8 must-visit cities for museum and art lovers

1. Amsterdam

Walking around the winding streets and canals of this Dutch capital, you’re bound to be inspired by the city’s uber-fashionable and effortlessly chic locals, boutique cafés as well as the great buzz and atmosphere. One of Europe’s gems, Amsterdam is also home to some of the continent’s finest museums, with the obvious starting point being the Rijksmuseum (pictured above) where visitors can admire paintings by masters such as Vermeer, Hals and Steen. Group guided tours can be booked in advance for those who want a more in-depth experience.

A quick five-minute walk away, the Van Gogh Museum displays more than 200 of his works and is well worth a visit. The Stedelijk is hung with modern works and the selection of stunning canalside mansions, such as the Willet-Holthuysen and Van Loon museums, are other great options.

2. Berlin

As one of Europe’s most iconic and coolest cities, it is no wonder that travellers flock to the German capital to get their cultural fix throughout the year. Museum Island is home to five museums, including a collection of Islamic art in the Pergamon, Egyptian wonders in the Neues Museum and splendid sculptures in the Bode Museum. Advantages of registering as a group to visit the Bode Museum include no queuing to get in, plus guided tour options.

Former rail station turned gallery, Berlinische Galerie provides a chance to admire works by local artists, as well as Lichtensteins and Warhols. Berlin’s open-air East Side Gallery contains the largest continuous section of the Berlin Wall, while showrooms such as König Galerie and BQ Berlin provide an exhibition space for changing, modern and diverse works that are always the talk of the town.

3. Rome

Brimming with museums, attractions and ancient ruins including the Sistine Chapel, the Vatican Museums and architectural marvels like the Pantheon, travellers are spoilt for choice when it comes to cultural immersion in Italy’s capital. MAXXI, the National Museum of 21st Century Art is a contemporary hotspot, holding thousands of works across an incredible 2,700 square foot space. Group guided tours and pre-visit talks are available.

Rome Art Week lands in the city every October, featuring over 170 exhibitions, and more than 170 open studios from up-and-coming and established artists.

For groups looking to appreciate ancient art, the Museo Nazionale Romano, divided into four main collections across different palazzos, is a fantastic choice, while The Galleria Borghese is one of the most famous and prestigious museums in the world and home to sculptures by Bernini and Canova.

 4. Zagreb 

There are quirky finds across Croatia’s capital, along with plenty of historical visits to explore with your group. Stop one could be Museum of Broken Relationships, which is said to be a physical and virtual public space created with the sole purpose of treasuring and sharing your heartbreak stories and symbolic possessions. Party animals may want to consider the Museum of Hangovers where you can experience the best hangover and drunk stories, as well as interactive elements like playing drunk darts, a simulator of drunk driving, plus drunk walking.

Zagreb City Museum might be the best option for those who enjoy learning about a city’s culture. Inside, highlights include the oldest extant representation of the coat-of-arms as a symbol of the city, plus plenty of artefacts which showcase the formation of the city and the country’s political system.

5. Edinburgh

Known as one of the cultural hubs of Europe, thanks to the ever-popular Edinburgh Fringe Festival that makes this city a melting pot of art and culture,  Edinburgh is a must-visit destination for museum and art lovers.

At the very heart of this quaint, vibrant and charming city, The National Galleries of Scotland is a collection of four stunning galleries: Modern One, Modern Two, National, and Portrait.

These halls house more than 120,000 paintings and artefacts, including works by Vincent Van Gogh and John Singer Sargent. Other gems include the National Museum of Scotland, The Writers’ Museum and St. Cecilia’s Hall & Music Museum, all of which celebrate the best of Scottish heritage. Groups choosing to explore the National Museum of Scotland can pre-book, or just turn up on the day, keeping your itinerary flexible. 

6. Porto

Visitors to Portugal’s Porto are spoiled for choice when it comes to historic visits such as its large cathedral and Clérigos Tower. Known for its stately bridges and port wine production, the coastal city is also home to an abundance of museums and galleries for all tastes. The Serralves Foundation is a cultural institution with a contemporary vision of Art and Landscape, being considered one of the cultural institutions of reference in Portugal and the most relevant in the north of the country.

The Foundation’s landscape and architectural heritage consists of the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Serralves Villa (a unique example of Art Deco architecture), the Casa do Cinema Manoel de Oliveira (Cinema House) and the 18-hectare Serralves Park which is complemented by the pioneering Treetop Walk with fine views of the surrounding area.

7. London

An obvious choice, but always offers a memorable experience whenever you visit. London is full of world class museums from the big hitters such as the Natural History Museum, British Museum and the Science Museum to lesser known attractions like the Kempton Steam Museum or the refurbished Museum of Methodism, there’s always something amazing to see.

Art lovers can head for the National Gallery, where every single detail has been considered in the £41m transformation project - everything from how collections are displayed down to the type of flooring, lighting and colours used. 

The portraits on display from the world’s biggest collection, span an incredible six centuries taking visitors on a journey from the Middle Ages to the present day. They are chronologically arranged so our tour begins on the third floor with the Tudor collection and the gallery’s oldest portrait of King Henry VII which dates back to 1505.

8. Stockholm 

The Vasa Museum is named after the Vasa ship that capsized and sank in Stockholm in 1628. After 333 years on the sea bed, the vessel was brought to the surface for the first time for all to see in 1961. Today it is one of the world’s best preserved 17th century ships and the most visited museum in Scandinavia.

Elsewhere, Skansen is said to be the world’s oldest open-air museum, showcasing the whole of Sweden with houses and farmsteads from every part of the country. Private guided tours of up to 30 people can be pre-booked for an additional charge.

No trip to the Swedish capital would be complete without a visit to the museum dedicated to one of the world’s most iconic pop groups, ABBA.

The museum is described as an interactive experience with multiple performing and photo opportunities, such as trying on ABBA’s costumes, while also getting the chance to virtually join the foursome on stage.