In a city packed with world-class art, live music and leafy green parks, it might surprise you that Raleigh’s most-visited year-round attraction is all about ancient bones, wild weather and the mysteries of the natural world. 

The biggest tourist attraction in Raleigh—by popularity and by prehistoric proportions—is the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences.

Drawing more than a million visitors each year, this downtown gem is the most-visited museum in the Tar Heel State and the largest of its kind in the Southeast.

Why This Museum Towers Above the Rest

With four floors of exhibits and millions of specimens, it's fair to say the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences lives large. Visitors can marvel at towering dinosaur skeletons, stroll through a butterfly-filled conservatory, peek into real science labs and experience everything from North Carolina’s coastal habitats to the edges of our solar system.

Founded in 1879, the museum has grown from a small natural history collection into a sprawling campus that bridges science, nature and discovery for all ages.

A major milestone came in 2012 with the opening of the Nature Research Center, an architecturally striking wing connected by a glass bridge. It added hands-on labs, interactive exhibits and the massive, suspended globe known as the SECU Daily Planet—a three-story theater that brings Earth’s systems to life in dazzling motion.

The museum made national headlines in 2024 with the unveiling of the Dueling Dinosaurs exhibit—an astonishing, one-of-a-kind fossil display that captures a predator and its prey, preserved together in stone. It's the kind of jaw-dropping, only-here experience that cements the museum’s reputation as the “biggest” must-see around.

And if that weren’t enough, the just-opened Blue Whales exhibit—running through January 2026—invites guests into the world of Earth’s largest animals with life-sized models and immersive digital displays. It’s a whale of a reason to visit.

Other Raleigh Attractions That Pack a Punch

While the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences subjectively takes the cake for number one attraction, several other standouts are worth building a trip around:

• North Carolina Museum of Art: This expansive campus combines two art-filled buildings with one of the largest museum parks in the country. Indoors, explore everything from European masterpieces and African sculptures to modern works and rotating special exhibitions. Outside, stroll trails dotted with large-scale sculptures, gardens and scenic picnic spots. Free to enter and open year-round, it’s one of Raleigh’s most beloved places to reflect, roam and relax.

• Pullen Park: One of the oldest amusement parks in the country, Pullen Park has been a local favorite for more than a century. Families can ride a hand-carved 1911 carousel, pedal across the park’s lake in boats, hop on a mini train or just enjoy a shady stroll. With playgrounds, art installations, a café and picnic shelters, this centrally located park blends nostalgic charm with space to wander.

• Lenovo Center: A hub for Raleigh’s biggest live events, the 19,000-seat Lenovo Center is home to the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes and North Carolina State University men’s basketball, plus a packed calendar of concerts, comedy shows and touring events year-round. From playoff hockey and March Madness moments to top-tier music acts, this arena brings the big energy.

• Marbles Kids Museum: Bursting with color, creativity and kid-sized fun, Marbles is a dreamland for younger visitors. Climb, splash, build and pretend your way through themed play zones designed to inspire hands-on learning and imagination. From the kid-scale grocery store and fire truck to STEM-focused exhibits and an on-site IMAX theater, Marbles offers a full day of interactive adventure in the heart of downtown Raleigh.

• Dorothea Dix Park: This sprawling green space on the edge of downtown Raleigh continues to grow as one of the city’s most important gathering places. The newly opened Gipson Play Plaza—a 20-acre adventure playground with skywalks, giant swings, water features and wide-open lawns—is poised to become a signature destination for years to come. Bring a picnic, fly a kite or join in on one of the park’s many guided tours, yoga sessions or seasonal events.

• North Carolina State Fair: For 11 days each October, the State Fairgrounds in Raleigh transform into a celebration of agriculture, music, food and family fun—drawing nearly a million guests from across the region. From deep-fried everything to giant pumpkins, midway rides, racing pigs and live music, the fair is a sensory overload in the best way. Come for the nostalgia, stay for the nightly fireworks and funnel cake.

When to Go and What to Know

While the City of Oaks shines bright year-round, things certainly are pleasant in late summer and fall when the weather is mild and events are plentiful. Weekdays at the Natural Sciences Museum are quieter, but weekends bring added programming like meet-a-scientist pop-ups, kids' workshops and seasonal festivals (BugFest, Sept. 20, 2025, is the museum's largest annual event that lets you interact with entomologists and other scientists while learning about the fascinating world of bugs).

Located on Jones St. in downtown Raleigh, the museum is walkable to restaurants, hotels, Moore Square and other historic sites. Across the street you’ll find the North Carolina Museum of History—though note that it's temporarily closed for renovations, with a major transformation underway to reimagine the visitor experience--and also the North Carolina State Capitol (open until 5pm Mon.-Sat.).

For a bite or a break nearby, grab coffee at 42 & Lawrence, enjoy lunch at Sitti or explore the cobblestone charm of City Market just a few blocks away.