Sometimes one museum alone can be enough reason to visit a city, and with so many of the world’s greatest museums calling Europe home, we really are spoiled for choice! Whether you’re an art fanatic, a history buff or just fancy doing something a little more cultural on your holiday, take your pick from the very best of Europe’s museums!
The National Gallery, London
Where better to start our list than on home turf, at The National Gallery on Trafalgar Square? Founded in 1824, The National Gallery boasts an impressive collection of more than 2,300 paintings and its works span from the mid-13th century right the way through to the start of the 20th century. Entry to the main collection is completely free, though you’ll have to pay for some of the special exhibitions.
- National Gallery, London@Doug88888 / Foter.com / CC BY-NC-SA
The Vatican Museums, Vatican City
Forget Europe, Rome’s Vatican Museums are amongst the greatest museums in the world and their fascinating collection could occupy your entire break! Founded by Pope Julius II in the 16th century, the museums’ collection comprises works built up by the Roman Catholic Church and attracts more than four million visitors every year.
Admission is free on the last Sunday of every month, but be prepared for crows and queues and keep in mind that on these days the museums close at 2pm. If you only see one thing, make it the Sistine Chapel where you can marvel at the spectacular ceiling painted by Michelangelo.
Musée du Louvre, Paris
One of the most famous museums in the world, the Louvre alone is reason enough for booking a trip to Paris with Secretescapes.com. It’s known for being the home to Da Vinci’s renowned painting, The Mona Lisa, but there’s far more to see in this Parisian landmark than just one painting. In fact, if you want to cover everything you’ll have to dedicate a couple of days to exploring it properly! Located on the right bank of the Seine in the city’s 1st arrondissement, the museum is home to almost 35,000 objects from prehistoric times to the eighteenth century, and they cover a whopping 60,600 square metres!
- Musée du Louvre, ParisKay Gaensler / Foter.com / CC BY-NC-SA
Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam
Amsterdam gets a lot of bad press for its stag party culture, but there’s plenty more on offer in this beautiful city than booze and a Red Light District. The Van Gogh Museum is just one of these offerings. Dedicated to the works of the celebrated Dutch artist and his contemporaries, the museum was founded in 1973 and is home to 200 paintings, 400 drawings, and 700 letters of Vincent Van Gogh.
The Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg
Russia doesn’t do things by halves, and the magnificent Hermitage Museum is no exception! Founded by Catherine the Great in 1764, it’s one of the largest and oldest museums in the world and is home to the largest collection of paintings in the world. Occupying six historic buildings along the Palace Embankment, the museum’s collection comprises almost 3 million items, and only a small number are on permanent display.
Foreign tourists can expect to pay several times as much as Russian citizens for a ticket, but the entrance is free for everyone on Thursdays and free for children and students daily.
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