Africa might be best known for its wildlife and Australia is well loved for its beaches. But if there’s one destination that’s renowned for fascinating culture, it has to be Europe.
Destinations like Paris, Rome and Barcelona offer the perfect blend of art, history, cuisine and entertainment. For any culture vultures booking a European getaway, here is a list of the must-see cities.
1. Rome
There’s more to Rome than just the city’s well-loved cuisine – pizza, pasta and gelato. Rome boasts a rich cultural landscape, with an excellent range of museums, art galleries and historic landmarks. The Vatican features some of the world’s most iconic artistic masterpieces, including the Sistine Chapel, St Peter’s Dome and the 23 hectares that make up the beautiful Vatican Gardens.
No trip to Rome would be complete without a visit to the city’s fascinating historic locations, including the awe-inspiring Colosseum and Emperor Nero’s ancient villa Domus Aurea. For those who prefer their culture a little more on the modern side, the Museo d’Arte Contemporanea features some of the best contemporary works by Italian and international artists.
2. Paris
The French capital offers visitors a getaway packed with cultural experiences, including stunning architecture and first-class exhibitions. Lovers of art are spoilt for choice with an exceptional range of boutique galleries, antique art stores and, of course, the expansive Louvre gallery.
The variation in architecture is equally impressive. Visitors can stroll from the traditional cobbled streets of the Montmartre district to the modern and ground-breaking Centre Pompidou.
If you prefer to steer clear of the tourist traps, some of the lesser-known museums and galleries include the Musée Marmottan Monet, which features the world’s largest collection of works by Claude Monet. The Musée d’Orsay is also well worth a visit, featuring a stunning collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist masterpieces housed in a former train station.
3. Barcelona
While many tourists venture to Barcelona to enjoy its 4km of beachfront, the city also boasts a keen arts and culture scene. This widely popular Spanish city has, throughout history, been home to some of the world’s best artists and architects. Pablo Picasso called the Catalan capital home for several years. The Picasso Museum commemorates his time in the city. This museum features some of his early realist works, as well as his more famous Cubist paintings.
- Barcelona Travelmarcp_dmoz / Foter.com / CC BY-NC-SA
The Joan Miró Foundation and the Antoni Tà pies Foundation are two of the city’s major artistic museums, featuring a range of contemporary pieces. Alternatively, the National Art Museum of Catalonia features medieval frescoes from the Pyrenees region.
No cultural trip to Barcelona would be complete without visits to the Sagrada Familia and La Pedrera, surreal buildings designed by Catalan architect Antoni GaudÃ.
Plan for peace of mind
Finally, it pays to keep in mind that even the most relaxing cultural getaway does come with a degree of risk. Whether you drop your camera or encounter pickpockets on a bus, it pays to always put your safety first with travel insurance cover.
There is a range of travel insurance for Europe packages available that can guarantee the safety of your possessions, so you can enjoy your time abroad minus the stress and worry.
Author Bio: Tracey Chandler is a freelance travel writer and a huge fan of independent travel. She regularly contributes to a wide range of travel blogs and female-interest publications.
Let me just say, Europe lives up to the dream. I got the joy of going last summer and the culture is just amazing. I think a key point would be to be adventurous. Europe can seem intimidating in concept but in reality, it’s so welcoming. There’s tons to do and the train will take you all throughout Europe. Can’t wait to go back.
I haven’t yet had a chance to visit Paris and Barcelona, but I have been to Rome. I must say, Rome was amazing. The architecture, the food and everything else just makes me want to go back every time I think of the time I spent there.
Paris would be a good destination for anyone. It really has a lot to offer. For an example, Louvre. I think visiting Louvre should be on the to do list of everyone. I had the chance to visit Louvre few years ago. The experience of seeing world famous painting such as the Mona Lisa and the Madonna and the Child doesn’t really compare to anything.
That cathedral photo from Barcelona looks amazing. I lived in Sweden for a year which was an interesting and cold experience ^^ I would love to visit the warmer climate of Spain.