A visit to a renowned museum is undoubtedly one of the standout experiences of any European journey. Europe boasts some of the world’s finest museums, offering an opportunity to explore ancient art and artifacts from various cultures and civilizations due to its rich historical legacy.
Many of these museums are destinations in themselves, and each visit is sure to leave you in awe and increase your knowledge. For instance, Berlin alone is home to over 150 museums, making it impossible to list every one worth exploring. However, the museums mentioned here are among the best in Europe, and you won’t want to miss them while touring the continent:
Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao, Spain (above image)
The Guggenheim Museum is a masterpiece of architectural innovation, designed by Frank Gehry. Its distinctive design, inspired by the shape of a ship’s hull, stands on the site of the city’s former shipyards. Spanning 256,000 square feet, the museum houses works by some of the most iconic artists in history, including Picasso, Miro, Andy Warhol, Mark Rothko, and Richard Serra.
The Louvre Museum is one of the most renowned and visited museums globally. Originally a royal palace and medieval fortress, it was repurposed after the French Revolution into a museum to house the growing art collection of the republic. The Louvre is home to some of the world’s most famous artworks, including Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo, and the Winged Victory of Samothrace. When I.M. Pei’s glass pyramid was unveiled in 1989, it surprised many, but it undoubtedly adds a sense of intrigue and charm to the museum’s grand architecture.
Insider Tip: A good place to start your tour would be the Sully Wing. It is located in the center, is very popular among the kids, and leads directly to the Egyptian rooms.
The British Museum is considered to be a treasure trove for archaeology lovers. The museum considers itself to be the protector of treasures from all over the world, and it has actually managed to amass a humongous collection of antiquities and artifacts over the years. Britain’s largest museum boasts of more than 8 million works of art which range from prehistoric bones to chunks from the Parthenon in Athens, from exquisite gold jewels to an entire Assyrian palace room. Some of the biggest highlights at the museum include the Egyptian mummies (second best collection of Egyptian antiquities outside Egypt), the Rosetta Stone (carved in the year 196 BC) and the Parthenon Marbles.
Museo Del Prado, Madrid, Spain
The Museo Del Prado is located in a fascinating neoclassical building in one of the most elegant boulevards of Spain. The Museo Del Prado is almost as popular as The Louvre, and it is home to some of the greatest masterpieces on the planet. Much of its collection was collected and commissioned by kings and queens of Spain over the years. In addition to Spanish heavyweights such as Zurbaran, Goya, Velazquez and Ribera, the museum also hosts major works of Italian artists such as Raphael and Titian. The star attraction of the museum is Rubens’ The Three Graces.
Museum Island, Berlin, Germany
To be fair to most of the other museums on this list, Museum Island is actually a collection of five different museums. The place was deemed so important that it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the year 1999. The museums located here include the Neues Museum, Altes Museum, Alte Nationalgalerie, The Pergamon Museum and The Bode Museum. These museums have something for everyone and feature all sorts of treasures, right from antiquities to 20th century sculptures and paintings. The Altes is home to Greek and Roman Art, the Neues is famous for its Etruscan and Egyptian sculptures (including Queen Nefertiti’s bust), the Alte Nationalgalerie is home to artwork from the 19th century, the Pergamon features reconstructions of significant buildings in history such as the Ishtar Gate of Babylon and the Bode is home to paintings from the Late Byzantine period.
Vatican Museums, Vatican City
The crowd that this museum attracts can be intimidating. But brave the ordeal and you’re treated to a breathtaking collection of treasures and masterpieces from all over the world. The Sistine Chapel in particular is considered to be worth the wait. The Vatican Museum features 22 separate collections, where each collection seems better than the ones you’ve seen before. The Raphael Rooms, Museum Pio-Clementino and the Pinacoteca are other highlights of the Vatican Museums. You might also want to check out the Etruscan treasures of the Museo Gregoriano Etrusco and the Ancient Egyptian artifacts of Museum Gregoriano Egizio.
State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia (The Winter Palace)
The State Hermitage Museum was founded by Catherine the Great in the year 1764. It might have started its journey with a single building, but five other structures were later added to host the museum’s fascinating collection. The Winter Palace is perhaps the most splendid structure in the museum, and it was once considered to be the main residence of the Russian czars. The collection features more than 3 million artifacts and it actually boasts of having the largest collection of artworks in the world. Spend one minute at each of the 3 million artifacts and you will have spent roughly 6 years of your life – it’s that grand. The State Hermitage Museum does not have all its artifacts at display at once so they have already prioritized a great deal for you, fortunately ;). Some of the greats whose artworks can be found here include Rembrandt, Raphael, Picasso and Matisse.
Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam, Netherlands
The Van Gogh Museum is home to the largest collection of Van Gogh works in the world. It traces the artist’s life right from his tentative start all the way to his defining masterpieces. The museum is home to more than 200 paintings, and there are a number of drawings, works and letters that inspired Van Gogh as well. Paintings made by Bernard, Monet, Gauguin and Toulouse-Lautrec are also present at the museum.
Tate Modern is the most visited art gallery in Europe. It is one of those places that really doesn’t need an introduction, and boasts of a delightful permanent collection that is spread over three floors and consists of just about everything that you can possibly imagine. A trip to the Tate Museum offers a unique insight into the history of modern art, and with new extensions taking shape, things keep getting better and bolder.
Visiting any one of these museums is well worth your time while in Europe. Each museum and art gallery in this list is considered to be a must-see and each attracts millions of visitors each year. So the next time you’re visiting Europe, try adding a few into your itinerary, for they are European museums you simply cannot miss out on.
This week and next week we are writing 5 articles about the European Dream – must-sees and visits in Europe. Make the most out of your holiday in Europe:
- Top Destinations and cities in Europe
- Top Wine Destinations in Europe
- Top Unesco World Heritage Sites in Europe
Enjoy!