With thousands of incredible museums, Europe is the elite destination for lovers of world-renowned art, ancient antiquities, masterful sculptures and more. From the world’s most famous paintings and artistic creations to some of the rarest, most prized archeological findings known to man, Europe is bursting at the seams with museum-y goodness to explore.
Need help getting started? Here are five fabulous museums travelers won’t want to miss.
The Louvre, Paris, France
As the largest and most visited art museum in the world, the Louvre is a must for fans of famous portraits, ancient antiquities and great architecture. Here, travelers will find Leonardo da Vinci’s iconic Mona Lisa, a fabulous collection of French paintings, an impressive display of ancient Egyptian artifacts, a large display of Islamic art and much, much more.
As for some fun facts, the Louvre covers 782,910 square feet and features over 480,000 objects/works of art spanning from ancient times to the 21st century. In addition to things like paintings and sculptures, the Louvre also has an incredible collection of gems including the French Crown Jewels.
The British Museum, London, England
Established in 1759, the British Museum was the first national public museum in the world. Featuring some of the most extensive collections on Earth, the British Museum is home to over eight million objects that, “explore the extraordinary diversity of human cultures, from small communities to vast empires, to discover the many forms and expressions human beings have given to every aspect of life, and to realize how closely they are interconnected,” reads the museum’s website.
So, what can travelers expect to see inside? The Rosetta Stone, the Aztec Serpent, Sophilos Vase, the Parthenon Sculptures, Grayson Perry’s The Tomb of the Unknown Craftsman, the Bust of Ramesses the Great and Hoa Hakananai'a (a famous Mo'ai), are all crowd favorites.
Vasa Museum, Stockholm, Sweden
One of Sweden’s most popular attractions, the Vasa Museum showcases a significant event in Nordic history, the sinking of the ill-fated Vasa Ship. Upon its maiden voyage in 1628, the massive warship was struck by a strong gust of wind causing it to plummet 14 feet beneath the shallow waters of Stockholm Harbor. Less than one mile from the shore at the time of the event, around 150 people were believed to be on board when Vasa sank, and an estimated 30 people died.
Vasa sat in Stockholm Harbor’s murky waters for 333 years before the Vasa Museum was established in 1990. Today, the almost fully intact Vasa is on display for all to see and is the only 17th-century ship to be fully salvaged. In addition to marveling at the impressive remains, visitors can explore several floors jam-packed with history, artifacts and information surrounding Vasa including original sculptures, furnishings and more.
Prado Museum, Madrid, Spain
With 8,600 paintings and more than 700 sculptures, the Prado Museum is Madrid’s pride and joy. Featuring the most thorough collection of Spanish paintings in the world, travelers can admire famous works created by local artists like Pedro Berruguete, Juan de Juanes, Bartolomé Bermejo, Luis de Morales and El Greco.
In addition to Spanish art, visitors can learn more about the Prado Museum’s impressive architecture when they visit Rooms 100, 101 and 102 of the Villanueva building which feature a permanent display filled with architectural models, documents, postcards and prints — some of which date back over 100 years.
Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Those visiting the Dutch capital of Amsterdam won’t want to miss a stop at the world-famous Van Gogh Museum. Housing the largest collection of Van Gogh’s creations, the Van Gogh Museum comprises over 200 paintings, 500 drawings and 700 letters. In addition to its permanent collection titled “Van Gogh’s Masterpieces,” visitors can also enjoy rotating exhibits that showcase the artist’s final months, experimental works and more.
Bonus: Conveniently located in Amsterdam’s Museumplein — a public square that doubles as a hub for the city’s most-visited museums — travelers can also hit up Rijksmuseum, the national museum of the Netherlands, for a further look into Dutch arts and history.
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