The beautiful tree-lined stretch on the side of Central Park is home to some of the best museums and fine arts institutions in the world. Known as the Museum Mile, this tree-lined section of Fifth Avenue is the best place to start exploring New York’s museums.

The section runs from 82 to 104, actually the Upper East Side, Fifth Avenue in Manhattan and with ten museums occupying this length it can be considered the best sample of culture in the world.

One of the most visited and sought after museums along the Mile is the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Simply known as the Met, it houses a permanent collection of more than two million works of art and one of the largest art galleries in the world. Its permanent collection covers classical antiquity, Ancient Egypt, modern American art, and the best of the European masters. It also houses works of art from Africa, Asia, Byzantine and Oceania, and Islamic art. Musical instruments, costumes, accessories, weapons and armor from around the world are also displayed here.

The northern end of the Museum Mile is dominated by El Museo del Barrrio. Established in 1969, this East Harlem museum focuses on Latin American and Caribbean art. The Museum’s extensive collection made up of pre-Columbian and traditional artifacts exceeds 6,500 pieces. This includes a large permanent Taino exhibit, 20th century art and crafts, popular media, and graphics. The museum also houses interesting temporary exhibits of modern Puerto Rican and Latin art.

Another museum to grace the Mile is the International Center of Photography. Museum, school and research center all in one, its permanent collection contains more than 100,000 photographs, including rare and important historical and contemporary images, covering the history of the photographic medium; from daguerreotypes to silver gelatin and digital chromogenic impressions. Some of the must-sees here include the collection of American and European documentary images throughout the 1930s to 1990s, the collection of contemporary images, and the collection of photographically illustrated magazines.

The history of New York City is best represented by the collections housed in the Museum of the City of New York. Founded in 1923, this art gallery and history museum is also located along the Museum Mile. The highlights of your collection include a theater collection that takes you through the golden age of Broadway theater and a comprehensive collection of photographs by Jacob Riis and Berenice Abbott. Other pieces on display include drawings, paintings, images, and prints depicting New York City and its lifestyle, backed by furniture, toys, manuscripts, and rare books.

These and other museums along the ‘Mile’, including the Jewish Museum, the National Academy Museum, the Goethe-Institut, and the National Design Museum, can be explored while visiting Manhattan, New York. For the best accommodation options in this area, travelers can check with their travel agents or search for information online. Most of the providers of online accommodation options offer the best deals in New York. Those interested in walking an extra “mile” can try the Wellington Hotel New York. Located near Fifth Avenue and just 3 blocks from the Met, it provides easy access to a variety of popular New York attractions.