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Europe Museum and Gallery Visits Tours 2024/2025

172 superb museum and gallery visit trips in Europe. Planning to go on a museum and gallery visit trip in Europe? Check out 172 great museum and gallery visit trips in Europe supported by 222 reviews. All museum and gallery visit trips are delivered by 36 travel agencies in Europe. Prices range from 24 USD to 11,566 USD and our museum and gallery visit trips last from 1 day and to 45 days.

• Europe Travel Guide

175 Museum and gallery visits tours with 222 Reviews

• Starts London, England
• Ends Rome, Italy

London to Rome Highlights

• Best price guaranteed
• No booking fees
• Tour Type Group Tour
• Activities City sightseeing & Cultural, religious and historic sites City sightseeing , Cultural, religious and historic sites , Art and architecture , Cruise & Museum and gallery visits 'data-more-tripid='21244'>+3 more
• Accommodation Hotel
• Transport Coach, Ferry & Bus
• Age Range 5-99 yrs
• Operated in English
• Brochure Price: US$ 2,550
• Special Deal (16%): - US$ 420
• Total Price from: US$ 2,130
• May 31 Only 7 seats left
• Jun 02 Only 7 seats left
• View More Jan 1, 2019 Jan 2, 2019 Jan 3, 2019

• Starts Helsinki, Finland
• Ends Vilnius, Lithuania

Baltic Experience

• Tour Type Small Group Tour
• Activities Countryside and village visits & Cultural, religious and historic sites Countryside and village visits , Cultural, religious and historic sites , National parks , Museum and gallery visits & Adventure 'data-more-tripid='3058'>+3 more
• Accommodation Hotel & Home-stay
• Transport Ferry, Train, Bus & Private Vehicle
• Age Range 15-99 yrs
• Brochure Price: US$ 3,180
• Special Deal (5%): - US$ 159
• Total Price from: US$ 3,021
• May 25 Only 1 seat left
• Jun 01 Only 2 seats left

• Starts Budapest, Hungary
• Ends Dubrovnik, Croatia

Balkan Adventure

• Activities Active and outdoor & City sightseeing Active and outdoor , City sightseeing , Museum and gallery visits & National parks 'data-more-tripid='3671'>+2 more
• Accommodation Guest House, Hostel & Hotel
• Transport Train, Bus, Private Vehicle, Boat & Taxi
• Brochure Price: US$ 3,140
• Special Deal (25%): - US$ 785
• Total Price from: US$ 2,355
• May 25 Only 10 seats left
• Jun 01 Only 6 seats left

• Starts Sofia, Bulgaria
• Ends Sofia, Bulgaria

Balkan Cycling

• Trip customizable
• Activities Bicycle tours & Museum and gallery visits Bicycle tours , Museum and gallery visits , Cultural, religious and historic sites & Countryside and village visits 'data-more-tripid='44348'>+2 more
• Accommodation Guest House & Hotel
• Age Range 14-80 yrs

• Starts Bruges, Belgium
• Ends London, England

Grand European

• Activities City sightseeing & Cultural, religious and historic sites City sightseeing , Cultural, religious and historic sites , Art and architecture , Natural landmarks sightseeing & Museum and gallery visits 'data-more-tripid='20923'>+3 more
• Accommodation Hotel, Resort & Villa
• Transport Coach, Ferry, Boat & Train
• Brochure Price: US$ 9,095
• Special Deal (15%): - US$ 1,364
• Total Price from: US$ 7,731
• Jun 03 10+ seats left
• Jun 05 Only 8 seats left

• Ends Bucharest, Romania

Budapest to Bucharest

• Activities City sightseeing & Art and architecture City sightseeing , Art and architecture , Cultural, religious and historic sites , Museum and gallery visits & Countryside and village visits 'data-more-tripid='3668'>+3 more
• Accommodation Home-stay & Hotel
• Transport Train, Bus, Private Vehicle & Taxi
• Special Deal (25%): - US$ 638
• Total Price from: US$ 1,912
• May 25 Only 6 seats left
• Jun 01 Only 5 seats left

• Starts Ankara, Turkey
• Ends Istanbul, Turkey

Turkey ExclusiveTour

• Free cancellation
• Activities City sightseeing & Cultural, religious and historic sites City sightseeing , Cultural, religious and historic sites , Natural landmarks sightseeing & Museum and gallery visits 'data-more-tripid='23756'>+2 more
• Transport Boat
• Age Range 6-85 yrs
• Operated in English, Turkish
• Brochure Price: US$ 2,200
• Special Deal (15%): - US$ 330
• Total Price from: US$ 1,870

• Starts Bucharest, Romania

Eastern Europe Express

• Activities Sightseeing Tours & Art and architecture Sightseeing Tours , Art and architecture , Museum and gallery visits & Trekking and Hiking 'data-more-tripid='3670'>+2 more
• Brochure Price: US$ 1,690
• Special Deal (25%): - US$ 422
• Total Price from: US$ 1,268
• May 27 Only 3 seats left
• Jun 03 Only 7 seats left

• Starts Matera, Italy
• Ends Lecce, Italy

Puglia: Discover the Heel of Italy

• Activities Food tours & Local culture Food tours , Local culture , Museum and gallery visits & City sightseeing 'data-more-tripid='7470'>+2 more
• Transport Minibus
• Age Range 16-99 yrs
• Brochure Price: US$ 2,617
• Special Deal (5%): - US$ 132
• Total Price from: US$ 2,485
• Jun 01 Only 3 seats left
• Jun 15 Only 5 seats left

• Starts Istanbul, Turkey

Magic Carpet Tour

• Activities City sightseeing & Cultural, religious and historic sites City sightseeing , Cultural, religious and historic sites & Museum and gallery visits 'data-more-tripid='18280'>+1 more
• Transport Private Vehicle
• Age Range 8-99 yrs
• May 25 10+ seats left
• Jun 01 10+ seats left

• Starts Madrid, Spain
• Ends Marrakech, Morocco

Madrid to Marrakech

• Activities City sightseeing & Museum and gallery visits City sightseeing , Museum and gallery visits , Art and architecture , Cultural, religious and historic sites & Local culture 'data-more-tripid='3773'>+3 more
• Transport Ferry, Train, Bus, Private Vehicle, Boat, Minibus & Taxi
• Brochure Price: US$ 3,665
• Special Deal (20%): - US$ 733
• Total Price from: US$ 2,932
• May 25 Only 7 seats left
• May 28 Only 8 seats left

• Starts Copenhagen, Denmark
• Ends Oslo, Norway

A Taste of Scandinavia

• Activities Sightseeing Tours & Cultural, religious and historic sites Sightseeing Tours , Cultural, religious and historic sites , Museum and gallery visits & Active and outdoor 'data-more-tripid='5504'>+2 more
• Transport Train, Bus & Ferry
• Brochure Price: US$ 2,880
• Special Deal (25%): - US$ 720
• Total Price from: US$ 2,160
• May 26 Only 3 seats left
• May 30 Only 2 seats left

Spectacular Scandinavia & its Fjords

• Activities Adventure & Art and architecture Adventure , Art and architecture , Cultural, religious and historic sites , Natural landmarks sightseeing & Museum and gallery visits 'data-more-tripid='21156'>+3 more
• Accommodation Hotel & Resort
• Transport Coach
• Brochure Price: US$ 6,650
• Special Deal (15%): - US$ 998
• Total Price from: US$ 5,652
• May 26 Only 8 seats left
• Jun 02 10+ seats left

• Ends Split, Croatia

Croatia and the Balkans

• Activities Chill out & Trekking and Hiking Chill out , Trekking and Hiking , Cultural, religious and historic sites , Art and architecture & Museum and gallery visits 'data-more-tripid='4963'>+3 more
• Accommodation Hotel & Villa
• Transport Boat, Ferry, Train, Private Vehicle & Bus
• Age Range 12-95 yrs
• Brochure Price: US$ 2,949
• Special Deal (15%): - US$ 443
• Total Price from: US$ 2,506
• Jun 08 Only 2 seats left
• Jun 15 Only 4 seats left

Europe Museum and gallery visits Reviews

• Margaret Arkins
• Parrino Jack

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12 of the best museums in Europe: from historic to quirky and everything in between

May 16, 2022 • 6 min read

From art and history to geology and science, here are some of Europe's best museums © Tom Jasny / Getty Images

To mark  International Museum Day on May 18, we took a look at some of Europe 's very best creative, historic and scientific museums. From places packed with culture, art and history to those that study what makes us human, be inspired by these incredible cultural institutions.

Then and now: Europe's best history museums

Celebrate greece's ancient achievements at the acropolis museum in athens.

At the foot of the southern slope of Athens ' sacred hill, the dazzling €130-million Acropolis Museum showcases the Acropolis ' surviving treasures with artifacts from temples that predate the Parthenon . The top-floor Parthenon Gallery houses the temple's sculptures, including a 160m-long (524ft) marble frieze. Stark-white plaster replicas stand in for the missing pieces – hacked off by Lord Elgin in 1801 – now held in the British Museum in London.

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The Vasamuseet in Stockholm honors some 17th-century miscalculations

Stockholm 's  Vasamuseet is the custom-built home of the massive warship  Vasa , which sank on its maiden voyage on August 10, 1628. Unfortunately, at 69m (226ft) long and 48.8m (160ft) tall and covered in ornate wooden carvings, the ship was top-heavy and sank to the bottom of Saltsjön within minutes of departure, taking most passengers with it. The museum examines not only what life would have been like at the time of the ship's voyage, but also the incredible salvage mission. Almost everything on display in the museum is original, painstakingly raised from the bottom of the ocean and reassembled in 1961.

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Learn about gruesome 19th-century medicine at London's Old Operating Theatre Museum and Herb Garret 

Follow the spiral staircase up to the  Old Operating Theatre and Herb Garret , a unique and atmospheric museum in an old church tower near London 's Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital. The attic here, rediscovered in 1956, was used in the 19th century to store medicinal herbs, and is home to Britain's oldest surviving operating theater, dating from 1822. Learn about medicine pre-anesthesia and pre-antiseptic, with displays of natural remedies and amputation blades.

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Human creativity: art and culture museums

With its wealth of cultural heritage, it's impossible to narrow down the best art museums in Europe. Florence , the birthplace of the Renaissance, has dazzling collections across many different sites. Rome 's must-see Vatican Museums  hold a wealth of artistic treasures, as do its many other superb cultural institutions . Then there's the network of museums in  Berlin 's Museumsinsel , Paris' world-famous Louvre ,  Barcelona 's Museu Picasso , and  Madrid 's many masterpieces in its Golden Triangle of Art , to name just a few. Here are a couple of lesser-known places for you to experience just a taste of Europe's creativity.

Journey through the artworks of the Baroque period in Dresden's Historic Green Vault

Buy a timed-entry ticket in advance of your visit to  Dresden 's  Historisches Grünes Gewölbe , a collection of 3000 precious jewels and valuable decorative items dating from the 17th and 18th centuries. A state-of-the-art airlock controls the climate here and small groups of visitors follow the audio guide through the eight rooms where treasures are on open display against lavishly decorated backdrops and mirrored walls. 

6 must-do hikes in Germany's picturesque countryside

Denmark's newest museum celebrates the creations of Danish author Hans Christian Andersen 

Experience a fairy-tale universe at Denmark 's newest museum , H.C. Andersen Hus , celebrating the creativity of Hans Christian Andersen at his birthplace in Odense . Visitors are invited to create their own adventures as they explore the themes of Andersen's work through interactive exhibitions, artwork, architecture, light, music, and images in an underground gallery. Younger visitors will love the wonder of Ville Vau, a sensory center for children, with props and costumes for hours of imagination-based play.

UNESCO World Heritage site in Denmark hits new heights with this viewing tower

The world around us: the region's top natural history museums

Explore the vast collection at vienna's natural history museum.

Four billion years of natural history are covered at Vienna 's Naturhistorisches Museum . Among its minerals and unique fossils is the world's largest collection of meteorites, a full-size Pteranodon, and a hands-on gallery on human evolution. The building itself is an elaborate work of art, with stuccoed, frescoed halls and cupola, a mirror image of the  Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna  opposite.

The best museums in Vienna are a curated guide to the city's culture

Get to know the mountains at Italy's Messner Mountain Museum

The unique Messner Mountain Museum is a network of six museums in the Italian Alps created by Italian mountaineer Reinhold Messner, all analyzing the relationship between humans and the mountains. The centerpiece is in Firmiano , where you'll get a sense of shifting altitudes as you move around the mesh walkways and staircases. The Museum in the Clouds  in the Dolomites looks at local geology through the artefacts of the first moutaineers and natural scientists who explored the region's hidden reaches, or head inside the moutain at the Ortles museum , which is devoted to ice and glaciers. The stunning Corones site at the summit of Kronplatz is more about mountaineering than natural history, but its panoramic views of the mountains from the Zaha Hadid-designed building can't be beat.

The art of the Italian meal

Things that go: science, technology and transportation

Inquisitive kids love the hands-on nemo science museum in amsterdam .

The interactive Nemo Science Museum in Amsterdam is a top science museum for children. Learn about everything from light and sound to the physics of construction with hands-on activities over five floors of exhibits. For older children (age 12 and over) the Humania gallery looks at the biology, sociology, and psychology of humans, with physical challenges and brain teasers to help you see how your body works.

Best museums in Amsterdam: 12 must-visit spaces that cover everything from Dutch masters to digital photography

Get interactive with road, rail, water, air, and space at Switzerland's transport museum

Verkehrshaus  is deservedly Switzerland’s most popular museum, and a favorite with families. Here, you'll see everything that moves – steam locomotives, vintage cars, and rockets as well as hands-on experiences like flight simulators, bulldozers, go-karts, and peddle boats. There's also a  planetarium , Switzerland's largest  cinema screen  and the  Swiss Chocolate Adventure .

Views you have to see to believe: 9 must-do hikes in Switzerland

See hundreds of years of industrial sanitation in Paris' sewer network 

Dive into Paris' subterranean network of sewer tunnels at the Musée des Égouts , where you'll follow in the footsteps of a sewage worker learning all about industrial wastewater disposal, the environment and ecology as raw sewage flows by your feet. After an extensive renovation, the museum reopened in 2021 with a new entrance building, improved displays and a fully accessible site. 

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People's passions: the continent's quirkier museums

Try to understand the human condition at the museum of broken relationships, zagreb in croatia.

The crowd-sourced collection at the Museum of Broken Relationships in Zagreb  explores the mementos left behind when a relationship ends. Donations from round the world are displayed around all-white rooms, each sharing a funny and moving story about the disintegration of a relationship, whether that's family relationships or love connections. 

Head to Croatia’s hinterland to discover its nature parks

50% of the world’s population has one: learn about female anatomy at London's Vagina Museum

Iceland has been home to a penis museum  since 1997, but there was nothing exclusively celebrating the vagina until London's Vagina Museum launched as a pop-up exhibition in 2017. Now in its semi-permanent home in Bethnal Green, the museum's focus is to educate about gynecological anatomy and health and give people the confidence to talk about it too.

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10 Outstanding Museums and Galleries Around Europe

Editorial feature.

By Google Arts & Culture

Culture for days

The Uffizi Gallery, Italy

The Van Gogh Museum, The Netherlands

Musée d'Orsay, France

Natural History Musuem, England

Oceanographic Museum, Germany

The National Museum, Poland

The Acropolis Museum, Greece

National Museum of Denmark, Denmark

Kunsthistorisches Museum, Austria

Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, Spain

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Tours and talks

A tour group in Room 33a Asia Gallery © Benedict Johnson

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Around the world in 90 minutes

Desire, love, identity: an LGBTQ tour

Eye-opener tours: 40 minutes

Spotlight: the Round Reading Room tour

Hands on desks: 11.00–16.00

Friday night spotlight tours: 20 minutes

Get to know the collection through tours, talks and Hands on desks.

Travel around the world in 90 minutes on our guided highlights tour and explore some of the Museum's most famous objects. Or discover LGBTQ themes and histories in the collection with our Desire, love, identity tour . Take a look below for more details. 

The specific content of tours and talks may change due to gallery work, exhibitions or other essential Museum activities. We are not always able to advise on this in advance.

Around the world in 90 minutes tour

Explore some of the most famous objects on display at the Museum on this guided highlights tour.

• Each tour lasts for 90 minutes and covers multiple galleries.
• Tours take place on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at 11.30 and 14.00.
• Each tour has a capacity of 20 people.
• £14 per person.
• Recommended for adults and children aged 12+.
• Please note that the tour will visit a number of galleries on different floors and involves a considerable amount of walking.

Explore objects in the collection linked to the themes of desire, love and identity. 

• This tour focuses on LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and queer) themes and histories.
• Each tour lasts for around 70 minutes.
• Tours are free but booking is strongly recommended.
• Each tour has a capacity of 15 people.
• The tour visits a number of galleries on different floors and involves a considerable amount of walking.

Spotlight: the Round Reading Room

Please note that tours of the Round Reading Room have been temporarily paused from mid-April due to essential works. The Round Reading Room will reopen in July 2024.   

Take a brief behind-the-scenes tour of the Round Reading Room and discover how it's evolved since 1857 and the famous faces that studied there.

• Tours take place on Tuesdays at 11.00 and 12.00.
• Each tour lasts for around 20 minutes.
• Tours are free but advanced booking is essential.
• You can book a maximum of four tickets per group.
• Please note that photography is not permitted in the Round Reading Room. 

Eye-opener tours

Join a volunteer guide on one of our free eye-opener tours bringing you closer to the collection. 

• Our free volunteer-led eye-opener tours are 40 minutes long.
• The tours are recommended for adults, though children are welcome.
• These tours are generally limited to 15 places per session, depending on the Museum location. Please arrive early at the meeting point to secure a space.
• Eye-opener tours run at different times during the day.
• The availability of tours and talks may be reduced on bank holidays – see dates of  upcoming bank holidays .
• Please be aware these tours are subject to cancellation. Please ask at the Information Desk on the day for details.

The British Museum at your fingertips

Enjoy a self-guided tour whenever and wherever with expert commentaries in five languages on 250 objects and 65 galleries.

Friday night spotlight tours

Join a volunteer guide on one of our free Friday night spotlight tours focusing on four remarkable areas of the collection.

• Our free volunteer-led Spotlight tours are 20 minutes long. 
• They take place on late opening on Fridays only.
• We offer tours between 17.00-19.00.
• The availability of tours and talks may be reduced on bank holidays – see dates of upcoming bank holidays .

Hands on desks

The Hands on desks allow visitors to handle real objects and to find out more about the collection through relaxed, informal conversations. Volunteers facilitate the object handling, encourage discussion and answer visitors' questions. The handling collection for each desk relates to the displays around it.

Sessions are free and take place daily from 11.00–16.00, subject to availability, in the galleries listed below:

Room 1  – Enlightenment 

Room 2  – Collecting the world 

Room 24  – Africa, Oceania and the Americas 

Room 49  – Ancient Europe and Roman Britain 

Room 68  – Money

Rooms 42–43  – The Islamic world

Room 33  – Asia

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The Backpacker Network

37 Must-Visit Museums in Europe: The Wacky and the Wonderful

Museum fans, rejoice! Few places in the world come close to the sheer number, quality, and diversity of museums in Europe. While we’ve all heard of the Louvre or the Vatican Museums, there are countless other museums in Europe to check out, including hidden gems and the outright eccentric. 

While many online guides just introduce the most famous venues, this one will help you prioritize and choose, telling you exactly what you need to know to plan your visit. In addition to the obvious must-visits, keep reading for some quirky additions, too! 

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37 European Museums You Should Visit

1. museum of icelandic sorcery and witchcraft – hólmavik, iceland.

• Suited for: Supernatural enthusiasts
• Price range: Free (Ticket required for exhibits)  
• How to get there: Accessible only by car

Called Galdrasafnið in Icelandic, this museum is dedicated to the history of sorcery, which plays a large role in historic Icelandic culture. 

Must-sees include replicas of magical staves, milk-sucking demons called tilberi, and ‘ necropants ’ made from human skin, as well as the only ritualistic stone found in Iceland dating back to the Viking era. Needless to say, this museum isn’t for the faint-hearted! 

Located on the eastern side of the remote Westfjords region in a village called Hólmavík, the area is really only accessible by car. Depending on the time of year you visit, a 4×4 may be necessary, and sometimes roads to the Westfjords close if there’s a lot of snowfall. We recommend a Halloween visit to enhance the creepiness!

2. The Louvre – Paris, France

• Suited for: Old Masters fans 
• Price range: €€ ( Some visitors eligible for free tickets) 
• How to get there: Palais Royal – Musée du Louvre metro stop (Line 1)

One of the most famous museums in Europe for a reason, the Louvre is home to Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa , the Winged Victory of Samothrace sculpture, Venus de Milo sculpture, the Great Sphinx of Tanis , Canova’s Psyche Revived by Cupid’s Kiss sculpture, and Veronese’s Wedding at Cana . 

Be sure to get tickets in advance and try for the earliest time slot. On the day, arrive around a half-hour early to get in line and get a photo of the iconic pyramid. When you enter, make a beeline for the Mona Lisa – sometimes the crowds are so thick you can’t even see her. 

Did you know…? One of our favourite facts about Europe is that the Louvre is the most-visited museum in the world!

Money Saving Tip! The Louvre is on the Paris Museum Pass which pays for itself if you visit 2-3 museums!

3. The Albertina – Vienna, Austria

• Suited for: Graphic and print aficionados
• Price range: €€ (Discount with Vienna City Card )   
• How to get there: Albertina stop (Bus 2a), Kärntner Ring/Oper stop (Trams 1, 2, D, 62, 71) Karlsplatz/Oper stop (U1, U2, U4)

Once home to Habsburg archdukes, the Albertina is now a world-class museum devoted to print and graphic arts, from Old Masters sketches to modern photography, paintings, and sculptures. 

For a glimpse of what the museum used to look like, don’t miss the Habsburg State Rooms, which have been frozen in time, and restored to their old splendor. 

Note that the Albertina is technically split into two museums, located about 10 minutes away from each other – the Albertina and the Albertina Modern . You can buy a combination ticket for both or choose the one that better suits your interests.  

4. The British Museum – London, England

• Suited for: History buffs
• Price range: Free
• How to get there: Tottenham Court Road tube stop

When visiting the British Museum , don’t miss the Rosetta Stone and the variety of ancient artifacts like the Parthenon Sculptures , the mummy of Cleopatra , the Standard of Ur , and the two million-year-old Olduvai stone-chopping tool . 

This museum is considered the largest in the world and is, as such, absolutely massive. It boasts over 8 million artifacts (1% of which are on display at any given time) so consider devoting at least half a day to visiting. 

Bear in mind that many of the items on display in the British Museum are currently being contested (such as the Benin Bronzes ). Essentially, this means that they were ‘acquired’ during conflict, taken during the reign of the British Empire, or obtained due to favorable western-centric treasure laws. While conversations about the looting of rare artifacts are moving into the foreground, such institutions have much more work to do to attempt to right the wrongs of the past.   

Consider visiting on a weekday or Friday evening (when the museum has extended opening hours) to avoid huge queues. The closest tube stop is about a 5-minute walk away.

5. The Heineken Experience – Amsterdam, Netherlands

• Suited for: Beer lovers
• Price range: €€ (On the Amsterdam City Card – book a time slot in advance)  
• How to get there: De Pijp stop (Trams 1,7,9,24)

Dating back to the 1860s, Heineken is practically synonymous with the Netherlands and is one of the world’s most popular beers. You can visit their original factory on a self-guided tour called the Heineken Experience . 

The tour takes about two hours, ending with two free beers or non-alcoholic drinks. While beer isn’t made here anymore (residents complained of overpowering brewing smells, causing them to decide to relocate in the 1980s), the museum retains a lot of authenticity in its interiors, with cool exhibits, memorabilia, and interactive aspects. It’s conveniently located in de Pijp, one of Amsterdam’s hippest neighborhoods.

Also read: European Drinks You Must Try!

6. El Prado – Madrid, Spain

• Suited for: Classic art buffs
• Price range: €€ (free weekdays 6-8pm & Sundays/holidays 5-7pm)
• How to get there: Retiro Metro stop (Line 2 – Red)

Must-sees at El Prado in Madrid include Velázquez’s Las Meninas , Bosch’s Garden of Earthly Delights , Goya’s Saturn Devouring His Son , and El Greco’s Nobleman with his Hand on his Chest.  

Be aware that the free entrance slots get extremely busy. Even if you have purchased tickets, try to aim to arrive for the earliest time slot at 10 am as this museum gets busier the later it gets.

7. ABBA The Museum – Stockholm, Sweden  

• Suited for: Pop culture fans
• Price range: €€€ 
• How to get there: Liljevalchs/Gröna lund stop (Tram 7 or bus 67)

You’ll feel like you’ve time traveled back to the 1970s, backstage with one of the 20th century’s most popular groups at the ultra-interactive ABBA The Museum . 

Located close to several other museums on Djurgården island in Stockholm, it’s easy to spend a full day touring the museums there. Must-sees include loads of memorabilia, gold records, wacky costumes, and an opportunity for you to perform ABBA’s songs yourself on stage! 

8. Tate Modern – London, England 

• Suited for: Modern art enthusiasts 
• Price range: Free (Advance tickets sometimes needed for visiting exhibitions) 
• How to get there: Blackfriars tube stop 

The Tate Modern is one of the world’s foremost modern art museums, with a collection that can take up to five hours to see in full! 

Must-sees include the Marilyn Diptych by Andy Warhol, Nude Woman With Necklace by Pablo Picasso, Mountain Lake by Salvador Dalí, and Seagram Murals by Mark Rothko. 

Don’t miss the stunning views of London from the 10th-floor viewing platform. The closest tube stop to the museum is Blackfriars which is located right next to it.

Note: Don’t confuse the Tate Modern with Tate Britain . The latter is also free to visit but focuses on British art from 1500 to the current day.

9. The Vatican Museums – Vatican City

• Suited for: Renaissance art aficionados
• Price range: €€ (Some reduced rate options available) 
• How to get there: Ottaviano-S. Pietro metro stop (Line A) or take a bus (40, 64, 81, 982, or 990)   

The Vatican Museums contain over 70,000 works of art. It can be tough to choose what you want to see, but you can’t miss the Gallery of Maps , Sistine Chapel , Julian II’s Papal Apartment, Bramante’s Spiral Staircase , and the Gregorian, Etruscan, and Raphael rooms.

Budget in extra time before your entry to explore St. Peter’s Basilica and marvel at the gorgeous architecture. Bear in mind the rules on attire and dress conservatively (i.e., long pants and shirts that cover your shoulders.) 

Consider visiting the museum on Wednesday morning if you aren’t interested in hearing the papal audience – since many people choose to listen to the audience first, the museums are less crowded. 

Tip! Lines outside can stretch to three hours long – consider a skip-the-line ticket or do a guided tour online if you hate queuing.

10. The Museum of the Souls of Purgatory – Rome, Italy

• Suited for: Religious art fans
• Price range: Free (Donations welcome)
• How to get there: Walkable from Rome center 

Spooky messages from the dead are par for the course at the little-known Museum of the Souls of Purgatory in Italy . Located inside the Chiesa del Sacro Cuore del Suffragio in the Prati area of central Rome, the museum has a collection of books, tablecloths, clothes, and other home items supposedly ‘signed’ by loved ones currently in purgatory. 

In other words, souls trapped between heaven and hell spend some time in purgatory, but the prayers of loved ones can intercede on their behalf for admission to heaven. These handprints and burn marks are said to be from those souls, asking for prayers. 

The museum is tiny and very centrally located in Rome, right by the Tiber River and walkable from most of Rome’s attractions. Simply ask a church employee to see the collection, located in the sacristy. 

11. Rijksmuseum – Amsterdam, Netherlands

• Suited for: Old Masters fans
• Price range: €€€ (Combination tickets available for canal boat tours)
• How to get there: Trams #2 or #12 from Centraal Station or by bicycle

See Rembrandt’s Night Watch , Vermeer’s Milkmaid , Van Gogh’s Self-Portrait , and Pieneman’s massive Battle of Waterloo , all at the imposing Rijksmuseum . Make a beeline for the Night Watch (on the 2nd floor) immediately upon arrival, as this is the most popular thing to see. 

The museum has a fantastic free app that serves as a guided tour. Avoid visiting in the middle of the day, as this is when the museum is at its busiest. Consider combining your visit with the Van Gogh Museum or the Stedelijk Museum , also located on Museumplein. While no combination tickets exist (yet!), they are located right next to each other. 

12. The Ethnographic Open-Air Museum of Latvia – Riga, Latvia

• Suited for: Architecture enthusiasts
• Price range: €
• How to get there: Brīvdabas muzejs stop (buses 1, 28, 29)

One of Europe’s oldest open-air museums, the Ethnographic Open-Air Museum of Latvia is located about half an hour outside central Riga on the banks of the gorgeous Lake Jugla. 

Comprising a jaw-dropping 118 historic buildings from all over the country, you can learn about farming, fishing, and traditional craft-making in each building. Between May and September reenactments are taking place, but the tools and accoutrements remain year-round.    

Top tip! If this type of museum is your cup of tea and you’re visiting Stockholm, don’t miss Skansen – it has a similar setup, with historic Swedish homes in a neat open-air setting.  

13. The Guggenheim – Bilbao, Spain

• Suited for: Contemporary art fiends
• Price range: €€ (Booking online is cheaper) 
• How to get there: Museo Plaza bus stop (168) or follow Calle Iparraguirre on foot

The first thing of note at the Guggenheim is the building itself, a modernist masterpiece by Frank Gehry. Elsewhere, check out Serra’s The Matter of Time , Koons’ Puppy , and Rothko’s Untitled . 

It’s worth bearing in mind that the Guggenheim devotes a lot of space to its temporary exhibitions. Be sure to research these in advance to make sure that they’re showcasing something you’re interested in, though the architecture and grounds are worth a visit nonetheless.

Booking online will save you a few euros on each admission. The Artean Pass also allows you a combo visit to the Museo de Bellas Artes.

14. House of Illusions – Ljubljana, Slovenia

• Suited for: Puzzle lovers
• Price range: €€ (Family discount sometimes available) 
• How to get there: Walkable from city center

Fans of optical illusions will enjoy two stories filled with them in the beguiling House of Illusions . With around 40 exhibits in total, ranging from small holograms to entire room-sized illusions, it’s truly a treat for the senses. 

Don’t miss the ‘head on a plate’ illusion, the vortex tunnel, and the face mashup, where you can combine faces with others. Located near several other museums, it’s easily accessible as you walk around Ljubljana . 

15. The Acropolis Museum – Athens, Greece

• Suited for: Antiquity buffs
• Price range: € ( Some free admission days )
• How to get there: Akropoli metro stop (Line 2) Makrigianni stop (Buses 24, 40, 57, 103, 106, 108, 111, 126, 134, 135, 136, 137, 155, 206, 208, 227, 230, 237, 790, 856, Α2, Α3, Α4, Β2, Β3, Β4, Ε2, Ε22)

Visible from almost anywhere in Athens, the Acropolis is absolutely awe-inspiring. No trip to the city (or Greece in general) is complete without a visit to the structure and its accompanying museum . 

The biggest tip for your visit is to arrive early and enter via the ticket office closer to the Acropolis Museum, which allows you to visit the ancient structure first and then check out the museum. The main entrance next to the parking lot is the one used by tour groups, which means the lines are often enormous. 

The first time slot of the day is the best time to go, so you can trek up to the top of the hill prior to loads of tourists arriving. Keep in mind that it does get a bit steep, so be sure to wear shoes with good tread. Inside the museum, don’t miss all the amazing artifacts recovered from the top of the hill and surrounding areas.

Good to know! Combo tickets are available with the historic Acropolis site and admission is 50% cheaper in winter.

16. The Belgian Comic Strip Center – Brussels, Belgium

• Suited for: Comic book devotees
• Price range: Free (Exhibits come at a cost)
• How to get there: Walk from Brussels Central Station 

Tin-Tin fans will love a visit to Belgium in general, but the Belgian Comic Strip Center is a must-see to learn more about the history of Belgian comics and animation. 

From original comic book pages to neat exhibits about different famous comic designers, you’ll experience a whirlwind tour of the history of ‘the 9th art’ enjoyable for all ages. 

Located near Brussels-Congress station, the Art Nouveau building is right in the city center, easily accessible to visitors.

17. Mauritshuis – The Hague, Netherlands

• Suited for: Dutch Golden Age admirers
• Price range: €€
• How to get there: Korte Voorhout tram/bus stop (Tram 2, 4, 15 of 16 or bus 28)

While certainly Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring is the most famous piece of artwork at the Mauritshuis , the rest of the space is filled with other Golden Age treasures like Fabritius’ The Goldfinch and Vermeer’s View of Delft . 

They have done an admirable job educating visitors on the ties of previous owners to slavery – don’t miss explanatory gray plaques underneath many paintings. The museum is located right in the center of The Hague, next to the gorgeous, historic Binnenhof (Dutch parliament) and Grenadierspoort, both also worth visiting.

18. The Salo Museum – Lviv, Ukraine

• Suited for: Foodies
• Price range: Free  
• How to get there: Rynock Square tram stop (Lines 1, 2)

For foodies (perhaps with slightly stronger-than-average stomachs), a visit to the restaurant cum museum dedicated to Ukrainian speciality salo, or cured pig lard, is a quirky must-see while visiting Lviv. 

Here, salo has been immortalized by a variety of notable Ukrainian artists in sculpture form. Perhaps most notable is a Guinness World Record-winning full-scale model of a human heart. In the restaurant, you can try salo with vodka, as Ukrainians often eat it, or in a variety of other fusion dishes like chocolate and sushi. 

19. Uffizi Gallery – Florence, Italy

• Suited for: Renaissance art fans 
• Price range: €€ (Free admission on the first Sunday of each month)  
• How to get there: Galleria Degli Uffizi Bus Stop (C1) or walk from Santa Maria Novella (SMN) Train Station

Located in the gorgeous 16th-century building designed by Giorgio Vasari, must-sees at the Uffizi Gallery include Botticelli’s Birth of Venus , Caravaggio’s Medusa , and Da Vinci’s Annunciation . Fans of these artists and others like Titian or Raphael will be awestruck at the collection at Uffizi. 

Bags and food are prohibited, so factor in some extra time to check them in the complimentary cloakroom. Consider getting your tickets a couple of months in advance, as day-of ticket lines can stretch up to two hours long, and online tickets sell out quickly. 

The gallery is right by the Piazza della Signoria in historic Florence and it’s a quick walk from the train station. 

Tip! Michelangelo’s David occupies pride of place at the nearby Accademia Gallery . Why not combine the two?

20. Kalev Marzipan Museum – Tallinn, Estonia

• How to get there: Walkable from city center or take a tram/bus to Mere Puiestee

Fans of sweet treats will love this inside look into the history of candy and chewing gum in the USSR and Estonia specifically. Once used as a medicine, marzipan gained popularity as a candy and a decorative component for other bakery items. 

At the Marzipan Museum , you can see over 200 cakes and molds on display, as well as watch an artist decorate the intricate figurines. The museum shop and café also has plenty of options to try, in case your visit struck a craving!  

21. Pergamon Museum – Berlin, Germany

• Suited for: Hellenistic art fans 
• Price range: €€ (Included on the Berlin Welcome Card and the Museum Pass Berlin )
• How to get there: Friedrichstraße (S-bahn or U-bahn)

Located on Berlin’s Museum Island between the Bode Museum and the Altes Museum , the Pergamon Museum boasts several full-size reconstructions of monuments from antiquity, including the famed Pergamon Altar. 

Originally conceptualized by German Emperor Wilhelm II in the early 1900s, it’s an absolute treasure trove of antiquities ranging from the Greeks to Romans and more, and is Berlin’s most-visited museum. 

Museum Island itself is also worth a visit: it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to five fabulous museums. Consider visiting on weekday mornings to avoid swarms of student groups.

22. National Azulejo (Tile) Museum – Lisbon, Portugal

• Suited for: Home decor lovers
• Price range: € (Free with Lisboa Card )
• How to get there: Igreja Madre Deus stop (Bus 759)

Located in a gorgeous 16th-century convent, prepare to journey through the history of Portuguese tile, called azulejos, at the Azulejo Museum . 

This museum is a bit out of the way but well worth a visit – just take bus 759 from Restauradores Square and get off at the museum stop about 20 minutes later. 

Don’t miss the baroque architecture and the 23-meter-long 18th-century cityscape of Lisbon , made entirely of dreamy blue-and-white azulejos. 

23. Warsaw Uprising Museum – Warsaw, Poland

• Suited for: World War II buffs
• Price range: € (Free admission on Mondays) 
• How to get there: Rondo Daszynskiego Metro stop (Line 2)

Commemorating the Warsaw Uprising of 1944, the Warsaw Uprising Museum is a must-visit to understand the history of the largest underground military resistance movement against Germany in World War II. The uprising ultimately failed, and the city was almost destroyed, providing a really necessary and sobering context for any visit to today’s Warsaw. 

The museum is highly interactive and very moving, with an atmosphere designed to make you feel like you’re in Warsaw during the time of the Uprising. The museum is centrally located, an easy walk from downtown.

24. Picasso Museum – Barcelona, Spain 

• Suited for: Cubism aficionados
• Price range: €€ (Free on the first Sunday of every month (all day) and Sundays after 3 pm)  
• How to get there: Jaume Metro stop (Line 4)

The Museu Picasso boasts over 4000 of the artist’s works, including Man in a Beret, Science and Charity, Harlequin, Painter Working , and others. While there are other museums dedicated to Picasso’s art in places like Paris, Antibes, and New York, the one in Barcelona is often considered the best. 

It’s also the first, and the only one founded while the artist was still alive. The museum is super centrally-located in the Ciutat Vella, and the closest metro stop is Jaume.

25. Viking Museum – Stockholm, Sweden

• Suited for: Viking history enthusiasts
• Price range: €€ 

Guided tours are offered in English and Swedish and are included in the price of your ticket to the Viking Museum . There is a really neat interactive ride called Ragnfrid’s Saga where you follow a Viking named Harald from his family farm to a Viking raid. 

There are also Viking ships dating back to the 9th century and artifacts recovered from archaeological digs and burial sites. The museum is super centrally located on the Djurgården island in Stockholm, near several other popular museums.

The Viking Museum has gone cashless so make sure you are carrying a bank card to pay the entrance fee!

Note that the Viking Ship Museum in Oslo, Norway, which boasts three remarkably-preserved Viking ships, is often considered the most popular Viking museum in Europe. However, it’s closed until 2025/2026 for a full rebuild.

26. The Barbie Museum – Copenhagen, Denmark

• Price range:   € (Only available by appointment) 
• How to get there: Fuglebakken Street stop

An apartment in an otherwise-nondescript complex in Copenhagen is home to over 4000 Barbie dolls dating from the 1950s to today. The owner of the dolls, Lene Darlie Pedersen, has opened an unofficial museum called the Barbie Museum , available by appointment only. 

Don’t miss the “#1’s”, or original Barbie dolls, and prepare to be amazed by the sheer quantity of dolls in her collection. It’s a very quick walk from the Fuglebakken Street train stop and a cool off-the-beaten-path experience in Copenhagen. 

27. The Historic Green Vault – Dresden, Germany

• Price range: €€ (Limited tickets sold in advance for specific time-slots)   
• How to get there: Short walk from Theaterplatz station

The Historic Green Vault contains the largest treasure collection in all of Europe and is quite a well-kept secret. Part of Dresden Castle, it is so named because of its malachite-green columns, many of which were destroyed in World War II. 

Part of the museum has been restored in its former style, but there is a modern component as well. Home to antiquities, crown jewels, and priceless treasures belonging to Augustus II, it was one of the first private collections to become public during the baroque period. 

Today, you can experience it much in the same way. Each room is home to a different material, such as amber, ivory, and silver, and there are no labels or display cases, to preserve it as it always was. Due to these efforts, visitor numbers are tightly regulated.

28. The Irish Whiskey Museum – Dublin, Ireland

• Suited for: Whiskey connoisseurs 
• Price range: €€€ (15% early-bird discount online for tours 10.30 am-12 pm)  
• How to get there: Take public transport to Trinity College

Walk your way through the history of whiskey, one of the world’s oldest distilled beverages, on a guided tour of the Irish Whiskey Museum , and don’t miss the included tasting at the end! 

Located right in the heart of Dublin next to Trinity College, this museum is well-worth adding to your Dublin itinerary. It only takes about an hour and a half to visit in full, and interestingly, isn’t linked to any particular distillery, so guests can try different varieties. There is also a bar on the premises with gorgeous city views.

29. Musée d’Orsay – Paris, France

• Suited for: Impressionism lovers 
• Price range: €€ (On the Paris Museum Pass )  
• How to get there: Solférino Metro stop or Musée d’Orsay stop on the RER

Impressionism lovers absolutely must visit the Musée d’Orsay , home to an astounding collection of works by Monet, Manet, van Gogh, Renoir, Degas, Gauguin, and beyond. The building itself, a Beaux-Arts-style former railway station, is a work of art in and of itself. 

Tuesdays and Sundays are considered the most crowded days, so consider going another day and visiting in the morning. 

If you have the Paris Museum Pass, you can pair a visit to the nearby Louvre or l’Orangerie with the d’Orsay, all located within walking distance. The Paris Museum Pass quickly pays for itself once you visit two or three museums!

30. The Tenement House – Glasgow, Scotland

• Suited for: Historic housing nerds 
• Price range: € ( National Trust for Scotland members enter free) 
• How to get there: Charing Cross train station  

Offering an authentic glimpse into an early 20th-century tenement house, the Tenement House was home to a typist named Agnes Toward from 1911 until 1965, who steadfastly and lovingly preserved her belongings throughout this time.

 As a result, the house has been preserved like a time capsule, featuring operational gas lamps, original soap, kitchen gadgets, and more. As a side benefit, you can also get a peek into the life of an independent, single woman during this time. Located near Charing Cross, it’s a great addition to a visit to Kelvingrove Park or the surroundings.  

31. Anne Frank House – Amsterdam, Netherlands

• Price range: €€ (Book tickets here , released every first Tuesday for the following month) 
• How to get there: Walkable from city center or Westermarkt stop (Trams 13,17)

The Anne Frank House immortalizes where Anne, her family, and a few others hid from the Nazis from 1942 to 1944 in the ‘Secret Annex’. It is also where Anne wrote her infamous diary. The concealed top floor, hidden behind a revolving bookcase, served as their hiding place until they were betrayed and captured. 

The museum offers a very haunting, emotional, and thought-provoking experience: an absolute must-see on any visit to Europe. No photos are allowed inside, and tickets sell out extremely quickly. 

Located in the Jordaan area of downtown Amsterdam , it’s easily walkable or bikeable from Amsterdam’s other attractions and should feature on any itinerary .

32. Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum and Memorial – Oświęcim, Poland

• Price range: Free (Reserve in advance here )
• How to get there: Minibus from Kraków or train to Oświęcim

Located very close to Kraków, the Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum memorializes and pays tribute to the victims of one of the most harrowing Nazi concentration camps in World War II. 

You can visit the grounds, as well as preserved cell blocks and objects related to the history of the camps. A visit encompasses both Auschwitz and Auschwitz II-Birkenau, and it is strongly recommended to visit both to get a full picture of the horrors that took place there. 

Be sure to dress accordingly , and reserve about a half-day for your visit. Take the train to Oświęcim and walk about 2 km to the Auschwitz I entrance or take a mini-bus directly from Kraków.    

33. Surgeons’ Hall Museums – Edinburgh, Scotland

• Suited for: Armchair medical professionals
• Price range: € 

Home to the headquarters of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh and one of the world’s best pathology collections, the Surgeons’ Hall Museum is a treat for those interested in medical history. 

Comprising three museums in one, the History of Surgery Museum, the Wohl Pathology Museum, and the Dental Collection, a ticket here is excellent bang for your buck.

No photography is allowed inside, but plan to spend two to three hours here. Located in Edinburgh’s city center, it’s easily accessible as you walk around town or a quick walk from the Waverley train station.

34. Victoria and Albert Museum – London, England

• Suited for: Decorative arts fans
• How to get there: South Kensington stop (District, Circle, Piccadilly lines)

The largest museum in the world for the decorative arts, the V&A is absolutely magnificent, and a treat to visit just as much for the building it sits in as for the 2.3 million objects on display. In particular, be sure to look up at the sumptuous frescos adorning the ceilings, and then down at the gorgeous tiles on the floor. 

It’s worth planning your visit depending on your interests, but a few don’t-miss attractions include the fantastic reproductions of famous sculptures in the Cast Courts; Canova’s Three Graces sculpture; the Chihuly chandelier in the main entrance; and of course the variety of rooms showcasing fashion and jewelry through the ages, a special focus of the V&A. 

35. House of Terror – Budapest, Hungary

• Price range: € (Reduced admission for EU/EEA citizens) 
• How to get there: Walkable from city center or Oktagon tram stop 

Serving as a memorial to those killed during fascist and communist times in Hungary as well as an educational space, the House of Terror Museum is a great way to learn about 20th-century Hungarian history. 

Housed in a building that served as a torture, incarceration, and execution space during these regimes, the museum has repurposed the space to show the human toll and suffering faced by several decades of fascist and communist rule. You can still visit the cells in the basement, and learn more about those killed. 

36. The Retro Museum – Varna, Bulgaria

• Suited for: Vintage car fans 
• How to get there: Avtogara stop (Buses 8, 18A, 22, 41, or 148)

A homage to Communist-era cars, motorcycles, and other vintage goods, you’ll feel like you’ve stepped back in time at the Retro Museum . The retro cars are lovingly restored and in flawless condition, and a variety of other household items are on display to showcase life under Soviet rule. There are vacuum cleaners, cosmetics, and old-school cigarettes from Poland or East Germany, imports from Russia, and even a full-sized limo. 

Additionally, life-sized wax figurines of influential figures of the time add an element of whimsy. Conveniently located inside Varna’s Grand Mall, it’s easy to tack on a visit while you’re doing some shopping. 

37. Museum of Broken Relationships – Zagreb, Croatia

• Suited for: Nosy (or curious!) folks
• How to get there: Walk from Zagreb ban Jelačić square

Housed in a baroque-era palace, the Museum of Broken Relationships accommodates a quirky collection of letters and other personal objects belonging to former couples or lovers. The museum commemorates ‘failed love’, and each object has a synopsis with the story of what happened. 

Split into material, virtual, and confessional sections, you can explore physical items, uploaded items, and leave your own items or memories of past loves. Located in Zagreb’s Upper Town, it’s an easy walk there as you explore the city’s other attractions.

Spread out across the continent, there are countless incredible museums in Europe. In addition to being a fantastic way to see some of the world’s foremost art, historical effects, and cultural contributions, museums are also a perfect rainy day stopgap, as well as a way to really get to know the culture of the country you’re visiting. 

We’d love to hear about your favorite European museums, from the hidden gems to the must-sees that complete your bucket list. Share your favorite memories with us in the comments!

Tegan George & Alex McKenzie | Why Not Walk

Tegan and Alex are travel, hiking, and biking enthusiasts currently based in Amsterdam. There is nothing they love more than exploring new places by walking, and they have visited over 35 countries together since they met in 2015. Their love for “walking the world” led them to found Why Not Walk, a travel guide site. Follow them on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest to start planning your next adventure.

Find them on: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Pinterest

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Art Lover's Tour of Europe - Italy, Switzerland, France, Netherlands

Grand history tour of europe - france, germany, czech republic, scientific marvels of europe - italy, switzerland, france, england.

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Day 1: Welcome to Rome

Welcome to Rome! On arrival you are met by your Travel Director and transferred to your accommodation. (D)

Day 2: Rome Sightseeing

This morning, visit the Vatican Museum with a Local Expert. Admire the papal art collection and enter the Sistine Chapel and admire Michelangelo’s masterpiece on its ceiling. Next door, in St Peter’s Basilica, see one of Michelangelo’s early works, the Pieta, and the splendid dome, completed after his death. Afterwards, visit the Colosseum, where the gladiators prepared for battle. (B, RD)

Day 3: Tuscan Hills onto Florence

Journey through the picturesque Tuscan Hills towards Florence. On arrival, join a local art historian to see Michelangelo’s David in the Accademia Museum. (B, D)

Day 4: Renaissance Florence

This morning, see the multi-coloured marble cathedral, bell tower and baptistery, adorned by Ghiberti’s ‘Gates of Paradise’. Then join a Local Expert for a visit to the Uffizi Galleries, one of the oldest and most famous art museums in Europe. You'll also enjoy works by Michelangelo, Botticelli and Raphael, among other masterpieces. (B, RD)

Day 5: Leaning Tower of Pisa & Milan

Stop first in Pisa to see the incredible Leaning Tower, as well as its splendid cathedral and baptistery. Continue north to the financial and fashion capital Milan. (B, D)

Day 6: Experience Milan

This morning, visit the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie with a Local Expert. It is an outstanding work of architecture and an emblem within the Catholic tradition, and is perhaps even more famous for its connection to Leonardo Da Vinci’s fresco of ‘The Last Supper’, which is preserved inside its refectory (dining hall). The Church is one of Renaissance art’s most important testimonies and has therefore been included as a UNESCO World Heritage Site (tickets to the Last Supper are subject to availability).  Later, for a change of pace, we embark on an alternative visit to Milan to see urban graffiti, murals and street art scattered around the city. Get a glimpse of an alternative Milan, meet colourful characters, learn about modern-day Milan and be inspired by the vibrancy of city life.  (B, D)

Day 7: Milan to Basel

Travel across the border into Switzerland. En route, we stop for a cheese or chocolate tasting before heading to Basel. (B, D)

Day 8: Basel Sightseeing

Explore Basel, with a Local Expert, concluding with a visit to Foundation Beyeler In 1997, the famous collection of Ernst and Hildy Beyeler in Riehen. The collection contains around 200 pictures and sculptures, including works by Cézanne, Picasso, Rousseau, Mondrian, Klee, Ernst, Matisse and Newman.  Famous around the world, the astounding temporary exhibitions are highlights of your visit. (B, D)

Day 9: Basel to Paris

Travel through the French countryside to Paris. (B, D)

Day 10: Best of Paris

After an orientation tour, visit one of the world's best-known art collections at the Louvre Museum. A specialist art historian guides you through the galleries to see the Venus de Milo, Winged Victory, Mona Lisa and more (Louvre visit subject to availability). Continue on a visit to the Notre Dame Cathedral, famously protected by its roof-top gargoyles, to learn about over-arching Parisian history. This evening, embark on an illuminations journey in Paris to see iconic sights at night. (B, HD)

Day 11: Musee De L’orangerie & Giverney

This morning, visit the Musée de l'Orangerie, an art gallery of impressionist and post-impressionist paintings. Though most famous for being the permanent home of eight Water Lilies murals by Claude Monet, the museum also contains works by Paul Cézanne, Henri Matisse, Amedeo Modigliani, Pablo Picasso, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Henri Rousseau, Alfred Sisley, Chaim Soutine, and Maurice Utrillo, among others. Afterwards, we head to Monet’s garden in Giverney to see the inspiration of some of his most famous works before heading back to Paris. (BB, D)

Day 12: Paris to Amsterdam

Travel through northern France and Belgium en route to Amsterdam. (BB, D)

Day 13: Amsterdam Galleries – Rijksmuseum & Vincent van Gogh Museum

Admire world-famous masterpieces in the Rijksmuseum, which has on display 8,000 objects of art and history. There is a total collection of 1 million objects, spanning the years 1200–2000AD, among which are masterpieces by Rembrandt, Frans Hals, and Johannes Vermeer. Then onto the Vincent van Gogh Museum, which is dedicated to the works of Vincent van Gogh and his contemporaries in Amsterdam. The museum is home to the largest collection of Vincent van Gogh's paintings and drawings in the world.  This evening, enjoy a canal cruise dinner to bid farewell to our time in Europe. (B, FD)

Day 14: Farewell Amsterdam

Your tour concludes after breakfast with a transfer to the airport for your onward flight. (B)

Day 1: Welcome to Paris

Welcome to Paris! On arrival at Charles De Gaulle airport you will be met by your Travel Director and transferred to your hotel.

Day 2: Paris From a History Perspective

Learn about the significance of the French Revolution and visit key sites such as Place de la Bastille, Les Invalides War Museum, the Conciergerie and Place de la Concorde. In the evening enjoy a walk along the Champs-Elysees, followed by a cruise along the River Seine. (BB)

Day 3: Disneyland in Paris

Spend the day at Disneyland Paris. Included in your tour is a full-day, one-park pass to either Disneyland Park or Disney Studio Park. (BB)

Day 4: Versailles & D-Day Memorial

Travel this morning to Versailles and visit the Palace of Versailles to see its opulent rooms and gardens. Experience the extraordinary Hall of Mirrors where the historic Treaty of Versailles was signed, ending World War I.  Continue to Arromanches and visit the D-Day Memorial. It’s then onto Bayeux for our overnight stay. (BB, D)

Day 5: Battle of the Somme

Today we visit Amiens and the nearby Somme Battlefields, where some of the most intense fighting took place during World War I. More than 3 million men fought in this battle with1 million wounded or killed. We visit some of the many interesting memorials and museums dedicated to the fallen. Our overnight stay is in Amiens.  (BB, D)

Day 6: The Lost Territories - Strasbourg

We travel to Verdum where you will visit the Verdum Battlefields and War Memorial.  Our journey continues to Strasbourg, on the border of Germany, for our overnight stay. (BB)

Day 7: Strasbourg to Colmar

In the morning travel to Colmar where you will enjoy a boat tour in the canal quarter, followed by a walking tour around Petite Venise and the historic centre. From Colmar, continue to Riquewihr for a walking tour in the town.  We then visit Chateau du Haut-Koenigsbourg for a visit to the castle, before arriving back in Strasbourg for our overnight stay. (BB)

Day 8: Europa Park & Friedrichshafen

Spend the day at the Europa Park, one of the best theme parks in Europe. This evening we overnight in Friedrichshafen. (BB, D)

Day 9: Meersburg Castle onto Munich

Begin your morning with a walk up to Meersburg Castle. We then make our way to the well-known Neuschwanstein for a tour to the castle and a horse-carriage ride down the mountain. Then it’s onto Munich where a Local Expert will take you on a walking tour in the city centre, including key sites related to Hitler’s time in Munich and the Third Reich. Finally we visit the Nazi Documentation Centre. (BB)

Day 10: Eagle’s Nest & Obersalzburg

A short drive out of Munich, visit Hitler’s former retreat, known as the Eagle’s Nest. Afterwards, stop for lunch at Obersalzburg (own expense) and continue to the Konigsee for a boat tour on the Lake and a chance to swim in Lake Chiemsee. Return to Munich for your overnight stay. (BB)

Day 11: Dachau & Rothenburg

We start the day with a tour to the Munich Residenz Museum. It is then onto Dachau for a sobering visit to the concentration camp. Our overnight stay is in Rothenburg ob der Tauber. (BB)

Day 12: Explore Medieval Rothenburg

Rothenburg was regarded by the Nazis as the most “German” of German towns. Visit the Museum of Torture, explore the medieval city and battlements, and join a Nightwatchman tour. (BB)

Day 13: Nazi History in Nuremberg

We depart Rothenburg and continue to Nuremburg in the morning. On arrival, join a Local Expert for a tour to city centre. Walk up to the Kaiserburg Castle, visit the Nazi parade grounds and the Albert Speer Documentation Centre to bring to life the history of Hitler’s rise to power. In the afternoon, visit the Palace of Justice and Courtroom 600, the location of the Nuremburg Nazi trials. (BB)

Day 14: Onto Magical Prague

This morning travel to Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic. On arrival, join your Travel Director for an orientation tour of the old town centre, including the town square, St Nicholas Church and Tyn Church. Afterwards visit Prague Castle and walk to Charles Bridge. (BB)

Day 15: Museum visits in Prague

Visit The Prague Communism Museum, Jewish Museum and the Kepler Museum today. (BB)

Day 16: Military History in Dresden

In the morning we travel to Dresden where we join a Local Expert for a tour of the Dresden’s Zwinger Palace, the Bundeswehr Military History Museum, the Dresden Armoury and Frauenkirche. (BB)

Day 17: Tropical Islands Water Park

Depart Dresden and spend the day at the Tropical Islands Water theme park. (BB)

Day 18: Berlin Sightseeing

Tour to Berlin starts with a visit to the ‘Story of Berlin’ Museum to provide an overview of the city’s tumultuous history. Your journey with a Local Expert includes the Brandenburg Gate, the Reichstag, Checkpoint Charlie, sections of the Berlin Wall and Alexanderplatz. Visit also the Zeppelin Field and the Jewish Museum, the German Resistance Memorial Centre and the Holocaust Memorial. (BB)

Day 19: Farewell Berlin

On our final morning we visit the Wansee Haus Museum and Documentation Centre of the “Final Solution”. Later, explore the DDR Museum to learn about life under communist rule after the end of World War II. We bid farewell to Berlin and make our way to the airport for flights home. (BB)

Day 1: Welcome to Florence

Welcome to Italy! On arrival at Bologna airport, you will be met by your Travel Director and driver. We continue to our hotel in Florence where you’ll have time to settle in, before enjoying a welcome dinner at the hotel. (WD)

Day 2: Discover Florence

After a restful night’s sleep and breakfast at the hotel, we visit the Basilica di Santa Croce and Museo Galileo, home to the only surviving instruments designed and built by Galileo himself. The remainder of the day is free for you to explore Florence. (BB)

Day 3: Florence at your Leisure

Enjoy a day at leisure. Explore captivating Florence at your own pace or join your Travel Director for a day tour to Vallombrosa to see the Monastery where Galileo studied. (Guided tours only available in July & August). (BB)

Day 4: Bologna to Padua

After breakfast at your hotel, spend the morning at leisure. In the afternoon, we drive through Bologna to Padua where you’ll enjoy a local 3-course dinner alongside a guest lecturer from the Padua University. (Lecturer organised by MTG.)  (BB, HD)

Day 5: Padua to Venice

Today we visit the Il Bo University, the second oldest university in Italy, for a guided tour. The afternoon is free for you to visit the Botanical gardens and St Anthony Basilica. Later in the afternoon, we continue to our hotel, situated in Mestre Venice, where we will stay for 2 nights. (BB)

Day 6: Romantic Venice at your Leisure

After breakfast, the rest of the day is yours to explore romantic Venice at leisure. (BB)

Day 7: Onto Swiss Geneva

Les Nations Hotel After a restful night’s sleep, we cross the border to Switzerland. On arrival into Geneva enjoy a late afternoon cruise on Lake Geneva.   Afterwards we check into our hotel. (BB)

Day 8: Nuclear Science in Cern & Geneva Exploration

After breakfast we travel to CERN (subject to availability) to visit the European Organisation for Nuclear Research and see the Large Hadron Collider, the world’s largest and most powerful particle accelerator. The remainder of the day is free to explore the city of Geneva. (BB)

Day 9: Geneva to Paris

Enjoy a delightful drive through the French countryside, as we make our way to Paris. On arrival you are free to relax or explore the city of love on your own. Gather for dinner at the hotel, during which you’ll enjoy the company of a guest speaker from the Marie Curie Museum. (Lecturer organised by MTG.) (BB, D)

Day 10: Gardens of Paris

Visit the Botanical Gardens in the morning. Here you will discover the Alpine Gardens, which contain 2000 mountain plants from all over the world. Wander through the rose garden, the iris garden and the Botany School's Garden, where 4500 species are labelled and regrouped by families. (BB)

Day 11: Arts & Metier Museum in Paris

Take time to visit the Arts and Metier Museum and spend the rest of the day at leisure to explore the wonderful city of Paris. (BB)

Day 12: Science in Paris

After breakfast in the morning, visit the Marie Curie Museum. Completely re-designed, the Museum reveals the life and times of a family of unusual physicists and their huge contribution to science. The rest of the day is at leisure. (BB)

Day 13: Paris at your Leisure

Enjoy a day at leisure to explore the city of Paris. (BB)

Day 14: Eurostar to London

Bid farewell to Paris today, as we travel by Eurostar to London. On arrival we will be met and transferred to a local pub for lunch. We’ll then check into our hotel and you’ll have the rest of the day to enjoy at leisure. (BB, L)

Day 15: Day Tour to Kent

Today we travel to Kent to visit the Down House, the home of Charles Darwin, before returning to our London hotel. (BB)

Day 16: Scientific Marvels of London

Enjoy a full day of sightseeing, including a visit to the Royal Observatory, Flamsteed, Meridian Courtyard and Maritime Museum, and a cruise on the River Thames. The remainder of the day is at leisure. (BB)

Day 17: Royal Society & Faraday Museum in London

This morning we visit the Royal Society followed by a visit to the Faraday Museum at the Royal Institution.  Lunch is served at a local restaurant. (BB, L)

Day 18: Westminster & Science Museum in London

We spend the morning visiting Westminster Abbey and the afternoon exploring the Science Museum in Kensington. (BB)

Day 19: Discover Cambridge

After breakfast, we continue to the university town of Cambridge for a 2-night stop. Enjoy a private walking exploration of the town including a visit to Trinity College – the largest of the Cambridge Colleges. (BB)

Day 20: Cambridge at your Leisure

Today is yours to explore at leisure.  We meet again in the evening to celebrate the end of our tour with a farewell dinner at our hotel. (BB, D)

Day 21: Farewell from London

Our science tour has come to an end. Transfer from Cambridge to the London Heathrow Airport for your flight home. (BB)

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• Travel Planning Guide

The Best Art History, Museums, and Cultural Tours in Europe

Prepare yourself for an extraordinary journey with one of these amazing art history and museum tours in Europe. Our extensive research has led us to uncover the finest journeys available, carefully analyzed from a diverse range of offerings from highly regarded travel companies. Every aspect, from pricing and guest ratings to service quality, destinations, and activities, has been taken into account. Whether you're an experienced explorer or venturing to new places for the first time, these thoughtfully selected art history and museum tours promise an unforgettable adventure in Europe.

• Madrid to Andalusia, Self-drive 7 Days, $714.09
• Gems of Albania, Kosovo & N. Macedonia in Eight Days 8 Days, $1270.30
• Pearls of Albania tour in eight days (3 UNESCO sites) 8 Days, $1270.30

What are art history and museum tours like in Europe?

Here are the important factors:

• 25 trip options analyzed
• $262 average price per day (USD)
• 3 to 21 days in length
• 4.59 of 5 average rating
• 29 people or less on average

You'll be surprised at the array of art history and museum tours in Europe, as there is something for everyone. It's no wonder that visitors can't get enough of these tours, boasting an impressive average guest rating of 4.59 out of 5 stars. Picture yourself joining a group of like-minded adventurers, with an average maximum size of 29 people, ensuring a fantastic blend of social and personalized experiences. The average tour length spans 9 days, with tours ranging from 3 to 21 days long. For physical activity , the tours are marked as easy, moderate, relaxing, and serious, with a prevalent number on easy tours. When it comes to transportation , tour options are organized as coach / bus and self drive, with a majority being coach / bus tours. For travel styles , you'll find tours classified as family, romantic, and honeymoon, with most of them being family. With our thorough analysis of 25 art history and museum tours, we've found the best. So rest assured that Europe has something to captivate every kind of traveler.

(All tour prices are in US Dollars before taxes, and come from a base price that is reported by TourRadar. Peak season prices can vary significantly, particularly in destinations where seasonal travel fluctuates dramatically.)

So, let's get to it and see...

The 10 Best Art History, Museums, and Cultural Tours in Europe

Madrid to andalusia, self-drive.

• Great Value: the daily price is lower than average for art history and museum tours.

Here's your chance to take off on an exceptional voyage that has garnered a 4 out of 5 rating. With a duration of 7 days, this jouney will have 4 participants, and it warmly welcomes travelers of all ages. Rest assured, this trip is all about local culture, museums, and family-friendly activities, guaranteeing an unforgettable adventure. Expertly organized by Destination Services Spain , this amazing trip is an incredible value at just $102 per day.

• Sightseeing
• In-depth Cultural

Gems of Albania, Kosovo & N. Macedonia in Eight Days

• On Sale: 10% Off See Prices
• High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

This memorable voyage, visiting Albania, Kosovo, and Macedonia, is offered by Choose Balkans which has received plenty of positive reviews. The trip itself has a guest rating of 5 out of 5 stars, and is priced affordably at $143 per day. Along the way, this journey encompasses 12 destinations, including Prizren, Pristina, Skopje, and Matka. Begin and conclude your remarkable journey in the gorgeous destination of Tirana. This extraordinary adventure also revolves around local culture, museums, and family-friendly activities. The maximum group size is 10 people, welcoming guests from 2 to 90 years old.

Pearls of Albania tour in eight days (3 UNESCO sites)

Set off on an extraordinary journey that has been awarded a 4.9 out of 5 stars by previous guests. This terrific trip also highights local culture, museums, and family-friendly activities. With a duration of 8 days, this journey offers an intimate group setting, accommodating 10 individuals, while extending a warm welcome to guests from 2 to 90 years old. This itinerary covers 12 captivating destinations, with stops in Butrint National Park, Ksamil, Himara, and Dhermi, among others. You'll start and end your journey in beautiful Tirana. Brought to you by Choose Balkans , this exceptional deal is an incredible steal at a mere $143 per day.

Corfu to Dubrovnik or Split: Tour of 7 Balkan countries in 14 days

With this option you can experience an unparalleled voyage for 14 unforgettable days, visiting Greece, Albania, Macedonia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Bosnia, and Croatia. It ensures an intimate group setting with 10 participants at most. Immerse yourself in a travel experience that includes 21 destinations, featuring Tirana, Krujë, Prizren, and Gjakove. Your journey starts off in Corfu and finishes in Split. Choose Balkans , the organizer of this journey, extends a warm invitation to guests guests from 2 to 90 years old. You're in for an epic adventure with a strong emphasis on local culture, museums, and family-friendly activities. This extraordinary opportunity offers exceptional value at only $182 per day.

Tour from Athens to Belgrade: 7 Balkan countries in 14 days

This fantastic trip has a rating of 5 out of 5 stars, visiting Greece, Albania, Macedonia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Bosnia, and Serbia. Uncover the beauty of 21 destinations on this itinerary, with highlights such as Tirana, Krujë, Prizren, and Decani. Your journey will begin in Athens and end in Belgrade. You'll love the emphasis on local culture, museums, and family-friendly activities, too. Lasting 14 days, the maximum group size is 10 people, and it's good for guests from 2 to 90 years old. Organized by Choose Balkans , this is a great deal because it's only $182 per day.

Portugal North and South, Self-drive

With a stellar 5 out of 5 rating, this extraordinary voyage is the perfect choice. With an emphasis on local culture, family-friendly activities, and religious sites, you know you'll have an amazing adventure. Traverse through 16 enchanting destinations, with Ferragudo, Fatima, Batalha, and Alcobaca among the must-see stops along the route. Begin your trip in Porto and complete it with a memorable finale in Faro. Spanning across 8 days, the voyage accommodates 4 individuals, and is suitable for guests from 10 and up. Offered by Destination Services Portugal , this remarkable voyage is priced at just $183 per day. Don't miss out on this incredible experience.

• Religious Sites

Highlights of Albania, N. Macedonia & Kosovo in 3 days

This exceptional trip offering by Choose Balkans has received a 4.4 out of 5 rating. On this 3-day voyage, visiting Albania, Macedonia, and Kosovo, you can unwind while also making new memories. This trip visits 6 destinations, including Berat, Ohrid, Canyon Matka, and Skopje along the way. Your adventure starts and ends in Tirana. With a group size of 10 people, it's suitable for guests from 2 to 90 years old. And since the priority is on local culture, museums, and family-friendly activities, this tour is a great choice. This remarkable trip is priced at an unbeatable $168 per day.

Dubrovnik to Tirana; Tour of 5 Balkan countries in 8 Days

Check out this voyage that has received rave reviews, earning a stellar 4.9 out of 5 rating, visiting Croatia, Bosnia, Montenegro, Albania, and Kosovo. Experience a trip that takes you to 13 remarkable destinations, including Gjakove, Decani, Rahovec, and Krujë. Your journey will begin in Dubrovnik and end in Tirana. Rest assured, this trip is all about local culture, museums, and family-friendly activities, guaranteeing an unforgettable adventure. Spanning across 8 unforgettable days, this voyage offers an intimate group experience with 10 participants, and it's great for guests from 2 to 90 years old. Brought to you by the renowned Choose Balkans , this exceptional opportunity is priced at an incredible $189 per day - an unbeatable value.

Athens to Vienna; Grand Tour of the Balkans & Central Europe

This 21-day journey, visiting Greece, Albania, Macedonia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Bosnia, Serbia, Hungary, Slovakia, and Austria, is ideal for guests from 2 to 90 years old. And priced at only $198 per day, it's a great value, too. This extraordinary adventure also revolves around local culture, museums, and family-friendly activities. Explore 25 incredible locations on this trip, including Tirana, Krujë, Prizren, and Gjakove. Begin your trip in Athens and complete it with a memorable finale in Vienna. It's offered by Choose Balkans , a very popular company with rave reviews and knowledgeable guides.

Grand Odyssey: Tour of Enchanting Balkans & Central Europe in 14-Days

Priced at just $202 per day, this terrific 14-day journey, visiting Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro, Bosnia, Serbia, Hungary, Slovakia, and Austria, is ideal for guests from 2 to 90 years old. Discover a journey that spans 17 destinations, with notable stops in Prizren, Gjakove, Decani, and Shkoder. Your journey starts off in Tirana and finishes in Vienna. Organized by the reputable Choose Balkans , this is one of the best tours on this list.

See also The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Europe , The Best Wildlife Tours to Europe , The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Europe , The Best Historical Tours in Europe , The Best 10-Day Tours in Europe , The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Europe , The Best 3-Day Tours in Europe , The Best 2-Week Tours in Europe , The Best 3-Week Tours in Europe , The Best 4-Week (1-Month) Tours in Europe , The Best Extended Trip Tours in Europe, One Month or Longer , The Best River Cruises in Europe , The Best Bicycle Tours in Europe , Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Europe , The Best Christmas & New Years Tours in Europe , The Best Christmas Market Tours in Europe , The Best Coach Bus Tours in Europe , The Best Adventure Tours to Europe , The Best Eco Tours in Europe , The Best Train & Rail Tours in Europe , The Best Thrill-Seeking Tours in Europe , The Best Cruise Tours and Packages in Europe , The Best Sightseeing Tours in Europe , The Best Cultural Tours in Europe , The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Europe , The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Europe , The Best Music Tours in Europe , The Tours for Animal Lovers in Europe , The Best Photography Tours in Europe , The Best Camping Tours in Europe , The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Europe , The Best Self Drive Tours in Europe , The Best Polar Tours & Cruises in Europe , The Best Nightlife Tours in Europe , The Best Religious Tours in Europe , The Best Walking Tours in Europe , The Best Northern Lights Tours in Europe , The Best Honeymoon Tours in Europe , The Best Tours Under $1000 in Europe , The Best Luxury Tours to Europe , The Best Budget Tours to Europe , The Best Tours for Seniors to Europe , The Best Contiki Tours to Europe , or The Best G Adventures Tours to Europe for more tour ideas. With so many options, there's a guided tour or vacation package for every type of traveler.

How much do art history and museum tours in Europe cost?

After analyzing 25 art history and museum tours in Europe, we found the average price to be a remarkably economical $262 per day. Naturally, this region has many fantastic options for art history and museum tours with a variety of prices. The individual costs will vary by the destinations, travel style, available dates, and other factors. If you're interested in more information about tours here, see our guide to tour prices in Europe .

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Cultural Tours & Holidays in Europe

A culture trip of Europe lets you learn secrets of ancient times, meet welcoming locals and listen to folklore that has stood the test of time. With 2813 cultural adventures lasting from 1 days to 42 days, you're sure to experience a true cultural immersion. Click here to see all cultural tours .

250+ cultural tours of Europe with 48,272 reviews

• In-depth Cultural

The Best of Eastern Europe

A well organised varied and interesting tour . The tour leader was delightful and aimed to please everyone. A variety of travel modes . Felt safe well cared for and accommodated Our tour group were all friendly and supportive

• Christmas & New Year

Best of Central Europe

I though the Intrepid tour was fantastic. The group leader did a great job in looking after us and providing us with good orientation in all the countries we visited. The only point that could be improved, was in relation to accommodation. In Prague, five people were placed in the one hotel with one bathroom and toilet. This is not really ideal, however, when we raised this issue, our group leader went out of his way to provide an alternate accommodation for my husband and I. I felt that this was really good and we were very pleased with the outcome. The other tour participants were great and I recommend this to anyone who is interested in a great holiday. Thank you Zsolt.

Baltic Experience

First and foremost with these tours, the enjoyment and experiences can be enhanced by the guide you have and our guide for this trip was exceptional! There are a LOT of cobblestones to walk on this tour so sensible footwear is an absolute must. Every city visited had its 'Old City" which were paved with cobblestones. It was a fascinating tour of the history of this part of Europe from medieval times to present day. The days spent canoeing and trekking in the countryside offered a welcome break from the cities visited. Klaipeda and the day trip to the unique, World Heritage-listed Curonian Spit National Park was just one of the highlights of the countryside experience. A hillside of Witches was a unique collection of sculptured tree trunks depicting all manner of mythical witches and demons. Amazing to wander through this huge area with such an engaging local guide to share the stories and history of the area. Hiking and canoe through Aukstaitija National Park's dense forests and lakes provided an opportunity for not only physical activity, but also time to swim and stop to appreciate the wild flowers and other flora. Plants that are considered garden annuals here, grow wild amongst the grasses and forests of this area. But Riga was one of the most beautiful cities visited. Fragrant gardens, fountains, old and new public sculptures and the well preserved and restored art nouveau buildings, made this city enchanting and fascinating. The trip did consist of long journeys especially by bus from Warsaw to Berlin. It proved to be quite exhausting and could be well improved by a stay somewhere in between these two major cities. Overall, if interested in Russian and German occupation and the history of these Baltic countries and their struggle for independence then this is the trip for it.

• Coach / Bus

Enchanted Landscapes

Overall a good tour experience for people travelling into Europe for the first time. It provides most of the transportation and uses a good schedule to see the highlights of many places.

Zagreb to Athens: Adriatic & Ancient Capitals

This trip was overall in one word... amazing. The destinations covered were amazing & beautiful. It was handy to have everything sorted out : the accommodation (mix of hostels & hotels), the transportation and many of the activities. Most of the places stayed did not have breakfast, but it was stated clearly that they wouldn't. Some of the places that had breakfast included a selection of breads, cereals and coffee - everything that you need. Croatia blew my mind.. The Croatia part of the tour was very in depth and I have a great idea of what the country is all about now & I also want to go back to see more in the future - The tour goes to cities, lakes, medieval villages, islands, beaches and has stops along the way to each usually. Note that on occasion there are stops along the way & the activity isn't always included in the tour.. I found that out the hard way in Albania. The transportation was a mix of using local transportation, personal buses and ferries. Note that in Albania MOST places do not accept credit card & we had troubles using the bank machines to take out cash.. Albania accepts the Euro as currency so make sure you have lots before you go (I also found out the hard way and didn't have any Euros as i Spent them in Montenegro) The groups for the tour are really what made the trip amazing.. Both groups were super friendly & alot of fun.. being a smaller tour and with the age restrictions it did make for a better trip because we were all around the same age, so had more in common! It was great having a smaller group too because we all became closer & spent even the "free time/Free days" together doing the activities. Our guide Marco was with us for both parts of the tour and overall he did a great job covering the information needed and I felt like we could always go to him if we had questions about anything. That was a part of the tour that I liked: knowing that I had someone to ask questions to who knows the area..Overall, HIGHLY recommend doing BOTH parts of this tour, as Many who didn't do the 2nd leg of the trip were super jealous and wishing they did! You won't regret doing this tour!!

Joyful Treasures

All hotels were very good. The sights we saw were good. The bus had no bathroom. The guides were average. They were often unclear with their instructions, for example they say meet in the lobby at 8am, but no one is there and people are outside getting on the bus. I did like the interesting history one guide gave.

Essential Britain & Ireland

Tour was action packed Sometimes too busy Scottish evening was too soon and too much like the Irish Cabaret the night before John Tour Guide and Juilian Driver were absolutely the best Hotels were too big I found... I found the best ones were smaller I dont understand Hotels not having wash cloths anymore... I dont like that

Rome to London Quest (Summer, 10 Days)

Great trip affordable with good accommodations. Able to see all the main spots in Europe and meet some great people

• €100 deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

Britain and Ireland Delight (Summer, 8 Days)

We had an awesome experience, made possible by our tour director Damian and driver Dave. Damian’s knowledge was exceptional and Dave was an amazing driver.

Tour from Athens to Dubrovnik or Split: 7 Balkan countries in 14 days

We were impressed with the punctuality and organization of our tour guides. You made our trip so much better than it would have been on our own. We really appreciated the tour guide too. They were informative and helpful in every instance.. Thank you

Highlights of Scandinavia (12 Days)

An excellent tour with an excellent tour guide - Lasse.

• Sightseeing

Tour from Athens to Belgrade: 7 Balkan countries in 14 days

I would reccomend this tour 100% for someone who is considering it.

Best of Ireland and Scotland (15 Days)

Fantastic. I loved Ireland and Scotland. Loved the variety of experiences from the beautiful landscapes, to the incredible history, the music,and the hands on time with sheep,,,,, hikes, shopping etc. food in Ireland was amazing while food in Scotland not as good especially our final night. My expectations perhaps were a little high but that last night’s dinner was food wise a disappointment.

Premium Turkey in Depth

This trip gave a great overview of Turkey. Fatih made the trip better with his passion, knowledge and knack of knowing just how much to deliver. Our group got on really well which enhanced the trip for me. It was helpful to take up Fatih’s restaurant suggestions. The only thing which would have increased my enjoyment would have been some high end food but I know I didn’t sign up for a food tour.

European Whirl (Summer, End Paris, 12 Days)

The European wirl was amazing Garry was an amazing gide we had a great time absolutely loved it and the people we were travelling with were great everyone cooperated it was my trip of a lifetime

Cultural Europe Tour Reviews

Very good tour , something’s we didn’t find out right until the moment. But, overall good tour.

To be honest, part of what made the trip fantastic was our group of 12- could not have had a better group to travel with- which is clearly luck, but a piece of our group being so cohesive was Nejca, our guide. She was perfect! Available but not pushy. Laid back, but willing to assert herself to make our experience the best. She made each person in the group feel special and appreciated. Thank you, Nejca! The itinerary was quite good as well. Although there were places I could have stayed for a day longer, I think it’s important to not stay too long and feel like time is wasted on a certain place on the tour. Transportation was efficient and Nejca did a great job getting us to our destinations easily and without rushing. Accommodations were very good- with the exception of Prague. Although our apartment was nice, it was clear that the residents of Prague feel that their space is being taken over by tourists- which is clearly true. I would have preferred to have stayed in a hotel in Prague-honestly, I would have paid more for it. Other than that, cannot day enough good things about the trip! Thank you!!

The Baltic Experience tour was a lot of fun! Our Tour Leader, Agata, was superb! The small tour size (we had six participants) meant we got to know each other well. The tour had a perfect mix of planned group activities and time to explore the sites on our own. The on-line tour description was accurate and extensive. Three cautions: Travel insurance is MANDATORY, somewhat expensive, and not included in the tour price. Many, like me, will commit to the tour not knowing this additional cost will be tacked on. Second, the tour sometimes involves significant walking (up to 30 minutes) from transportation facilities to hotels while carrying your own bags (two weeks of baggage), as well as walking tours that sometimes involve climbing as many as 800 steps. This is a tour for fairly young and fit participants. Finally, European hotels and home-stay facilities generally don't have air conditioning or screened windows, meaning sometimes in the summer you will have to choose between sleeping in hot, stuffy rooms or opening the windows for mosquitoes to enter. All that said, this was a thoroughly enjoyable and memorable experience and I would highly recommend it for fit, adventurous people with positive attitudes who can tolerate occasional less-than-luxurious accommodations.

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The 40 Best Museums in Europe's Most Popular Countries

40 best museums in europe.

No visit to Europe is complete without taking in some of its masterpieces of art. And no visit is complete without exploring its extraordinary history, marked by everything from circa-1200s architecture to hotels older than the United States.

Combining the two — great art, fantastic history — are iconic museums that have become must-visits on European travel lists. Here, we unveil the 40 biggest and best of them in the continent's most heavily visited countries.

Add them to your to-do list now!

Andorra: Museum of Miniatures

Tucked away in the small country of Andorra, between Spain and France, is a museum celebrating small things. The Museum of Miniatures, located in Ordino, features an entire collection of micro-art such as Russian Dolls, religious artifacts and even pieces small enough to rest on a grain of rice.

Most Famous For: Nicolai Syadristy

All of the miniature work on display has been created by Mykola Syadristy (Nicolai Siadristy), who is considered the world’s best “microminiaturist.” Born in the Ukraine, the artist is said to do his work between heartbeats and hold his breath, as creating such delicate – and intricate – art requires an extremely smooth hand.

A film shown at the museum spotlights Syadristy’s life, as well as how he works.

Tickets: 4 Euro

Austria: Belvedere Museum

If Vienna’s Belvedere looks like a palace, that's because it is. Built as the summer palace for the Prince of Eugene of Savoy, it is so ornate and beautiful that the prince decided not to live in the palace, but to instead live in a second palace on the lower grounds so he could look up at the original. (You can tour the Lower Belvedere, as well.)

Becoming a museum in 1907, the Belvedere is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and contains the world’s largest collection of Austrian Gustav Klimt’s paintings, as well as the greatest collection of Austrian art in the world.

Famous For: “The Kiss" by Gustav Klimt

Gustav Klimt painted “Der Kuss,” his iconic piece, using gold leaf to bring the golden hues to life on the 6-foot by 6-foot canvas. Painted in 1908, the Art Nouveau painting was the high point of Klimt’s Golden Period. Considered pornographic when it was first displayed, the oil painting became and remains a favorite, holding a commanding space in the Belvedere.

Tickets: 16 Euro, Upper Belvedere; 14 Euro, Lower Belvedere; 22 Euro, combined ticket

Belgium: Magritte Museum

One of the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium, this Brussels museum features the largest collection of work by surrealist Rene Magritte. More than 200 works by the esteemed artist, including paintings, drawings, photographs, sculptures and films, have been on display since the museum opened in 2009, garnering awards while welcoming more than 300,000 visitors per year.

An exhibit on Magritte’s “vache period,” which the artist referred to as "surrealism in the sun," highlights paintings from the 1920s through the 1960s.

Famous For: “Son of Man” by Rene Magritte

Even if you don't know the name of Magritte’s most famous paintings, you certainly know his work by the man in the bowler hat. This gentleman appears in a number of Magritte’s works, and has become iconic the world over.

Although this particular painting is privately owned, you’ll see similar work at the Magritte Museum.

Tickets: 10 Euro

Belgium: Oldmasters Museum

In the heart of Brussels, the Royal Museums collection features more than 20,000 pieces of art dating back as far as the 15th century. The Magritte is one of the national museums; another must-visit is the Oldmasters Museum.

Here, you'll find works of art by Peter Paul Rubens, Pieter Bruegel the Elder and Robert Campin, to name a few of the famed Flemish artisans who painted, drew and sculpted between the 15th and 18th centuries.

Most Famous For: "Landscape with the Fall of Icarus"

Pieter Bruegel’s paintings inspired poetry, including “Musee des Beaux Arts” by celebrated English poet W. H. Auden.

Although Bruegel's “Landscape with the Fall of Icarus” had been the museum’s highlight, a 1996 examination uncovered the work to be a very good copy of his original oil painting from 1560.

The museum admits the current copy was painted in the 1500s, with a composition attributed to Bruegel.

Tickets: 15 Euro

Croatia: Museum of Arts and Crafts

While Croatia is experiencing an insurgence of hip, unique museums that focus on broken hearts, frogs and war photography, one of its oldest and most popular museums remains the Museum of Arts and Crafts.

Established in 1880, the Zagreb museum houses more than 100,000 pieces from the 14th to 21st century, zeroing in on the traditional values of the crafts of Croatians. The museum’s library is one of the finest in Eastern Europe, with more than 65,000 volumes of books and journals.

Most Famous For: “Deer Wedding” by Ivan Generalic

Croatia’s most famous artist,Ivan Generali ? , was a prolific naïve artist (lacking professional training). Considered more childlike than traditional folk art, his most famous piece, “Deer Wedding,” is one of many he painted from his village.

Tickets: 40 kn

Croatia: Museum of Broken Relationships

One of the most interesting museums you’ll stumble across on your travels through Europe is Croatia’s Museum of Broken Relationships, in the heart of its capital city of Zagreb. Dedicated to failed relationships, the museum features letters, music, trinkets and personal items from those with broken hearts.

Love is a common theme, but the broken relationships include families separated by war, long-lost parents and siblings, and mothers who have lost children. It’s a moving and intimate collection of donated items, where others have expressed their grief for visitors to relate and connect with.

Most Famous For: Olinka Vistica and Drazen Grubisic

The idea of a broken-heart museum came from two Croatian artists who broke up after four years together. Deciding to relocate their personal items into a museum and asking for donations of similar items from friends, the duo’s broken relationship became an instant partnership hit, opening in Croatia, touring the country and growing to receive accolades for originality.

Czech Republic: Museum of Communism

While Prague may offer more traditional museums filled with art, archaeology and history, the Museum of Communism is one visitors should not miss.

The museum recounts fascinating moments in Czech history, from when it was made a communist country in 1948 to its freedom following the Velvet Revolution in 1989. This new museum is one of the most original across Europe, offering a deep-dive look at how Communism affected the country.

Most Famous For: Communist Artifacts

The collection of more than 1,000 artifacts from Communist Czech Republic is organized in three exhibits: the ideals of communism, the reality of communism and the nightmare of communism. More than 267,000 people were killed or sent to work on camps during the 49-year reign of terror. Visitors can sit in a secret police interrogation room and imagine the fear. 

Tickets: 290 Kc

Denmark: Thorvaldsens Museum

Denmark's most famous sculptor, Bertel Thorvaldsen, was also a passionate art collector. Housing not only all of his works, this museum showcases his personal collection of art and antiquities from around the world.

After spending the majority of his life studying and working in Rome, the artist created sculptures of marble and plaster reminiscent of Roman works. He was so masterful as a sculptor, he completed pieces for Napoleon and the Pope.

Thorvaldsen returned to Denmark in 1838, and construction began on a building to house his works. Considered a work of art in its own right, the museum's architect was Golden Age designer Michael Gottlieb Birckner Bindesbøll, who built the Historicism-style building with Thorvaldsen's input next door to the royal palace, Christiansborg Palace.

Most Famous For: Christus Consolator

Perhaps Thorvaldsen's best works can be found in the gallery rooms he designed for the first floor. Plaster copies of some of the sculptor's most famous works placed in European capitals can be viewed all in one place, including casts of Christ and the Apostles statues found in the Copenhagen Cathedral.

Thorvaldsen was buried with his art; his gravesite is located in the museum's courtyard.

Tickets: DKK 70

England: The British Museum

London is home to a number of fantastic museums, but it is the British Museum which receives the most annual visitors – 6 million, in fact!

Sir Hans Sloane, a physician, naturalist and collector of more than 71,000 objects that he bequeathed to King George II upon his death in 1753, is the one we can thank for this magnificent establishment. The museum opened in 1759 and today showcases antiquities from around the world, further collected over the last 250 years.

Most Famous For: Rosetta Stone

The Rosetta Stone, added to the British Museum in 1802, dates back to 196 BC. Made of granodiorite stele, it is inscribed in ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs, demotic script and Greek script, and unlocked a code to deciphering hieroglyphics.

Tickets: Free

England: The National Gallery

When you think of London, you may think of Trafalgar Square and the four-lion sculpture standing guard around Nelson’s Column. Two of the lions also rest before the National Gallery, the museum housing paintings from the 13th to 20th centuries.

Opened in 1824, the museum showcases more than 2,300 paintings in a free setting, allowing all citizens of the United Kingdom and its visitors to witness art that was once upon a time only viewed by royalty.

Most Famous For: The Leonardo Cartoon

In 1501, Leonardo da Vinci drew the Virgin Mary being blessed by Saint John the Baptist as children while on the lap of Saint Anne. The sketch, also called a cartoon, was the basis for a famous final painting that you can find at The Louvre. 

England: Victoria & Albert Museum

Considered one of the world’s largest museums, the V&A (as it is called) features 145 galleries and spans across 12.5 acres. Named for Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, the museum began as a collection of the royal couple’s decorative arts, china, furnishings, sculpture and house materials.

Opening in 1852, the museum holds more than 2.2 million items – it’s impossible to see everything in a quick visit.

Most Famous For: Tippoo’s Tiger

Of all the 2.2-million-plus items in the V&A, one of the most talked-about items is Tippoo’s Tiger. The wooden sculpture displays a tiger mauling a British soldier. Actually a container, inside the tiger is an organ that operates by hand-turning it – which makes the soldier move as he flails in the face of the tiger!

France: Louvre Museum

The world’s largest art museum, the Louvre in Paris is a must-visit for any art or history lover. Originally a palace, the museum spans 783,000 square feet and displays more than 38,000 pieces – it is so large, wings of the museum may be closed on various days due to the inability to fully staff the building.

Originally opened in 1793 following the French Revolution, the museum's collection spans from prehistoric times through the 21st century, with much of the art amassed by Napoléon during his quest to conquer other nations. You’ll find Napoleon’s apartments in the Louvre, as well as the largest collection of Egyptian antiquities outside of Cairo.

Most Famous For: "Mona Lisa" by Leonardo da Vinci

Everyone wants to see that famous Mona Lisa smile, painted by Leonardo da Vinci in the early 1500s. Worth more than $820 million, the painting is one of the most valuable works of art in the world. Alas, so many visitors make it difficult to see the painting — you will queue behind velvet ropes that keep viewers at a distance.

Tickets: 17 Euro

France: Musee d’Orsay

The painters of the Impressionism movement were not considered true artists and had to sell their works at a train station on Paris’ Left Bank. Today, this train station is a museum holding the largest collection of Impressionist works by such luminaries as Claude Monet, Edgar Degas, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Paul Cézzane and Vincent van Gogh.

The train station’s lighting is ideal for the open gallery filled with sculptures from end to end, and views of Paris can be seen from the museum’s clock windows, as well as a rooftop patio. This is considered one of the best museums in all of Europe for very good reason.

Most Famous For: "Little Dancer of Fourteen Years"

Edgar Degas’ paintings and sculptures often focused on ballerinas, with one of his most-renowned sculptures, "La Petite Danseuse de Quatorze Ans" ("Little Dancer of Fourteen Years"), made with a wig of real hair and costumed in an actual tutu, hair ribbon, ballet slippers and bodice. There are 28 additional versions of the ballerina found across the world, but this is the largest and the artist’s favorite.

Tickets: 14 Euro

France: Musee Picasso

Located in the Marais of Paris, this mansion-turned-museum dedicated to Spaniard Pablo Picasso (who spent much of his nearly 70 years of life in France) houses more than 5,000 pieces of the artist’s collection.

Much of Picasso’s works on display – paintings, drawings, sculptures – were donated by the artist’s family. The family also donated his personal notebooks, photographs, letters and other intimate items that can be found within the walls of a building that dates back to the 1600s and was fully renovated and expanded in 2014.

Most Famous For: Picasso Self-Portrait

At age 20, Picasso began his Blue Period with this self-portrait, painted in hues of blue on a blue background. The painting followed the suicide of a close friend and highlighted the pain and depression Picasso felt during this time.

Germany: Pergamon Museum

An amazing institution too often ignored by Americans is Berlin’s Pergamon Museum.

The complex features an antiquity collection, a museum of Islamic art and an entire museum devoted to the Middle East, as well as impressive monuments like the Roman Market Gate of Miletus and the Ishtar Gate.

During World War II, the Germans hid many displays for safekeeping, but the Russian Soviet Red Army was still able to seize a lot of the collection, which it held onto before returning the art in 1958. (St. Petersburg and Moscow still retain some of the items, though.)

The building survived severe damage from WWII bombing, but today is Germany’s most-visited museum.

Most Famous For: Pergamon Altar

The Pergamon Museum’s name comes from its most-famous and largest artifact: a monument constructed in the first half of the 2nd century BC as the top of the ancient Greek acropolis in Pergamon.

The Altar's exhibit hall is in the throes of a complete remodel, and is slated to reopen in late 2019/early 2020.

Tickets: 19 Euro

Greece: Acropolis Museum

When you think of a trip to Athens, visions of the Parthenon on Acropolis Hill are surely on your mind. Rightfully so, as the hill is the most oft-visited attraction in Greece, receiving 7.2 million travelers a year.

To experience the Parthenon, you’ll need to visit the Acropolis Museum, which was made to house every artifact found on Acropolis Hill, extending from the Greek Bronze Age to Roman and Byzantine Greece.

Most Famous For: Parthenon

The Parthenon was constructed in 447 BC, originally housing an idol to the goddess Athena for 900 years. The ruins of the marble temple comprise one of the most recognizable monuments in the world.

Tickets: 10 Euros (summer); 5 Euros (winter)

Greece: Benaki Museum

Founded by Antonis Benakis, the Benaki Museum was established to celebrate Greek culture and art and began as the wealthy man’s personal worldwide accumulation of items.

Housed in a neo-classical mansion since 1931, the collection spans across 36 rooms and shows off more than 20,000 objects from the Stone Age through modern day.

Most Famous For: Treasures from Greece

The museum contains items dating back to the Stone Age, including cups from 3000 BC made of gold and silver, a sign of the transition between the Stone and the Bronze Age.

Tickets: 9 Euro

Hungary: Hungarian National Museum

Budapest is filled with iconic palaces and museums showcasing the history of Hungary, which was a stronghold in Europe during the Austro-Hungarian Empire. One of the best ways to uncover its history, as well as its works of art, is at the Hungarian National Museum.

Founded in 1802, originally as a library, the museum has grown to include both Hungarian and international historic pieces, archaeology and art. It is said the museum was part of the 1848 revolution, following the reading of works on its front steps. One reading was of Sándor Petofi's "12 Points;" the other, his Nemzeti dal (National Song). Today, Petofi remains an icon of history as a statue on the steps.

Famous For: "Picnic in May"

One of Hungary's most notable painters, Pál Szinyei Merse was of Hungarian nobility and created work beloved by Emperor Franz Joseph. Trained in Germany, the artist became known for his plein-air paintings, including "Picnic in May," which was painted in 1873.

Tickets: 1600 HUF

Italy: Doge’s Palace

This former palace was home to the Doge, the most powerful representative of the Republic of Venice. It dates back to 1340 and became a museum in 1923.

The palace overlooks both St. Mark’s Square and the Venice Lagoon, connecting to the prison by way of the Bridge of Sighs. You'll feel its power from the moment you enter and see the Golden Staircase, followed by marble, gold-leaf, sculptures and paintings.

You can visit the Doge’s apartments, opera house and prison as well.

Most Famous for: "The Lion of St. Mark"

As the Doge’s Palace overlooks St. Mark’s Square, it is fitting that one of its most famous paintings is Vittore Carpaccio’s “The Lion of St. Mark.”

Painted in 1516, the background is made up of Venice, with St. Mark’s Basilica visible. The lion is the symbol of St. Mark, and the winged animal holds a Bible as he stands on both land and sea as an emblem of power.

Tickets: 20 Euro

Italy: Galleria Borghese

Formerly the home of Cardinal Scipione Borghese in the 1600s, the Borghese Gallery contains one of the most extensive collections of artwork in Rome and Italy. An avid collector, the Cardinal himself amassed most of the pieces in this villa, along with more than 100 paintings given to him directly by the Pope, Borghese's uncle. The Borghese collection of sculptures was so vast, many were taken to the Louvre in the 1800s.

You'll find works by Raphael and Caravaggio here, as well as the third-largest public gardens in Rome. (They are free to visit.) The Spanish Steps lead up to the nearly 200-acre park, which was home to equestrian competitions during the 1960 Olympics.

Most Famous For: "The Rape of Proserpina"

Then 23-year-old Gian Lorenzo Bernini created this amazingly detailed sculpture depicting the abduction of Proserpina by the god Pluto, who brought her to the underworld in Roman mythology. Sculpted in 1621-22, the work was immediately praised after its unveiling and continues to attract crowds to the Borghese Gallery.

Tickets: 13 Euro

Italy: Uffizi Gallery

You could spend hours in Florence’s Uffizi Gallery, taking in original Renaissance work by artists who called Tuscany home during the period, including Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo.

The collection of work grew so large that a renovation project, called Nuovi Uffizi, began in 1989 to provide more space for its myriad paintings, drawings, sculptures and more. That renovation project has already expanded the museum, which includes some 50 rooms, and there's plans to add more space in the coming years.

Most Famous For: "The Birth of Venus"

Botticelli’s famous painting of the goddess Venus standing naked in a scallop shell following her birth from the sea was painted in the 1480s and is considered a Renaissance masterpiece. Botticelli was commissioned to create the painting, which moved to the Uffizi in 1815, by Florence’s powerhouse Medici family.

Tickets: 12-20 Euros

Luxembourg: Grand Duke Jean Museum of Modern Art

There is much to see in the 998 square miles that comprise Luxembourg, a small country found nestled between France, Belgium and Germany. The most popular museum, for good reason, is the Grand Duke Jean Museum of Modern Art (often referred to as Mudam) in Luxembourg City.

It is the city's history at every turn that makes the modern art collection such a draw. You'll find nearly 700 pieces of work, from paintings to photography, arts and crafts to fashion and textiles, and furnishings to films.

The modern art found under the glass-roofed modern building stands in stark contrast to the site it was constructed on, which was originally Fort Thüngen. From certain vantage points, it appears as if the museum has been built into the stones of the fort. But it is entirely new, with construction completed in 2006.

Most Famous For: "Darkytown Rebellion"

One of the most stunning visuals at Mudam is by American Kara Walker. Her 2001 work "Darkytown Rebellion" is displayed as a series of black silhouettes on a corner wall, with a colorful protection adding your shadow into the work as you stand before it. The piece, as well as many others by the African-American artist, depicts the history of slaves in the Deep South. 

While the silhouettes may appear to be dancing and playful figures, closer inspection reveals the horrors taking place in the antebellum South. Combined with its life-sized graphics, the visual is extremely moving.

Tickets: 8 Euro

Monaco: Top Cars Collection

In a principality known for its Grand Prix, it should come as no surprise that you'll find a museum of automobiles from the private collection of Prince Rainier III. The collection, amassed over 35 years, features 100 classic cars from both the U.S. and Europe. 

Within the collection are names such as Alpha Romeo, Lotus, Rolls Royce, Packard, Ferrari, Maserati and Lamborghini. Visitors can even see the car used for the Prince's own wedding in 2011.

The museum is located within the Prince's palace, Palais Princier de Monaco, which also offers a glimpse into the State Apartments. 

Most Famous For: Grand Prix Cars

The Prince's collection includes a number of Formula 1 cars that raced on his streets. Race-lovers will see Bugatti Type 35B, driven by the first winner of the Monaco Grand Prix in 1929, as well as Renaults, Ferraris, Mercedes and Toyota from the rally races.

Netherlands: Rijksmuseum

The national museum of the Netherlands, located in Amsterdam, is one of a number of museums within Museum Square. Its predecessor, the National Art Gallery, opened in The Hague in 1800, and the museum's collection spent time inside Amsterdam’s Royal Palace as well.

Today's Rijksmuseum is the largest museum in the country and holds more than a million objects of art – but only 8,000 pieces are on display, as the museum cannot showcase every piece it owns. Dutch masters such as Rembrandt and Johannes Vermeer are highlights of the collection you can marvel at during a visit.

Most Famous For: "The Night Watch"

One of the most famous Dutch artists is Rembrandt, and of his works, “The Night Watch,” is his most recognized work appearing at the Rijksmuseum. The painting of Captain Frans Branning Cocq and Lieutenant Willem van Ruytenhurch before their troops is actually entitled “Company of Captain Frans Banning Cocq and Lieutenant Willem van Ruytenhurch” but was incorrectly identified for nearly 200 years.

Painted during the 1600s, the piece has called Rijksmuseum home since 1850.

  Tickets: 20 Euro

Netherlands: Van Gogh Museum

You won’t find “Starry Night” at this Amsterdam museum dedicated entirely to its native son, Vincent van Gogh. (It’s at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.) You will, however, see many of his finished masterpieces, rough sketches and artifacts from his life, as well as works by many of his contemporaries.

Home to the largest collection of van Gogh work in the world, the museum includes 200 paintings, 400 drawings and 700 letters by the artist.

Most Famous For: "Almond Blossom"

Between 1888 and 1890 in Southern France, when he was feeling particularly healthy, van Gogh made a series of calming almond blossom paintings. You’ll find one of them, “Almond Blossom,” a highlight of the Van Gogh Museum.

Norway: Viking Ship Museum

Part of the University of Oslo's Museum of Cultural History, the Viking Ship Museum allows visitors to dive into Viking history.

Uncover preserved ships found in the ocean, as well as unearthed skeletons and artifacts from Viking burial mounds. With a collection of viking ships, household goods, clothing and textiles from the 800s, the museum is truly unique. A series of documentaries and special exhibits add to the fun.  

The neighboring Historical Museum explores more worldly exhibits, with collections and artifacts from around the globe.

Most Famous For: Oseberg

The Oseberg was a 30-oarsman Viking ship, intricately designed and made in 820. Discovered buried beneath the ground in 1903, it is believed the ship was a burial ship. Inside the burial mound were the remains of two women, along with clothing, household items, animals and more, indicating they were prominent during their time.

The ship is one of three that can be examined during a visit to the museum.

Tickets: NOK 100; free for children under 18

Poland: Panstwowe Muzeum Auschwitz-Birkenau

Many travelers make a pilgrimage to Poland in order to see Auschwitz, a terrifying complex comprised of 40 former concentration camps, where more than 1.1 million people, 90 percent of whom were Jews, lost their lives.

This edifying museum was created in 1947 as a memorial and educational center that more than 2 million people visit each year.

Most Famous For: The first gas chamber

While every part of Auschwitz is disturbing, perhaps the most horrific is Gas Chamber 1, the first gas chamber and crematorium at the camp, which opened in 1940.

Tickets: Free with advanced registration

Portugal: Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga

Housed in a 17th century palace overlooking the Tagus River, the Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga is one of Portugal’s most important museums. You’ll find everything from Middle Ages-era religious sculptures to art from the Baroque period to Portugal's largest collection of gold and silver ware in this museum that dates back to 1884.

Most Famous For: Saint Vincent Panels

The Saint Vincent Panels feature 58 people gathered around St. Vincent, painted by Portugal’s own Nuno Goncalves in the 1450s. The work was once housed in the Cathedral of Lisbon, but today is a standout attraction at the Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga.

Tickets: 6 Euro

Portugal: National Coach Museum

Much as cars are a symbol of status today, carriages and coaches once denoted prestige. Showcasing mainly the carriages belonging to the royal family of Portugal between the 16th and 18th centuries, the National Coach Museum offers guests the chance to see the interior paintings and posh stylings of this old-fashioned transit.

Queen Amelia created the museum in 1905 in the former Belem Palace’s Horse Riding Arena in Lisbon.

Most Famous For: Pope Clement XI Coaches

King John V of Portugal, known as the Sun King, received a ceremonial coach by Pope Clement XI in 1715. Following the gift, the Pope received three coaches from the Portuguese ambassador in 1716. All four Baroque-designed coaches are on view at the museum.

Russia: Fabergé Museum

Russia is famous for its Fabergé Easter eggs, created for the Russian Tsars by artist Peter Carl Fabergé. See nine of these eggs, along with more than 4,000 items “lost” during Communism, at this one-of-a-kind museum in Saint Petersburg.

Created in 2013, the museum showcases decorative and fine arts along with paintings and jewelry.

Most Famous For: Fabergé Eggs

These ornately detailed enameled eggs open to display hidden jewels and surprises. They were created between 1885 and 1917 for the wives and mothers of Russian rulers.

Tickets: 300 rubles

Russia: State Hermitage Museum

One of the most gorgeous museums in Europe is Saint Petersburg’s State Hermitage Museum, simply known as the Hermitage. The second-largest museum of art in the world, it is housed in a former palace of the Russian emperors, founded by Catherine the Great in 1764.

More than 3 million items are part of the collection – too much to display all at once for visitors, who have been welcome to the museum since 1852. Multiple buildings create the full complex: the Old Hermitage, New Hermitage, Small Hermitage, Winter Palace and Hermitage Theater.

Most Famous For: "Madonna Litta"

Painted in the 15th century, "Madonna Litta" was originally credited to Leonardo da Vinci, although there are suspicions that the artist’s student actually created it based on da Vinci's drawing of the figures of the Virgin Mary nursing baby Jesus. (That drawing is displayed at The Louvre.)

The painting is named for the Milanese Litta family, for whom the work was created.

  Tickets: 700 rubles

Scotland: Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum

Built specifically to be a Palace of Arts for the 1901 Glasgow International Exhibition, this beautiful museum and its collection of some of the world's most coveted pieces is a high point to anyone's trip to Western Scotland. The most-often visited museum in the U.K. outside of London showcases priceless works by Renoir, Monet, Van Gogh, Pissarro, Dalí and Rembrandt, to name only a few.

Scottish and European history remains a focus, as well, with a collection of armor, decorative arts and jewelry from around the continent. The museum received a multi-million dollar, three-year restoration in 2006, adding more rooms for displays. Today, 8,000 pieces are available to view. 

Overlooking Kelvingrove Park, the international exhibition palace's main Centre Hall was meant to serve as a concert hall for 3,000 people, and features a walnut-encased pipe organ that's a top attraction.  

Most Famous For: "Christ of Saint John of the Cross"

Salvador Dalí's painting, "Christ of Saint John of the Cross," was added to Kelvingrove personally by the artist. The painting, completed in 1951, is based on a 16th-century drawing by a Spanish artist. The drawing inspired a dream of Dalí's and depicts a surrealist view of the crucifixion of Christ.

Partly destroyed in 1961, the refurbished and controversial painting was voted Scotland's favorite painting in 2006.

Spain: Dali Theatre-Museum

In the hometown of noted Spanish artist Salvador Dalí is a museum not only housing his artwork, but serving as his resting place. Specifically requesting a museum that would be a theatrical space for visitors to “leave with the sensation of having had a theatrical dream,” Dalí is buried in a crypt just below the stage.

The museum features the world's largest collection by the artist, who donated items from his personal collection, including paintings, sculptures, 3D collages and works by Dalí’s friends.

Most Famous For: Mae West Living Room

Inside the theatrical museum is a basic living room that, when looked at from a certain vantage point, creates the optical illusion of being the vaudeville actress Mae West. Dali created the room in the 1930s, during the height of the actress's career.

Spain: Museu Picasso

Born and raised in Spain, Pablo Picasso is honored at the Museu Picasso in Barcelona, where more than 4,000 pieces by the artist are on exhibit.

Housed in a collection of five medieval palaces connected by a palm-filled courtyard, the museum showcases paintings, sculptures, drawings, letters, notebooks, and finished and incomplete works. It opened in 1963, while the artist was still alive to contribute to the collection.

Most Famous For: "First Communion"

Although Picasso is most known for his cubism style, his earliest paintings during his schooling include this 1896 painting that first garnered the artist notice in the art world.

Symbolizing a girl’s transition into adulthood, Picasso painted his own father as the father figure in the piece, perhaps indicating his own transition from boy to man.

Tickets: 12 Euro

Spain: Prado National Museum

The national art museum of Spain can be found in the heart of beautiful Madrid, with works from the 12th century to modern day on display.

Spain’s royal family filled the Prado with their private collection before it eventually became a museum for the public. Today, it showcases 1,000 sculptures, 7,600 paintings and 8,200 drawings, among other works across more than 235,000 square feet.

Most Famous For: "Las Meninas" by Diego Velázquez

Painted by Spain’s native son Diego Velazquez in 1656, “Las Meninas” ("The Ladies-in-Waiting") is a Baroque classic work of art. Painted in the Royal Alcazar of Madrid, the oil piece highlights the Spanish Golden Age during the reign of King Philip IV.

Sweden: Vasa Museum

In a Nordic country known for its Vikings and maritime history, it makes sense that the best museum focuses on both.

Located in Stockholm, on an island, this museum is one of the nation's numerous Swedish National Maritime Museums, and welcomes more than 1.5 million annual visitors.

Most Famous For: Vasa

The museum is named for a 64-gun ship that sank on its maiden voyage in 1628. Fully salvaged after 333 years at the bottom of the ocean, it provides a rare glimpse into 17th century maritime life.

Tickets: 150 SEK

Switzerland: Kunsthaus Zurich

What began in 1910 has become one of Switzerland’s largest art collections, emphasizing Swiss art from the Middle Ages to modern-day times.

Although Switzerland’s famed artists Alberto Giacometti, Ferdinand Hodler and Peter Fischli are displayed, you’ll also find Pablo Picasso, Marc Chagall and Claude Monet prominently featured.

Most Famous For: Alberto Giacometti Sculptures

The Swiss sculptor Alberto Giacometti is the main feature of the Kunsthaus Zurich. More than 150 of his sculptures, drawings and paintings are on display, and were presented to the museum by the artist himself. His bronze sculptures famously feature elongated persons, such as that featured on “The Chariot.”

Tickets: 23 CHF

Turkey: Hagia Sophia Museum

Perhaps one of the most iconic buildings in Istanbul, the Hagia Sophia has stood on the city’s horizon since 537 AD. Featuring a massive dome, the building began as a Greek Orthodox Christian cathedral, then became an Ottoman imperial mosque, before being converted into a museum in 1935.

Called the “Eighth Wonder of the World,” Hagia Sophia features collections of church, tomb and stone objects.

Most Famous For: Hagia Sophia

The interior collection may be interesting, but the majority of visitors to the Hagia Sophia come to explore the ancient domed structure where emperors have been crowned. The structure contains 104 columns, including some brought in from the Temple of Artemis, and features magnificent marble and tiled mosaics.

Tickets: 60 TL

Vatican City: Vatican Museums

Throughout the centuries, Catholic popes, priests and royal families have amassed an extraordinary collection of artifacts and art.

Inside the Vatican Museums are some of the most important Christian and Renaissance masterpieces in the world. Up to 20,000 people per day explore the collections and St. Peter’s Basilica during the peak of summer, making this the fifth-largest art museum in the world.

Most Famous For: The Sistine Chapel

A visit to the Vatican Museums includes the chance to see the Sistine Chapel, of which the ceiling was painted by Michelangelo more than 500 years ago. The ceiling, which took four years to complete, includes Michelangelo’s religious fresco “The Last Judgment,” as well as tapestries by Raphael.

Wales: National Museum Cardiff

Although the National Museum Cardiff has been open since 1927, its National Museum of Art is a recent addition, opening in 2011. Despite its new position, it houses some of the world's most renowned artists, from the Masters, such as Rembrandt, to Impressionists, like Claude Monet, to contemporary artists, including Pablo Picasso.

Of course, the Welsh museum is also home to works by Wales' best artists throughout the generations, including spectacular paintings and sculptures. 

The building itself is much more than an art museum. Inside, visitors may explore archaeology, geology, botany and zoology, as well. The Clore Discovery Centre, also opened in 2011, provides hands-on exploration of items often in storage at the museum. In total, the museum's exhaustive collection encompasses 7.5 million items.

Most Famous For: "La Parisienne"

Of the fine works of art found at the National Museum of Art within Cardiff's National Museum, the most sought-after piece is Pierre-Auguste Renoir's "La Parisienne." Nicknamed "The Blue Lady," the painting is actually of French actress Henriette Henriot.

Renoir first showed the oil painting at the very first Impressionist exhibit in Paris in 1874,  where a collector paid just 1,500 francs. Bequeathed to the National Museum of Wales in 1952, the painting is considered the most popular of the museum's collection.

Tickets:  Free

Art & Culture Travel Blog

15 best museums in europe to visit in 2023.

• Tea Gudek Šnajdar
• Museum Reviews

The blog post 15 Best museums in Europe to visit was first published on Culture Tourist on 5 March 2019 and updated on 6 September 2023.

Are you looking for the best museums in Europe to visit in 2023? Visiting museums is a great way to learn about the local culture while travelling. However, sometimes, a motivation to travel for me is purely to see a particular museum. I’m often asked what are the best museums in Europe. Since it’s a tricky question, I’ve asked some of my fellow travel bloggers to help me compile the list of the 15 best European museums to visit in 2023.

Best museums in Europe to visit in 2023

1 – rijksmuseum, amsterdam.

The Royal Museum of the Netherlands, or the Rijksmuseum , is home to some of the most famous Dutch Golden Age paintings. Rembrandt ‘s The Night Watch and Vermeer’s Milkmaid are some of the best-known among them. Eight hundred years of Dutch art and history, with around 8,000 exhibits, are on display in the Rijksmuseum, making it one of the best museums in Europe to visit this year.

Its building, designed back in 1885, is a piece of art itself. You can spend a day there only by admiring its wall paintings and statues on its façade. It’s also probably the only museum in the world with a road going through it.

Besides being one of the best museums in Europe, the Rijksmuseum is a child-friendly museum, and it’s lovely to visit the Rijksmuseum with a toddler  (take a look at the self-guided tour on a link here).

If you’d like to learn more about it and check out some of the Rijksmuseum highlights , take a look at this video:

⤷ Read more : The best museums in Amsterdam

2 – Prado Museum, Madrid

A trip to Madrid would not be complete without visiting one of the city’s crowning glories, the Prado Museum. Dating back to 1819, this impressive art museum houses 8,600 paintings and more than 700 sculptures for you to admire.

The museum’s collections include Spanish, Italian, and Flemish masterpieces. Its Spanish collection is the largest one in the world. Among the different galleries, you can find Spanish paintings made between the 11th century and the 19th century. So, if you are a fan of Spanish artists like Goya, Velazquez, or El Greco, and you want to see some of their most famous works, you’ll love visiting the Prado.

The museum also hosts temporary exhibitions, the list of which you can see on the museum’s official website.

Since the Prado is such a large museum, take enough time and choose specific galleries to visit in advance. You can enter the museum for free from Monday to Saturday from 6 pm to 8 pm, and on Sunday from 5 pm to 7 pm. However, these times tend to get a lot more crowded, so take that under consideration when planning your visit. If you prefer buying your tickets, I recommend purchasing them in advance online.

/Or from My Path in the World/

3 – Uffizi Galleries, Florence

If you are an art lover, you must definitely place the Uffizi Galleries in Florence on your list of famous museums to visit in Europe. Visiting the Uffizi is considered one of the top things to do in Florence , even though the city is art heavy, attesting to the quality and renown of its collection. Located in the historic centre of Florence, the Uffizi is extremely popular, so advance reservations are advised if you do not plan on getting the Firenze Card.

The Uffizi houses Western art, both paintings and sculpture, from the Middle Ages to the Modern period. Its collection of the 14th century and Renaissance paintings is the star attraction. Among the masterpieces you will see here, are Sandro Botticelli’s Birth of Venus and La Primavera, Michelangelo’s Doni Tondo, Madonna of the Goldfinch by Raphael, Bacchus and Medusa by Caravaggio, and Venus of Urbino by Titian. Annunciation by Leonardo da Vinci is a must-see because it’s his first significant work, painted when he was only 20 years old.

Other than the paintings, the Uffizi houses several statues and busts that are old Roman copies of lost Greek works. They were collected by the Medici family, the de facto rulers of Florence.

/Dhara from It’s Not About the Miles/

⤷ Read more : 10 Cultural spots to visit in Florence

4 – Fondation Beyeler, Basel

Although Basel is packed with fantastic museums, my favourite place there was, without a doubt, the Fondation Beyeler. It’s located outside the city, in the small town of Riehen, but easily reachable from the city centre of Basel by tram (you’ll need some 25 minutes to get there).

The museum is situated in a building designed by Renzo Piano in 1997. The art collection was private by Hildy and Ernst Beyeler, who transferred ownership to the foundation in 1982. The museum could be seen in around two hours, making it a perfect place to introduce some of the top names in the modern art world. Among the authors of the works displayed are Degas, Monet , Cézanne,  Van Gogh , Picasso, Rothko, Warhol etc.

Its beautiful architecture and fantastic art collection put Fondation Beyeler on the list of the best museums in Europe to visit in 2023.

⤷ Read more : A guide to museums in Basel

5 – Neon Museum, Warsaw

Neon Museum is one of the best museums in Warsaw . It is also among the most unique museums in the world.

Located in Praga (the alternative and edgy part of Warsaw), in the former factory, the museum shows numerous neon signs that were part of the cityscape in Eastern Europe during the Cold War. Once the Soviet Union collapsed, the colourful signs fall into despair, forgotten by many. Fortunately, a group of enthusiasts has decided to save them, one after another.

Eventually, the museum was created, and currently, it’s one of the biggest tourist attractions in Warsaw. Not only you can see beautiful neon signs there, but also learn about their history and the technique they were made in. People behind the museum are involved even in restoring old neons that are more and more present in the streets of Warsaw.

/Kami from My Wanderlust/

⤷ Read more : 15 Best exhibitions in European museums in 2023

6 – National Azulejo Museum, Lisbon

Portugal is famous for its ceramic tiles, and there is no better place to explore their history than at the National Azulejo Museum in Lisbon.

The museum’s location is slightly out of the way, so many tourists don’t make it here. But it’s a unique Lisbon experience that should not be missed.

The museum is housed inside the deconsecrated Madre de Deus Convent, which is an attraction itself. Inside the church, you can even see some azulejos in situ, as they were meant to be viewed, surrounded by lavish Baroque ornamentation. Some tiles are painted with intricate geometric patterns. In contrast, others are covered in elaborate scenes and are used to tell a story.

In addition to the usual Biblical scenes, there are also some unusual, humorous motifs. For example, there is a series from the 17th century called singerie that features monkeys dressed up as humans, and a chicken riding in a carriage on the way to her wedding.

The museum’s highlight is a huge panoramic panel made up of more than 1,300 tiles that depict Lisbon’s cityscape shortly before the 1755 earthquake that destroyed most of the city.

/Wendy from The Nomadic Vegan/

⤷ Read more : Most beautiful museum cafes in Europe

7 – Musée Louvre, Paris

The Louvre in Paris is, without a doubt, one of the best museums in Europe.

Well known as the home to Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa (watch my 3-minutes of art history video about that painting), it has one of the most significant art collections in the world. It is impossible to see it in a day, so planning your visit in advance is advisable. Open in 1793, it’s home to some 38,000 exhibits from Prehistory until the 21st century. Its collection of Renaissance art and Egyptian collection are the museums’s highlights.

Besides the Mona Lisa, some of the top-rated exhibits there are Fayum mummy portrait, Ghirlandaio’s Portrait of an old man and his grandson, Michelangelo’s Dying slave, Nike of Samothrace, some Napoleon’s portraits, etc.

It’s one of the most popular museums in Europe, so it’s good to plan your visit in advance. Choose the collections you’d like to see beforehand and purchase your entrance ticket online so you don’t need to queue for hours before entering the museum.

⤷ Read more: The best museums in Paris

8 – The Acropolis Museum, Athens

You can see the massive rock of the Acropolis from nearly everywhere in Athens. This UNESCO World Heritage Site has been the primary religious centre in Greece for over 3,000 years. Atop the Acropolis, the Parthenon devoted to the goddess Athena is one of the most recognised structures in the world. But it’s completely empty.

While the Parthenon is the largest Doric temple ever built in the ancient world, the valuables were considerably smaller and highly portable.  Many artefacts were famously looted from the country, however many essential items remained. Those significant historical pieces related to Ancient Greece can now be seen in the beautiful Acropolis Museum at the base of the rock.

The Acropolis Museum is one of the best museums in Greece.  Here, visitors can learn about Greece’s history and artefacts from over 3,000 years ago. The museum houses an extensive collection of exhibits, including bronze figurines, carved statues, painted vases, friezes, and scores of other items. The objects are meticulously well preserved and presented in their proper historical context.

Best of all, the Acropolis Museum offers specular views of the Acropolis itself!

/Lance & Laura Longwell from Travel Addicts/

9 – Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna

The Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna is unique because it was founded to highlight the Imperial collection of art gathered by the Habsburg family. In the second half of the 19th century, with the global changes in Europe , they wanted to make their art collection more accessible to the public.

The buildings were designed by Gottfried Semper and Baron Karl von Hasenauer and constructed between 1871 and 1891. The museum was opened in the same year by the Emperor Franz Joseph I.

The interior of the building is unique among the European museums. It’s lavishly decorated with murals, gold leaf and marble, while fantastic stucco decoration is on the galleries’ ceilings. While wandering around the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, you can feel it was built as a museum to host the Habsburg art collection.

The museum is home to one of the largest collections of paintings made by Pieter Bruegel the Elder , with The Peasant Wedding, Children’s Games and Hunters in the Snow being the most well-known.

Among the museum highlights are the Cellini Salt Cellar, Vermeer’s The Art of Painting, Rembrandt’s paintings, Parmigianino’s Self-portrait in a convex mirror, and many more. If in Vienna, be sure to visit one of the best European museums located there.

⤷ Read more : Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna Collection

10 – Vasa Museum, Stockholm

Stockholm is home to so many wonderful museums. However, the most famous and exciting one is, without a doubt, the Vasa Museum. It’s located at Djurgården, also known as the Museum Island, because many of Stockholm’s museums are there.

Vasa Museum is home to the 17th-century ship that sunken on its maiden voyage just in front of the shore of Stockholm. A huge Vasa ship is well preserved and a central piece of the museum today. You can see it from close, look at the material it was made of and see some beautiful decoration on it, too.

⤷ Read more : My travel diary: Four days in Stockholm

11 – Picasso Museum, Barcelona

Most of us know Picasso for his abstract Cubism artworks, where he shatters two-dimensional perspective.

Visiting Picasso Museum in Barcelona provides a better understanding of his art and his progression. This museum displays his work on a timeline, allowing you to follow his works from the more traditional ones of his early years to the very iconic paintings and sculptures from the end of his career. Make sure you dedicate plenty of time to visit.

Picasso lived during his crucial years in Barcelona – those of his apprenticeship as an artist. He established and maintained strong links to the city throughout his life, and it was here where he wanted his museum to be.

The museum is housed in the Gothic quarter of Barcelona in a 13th-century palace – Palau Aguilar, that belonged to the Aguilar family. The central courtyard has an open-air stairway, pointed arch gallery and Gothic sculptures that date from the 15th century. It looks more like a palace than a museum.

/Priya from Outside Suburbia/

⤷ Read more : My travel diary – Three days in Barcelona

12 – National Gallery, London

The National Gallery is one of London’s many free museums and certainly one of its best. Perched atop Trafalgar Square, the building alone is pretty impressive – but that’s nothing compared to what you will find inside.

There’s a reason that this is the fourth most-visited art gallery in the world. The collection spans the history of Western art – with pieces on display from every significant art movement since the 1300s.

It’s weird to think that unlike many other European galleries, which were formed much earlier, The National Gallery didn’t come into existence until the 19th century. When the government reluctantly purchased the collection of 38 artworks previously owned by the late John Julius Angerstein. Once it was established, it grew quickly and now boasts a collection of over 2,300 pieces – a collection that gets bigger each year.

I’d recommend setting aside at least half a day to explore the gallery, a full day if you can. But you really shouldn’t miss some of its star displays – including Titian’s Bacchus and Ariadne, Rembrandt’s Self Portrait at the Age of 34, Cezanne’s Bathers (Les Grandes Baigneuses) and Van Gogh’s Sunflowers – the list could go on. Don’t forget to wear some very comfortable shoes.

/Julianna Barnaby from The Discoveries Of./

⤷ Read more : The Best Museums in London

13 – DDR, Berlin

During our four days in Berlin , one of our favourite places to visit was the interactive DDR Museum. This is a fantastic place for visitors to learn what life was like, living in former East Germany under the German Democratic Republic. This place is so interactive for everyone that it’s perfect for singles, couples and families alike looking for fun things to do in Berlin while learning about its history at the same time.

Across 27 themed areas, visitors are encouraged to touch, feel and interact with all the items on display to reach an understanding of the past. You will find everyday items from when the Berlin Wall was still standing, get to walk through an authentically furnished DDR flat, and learn about the Stasi surveillance techniques as well as the history of East Germany.

The DDR Museum is one of the must-see Berlin Museums, allow at least a few hours to explore it all.

/Melissa from Thrifty Family Travels/

14 – The Vatican Museums

In the heart of Rome , the Vatican Museums hold one of the biggest and most important collections of art and antiquities in the world. The museums were founded by Pope Julius II in the early 16th century and continued to grow under successive popes. Today the collection totals over 70,000 items including Ancient Roman statues and Renaissance masterpieces, though only 20,000 are currently on display.

Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel is the centrepiece and one of 54 galleries in the Vatican Museums complex. The frescoes depicting scenes from the Bible’s Book of Genesis are some of the best-known paintings in the world. Other highlights of the museums include

• The Raphael Rooms – four rooms of frescoes depicting biblical and historical scenes by Renaissance master Raphael
• Gallery of Maps – 120 metres of exquisitely painted topographical maps of Italy
• Sala Rotonda – a smaller scale version of the Pantheon that houses colossal ancient statues and mosaics dating from the Roman Empire
• The Bramante spiral staircase designed by Giuseppe Momo

Visiting the Vatican Museums is a highlight of any trip to Rome. Most people spend three hours exploring the galleries, but even then you really only scratch the surface of this immense and magnificent collection.

/Katy from Untold Morsels/

⤷ Read more : What to see in Vatican City

15 – Musée Orsay, Paris

Located in a former train station in the heart of Paris , Musée Orsay was founded in 1986. It soon became one of the best museums of modern art. It’s also home to one of the most fantastic Impressionist paintings collections . Other famous art pieces there are Edouard Manet’s The Luncheon on the Grass and the extensive collection of paintings by Vincent van Gogh and Paul Gauguin.

It’s also where one of the most famous photo spots in Paris is. On the museum’s top floor, you’ll find a massive watch through which you can enjoy a beautiful view of Montmartre Hill and the Sacré Cœur Church on top of it.

⤷ Read more : The most intriguing art heists in European museums

There are, of course, many more amazing museums in Europe you have to visit. However, these are definitely among the best museums in Europe. Are you planning see any of them this year?

Would you like to learn more about Van Gogh’s artworks and places linked to his life and art in the Netherlands, Belgium and France? Check out Culture Tourist Art Webinar: Meet Vincent van Gogh! Click on the picture below to read more and book.

Thanks to all the lovely bloggers who participated in creating this blog post.

Best museums in Europe , Museums

Museum of Wander

The 20 Best Museums in Europe for Art, History & Culture

The best museums of Europe: No trip to Europe is complete without visiting at least one of its famous (or lesser known) museums. Our list shows you the best museums in Europe for art, culture and history.

Europe knows how to do culture. Full stop. Art, culture and history are often the main reasons why we travel to Europe – and the best place to experience this is at Europe’s magnificent museums, of course. The museums of Europe should definitely be a top priority on any trip to the continent of culture.

Friends planning a trip to Europe always ask us to recommend the best museums in Europe . While we do have our favourites, we haven’t nearly been everywhere. So we asked a few friends to stand on their soapboxes and share their favourite museums of Europe.

From Spain and Portugal in the west, all the way to Russia in the east, here is our curated collection of the best museums of Europe for all our culture lovers out there.

Whether you’re looking for the world-famous art collections of Europe or something quirkier and lesser-known, these museums are sure to satisfy arty-farty snobs and normal people like me and you alike.

In no particular order…

Please note: This post may contain affiliate links. This means I may earn a commission if you make a purchase by clicking a link (at no extra cost to you).

THE HERMITAGE – ST PETERSBURG, RUSSIA

The State Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg is the second-largest art museum in the world by area (after the Louvre), and man, WHAT A COLLECTION IT IS!? It is by far the most spectacular museum that we’ve ever visited.

Catherine the Great started buying art for her collection in 1764, which is still on display today in her Winter Palace. The Winter Palace, with its distinguished green façade, is an ensemble of gold, malachite, marble and more gold. And between all of that, you’ll find some of the most famous pieces of art in the world.

The enormous collection (it has the largest collection of paintings in the world) is spread across six different historic buildings surrounding Palace Square. Most people visit only the Winter Palace, which is a mistake.

We suggest starting at the General Staff Building on the other side of Palace Square. If you haven’t bought tickets online , the queues at the General Staff Building are MUCH shorter than at the Winter Palace.

The General Staff building will blow you away with its huge collection of 19th and 20th-century art. Here you’ll find halls and halls filled with Matisse, Van Gogh, Picasso, Gaugin, Monet, Cézanne and Degas amongst others to drool over.

After seeing the modern stuff, head back across Palace Square to indulge in even more art from earlier periods. The Winter Palace houses one of the best collections of Dutch and Flemish art outside the Netherlands. Over 1,500 works from the Dutch masters now hang in the Hermitage, with fantastic pieces by Rembrandt and Hals.

Other than that, you can explore the opulent halls of the winter palace while admiring works by almost any artist of note that you can think of.

Most famous art works in the Hermitage to look out for:

• The Return of the Prodigal Son – Rembrandt
• The Madonna Litta – Da Vinci
• Madonna Conestabile – Raphael
• Peacock Clock
• Saints Peter and Paul – El Greco
• The Three Graces – Antonio Canova
• Malachite Room
• The Raphael Loggias – A copy of the Gallery in the Papal Palace in Vatican City.

Another interesting part of the collection is the Hermitage cats. The Hermitage has about 60 real cats living in the museum to catch mice. Keep an eye out for these kitties, and count yourself extremely lucky if you do spot one.

REINA SOFIA – MADRID, SPAIN

For the best modern Spanish art, you should definitely not miss the Reina Sofia in Madrid .

This museum, officially known as Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, is Spain’s national museum of modern art. Its collection reflects the historical and socio-economic events of Spain from the 20 th  century until now.

Housed in Madrid’s first general hospital, it has undergone a beautiful transformation to emerge as one of the most famous museums in Europe. While most modern Spanish artists are well presented in the museum, the big draws are two of Spain’s masters of the 20th century: Picasso and Dali. There is excellent art representing surrealism and cubism in Spain in the Reina Sofia .

Picasso’s Guernica , a gigantic painting in hues of black and white, is the biggest draw in the Reina Sofia. The Guernica is perhaps the most famous Spanish painting and the one single piece representing modern Spanish history.

More than seven meters long and three meters high, the cubist painting depicts the bombing of the Basque town of Guernica under Franco. It is a moving and powerful painting showing the horrors of war. Until recently, photography was not permitted in the Guernica room, but luckily that has now changed. Photography is now allowed free of charge in all rooms of the Reina Sofia.

The Reina Sofia is one of the most visited museums in Madrid , so get your tickets online in advance.

MUSEU NACIONAL DO AZULEJO – LISBON, PORTUGAL

Azulejos best represent the art and culture of Portugal. These colourful tiles, unique to the Iberian peninsula, adore architecture all over the country – from baroque churches in Porto to palaces and cafes to the backsplash in your Lisbon Airbnb kitchen.

The National Tile Museum in Lisbon is the best place to learn about this unique art form. You’ll find the tile museum, one of the largest collections of ceramics in the world, inside the Madre de Deus Convent.

You’ll see all kinds of tiles as you stroll along the halls and corridors of the convent, from huge panels depicting biblical scenes to modern, avant-garde designs or minimalistic tiles.

The Madre de Deus Church itself is one of the highlights of the museum. Stunning blue and white azulejos cover this 16th-century chapel, as well as golden altarpieces, carved wood from Brazil and paintings by André Gonçalves.

Another highlight of the Azulejo Museum is the Grande Panorama de Lisboa . Almost 23 meters in length, this panel depicts the 14 km long view of Lisbon as seen from the Tagus River before an earthquake in 1755 destroyed most of the city.

The Museu Nacional do Azulejo is a colourful and insightful view into the history and culture of Lisbon and one of the best things to do in Lisbon . Being somewhat out of the way also ensures that you won’t have to battle crowds to enjoy the museum.

Entrance to the Museu Nacional do Azulejo is included in the Lisbon Card .

SVANETI HISTORY & ETHNOGRAPHY MUSEUM – MESTIA, GEORGIA

Mestia, a beautiful town in the Caucasus is where you’ll find an equally beautiful museum: the Svaneti History & Ethnography Museum.

The exhibits, all with excellent English labels and information, focus on the culture and history of the Svaneti region. The museum has a wonderful selection of icons, manuscripts, weaponry, jewellery and coins from this part of the Caucasus.

Due to its remote location, Svaneti has always been perceived as one of the safest places in Georgia. As a result, churches in the region would send their most valuable religious artefacts to Savaneti for safekeeping. Over time the museum accumulated and protected the best icons and manuscripts in Georgia.

The museum has very comfortable sofas with spectacular views of the surrounding mountains and medieval defence towers. It’s a great spot to while away the time before moving on to Ushguli in the mountains or back to Tbilisi .

Museum of Anatolian Civilizations – Ankara, Turkey

The Dalí Theatre Museum in Figueres, Spain, offers a glimpse into Salvador Dalí’s mind that is much deeper and, perhaps, more troubling than just seeing a few of his surrealist paintings.

The entire museum was designed by Dalí, so the oddness begins on the exterior – why are those figures balancing loaves of bread on their heads?

In the first couple of spaces after entering the museum – a courtyard and then a large hall – visitors are essentially immersed in Dalí’s art installations. A vintage car, two human figures inside, overgrown with vines. Above, a ship, propped on a pole, hovers overhead, with, chained to it, a naked woman wearing a headdress. Strange figures watch from the walls above. What is this artwork depicting?

The rest of the museum holds about 1500 of Dali’s works. Many are the famous surrealist paintings and sculptures he is known for, but the collection also includes earlier works of impressionism and cubism. The pieces are presented, fittingly for a Dalí-designed museum, in no particular order, making for a rather jarring experience. To learn more about the museum and see some truly nightmarish visions, read  Dalí Theatre-Museum: A glimpse into Dalí’s mind .

By Rachel from Rachel’s Ruminations

UFFIZI GALLERIES – FLORENCE, ITALY

The Uffizi Galleries are certainly one of the most famous museums in Europe. This world-famous art museum is located in  Florence in Tuscany and fascinates with a huge exhibition of the most historically important paintings and art collections in the world.

The galleries were built between 1560 and 1580 by Giorgio Vasari by order of the first Grand Duke of Tuscany Cosimo I de Medici. The rooms were initially intended as offices for Florentine magistrates, judges, technicians and merchants. It was 200 years later, in 1769, that the Uffizi opened as a museum. Today, the 50 halls contain countless valuable paintings from the 13th to the 18th century.

The ultimate highlights are the “Ognissanti Madonna” by Giotto, the “Battle of San Romano” by Paolo Uccello, Piero della Francesca’s diptych of “Federico da Montefeltro”, the “Birth of Venus” by Botticelli. On top, you will also find works by Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo!

The Uffizi Gallery is probably one of the most visited tourist attractions in Italy, so expect long waiting times when visiting. However, you can reserve tickets in advance for a specific time, and thus save time and nerves. If you want to learn more about the arts, it is definitely worth booking a guided tour .

By Jürgen & Martina from Places of Juma

THE BRITISH MUSEUM – LONDON, UK

The British Museum is one of the most  popular places to visit in London  with around 6 million visitors on average per year. The museum is dedicated to human culture, art and history and houses over 8 million objects.

Some of the museum’s most famous collections include the Rosetta Stone, the Elgin Marbles, the Sutton Hoo burial helmet and even an Easter Island head. The museum also has a large collection of Egyptian mummies including the mummy of Katebet with her beautiful gold mask.

Take a guided talk or tour around the museum to learn more about the different exhibitions. The “Around the world in 90 minutes” tour is a great way to see some of the most famous objects on display though there is a £14 pp charge. Stop by the Great Court Restaurant on the way out for a delicious afternoon tea for the full British experience.

The British Museum is located in the Bloomsbury area of London and is free to enter through some exhibitions do attract a small charge. Opening times are 10:00 – 17:30 every day. Plan to spend at least 3 to 4 hours at the museum to enjoy the various rooms and exhibits. Due to restrictions at present timed slots for your visit have to be booked before arrival, and there is a one-way route to follow around the museum.

By Tracy from U.K. Travel Planning

NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM – LONDON, UK

This Natural History Museum must be on your to-do list when in London. Located in South Kensington, this museum is very popular and considered by many as the best museum in London. It’s open seven days a week from 10 am to 5:50 pm.

It’s an incredible museum, with its stunning architecture and exciting exhibits you could easily spend a day here. 

Most famous for its dinosaur exhibit which has been featured in many films and documentaries, and is heavily supported by Sir David Attenborough. The museum is free to enter, and they even offer a free virtual tour for people who aren’t able to get there in person.

ANNND for all you Potter Heads they have an exhibit on ‘Fantastic Beasts’ how exciting is that?! It really is a beautiful museum, with something for everyone!

Avoid visiting on popular holidays such as Halloween, Bonfire Night, New Year’s day, as it can get pretty busy. Or at least go early. That way you can beat the queues and crowds!

By Charlotte from Bursting my Bubbles

ARCHEOLOGICAL MUSEUM OF CAGLIARI – SARDINIA, ITALY

The Archeological Museum of Cagliari is easily one of the  best museums in Sardinia . Located in the heart of Castello, one of the historic districts of Sardinia’s capital, this vast museum has a fantastic collection of archaeological artefacts that will walk you through the rich history of Sardinia. 

The exhibits are spread across three floors, in a beautiful historical building inside which you’ll also find a nice garden. It includes pieces from the Pre-Nuragic era and the Nuragic Age (the Nuragic civilization is only found in Sardinia, so this is something truly unique), all the way to the Byzantine era, with objects of daily use as well as pieces that had clear sacred, religious or ritual relevance.

  The Archeological Museum of Cagliari also houses a few of the Mont’e Prama Giants statues, which were actually found in the region around Cabras (where most of them are housed). The Mont’e Prama Giants are still the object of research and are surrounded by much mystery. 

The museum is open to visitors from Tuesday to Sunday, from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm. Admission is €7.

By Claudia from Strictly Sardinia

PERGAMON MUSEUM – BERLIN, GERMANY

Berlin’s Pergamon Museum was built between 1910 and 1930 and has become one of the city’s most famous museums. It is the most visited museum in Germany, and it’s part of Museum Island, a collection of five popular museums.

A visit to the Pergamon Museum is one of the  best things to do in Berlin  due to its outstanding cultural and archaeological exhibits. Some of the more well-known pieces are the Pergamon Altar from Asia Minor, the Ishtar Gate from Babylon, the Market Gate of Miletus from what is now western Turkey, and the Mshatta Facade from present-day Jordan.

The museum is divided into three wings, each of which houses different collections. The Collection of Classical Antiquities has some of the world’s most important pieces of ancient Roman and Greek art. This is where the Pergamon Altar is located.

The Museum of the Ancient Near East contains 270,000 artefacts covering a 6,000-year period from the regions of Mesopotamia, Syria, and Anatolia. The Museum of Islamic Art displays an impressive collection of Islamic art from the 7th to 9th centuries.

For those who love art, history, culture, and archaeology, the Pergamon Museum should not be missed. The museum can be found at Bodestr. 1-3, and the closest Ubahn station is Museuminsel on the U5.

Consider getting the Berlin Welcome Card which includes entrance to all five museums on Museum Island and free use of public transport for 3 days.

By Ali from Berlin Travel Tips

MUSEE D’ORSAY – PARIS, FRANCE

Musee d’Orsay is located on the left bank of the River Seine in the heart of Paris, France. Built from an existing railway station in the Beaux-Arts architectural style, the museum boasts an impressive glass barreled ceiling with a steel frame structure, creamy stone staircases, intricate clock face and elaborate detailing. Originally transformed to host the World Exhibition of 1900, it is now home to a plethora of important artworks.

The museum consists of two main levels, both showcasing the largest impressionist and post-impressionist masterpieces in the world. French artists like Vincent Van Gogh, with his famous self-portrait and Starry Night pieces of 1889, are among the most popular works of art.

Flowery canvases such as Poppies (1873) and Water Lilies (1919) by Claude Monet and works by Renoir are featured throughout. Provencal icon Paul Cezanne’s vibrant Apples and Oranges (1900) will tempt your eyes. Don’t forget about peering at Edouard Manet’s 1863 Le Dejeuner Sur L’herbe piece that sparked controversy amongst the elite of the 19th century. 

Musee D’Orsay is open daily from 9:30 AM – 6 PM, closed Tuesdays. Tickets can be purchased beforehand, including skip-the-line privileges or picked up at the ticket office on-site. 

By Haley from Haley Blackall

NEON MUSEUM – WARSAW, POLAND

Neon Museum in Warsaw  is one of the quirkiest and most unique museums you can find in Europe and the first museum of that kind in the world. Located in Praga (the alternative and edgy part of Warsaw), in the former factory, the museum shows numerous neon signs that were part of the cityscape in Eastern Europe during Cold War times.

It was created by a group of enthusiasts whose aim was to save unique colourful signs. Today the museum’s collection is fairly large and can be found not only in the building itself but also around the Soho Factory premises.

When visiting the museum, not only can you see beautiful neon signs (including some iconic ones), but you can also learn about their history and the technique of how they are made. The owners keep finding and restoring old neon signs in Poland and beyond, so each time you visit the museum, you can be sure to find some new neons in the collection.

Recently, the Guardian named Neon Museum as one of the 12 most interesting city museums in Europe, and it certainly deserves this title. Before visiting, check the museum’s website or Facebook page for the current opening hours. 

By Kami from My Wanderlust

VATICAN MUSEUMS – ROME, ITALY

The Vatican Museums are a must-visit on any trip to Rome , and they’re definitely some of the most spectacular museums in Europe. These museums are located in Vatican City, Italy, right in the heart of Rome. Right next to the museums lies the famous St. Peter’s Square and Basilica, which is definitely worth a visit as well.

One can easily spend half a day if not a whole day inside the Vatican Museums. There’s an incredible amount of museums and galleries inside this complex — a dream place for art and history buffs. Some of the best ones are the Egyptian and Etruscan Museums, the Gallery of Maps, and the Raphael Rooms.

Of course, the most famous piece of work inside the Vatican Museums is Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel, which he spent four years painting. This masterpiece truly consists of some of the most breathtaking ceiling frescoes you will ever see, and visiting it is definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience.  

When planning your trip to the Vatican Museums, be sure to book your ticket in advance , otherwise, you’ll be standing in an incredibly long line. Make sure to also dress appropriately. In fact, both men and women are required to cover their necklines, shoulders, and thighs before entering the museums.

By Jiayi from The Diary of a Nomad

VASA MUSEUM – STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN

The Vasa Museum is a wonderfully unique museum located in Sweden’s capital city, Stockholm. The museum displays the 17th-century Swedish ship, the Vasa, which sunk in Stockholm’s harbour on its maiden voyage back in 1628.  

The Vasa lay at the bottom of the harbour for years until it was finally recovered, restored, and turned into an attraction that has become Stockholm’s most famous museum. 

Visiting the Vasa Museum  should be on everyone’s Stockholm bucket list. There is something so awe-inspiring to see the ship come into sight once you enter the museum. The ornate carvings on the ship display wonderful craftsmanship that has stood the test of time.  

Definitely spend some time watching the film that shows footage of the rescue mission where the ship was re-floated and finally resurfaced after hundreds of years as it is utterly fascinating.  

Admissions to the museum cost 170 SEK for adults. Tickets to the Vasa Museum are also included on the Stockholm City Pass which can be a worthwhile purchase if you plan on visiting several attractions. 

By Emma from Emma Jane Explores

RIJKSMUSEUM – AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS

One of the top-rated museums in Europe is the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. It’s a Dutch national museum that mainly focuses on Dutch art and history. It’s not only the most visited museum in The Netherlands but also the largest art museum in the country.

The most famous piece in the collection is The Night Watch , an enormous painting by the famous Dutch painter Rembrandt van Rijn. It’s a true masterpiece of 3,6 by 4,4 meters. It’s a baroque-style oil painting that is mostly celebrated for the unique and beautiful use of light shadow by Rembrandt.

Besides this crown jewel, the Rijksmuseum also exhibits masterpieces by other famous Dutch painters such as Frans Hals, Vincent van Gogh, and Johannes Vermeer. Additionally, its temporary exhibits on Dutch history add another reason to visit the national museum.  

However, even to people with zero interest in art or history, the Rijksmuseum offers an amazing experience. As it is a magnificent landmark which, in itself, is already worth a visit. 

It’s located at Museum Square, a square in the centre of Amsterdam surrounded by three outstanding art museums; The Van Gogh Museum, The Stedelijk Museum and The Rijksmuseum. Museum Square is a must for visitors of Amsterdam.  

By Lara from The Best Travel Gifts

NATIONAL ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM – ATHENS, GREECE

Athens is full of amazing museums . One of the best museums to see on your trip to Athens is the National Archaeological Museum. It’s the biggest archaeological museum in Greece.

The museum is housed in a beautiful neo-classical building in the   Exarhia district and it was founded at the end of the 19th century. During World War II the artefacts were put in boxes and buried to be protected from destruction and looting.

The museum has a vast collection of more than 11 000 exhibits that showcase the history of Greece from prehistory to late antiquity.

Highlights of the museum include the gold funeral mask of Agamemnon, the Artemision Bronze statue of Zeus or Poseidon, the Antikythira Mechanism, and frescoes from the Akrotiri archaeological site in Santorini.

Tickets to the museum cost 12 euros (April to October) and 6 euros  (November to March). There is also a  3 -day special ticket available that costs 15 euros and includes entry to the Archaeological Museum, the Epigraphic Museum, the Numismatic Museum, and the Byzantine and Christian Museum of Athens

By Chrysoula from Athens and Beyond

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF FINLAND – HELSINKI

Visiting the Uusi Kansallinen (the National Museum of Finland) is one of the  coolest things to do in Helsinki . Sounds odd, but this museum does a great job combining history lessons with interactive exhibits. You’ll leave it with a much greater understanding of Finnish culture, from a historical perspective, and from a sociological one too.

Exhibitions cover the country’s history from the Stone Age to the present day. The ethnological collections illustrate Finland’s popular culture –life, trades and traditions of Finnish people– from the 16th century to modern times.

The building that houses the museum is a work of art in its own right, resembling a Finnish medieval church. The exterior’s national romanticism style contrasts with its art nouveau interior. The construction started in 1905, and it opened to the public in 1916. The historical displays start at the very entrance door, where you’ll see a glass shattered by a bullet from the 1918’s Civil War.

To get there catch trams N° 4 or 10. The entrance fee is €14, with a reduced price of €10 for students and seniors. If you’re on a budget, visit on Fridays. From 4:15 to 6 PM the admission is free of charge.

By Coni from Experiencing the Globe

BELVEDERE – VIENNA, AUSTRIA

Belvedere is one of the most beautiful museums in Europe. Located in a baroque palace in Vienna, the buildings are as magnificent as the art they house. The gentle slope of the grounds also provides a lovely view over the city centre.

The museum is separated into different buildings: the Upper Palace, Lower Palace, Belvedere 21, Orangery, and Palace Stables, surrounded by a traditional royal garden. During the Hapsburg dynasty of the Austrian-Hungarian empire, they were built as a summer palace for Prince Eugene of Savoy.

Upper Belvedere houses the permanent collection, which includes masterpieces by Monet, van Gogh, and “The Kiss” by Klimt. Lower Belvedere provides a look at life as a royal during the Hapsburg Dynasty and rotating international exhibitions. For modern art enthusiasts, Belvedere 21 shows contemporary Austrian and international art in a brand-new building.

There are tickets available to visit the complete grounds and separate tickets for each of the three museums. Reduced prices are offered for students, and children enter for free. Entrance to the Belvedere is free with the popular Vienna Pass .

The combination of internationally renowned art from different periods, the elegance and historical importance of the palace buildings, and the beautiful gardens with a gorgeous view over the city make Belvedere  a must-visit in Vienna .

By Sophie from Just Heading Out

VAN GOGH MUSEUM – AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS

One of the best museums in Europe is the Van Gogh Museum . This museum is located in Amsterdam at Museum Square. It is the most visited museum in the country and one of the best  modern art museums in the Netherlands .

The museum houses the largest collection of Van Gogh art in the world, which is great to see! The works of Van Gogh are mostly from the post-impressionism art movement. Some of the most notable pieces of art that are at the museum are “Sunflowers”, “Almond Blossoms”, and “The Potato Eaters”.

What’s great is that the museum showcases the works by the different phases in Van Gogh’s life, with the works he made at certain places he lived next to each other. Furthermore, there are other objects besides paintings.

The museum also features hundreds of drawings and letters written by Van Gogh. Besides the works by Van Gogh, there are also works by other artists from the impressionism and post-impressionism movements. These include Claude Monet, Édouard Manet, and John Russell.

By Dymphe from dymabroad

LOUVRE – PARIS, FRANCE

The Louvre museum is one of the best museums in Europe. Actually, it is one of the world’s best museums! It is located in central Paris, not far from the Seine river, and it is easily recognizable for its glass pyramid, which serves as the main entrance.

Thanks to the glass pyramid, the Louvre is also one of the most iconic sites in Paris, and a paradise for professional and amateur photographers, especially at night when the glass pyramid is illuminated.

Louvre’s artworks span from the first civilizations to the 18th century, with the best known and unknown artists represented. Louvre’s collection is so vast that visiting the whole museum would take several days!

One of the best things about the Louvre Museum is its history. Indeed, its origins date back to Medieval times, when it was the home to the French kings.  King Philippe Auguste  built the first structure in the 12th century,  a medieval fortress, to secure the Paris city wall. Since then, all the French Kings have spent more or less time in the Louvre Palace, adding more constructions and embellishing it.

The Louvre Museum is one of the top things to do in Paris, and it usually sees the crowds, especially during the weekends, so check out these  Louvre skip-the-line tips  to get the most of your visit.

The Louvre is open from Wednesday to Monday, from 9 am to 6 pm. It is highly recommended to book your Louvre tickets online in advance.

By Elisa from World in Paris

BEST MUSEUMS OF EUROPE: WHICH ONE IS YOUR FAVOURITE?

Tell us about your favourite museum in Europe in the comments below.

I love the D’Orsay in Paris and Van Gogh Galleries in Amsterdam. Small enough to see all and enjoy. Good vibes. The Louvre is huge and breathtaking. Can’t do it in one day. Must return. The Kelvingrove in Glasgow should be on the list. The Accademia has the original David in Florence as well as the grand Uffizi next to the Ponte Vechio on the Orno River.

Hi Pat, Europe is indeed home to incredible museums, big and small. Thanks for the tips on the Kelvingrove and Academia.

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Discover the most impressive museums in Europe

Best Museums in Europe

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Europe is one of the best tourist destinations to discover among the most beautiful museums in the world. Here is a selection of the best museums in Europe , the must see museums which tell us to discover the history of our civilization from the first fossils to contemporary art.

Discover the most impressive museums in Europe such as the British Museum in London, or the very modern Pompidou Center and the Tate Modern.  Book your hotel at the best price guaranteed as well as your best activities and discover the best museums of Europe .

1. The Pompidou Centre

Centre Georges Pompidou commonly shortened to Centre Pompidou; also known as the Pompidou Centre in English is a complex in the Beaubourg area of the 4th arrondissement of Paris , near Les Halles, rue Montorgueil and the Marais.

It houses the Bibliothèque publique d'information, a vast public library, the Musée National d'Art Moderne which is the largest museum for modern art in Europe , and IRCAM, a centre for music and acoustic research. Because of its location, the Centre is known locally as Beaubourg It is named after Georges Pompidou, the President of France from 1969 to 1974 who commissioned the building, and was officially opened on 31 January 1977 by President Valéry Giscard d'Estaing. The Centre Pompidou has had over 150 million visitors since 1977. ( © centrepompidou.fr) .

Book your entrance ticket  as well as your hotel at the best price guaranteed in Paris .  

2. The British Museum

The British Museum is a museum in London dedicated to human history and culture. Its permanent collection, numbering some 8 million works, is among the largest and most comprehensive in existence and originates from all continents, illustrating and documenting the story of human culture from its beginnings to the present. ( © britishmuseum.org). 

Book your guided tour of the British Museum as well as your hotel at the best price guaranteed in London . 

3. The Rijksmuseum

The Rijksmuseum was founded in The Hague in 1800 and moved to Amsterdam in 1808, where it was first located in the Royal Palace and later in the Trippenhuis. The current main building was designed by Pierre Cuypers and first opened its doors in 1885. On 13 April 2013, after a ten-year renovation which cost € 375 million, the main building was reopened by Queen Beatrix. In 2013, it was the most visited museum in the Netherlands with a record number of 2.2 million visitors. ( © rijksmuseum.nl).  

Book your entrance ticket for the Rijksmuseum as well as your hotel at the best price guaranteed in Amsterdam .   

4. The Louvre

The Louvre or Louvre Museum is one of the world's largest museums and a historic monument. A central landmark of Paris, France, it is located on the Right Bank of the Seine in the 1st arrondissement. Nearly 35,000 objects from prehistory to the 21st century are exhibited over an area of 60,600 square metres. With more than 9.7 million visitors each year, the Louvre is the world's most visited museum.  ( © louvre.fr).   Book your entrance ticket and skip the line . 

More than 2,300 paintings have been incorporated into the Museum del Prado  in Madrid since its opening as well as a large number of sculptures, prints, drawings and works of art through bequests, donations and purchases, which account for most of the New Acquisitions ( © museodelprado.es).

Book your hotel at the best price guaranteed as well as your entrance ticket  for the Museum del Prado. 

6. Tate Modern

Tate Modern is a modern art gallery located in  London . It is Britain's national gallery of international modern art and forms part of the Tate group (together with Tate Britain, Tate Liverpool, Tate St Ives and Tate Online). It is the most-visited modern art gallery in the world, with around 4.7 million visitors per year. It is based in the former Bankside Power Station, in the Bankside area of the London Borough of Southwark. Tate holds the national collection of British art from 1900 to the present day and international modern and contemporary art. ( © tate.org.uk).

Book your hotel at the best price guaranteed in London and visit more than 60 attractions in London with your London Pass . 

7. The National Gallery

The National Gallery is an art museum on Trafalgar Square in London . Founded in 1824, it houses a collection of over 2,300 paintings dating from the mid-13th century to 1900. Its collection belongs to the public of the United Kingdom and entry to the main collection is free of charge. It is the fifth most visited art museum in the world, after the Musée du Louvre, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the British Museum and Tate Modern. ( © nationalgallery.org.uk). 

Book your hotel at the best price guaranteed in London  and visit more than 60 attractions in London with your  London Pass . 

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8. The Anne Frank House

Anne Frank is a Jewish girl who has to go into hiding during World War Two to avoid the Nazis. Together with seven others she hides in the secret annex on the Prinsengracht 263 in Amsterdam . After almost 2 years in hiding they are discovered and deported to concentration camps. Anne’s father, Otto Frank, is the only one of the eight people to survive. After her death Anne becomes world famous because of the diary she wrote while in hiding. (annefrank.org) 

Book your hotel at the best price guaranteed in Amsterdam  as the best activities in Amsterdam as a 2-hour history of Anne Frank Walking Tour . 

9. Centre Pompidou Metz

The first decentralized satellite of a French museum, the Centre Pompidou- Metz is a masterpiece of contemporary architecture. Conceptualized by the architects Shigeru Ban and Jean de Gastines, with Philip Gumuchdjian, who also designed the prizewinning project, there are three exhibition spaces covered by an audacious roof inspired by a Chinese hat. The 77 metre high spire is a nod towards the year 1977, the year the Pompidou Centre in Paris opened. Thanks to its changing exhibitions, the Centre Pompidou-Metz hosts the best of modern and contemporary art. ( ©tourisme-metz ). 

10. The Serralves Museum

The Serralves Museum  in Porto is the foremost museum for contemporary art in Portugal, uniquely sited in the grounds of the Serralves Estate, which also comprises a Park and a Villa. Through its collection, temporary exhibitions, performance, education and public programmes, publishing initiatives, and national and international collaborations, the Museum fosters the understanding and appreciation of contemporary art and culture. Introducing the work of the most important artists working today to diverse publics, strengthening ties with the local community, and encouraging reflection on the relationship between art and the environment that is intrinsic to the context of Serralves, are central to the Museum´s mission. (Serralves.pt). 

Book your entrance ticket to Serralves Museum  as well as your hotel at the best price guaranteed in Porto. 

10. The Museum of Broken Relationships

The Museum of broken relationships in Zagreb is a unique museum in the world, a great idea! Only a few items, 100% of emotion, unforgettable. Several inhabitants of the world have agreed to give an object that connected them to a person, a friend, a family member, a former lover, and they explain the link that connected them to this object.

This museum makes you think of the value we can give to common objects, how their presence can link you to a romanticized past. This museum is the perfect place to turn the page on a difficult breakup, but also to remember that love as strong as it is, is very fragile.  ( ©ebdestinations).

11. Centro de Arte Reina Sofia

When the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía  in Madrid opened its doors in 1990, it stood as a modern, contemporary Spanish museum on an international scale. Nevertheless, its building has gone through many challenges in order to achieve this goal.

Throughout all of these years, the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia has been increasing its collections, temporary exhibits, audiovisual and educational activities, services and number of visitors. ( © museoreinasofia.es).  

Book your guided tour of the Museum as well as your hotel at the best price guaranteed in Madrid . 

12. Art Brut Museum

In his search for art freed of cultural and social conditioning, Jean Dubuffet enthusiastically turned to creations outside the mainstream, in which he perceived a “completely pure artistic operation, raw, brute, and entirely reinvented in all of its phases solely by means of the artist’s own impulses”.

Inaugurated in Lausanne in 1976, the Collection de l’Art Brut came into being thanks to this French artist’s generous donation of works to the city. ( © arbrut.ch). 

13. The Uffizi Gallery

With its immense artistic legacy, the Uffizi Gallery  in Florence is one of the most important museums in the world. Following a substantial reorganization in the 17th century, which led to the transfer of some collections (arms, scientific instruments, archaeological finds, ancient and modern bronzes) to other sites and the establishment of new museums, the Uffizi mainly became a picture gallery, with thousands of works ranging from the 13th to the 18th centuries. ( © firenzeturismo.it).   The statue of David was moved to the Galleria dell'Accademia 

Book your entrance ticket to the Uffizi Gallery as well as your hotel at the best price guaranteed in Florence . 

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Guided Small Group Tours of European Art Galleries

Discovering European Masters: Small Group Tour of Dutch and Italian Art Europe is home to some of the world’s most spectacular art galleries. There are of course the titans such […]

17 Apr 17 · 2 mins read

Discovering European Masters: Small Group Tour of Dutch and Italian Art

Europe is home to some of the world's most spectacular art galleries. There are of course the titans such as The Louvre, the Rijkmuseum, The Musee de Beaux Arts, and The National Gallery. But there are also many smaller galleries and churches that house both famous masterpieces and extraordinary works by lesser known artists.

Dutch Galleries

From Rembrandt to Van Gogh, Holland has contributed some of the world's greatest artists. The Rijksmuseum, which recently underwent a major ten-year renovation, is home to a number of masterpieces, including Rembrandt's famous The Night Watch and Vermeer's The Milkmaid. Just around the corner from the Rijksmuseum is the beautiful Van Gogh Museum. As well as, of course, containing many works by Van Gogh, the gallery also includes works of those he influenced, and holds regular themed exhibitions which cover both Van Gogh and other great masters and styles. For those interested in modern art and design and the uniquely Dutch style of De Stijl, the Stedelijk Museum is a must-visit.

Amsterdam also has a vibrant independent gallery scene. Take a look at The Guardian's recommendations for where to see up-and-coming talent .

Outside Amsterdam, there is the Frans Hals Museum in Haarlem, and The Escher Museum in The Hague. This is home to many works of the famous graphical artist, M. C. Escher. For those who think cars are works of art, the Louwman Museum, also in The Hague, is a must-visit.

Odyssey's Beyond Dutch Masters Tour takes you on a small group tour of small art galleries of Western Europe .

Italian Galleries

Italy is of course home to a truly extraordinary amount of great art and art galleries. The famous Uffizi in Florence is one of the world's oldest galleries. It is home to Botticelli's The Birth of Venus along with renowned works by Da Vinci, Titian, and Raphael. Rome's Borghese contains a number of Bernini sculptures, alongside several striking Caravaggio paintings, and much more. This is all housed in an ornate villa surrounded by lovely gardens. In Venice, make sure to visit The Guggenheim Collection for contemporary art, and The Academy Gallery for a collection of Venetian painting from the Middle Ages and renaissance art.

For senior art-lovers interested in taking a small group tour, Odyssey offers a tour that follows the life and art of the enormously important Baroque painter Caravaggio. Find out more here !

For even more, check out this list from Italy Magazine of the country's top five museums .

Small Group Tours for Seniors

Taking a small group tour of European galleries is among the best ways to be immersed in Europe's history and culture. Odyssey Traveller offers a wide range of art and literature small group tours, view them all by clicking here !

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7 Must-See UNESCO Sites in Europe!

Discover Europe’s timeless treasures! UNESCO World Heritage Sites offer a glimpse into the past, celebrating human ingenuity and natural beauty. Whether you’re drawn to ancient civilizations, national parks, or historic cities, join us as we explore some of the most captivating sites that should be on every traveler’s bucket list.

Cinque Terre, Italy

Cinque Terre, a rugged coastal region in Liguria, comprises five picturesque villages clinging to cliffs above the Mediterranean Sea. Each village—Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore—offers unique charm with colorful houses, narrow winding streets, and stunning sea views. Hiking trails connect the villages, providing breathtaking vistas and a taste of traditional Italian life.

Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia

A natural wonderland, Plitvice Lakes National Park features a series of cascading lakes and waterfalls set amidst lush forests. The park’s interconnected lakes, separated by travertine barriers, create a mesmerizing landscape that changes with the seasons. Wooden walkways and hiking trails allow visitors to immerse themselves in this enchanting environment, making it a paradise for nature lovers and photographers.

The Acropolis, Athens, Greece

Standing majestically above the city of Athens, the Acropolis is a symbol of the birth of Western civilization and democracy. The Parthenon, its most famous structure, epitomizes classical Greek architecture and offers a glimpse into the artistic and cultural achievements of ancient Greece. As you wander through the ruins, imagine the philosophers, politicians, and artists who once walked these grounds, shaping the future of Europe and beyond.

The Alhambra, Generalife, and Albayzín, Granada, Spain

In the heart of Andalusia, the Alhambra is a breathtaking testament to Moorish architecture and artistry. This palace-fortress complex, with its intricate tilework and tranquil courtyards, transports visitors to a time of sultans and scholars. The adjoining Generalife gardens provide a lush, serene escape with spectacular views of Granada, while the Albayzín district offers a labyrinth of narrow streets and whitewashed houses, preserving the charm of medieval Islamic Spain.

Charles Bridge, Prague, Czech Republic

Connecting the historic quarters of Prague over the Vltava River, Charles Bridge is an iconic example of Gothic architecture. Adorned with baroque statues and offering panoramic views of the city’s stunning skyline, the bridge is both a vibrant thoroughfare and a tranquil place to absorb Prague’s timeless beauty.

Vatican City

As the spiritual and administrative center of the Roman Catholic Church, the Vatican City is a treasure trove of art, history, and religion. Home to St. Peter’s Basilica, the Sistine Chapel, and the Vatican Museums, this UNESCO site offers an unparalleled collection of Renaissance masterpieces. Marvel at Michelangelo’s frescoes, wander through the papal apartments, and feel the weight of centuries of religious history.

Thingvellir National Park, Iceland

Thingvellir National Park is a place of extraordinary natural beauty and historical significance. It was here that the Alþingi, one of the world’s oldest parliaments, was established in 930 AD. The park lies in a rift valley created by the separation of the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates, offering dramatic landscapes, crystal-clear waters, and a deep connection to Icelandic heritage. Exploring Thingvellir’s unique geology and history is an awe-inspiring experience.

These UNESCO World Heritage Sites are more than just destinations; they are gateways to understanding the rich tapestry of Europe’s history, culture, and natural wonders. Each site tells a story, invites exploration, and promises to leave a lasting impression. Let these sites inspire your next European adventure!

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Gallery 8 Must-See European Factory Tours

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When it’s made in Europe, it’s usually something special. From world-renowned beers to luxury automobiles, Europe has a knack for handcrafting greatness. Get a behind-the-scenes look at some of the factories and museums you can tour while in Europe.

Fragonard perfume factory, France

Get a whiff of France’s Fragonard perfume with a tour of their 300-year-old factory. See what goes into the look and smell of one of the most popular perfume companies in the world as they share their story during these free guided tours.

Volkswagen Factory & Museum at Autostadt, Wolfsburg, Germany

See just how far the legendary German automaker Volkswagen has come while on a tour of their Wolfsburg factory . Follow the production steps from the press shop to the assembly line in just about two hours and go home with a greater appreciation of how their cars come together.

Heineken Experience, Amsterdam, Netherlands

No trip to Amsterdam is complete without the true Heineken Experience. More than a museum, the Heineken Experience is a hands-on tour of one of the largest beer producers in the world. The end of the tour is topped off with enjoying two cold glasses of Heineken per person.

Cadbury World, United Kingdom

Cadbury World in the UK offers fun for the whole family. From learning the history of Cadbury to seeing how each piece of chocolate is packaged, it’s a fun look at how some of our favorite candies are made. And there’s plenty of chocolate sampling to be had along the way.

Carlsberg Beer Factory Tour, Denmark

Experience Denmark’s prized Carlsberg Beer firsthand with a factory tour. From how the company got started in 1847 to what goes into each batch, learn the ins and outs of this favorite local beer. Then, enjoy a taste at the end of the tour.

Munich’s BMW World, Germany

See what it takes to be one of the world’s most respected automakers during the BMW Plant Tour in Munich. Find out how each employee plays their part to put together award-winning vehicles each and every year. Tickets go quick, so reserve your spot early.

Museu de Chapelaria, Portugal

As one of the most unique tours in Europe, the Museu de Chapelaria (a.k.a. Hat Museum) is a surprising treat for tourists and locals alike. Learn everything about European hat design and manufacturing through the years at this unforgettable museum in Portugal.

Guinness Storehouse, Dublin, Ireland

Go straight to the Irish pubs’ source at the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin. As one of Ireland’s top visitor attractions, it’s a firsthand look at one of the most complex beer breweries in the world. Of course, it comes complete with a beer sampling in the Gravity Bar overlooking the city.

Design Museum, Finland

No trip to Europe is complete without learning about the stunning modern designs that come from Finland. Although not a factory tour, The Design Museum in Finland is a celebration of the brilliant lineage of Finnish design . Learn about Finland’s three design icons—Iittala glasses, Alvar Aalto stools and Marimekko dresses.

A Land Before Time: The Megaliths of Europe

Europe’s heritage and culture date back thousands of years. And some of the most ancient remnants of the earliest European cultures can still be found today. From prehistoric cave drawings to mysterious stone formations, discover the continent’s past at its oldest locations. Browse this gallery, then come see these magnificent sites for yourself on your next trip.

Tee Off at Europe’s Best Golf Courses

If your European vacation includes the words “birdie,” “par” and “eagle,” then these golf courses are must-visit spots for you. Tee off at eight of Europe’s most pristine golf courses from the level greens of Malta to the towering cliffs of Portugal. No matter what type of course you’re looking for, Europe is bound to have it.

Europe – A Thousand Different Stories

Europe is home to a fascinating array of museums, devoted to every subject imaginable. From Vikings in the north, broken relationships in Croatia to vampires in Brasov. Here is the lowdown on Europes original and unusual museums.

Europe’s Sparkling Inland Waters

Although Europe may be best known for its Blue Flag Beaches, white sandy coastlines, and bustling port cities, travelers should not overlook the pristine inland waters of the vast continent. Europe is populated with sparkling lakes, winding rivers and jaw-dropping waterfalls just begging for tourists to dip their toes in. Book your next vacation to Europe to experience one (or more) of these nine inland waters for yourself.

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Coffee rules in Luxembourg

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Expect the Unexpected

Europe has many famous museums that are must-see attractions, but there are lots of smaller, unexpectedly entertaining museums just waiting to be explored. Stop following the crowds and head off the beaten path to discover these lesser-known gems. They just might surprise you and become highlights on your trip to Europe.

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Sustainable travel in Switzerland.

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Victory in Europe: The End of The War on the Elbe

About the tour.

Victory in Europe: The End of the War on the Elbe is a voyage aboard Viking Beyla that delves into some fascinating aspects of the war that are seldom explored by Americans. With two itineraries to choose from—Prague to Berlin, or Berlin to Prague—guests can craft their unique adventure with a selection of pre-and post-tour options coupled with custom-curated stops along the river and first-class, expertly guided tours. Each daily excursion examines the legacies of victory and the fight for freedom that hold lasting impacts even today.

Quick Links

• Dates & Pricing
• View Brochure
• Payment Schedule
• Cancellations
• Prague to Berlin: with Alexandra Richie, Dphil, and Michael Neiberg, PhD
• Berlin to Prague: with Keith Lowe and Mark Calhoun, PhD

Program Pricing

Pricing is per person based on double occupancy. Single occupancy accommodations are extremely limited. If you are a solo traveler, call the Travel Team to explore options.

Veranda Suite ( 2 Available ) (No Single Supplement Available) | $16,999 $15,999* Veranda Staterooms ( 19 Available ) (No Single Supplement Available) | $14,999 $13,999* French Balcony ( 12 Available ) | $13,599 $12,599* Standard Staterooms ( 5 Available ) | $10,599 $9,599* French Balcony Single ( 2 Available ) | $12,799 $11,799* Standard Staterooms Single ( 5 Available ) | $11,999 $10,999*

Taxes and port fees are $399 additional per person.

Download the Brochure

Download the official Victory in Europe: The End of the War on the Elbe brochure for a full listing of inclusions, accommodations, and other useful information.

Optional Tour Extensions

Berlin divided.

Two-night pre-tour with Keith Lowe | May 4 – 6, 2025

Day 1: Arrive in Berlin (BER) / Welcome Reception / Dinner on own

• Accommodations: Berlin Rocco Forte Hotel de Rome (R)

Day 2: Museum Berlin-Karlshorst / Reichstag with included lunch / DDR Museum

• Accommodations: Berlin Rocco Forte Hotel de Rome (B, L)

Day 3: Checkpoint Charlie / Berlin Wall / East Side Gallery / Allied Museum / Join Berlin to Prague main tour this evening

• Accommodations: Berlin Rocco Forte Hotel de Rome (B)

$2,150 per person based on double occupancy / $2,899 single occupancy

Taxes and fees are $199 additional

*Available only for cruise participants on the Berlin to Prague itinerary

From the Rubble: Berlin in World War II and the Cold War

Three-night post-tour with Alexandra Richie , DPhil and Michael Neiberg, PhD | May 8 – 11, 2025

Day 1: Arrive to Berlin Rocco Forte Hotel de Rome / Welcome reception & lecture

Day 2: Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp / Lunch at the Reichstag / Bunker Story Museum

Day 3: Potsdam / Included lunch / Karlshorst Museum / Farewell reception

• Accommodations: Berlin Rocco Forte Hotel de Rome (B, L, R)

Day 3: Individual transfers to Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) for flights home. (B)

$3,250 per person based on double occupancy / $3,950 single occupancy

*Available only for cruise participants on the Prague to Berlin itinerary

Operation Anthropoid Pre-Tour extension in Prague

Two-night pre-tour in Prague with Alexandra Richie, DPhil | April 29 – May 1, 2025

Day 1: Arrive in Prague (PRG) / Welcome Reception and Lecture at Hotel Paris Prague

• Accommodations: Hotel Paris Prague (R)

Day 2: Old Town / Jewish Quarter / Old Jewish Cemetery / Pinkas Synagogue / Lunch on own / Sts. Cyril and Methodius Cathedral and Crypt / Dinner on own

• Accommodations: Hotel Paris Prague (B)

Day 3: Strahov Monastery / Included lunch / Prague Castle / Join Prague to Berlin main tour this evening

• Accommodations: Hotel Paris Prague (B, L)

Operation Anthropoid Post-Tour extension in Prague

Two-night post-tour in Prague with Mark Calhoun, PhD | May 13 – 15, 2025

Day 1: Old Town / Jewish Quarter / Old Jewish Cemetery / Pinkas Synagogue / Lunch on own / Sts. Cyril and Methodius Cathedra and Crypt / Dinner on own

Day 2: Strahov Monastery / Prague Castle / Free afternoon / Farewell Reception and Lecture

• Accommodations: Hotel Paris Prague (B, R)

Day 3: Depart from Prague (PRG)(B)

PAYMENT SCHEDULE

To reserve your participation, submit an initial deposit of $2,500 per person within five (5) days of booking. A $1,000 per person deposit is due for any pre- and/or post-program options that you select. Final payment is due no later than one hundred ninety (190) days prior to departure. All reservations are subject to cancellation if payments are not received by the due date. Payment by check is preferred in order to reduce costs to the Museum. VISA, MasterCard, and American Express are also accepted.

CANCELLATIONS

Should it be necessary to cancel your reservation, please contact the Museum immediately at 1-877-813-3329 X 257. Cancellations for all or any part of a tour including optional pre- and/or post-tour extension programs will not be effective until received in writing. Should you have to cancel, the following terms will apply:

*In addition, applicable cancellation fees for confirmed additional hotel nights may apply.

**Tour cost is defined as the cost of any cruise, land, or air element purchased from The National WWII Museum.

For tour questions or for more information, the Travel Sales Team is available

Monday – Friday, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm Central.

Call: 1-877-813-3319 x 257

Email: [email protected]

5 Fascinating Historical Tours of Europe You Need To Plan For

V isiting ancient sites in Europe is a unique and rewarding experience that can transport you to a different time and place. Each site has its own story and history lovers can immerse themselves in the continent’s diverse and cultural heritage. From the Ancient Theater of Philippopolis in Bulgaria to the Göbekli Tepe in Turkey, Europe is home to many ancient sites that offer visitors a glimpse into the past.

Exploring the ruins of ancient cities, admiring intricate carvings and paintings, and marveling at the advanced construction techniques used by ancient civilizations are just some things you can expect to experience. Many of these sites are UNESCO World Heritage Sites and require advanced tickets, so planning ahead is essential.

Overall, visiting ancient sites in Europe is a fascinating journey through time that can leave you with a deep appreciation for the achievements of our ancestors and a renewed sense of wonder about the world around us.

1. Ancient Theater Of Philippopolis, Bulgaria

The Ancient Theater of Philippopolis , situated in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, is a fascinating historical site. This open-air theater dates back to the 2nd century AD and could seat 7,000 spectators.

The theater has been beautifully preserved and the intricate details of its architecture are a testament to the skills of its ancient builders. Visitors can still see the stage, orchestra, and seating areas, which give a glimpse into the grandeur of the performances that took place here.

The theater has panoramic views of the city of Plovdiv. It is a lovely spot to enjoy a performance or take in the scenery. The Ancient Theater of Philippopolis is a gratifying place for anyone who appreciates ancient architecture and culture.

2. Brú Na Bóinne, Ireland

Brú na Bóinne is a Neolithic site on the River Boyne in eastern Ireland . The area is home to three prehistoric passage tombs constructed in 3,200 BC. The tombs — known as Newgrange, Knowth, and Dowth — are among the most important Neolithic sites in the world. The collection of Megalithic art is the largest in western Europe.

The tombs were constructed using large stones and the intricate carvings and designs on them show the builders’ skills.

When visiting Brú na Bóinne, you can take a guided tour to explore the tombs and learn about their history and significance. Pre-booking tickets is a must for this interactive site.

3. Hal Saflieni Hypogeum, Malta

The Hal Saflieni Hypogeum in Paola, Malta, is an underground burial chamber from 2,500 BC. This ancient structure is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most intact prehistoric sites in the world. The chamber was discovered in 1902 when builders excavated it for a new housing development.

The hypogeum showcases advanced construction techniques used by the ancient Maltese. The walls and ceilings of the chamber are adorned with intricate carvings and paintings depicting human figures, animals, and geometric patterns. The chamber’s acoustics are also remarkable, with sounds echoing and reverberating throughout the space. The hypogeum requires advanced tickets for a set time of day. Only eight small group tours are conducted each day.

4. Butrint National Archaeological Park, Albania

Butrint National Archaeological Park is a stunning UNESCO World Heritage Site in southern Albania. This ancient city has a rich history that dates back to the Greeks and Romans, and it is considered one of the most significant archaeological sites in the Balkans. The park has impressive ruins, including a Roman amphitheater, a Byzantine basilica, and a Venetian castle .

You can explore the site on foot and enjoy views of the surrounding landscape while admiring the ancient architecture and intricate mosaics. The park is home to diverse flora and fauna, making it an excellent destination for nature lovers. Overall, Butrint National Archaeological Park will satisfy history lovers, culture buffs, and natural beauty enthusiasts.

5. Göbekli Tepe, Turkey

Göbekli Tepe is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Turkey’s Mount Germuş. Many consider Göbekli Tepe one of the most important archaeological discoveries of the 21st century. The site dates to the 10th millennium BC. It is believed to be one of the earliest examples of a human-made religious structure.

Göbekli Tepe consists of a series of stone structures created by ancient hunter-gatherers. They depict various animals and symbols. The site is surrounded by a large number of stone pillars that are adorned with intricate carvings and reliefs.

The significance of Göbekli Tepe lies in the fact that it challenges our understanding of early human civilization and suggests that humans were capable of more complex social and cultural structures than previously thought.

Visiting ancient European sites is a unique opportunity to explore the continent’s history and cultural heritage. These sites provide a window into our ancestors’ lives, beliefs, and achievements, allowing us to better understand our shared human experience.

The rewards of visiting these sites are immeasurable, from the intricate architecture of the Ancient Theater of Philippopolis to the stunning Megalithic art at Brú na Bóinne. They offer a chance to connect with the past, appreciate the present, and inspire the future. You can visit some of these sites from home with a virtual tour .

This article originally appeared on TravelAwaits

MUSEUM AND EXHIBITION CENTER: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

• (0.03 mi) Elektrostal Hotel
• (1.15 mi) Yakor Hotel
• (1.42 mi) Mini Hotel Banifatsiy
• (1.65 mi) Apelsin Hotel
• (1.33 mi) Elemash
• (0.20 mi) Prima Bolshogo
• (0.30 mi) Makecoffee
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Out of the Centre

Savvino-storozhevsky monastery and museum.

Zvenigorod's most famous sight is the Savvino-Storozhevsky Monastery, which was founded in 1398 by the monk Savva from the Troitse-Sergieva Lavra, at the invitation and with the support of Prince Yury Dmitrievich of Zvenigorod. Savva was later canonised as St Sabbas (Savva) of Storozhev. The monastery late flourished under the reign of Tsar Alexis, who chose the monastery as his family church and often went on pilgrimage there and made lots of donations to it. Most of the monastery’s buildings date from this time. The monastery is heavily fortified with thick walls and six towers, the most impressive of which is the Krasny Tower which also serves as the eastern entrance. The monastery was closed in 1918 and only reopened in 1995. In 1998 Patriarch Alexius II took part in a service to return the relics of St Sabbas to the monastery. Today the monastery has the status of a stauropegic monastery, which is second in status to a lavra. In addition to being a working monastery, it also holds the Zvenigorod Historical, Architectural and Art Museum.

Belfry and Neighbouring Churches

Located near the main entrance is the monastery's belfry which is perhaps the calling card of the monastery due to its uniqueness. It was built in the 1650s and the St Sergius of Radonezh’s Church was opened on the middle tier in the mid-17th century, although it was originally dedicated to the Trinity. The belfry's 35-tonne Great Bladgovestny Bell fell in 1941 and was only restored and returned in 2003. Attached to the belfry is a large refectory and the Transfiguration Church, both of which were built on the orders of Tsar Alexis in the 1650s.  

To the left of the belfry is another, smaller, refectory which is attached to the Trinity Gate-Church, which was also constructed in the 1650s on the orders of Tsar Alexis who made it his own family church. The church is elaborately decorated with colourful trims and underneath the archway is a beautiful 19th century fresco.

Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral

The Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral is the oldest building in the monastery and among the oldest buildings in the Moscow Region. It was built between 1404 and 1405 during the lifetime of St Sabbas and using the funds of Prince Yury of Zvenigorod. The white-stone cathedral is a standard four-pillar design with a single golden dome. After the death of St Sabbas he was interred in the cathedral and a new altar dedicated to him was added.

Under the reign of Tsar Alexis the cathedral was decorated with frescoes by Stepan Ryazanets, some of which remain today. Tsar Alexis also presented the cathedral with a five-tier iconostasis, the top row of icons have been preserved.

Tsaritsa's Chambers

The Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral is located between the Tsaritsa's Chambers of the left and the Palace of Tsar Alexis on the right. The Tsaritsa's Chambers were built in the mid-17th century for the wife of Tsar Alexey - Tsaritsa Maria Ilinichna Miloskavskaya. The design of the building is influenced by the ancient Russian architectural style. Is prettier than the Tsar's chambers opposite, being red in colour with elaborately decorated window frames and entrance.

At present the Tsaritsa's Chambers houses the Zvenigorod Historical, Architectural and Art Museum. Among its displays is an accurate recreation of the interior of a noble lady's chambers including furniture, decorations and a decorated tiled oven, and an exhibition on the history of Zvenigorod and the monastery.

Palace of Tsar Alexis

The Palace of Tsar Alexis was built in the 1650s and is now one of the best surviving examples of non-religious architecture of that era. It was built especially for Tsar Alexis who often visited the monastery on religious pilgrimages. Its most striking feature is its pretty row of nine chimney spouts which resemble towers.

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Museum and Exhibition Center

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

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

Museum and Exhibition Center - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

• (0.03 mi) Elektrostal Hotel
• (1.15 mi) Yakor Hotel
• (1.42 mi) Mini Hotel Banifatsiy
• (1.65 mi) Apelsin Hotel
• (1.33 mi) Elemash
• (0.20 mi) Prima Bolshogo
• (0.30 mi) Makecoffee
• (0.40 mi) Mazhor
• (0.42 mi) Amsterdam Moments
• (0.42 mi) Pechka