Introduction 

Europe’s artistic history is rich, and a tourist’s visit to Europe would be replete without enjoying some of the masterpieces that have resulted from this history. Its extraordinary history, including everything from the 1200s such as architecture, hotels, and art are all available to be seen. 

In the interest of seeking out a combination of the two, both Europe’s amazing historical locations and amazing artistic richness, there are many museums across Europe that will allow visitors to enjoy all these aspects together in unison. These top 30 museums in Europe are found across some of the continent’s most visited countries, so if you ever find yourself there, your itinerary will benefit greatly from a visit.

1. Andorra: Museum of Miniatures

Situated in a small country between Spain and France, the Museum of Miniatures is an Andorran museum designed with the purpose of celebrating small things. There is a variety of micro-art in its Collection, such as Russian dolls, religious artifacts, and even pieces smaller than a grain of rice.

All the artwork on display was created by Nicolai Siadristy, often labeled as the world’s best practicing micro miniaturist. Hailing from Ukraine, it is said the artist often does his work between heartbeats and between breaths, and as a result, has produced much delicate and intricate art. 

2.Austria: Belvedere Museum

The Belvedere, located in Austria, is a museum in Vienna that was originally built as a summer palace for Prince Eugene of Savoy. It was such a beautifully ornate building that the prince decided not to live in the palace and chose to live in a second palace on the lower grounds of the land so that he could look up and admire the original.

The site became a museum in 1907 and has been listed as part of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It is home to the world’s largest collection of the Austrian artist Gustav Klimt’s paintings and works, as well as the largest collection of Austrian art in the world.

3. Belgium: Magritte Museum

The Magritte Museum in Brussels, Belgium is one of the Royal Museums of Fine Arts in the country. This museum features the largest collections of works by the surrealist artist Rene Magritte. Within the museum, more than 200 works by the artist, including paintings, drawings, photographs, sculptures, and films have been on display since the opening of the museum in 2009.

As well as receiving rewards, the museum welcomes more than 300,000 visitors per year coming to admire Magritte’s works. An exhibit of the artist’s “Vache Period” has been shown, which shows the artist’s paintings from the 1920s to the 1960s. It was often described by the artist as “surrealism in the sun”.

4. Belgium: Oldmasters Museum

Another famous Museum from Belgium, this Royal Museum in Brussels holds a collection of more than 20,000 pieces of artwork dating back to the 15th century. In this museum, works from the likes of famous Flemish artists Peter Paul Rubens, Pieter Bruegel the Elder and Rober Campin can be found, who produced works between the 15th to 18th centuries. 

5. Croatia: Museum of Arts and Crafts

Located in Zagreb, Croatia, the Museum of Arts and Crafts is one of Croatia’s oldest and most popular museums. Although the country is experiencing a time of much hipper and more unique museums such as feelings, frogs, and war, this museum boasts an impressive collection of 100,000 pieces of work.

Established in the year 1880, the pieces in this massive collection range from the 14th to 21st centuries, with a specific focus on the traditional works of art and crafts of the Croatian peoples. The library is one of the best in all Eastern Europe, containing more than 65,000 books and journals.

6. Croatia: Museum of Broken Relationships

While Arts and Crafts is one niche focused on in Croatia, there is a Museum of Broken Relationships to be found too. One of the more interesting museums, this location is dedicated to failures and breakdowns of relationships and includes letters, music, trinkets, and personal items of those with broken hearts.

Love is the theme that permeates the museum, and broken relationships are many. Families separated by war, long-lost family members, and mothers who have lost children. It’s a moving collection, full of brokenness and grief that some visitors can relate to.

7. Czech Republic: Museum of Communism

While there may be many different offerings for museums in the Czech Republic, with art, archaeology, and history, the Museum of Communism in Prague is quite an interesting one. The point of the museum is to recount the most fascinating aspects of the Czech history of communism in 1948 all the way up to its freedom following the Velvet Revolution in 1989. 

One of the most original museums in all of Europe, the Museum of Communism offers a deeper look into the effects of the communist movement on the country.

8. Denmark: Thorvaldsen’s Museum

Bertel Thorvaldsen, one of Denmark’s most famous artisans was an avid collector of art. The museum bearing his name houses all the artist’s work, as well as showcasing Thorvaldsen’s collections of artwork and antique items from all around the world.

After spending much of his life studying and working in Rome, he returned to Denmark in 1838 and began construction on a building for all his works. The building itself is considered a work of art in its own way, produced by designer Michael Gottlieb Brickner Bindesbøll.

9. England: The British Museum

Of course, the city of London contains many fantastic museums, but it is the British Museum, which is the most popular, receiving 6 million visitors per year. Sir Hans Sloane, a famous British physician, naturalist, and collector is said to have collected more than 71,000 objects that were given to King George II upon his death in 1753.

It is thanks to King George that this museum exists. Opened in 1759 the museum showcases antiquities and works from all around the world, with its collection added to over the years since it was formed. The most famous of all items in this museum is the Rosetta Stone.

10. England: The National Gallery

Another popular location in England is the National Gallery, which contains a set of lion sculptures before its doors made popular by the ones in Trafalgar Square. This museum contains a variety of paintings from the 13th to the 20th centuries, covering many years of art history.

This museum, which was opened in 1824, houses some 2300 paintings from this period. Once upon a time these works of art were only viewed by royalty, but the United Kingdom has given its citizens and all international visitors the chance to see it all for free.

11. France: Louvre Museum

Perhaps the world’s most famous and most well-known art museum, it is also the largest. The Louvre is a necessity for the itinerary for any art or history fanatic. The building was originally a palace and displays more than 38,000 pieces of art. It is so large, certain areas of the museum may be closed on various days due to the inability of the museum to fully staff the building.

Following the French Revolution, the museum was opened in 1793 and contains collections from prehistoric times all the way through to the 21st century period and much of the art is that amassed by the famous French leader, Napoléon. In the Louvre, you can find Napoléon apartments, the largest collection of Egyptian antiques outside of Egypt as well as the world-renowned and famous Mona Lisa.

12. France: Musee Picasso

If you have ever wanted to see a collection of works by Picasso, the Musee Picasso is the place for you. The museum was originally a mansion, and it is wholly dedicated to the Spaniard Pablo Picasso who spent most of his life in France. 

Much of his works, of which there are around 5000 of his collection on display, includes paintings, drawings, and sculptures donated by Picasso’s family. Included in the collection are the artist’s notebooks, photographs, and intimate items owned by him can be found within the building’s walls, which dates to the 1600s but were renovated and expanded in 2014.

13. Germany: Pergamon Museum

Germany’s Pergamon Museum contains a vast collection of antiquities, Islamic art, and a collection devoted to the Middle East, as well as impressive monuments such as the Roman Market Gate of Miletus and the Ishtar Gate, lifted out of its original location for its protection.

During the Second World War, many Germans hid displays and works for safekeeping, but the Russian Soviet Army was able to seize a lot of the artwork, which it kept until 1958. Luckily, the building survived the bombing of Germany and is Germany’s most popular museum today.

14. Greece: Acropolis Museum

As a country filled to the brim with ancient history, a visit to the Parthenon on Acropolis Hill in Athens, Greece is a must. The location is naturally the most visited attraction in all of Greece, receiving more than 7 million travelers per year. 

To properly experience the Parthenon, travelers need to visit the Acropolis Museum, which was made specifically to house the artifacts found on Acropolis Hill, including all the ages from the Greek Bronze Age to both Roman and Byzantine controlled Greece.

15. Greece: Benaki Museum

The Benaki Museum was founded by Antonis Benakis and was developed to celebrate and provide a place for Greek culture and art. Originally it began as Benakis’ collection of personal items curated from around the world. Located in a mansion since 1931, the collection spans 36 rooms and houses more than 20,000 items from the Stone Age period through to the 21st century.

16. Hungary: Hungarian National Museum

Hungary has many amazing historical locations, from palaces and museums showing much of its history. Budapest in particular hosts a number of these locations, and one of the best ways to uncover Hungary’s history, its art, and its place during the Austro-Hungarian Empire is through its National Museum.

Created in 1802, the building began as a library and was eventually grown to become a museum, containing both Hungarian and international history, archaeological items, and artwork. In 1848, a revolution occurred, and the museum was an important part of this, with a reading of Sándor Petofi’s 12 points and National Song on its steps.

17. Italy: Doge’s Palace

The Doge was the most powerful representative in the Republic of Venice and this building was the former palace of this leader. The building dates to the year 1340 and was designated as a museum in 1923. 

The palace itself is situated in a location that overlooks St. Mark’s Square and the Venice Lagoon. Filled with powerful imagery of a golden staircase, marble, gold-leaf, sculptures and paintings, the palace is undeniably a breathtaking location to visit.

18. Italy: Uffizi Gallery

The Uffizi Gallery in Florence contains many works of incredibly famous Renaissance artists who called Tuscany home during their lifetime, including the likes of Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo. 

Over time, the collection has grown so large that renovations and expansion were needed, which began in 1989 to provide space for the gallery’s many artworks and sculptures. The museum already has 50 rooms, and there are plans to add even more in the future.

19. Luxembourg: Grand Duke Jean Museum of Modern Art

For a tiny country located between France, Belgium, and Germany, the most famous and popular museum in this tiny country is the Grand Duke Jean Museum of Modern Art. The city’s history is rich, and this is what makes its art collection so immensely popular. There are some 700 pieces of work on display, with something for everyone. The museum’s collection ranges from paintings, photography, arts, crafts, fashion, textiles, furnishing, and films.

The site, originally Fort Thüngen, is where the modern, glass-roofed building is situated, having been constructed in 2006. From certain locations, viewers can see quite clearly that the museum was built on the stones of an old fortress. 

20. Monaco: Top Cars Collection

For something a bit more unique, Monaco is the nation’s most well-known for its Grand Prix events. As a result of such fame, it is almost a given that the nation would host a museum of vehicles from the private car collection of Prince Rainier III. A collection grown over 30 years, the Top Cars Collection contains many classical vehicles from both the United States and Europe.

The museum is in the prince’s palace and visitors can see many popular names such as the Alpha Romeo, Rolls Royce, Lotus, Packard, Ferrari, Maserati, and Lamborghini. This museum is likely to be very popular for car enthusiasts.

21. Netherlands: Rijksmuseum

The Rijksmuseum is the national museum of the Netherlands. It’s one of several different museums located in Museum Square in Amsterdam, and its works spent time in its predecessor, the National Art Gallery in 1800 as well as within the Royal Palace. 

As the largest museum in the country, it holds a vast collection of artworks. While only 8000 pieces are on display at any one time, the museum holds over a million artworks. The Dutch artistic masters such as Rembrandt and Vermeer are the main drawing point of the Rijksmuseum collection and are available to be seen at every visit.

22. Netherlands: Van Gogh Museum

The Van Gogh Museum in the Netherlands is another famous location, dedicated entirely to the artworks of the incredible Vincent van Gogh. While his most famous work “Starry Night” is on display at the MoMA in New York, viewers are still able to view an impressive collection of van Gogh works, as well as works by his contemporaries. 

Throughout the museum, over 200 paintings, 400 drawings, and 700 letters by van Gogh can be viewed, the largest collection of all things van Gogh in the entire world.

23. Norway: Viking Ship Museum

Another unique entry, the University of Oslo’s Museum of Cultural History in Norway contains a Viking Ship Museum. The purpose of this museum is to allow their visitors to explore the history of Vikings. 

Throughout the museum, there are many historical artifacts to uncover. From preserved Viking ships to skeletons and artifacts from Viking burial grounds to household items, clothing, and textiles from the 800s, the scope and vision of this museum are incredibly unique and intriguing, to say the least.

24. Poland: Panstwowe Muzeum Auschwitz-Birkenau

When you think of World War II, it is likely that your thoughts are drawn to many of the innocent victims of the brutal Nazi regime. Many travelers make the pilgrimage to Poland to see the place where the senseless death of civilians occurred. 

Auschwitz is a truly terrifying place, containing 40 concentration camps in total, where the execution of 1.1 million people was carried out, 90% of them Jewish. This museum was created in 1947 following the horrific events as a memorial for the many victims and a historical educational center, visited by more than 2 million people annually.

25. Portugal: Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga

Based out of an old, 17th-century palace in Portugal, the Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga is one of the country’s oldest and most important museums. Overlooking the Tagus River, this museum hosts a wide collection of items ranging from Middle Age religious sculptures, art from the Baroque period as well as Portugal’s largest collection of gold and silverware dating back to 1884. The most famous item in its collection is Saint Vincent’s Panels and the standout attraction for any visitor to the museum. 

26. 43b2v1q`abergé Museum

The Hermitage, based in Saint Petersburg is called one of the most gorgeous museums in Europe for a reason. This museum is based out of one of the former palaces of Russian Emperors, founded by Catherine the Great in 1764. 

As the second-largest art museum in the entire world, this museum hosts over 3 million different items in its collection. Naturally, this is far too much to show visitors at any one time, and therefore the museum chooses only a selection of its collection to exhibit. Multiple buildings are open to visitors, including the Old Hermitage, New Hermitage, Small Hermitage, Winter Palace, and Hermitage Theater, open for visitors since 1852 at the earliest.

27. Scotland: Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum

This beautiful museum was first created to be a Palace of the Arts in Glasgow, Scotland for an international exhibition and its collections hold some of the most famous pieces in the world. This museum holds a variety of works by the likes of Renoir, Monet, Van Gogh, Pissarro, Dali, and Rembrandt, among many others.

The collections showing European history are equally as important as the art, where a collection of armor, arts, and jewelry from around the continent are showcased. 8000 pieces of the collection are available to be viewed but is likely the museum holds many more.

28. Spain: Dali Theatre-Museum

Famous Spaniard Salvador Dali has most of his works enshrined within a museum that also serves as his final resting place. The museum itself is a theatrical space for visitors, as well as a crypt for the famous artist himself.

The Dali-Theatre Museum holds the world’s largest collection of artworks produced by Dali, who donated many items from his own personal collection, including the likes of paintings, sculptures, collages, and works by his contemporaries and friends.

29. Spain: Museu Picasso

As popular as ever, Picasso has another museum dedicated specifically to him. While France is where he spent most of his life, Picasso was born and raised in Spain and is honored with the Museu Picasso in the city of Barcelona. 

In this museum’s collection, more than 4000 pieces of Picasso’s work are exhibited, and his paintings, sculptures, drawings, letters, notebooks, and incomplete works are on display for visitors. Based in five medieval palaces, the museum opened in 1963 while Picasso was still alive to contribute to its collection.

30. Turkey: Hagia Sophia Museum

The Hagia Sophia is one of the most famous museums in the world and is called the “Eighth Wonder of the World” for good reason. It stands as one of the most important and iconic buildings in Istanbul, Turkey, and has been a part of the city since 537AD. 

Once a Greek Orthodox Christian cathedral, then an Ottoman Mosque, the building was converted to become a museum in 1935. It contains a vast collection of church, tomb, and stone objects from its and Turkey’s long history.

Conclusion

The age of the continent lends itself well to the artworks, historical artifacts, and items available in museums across the breadth of Europe. There are many incredible locations and museums to be seen by travelers and you are certainly not spoiled for choice. Undoubtedly, for visitors, there is too much to see and not enough time to see it all and with this in mind, the museums on this top 30 museums in Europe list are a great starting point. The long and rich history of the European continent is a sight to behold and worthy of the time and effort to see as much as possible. Also Check out the post 25 Best Art Museums in the World – The Most Admired Ones!

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