Louisiana Art & Science Museum
4.6(572)google
4.0(38)yelp
ScienceArtPlanetarium
Overview
The Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, also known as the Louisiana, is an art museum located north of Copenhagen, Denmark. Attracting over 700,000 guests annually, the Louisiana is Scandinavia's most visited museum for modern and contemporary art, hosting 6 to 10 exhibitions each year alongside a permanent display of Yayoi Kusama's Gleaming Lights of the Souls. The museum is recognized as a modernist landmark in Danish architecture, and is noted for its synthesis of art, architecture and landscape, boasting a sculpture park with works by Alexander Calder, Henry Moore and Richard Serra.
Practical Info
Suggested Duration2.5-4 hours
Best TimeRecommended on weekend afternoons (1:00 PM - 4:30 PM). This is when the museum's iconic Irene W. Pennington Planetarium schedules its most spectacular ultra-HD full-dome star shows and aurora features. Exiting the museum at dusk during autumn or winter grants a gorgeous view of city lights across the river from the terrace.
Getting ThereLocated at 100 River Road downtown, uniquely converted from an historic train station. Drivers can head to River Road and utilize the adjacent LaSalle Street Parking Garage (paid). For public transit, ride the CATS Downtown Shuttle to the River Road @ Capital House stop, then walk 1 minute toward the Mississippi River to see the red-brick platforms.
Travel Tips
- Planetarium show seating is highly restricted and subject to school group block-bookings; reserve your specific showtime at the ticket counter immediately upon arrival.
- Housed in a historic railway station, the venue has slow elevator access; visitors with large strollers should coordinate with security for freight lift routing.
- The museum faces active Mississippi cargo rail lines; passing freight trains produce extreme horn decibels that can startle toddlers.
Reviews
Positive
- Housed in a historic railway station, it features a wonderful Planetarium; the panoramic celestial dome shows are breathtaking and educational for all ages.
- The blend of art and science is ingenious; you can admire fine modern paintings while exploring historical mysteries in an authentic Ancient Egyptian mummy gallery.
- Extremely family-friendly; the second floor is packed with hands-on science experiments and climbing discovery structures that keep toddlers happy for hours.
- Perched on the Mississippi River bank, its massive windows offer sweeping views of the river and distant bridges; the location is accessible with easy parking.
Heads up
- Planetarium showtimes are very limited; if you don't line up half an hour early for popular screenings, you will likely miss out due to full capacity.
- Compared to major science museums across the US, the science exhibits here are limited, and many stations look dated, lacking cutting-edge tech integration.
- Tickets are sold separately or bundled for the galleries and planetarium; paying for both movies and exhibits makes a full family trip feel a bit pricey.
- The interior lacks multi-language signage; all science experiment instructions and Egyptian artifact placards are strictly in English, lacking translations.