum – Toronto, Canada
A hidden gem for many travelers, the Aga Khan Museum offers a modern, inclusive take on Islamic civilizations, with a focus on fostering intercultural understanding through art, history, and dialogue.
The museum features over 1,200 artifacts, including manuscripts, ceramics, metalwork, and textiles from various regions of the Islamic world. It explores cross-cultural exchange, especially between the Islamic world and the West, emphasizing the contributions of Muslim societies to global knowledge and creativity. In addition to historical pieces, the museum frequently showcases contemporary art exhibitions and hosts educational programming that bridges past and present, reinforcing its role as a dynamic cultural hub.
Bonus: The museum sits in a serene park with a reflecting pool and Islamic-inspired architecture. It often hosts outdoor events, concerts, and talks, making it an especially vibrant destination during the spring and summer months.
The Topkapi Palace Museum – Istanbul, Türkiye
Once the beating heart of the Ottoman Empire, Topkapi Palace is a living museum—and a pilgrimage site for lovers of Islamic art and history. Overlooking the Bosphorus Strait, the palace served as the administrative and spiritual center of the empire for nearly four centuries. Today, its sprawling complex continues to evoke the grandeur of the Ottoman era.
It houses one of the most revered Islamic collections in the world, including sacred relics attributed to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), such as his mantle, sword, and letters, which are carefully preserved in the Pavilion of the Holy Mantle. These items are presented with immense reverence, often accompanied by recitations from the Qur’an. The museum also includes exquisite examples of Ottoman calligraphy, Qur’ans, and religious gifts exchanged between sultans and scholars, offering a deeply spiritual lens through which to experience Islamic art.
Highlight: The Imperial Treasury is dazzling with jeweled artifacts and ceremonial arms, but the Hırka-i Şerif Room (Chamber of the Holy Mantle) stands out as an emotionally powerful space, inviting quiet reflection for visitors drawn to the spiritual legacy of Islam.
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The Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
In the heart of KL, this beautifully curated museum is Southeast Asia’s largest dedicated space for Islamic art. Its serene, light-filled galleries are thoughtfully designed to create a sense of spiritual calm, reflecting the contemplative nature of much of the artwork within. If you’re in Southeast Asia for International Museum Day, this museum is a must-see.
With over 10,000 artifacts, the museum highlights Islamic contributions across a wide cultural spectrum. Its standout feature is the collection’s regional diversity—it showcases artistic expressions not only from the Arab world but also from China, India, Southeast Asia, and Persia. The museum also places a strong emphasis on Qur’anic manuscripts and calligraphy, illustrating how religious devotion has influenced artistic styles throughout the centuries.
Must-see: The recreated Ottoman-era Damascus interior, with its ornate painted panels and carved wood, immerses visitors in the domestic design traditions of 19th-century Syria. Also not to be missed is a luminous collection of Southeast Asian Qur’anic manuscripts, which offer a glimpse into the region’s rich Islamic scholarly tradition.
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The State Hermitage Museum – St. Petersburg, Russia
You might not expect it, but the Hermitage, Russia’s largest and most prestigious museum, boasts an extensive and often underappreciated collection of Islamic art. Nestled within its vast holdings are treasures from across the Islamic world, particularly from Central Asia, Persia, and the Caucasus region.
The Hermitage holds over 180,000 Islamic artifacts, including manuscripts, ceramics, textiles, weaponry, and one of the largest numismatic collections in the world, reflecting centuries of cultural exchange and craftsmanship. Notably, the museum’s Islamic section explores the deep historical ties between Russia and the Muslim-majority regions along its southern borders. Many pieces date back to the medieval era and feature intricate calligraphy, arabesques, and geometric motifs that echo the rich symbolism of Islamic art traditions.
Traveler tip: Its lesser-known Islamic gallery is a quiet escape from the crowds at the Winter Palace. It offers a contemplative space where visitors can explore how Islamic art evolved across empires and periods—from Timurid tiles to Safavid metalwork—all preserved in one of Europe’s most iconic museums.
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The Pergamon Museum – Berlin, Germany
Home to full-scale reconstructions of ancient buildings, Berlin’s Pergamon Museum also hosts exceptional Islamic art that often surprises visitors with its depth and historical significance.
The Museum of Islamic Art within Pergamon boasts approximately 100,000 works, making it one of the most significant Islamic art collections in Europe. The exhibits cover a vast geographic region, with highlights from Moorish Spain, the Maghreb, the Timurid court, and Mughal India, and span over 1,300 years of artistic production. The museum is especially strong in architectural elements, manuscript illuminations, carved wood, and decorative ceramics. Its displays emphasize the daily lives, religious practices, and aesthetic sensibilities of Islamic cultures, offering insight into both grand dynasties and everyday craftsmanship.
Can’t-miss: The Mshatta Facade, a colossal 8th-century palace wall from Jordan, brought to Berlin piece by piece, is a breathtaking example of early Islamic architecture. With its intricate vegetal and geometric carvings, it’s a highlight of the museum and a visual lesson in Umayyad artistry and symbolism.
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The Museum of Islamic Civilizations – Sharjah, UAE
Sharjah offers a quieter yet enriching destination for International Museum Day, especially for those in the GCC. Just a short ride from Dubai, Sharjah’s Museum of Islamic Civilizations is a cultural powerhouse often overlooked by tourists. Housed in a beautifully restored traditional souq building on the waterfront, the museum brings together centuries of Islamic achievement under one grand roof.
The museum comprises seven thematic galleries and features over 5,000 artifacts, tracing the evolution of Islamic civilization from the 7th century to the present day. These include ancient coins, scientific instruments, metalwork, manuscripts, and ceramics, representing a diverse range of geographic regions and showcasing creativity from Egypt, Iran, Morocco, and Malaysia. The museum pays special attention to the scientific and intellectual legacy of Muslim scholars, highlighting contributions in astronomy, medicine, and mathematics during the Islamic Golden Age.
Photo op: The mosaic-covered central dome, decorated with a striking gold celestial map of the night sky, creates a mesmerizing welcome to the museum and symbolizes the Islamic world’s historic fascination with astronomy and cosmology.
The Museum of Applied Arts (MAK) – Vienna, Austria
Austria’s stunning natural beauty, from its lush mountains to its pleasant climate, offers a compelling escape for those seeking new experiences. For those drawn to artistic and cultural treasures, a visit to the Museum of Applied Arts (MAK) in Vienna is a delight to discover.
The Museum of Applied Arts (MAK) in Vienna boasts an impressive range of artistic treasures, encompassing objects from Iran and the Ottoman Empire, exquisite Oriental carpets, and captivating East Asian art. The museum’s impressive collection includes paintings from the Hamzanama, a work of the Mughal Emperor Akbar’s era, as well as the sole surviving silk carpet from the Mamluk Dynasty. While exploring the MAK, one might also appreciate the potential influences of Islamic aesthetics in Viennese architecture, evident in its domes and geometric designs.
Traveler tip: For those visiting Vienna before 24 August 2025, the Der europäische Koran exhibition at the Weltmuseum Vienna offers a fascinating exploration of the Holy Quran’s impact on European society since its early translations.
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AlUla, Saudi Arabia
Before the era of curated galleries, Islamic and pre-Islamic civilizations told their stories through stone. Nowhere is that clearer than in AlUla, Saudi Arabia, where Jabal Ikmah—known as “AlUla’s open library”—houses thousands of inscriptions in Dadanitic, Lihyanite, and other ancient scripts, etched directly into sandstone cliffs.
Designated by UNESCO, this cliffside archive dates back thousands of years, tracing the artistic and commercial foundations of the region, including trade routes like the “Incense Road.” These markings—both poetic and pragmatic—reveal how early forms of visual communication and symbolic motifs laid the groundwork for the calligraphy and ornamentation that would come to define Islamic art. AlUla challenges the boundaries of the museum concept—here, the rocks themselves are both exhibit and exhibit hall, offering an open-air encounter with history that’s as humbling as it is breathtaking.
Must-see: A walk through Jabal Ikmah’s towering canyon walls, where ancient scripts whisper stories of early civilizations—an open-air gallery where history is literally carved in stone.
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