Buzz
Earlier, we explored gorgeous libraries around the world, but if you’re eager to broaden your travel horizons to include educational destinations with stunning architecture, these charming museums, particularly in Europe, are worth adding to your itinerary.
Keep in mind that this list is not comprehensive, and the museums were chosen for their architectural appeal rather than their collections. Many visually average museums house incredible artifacts, while some breathtaking museums may have less impressive exhibits.
1. Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, Spain
Designed by the iconic architect Frank Gehry, the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao stands as one of the most celebrated contemporary museum structures globally. Architect Philip Johnson even hailed it as "the greatest building of our time."
Spanning 256,000 square feet, this relatively young museum, which opened in 1997, has quickly gained acclaim for its remarkable permanent collection, showcasing works by artists like Mark Rothko, Andy Warhol, and Richard Serra. It also hosts exceptional traveling exhibitions, thanks to its affiliation with the renowned Guggenheim Foundation. At its opening, it offered more space than the combined Guggenheim museums in New York and Venice.
2. Louvre, France
As the world’s most visited museum, the Louvre is also among the most stunning. Covering over 650,000 square feet, it’s one of the largest museums globally. Its history dates back to the late 12th century when Philip II constructed a fortress on the site. Over time, it transformed into a grand palace housing the French royal family until Louis XIV relocated to Versailles in 1682. The palace then became a showcase for the royal collection, including Greek and Roman sculptures and the famed Mona Lisa.
The French Revolution led to the National Assembly declaring the Louvre a museum. In 1792, Louis XVI’s imprisonment marked the royal collection as public property, and the museum officially opened in 1793. Today, the Louvre boasts nearly 380,000 artifacts, spanning from prehistoric times to the modern era. The museum’s iconic glass pyramid, designed by architect Ieoh Ming Pei and completed in 1989, serves as its entrance and remains a controversial yet striking modern addition.
3. The Musee d’Orsay, France
Although the Musee d’Orsay officially opened in 1986, its grand structure was originally built in 1900 as a train station. After falling out of use, the building faced demolition, but the French Minister for Cultural Affairs intervened, rejecting a proposal to replace it with a hotel. By 1978, it was designated a historical monument, and plans were made to transform it into a museum, bridging the artistic gap between the Louvre’s classical works and the National Museum of Modern Art’s contemporary pieces.
Today, the museum showcases a diverse range of French art from the mid-19th century to the early 20th century. It ranks as France’s third most visited museum and the tenth most popular globally—an impressive feat for a former train station once slated for destruction.
4. The Museum of Natural History and The Museum of Art History of Vienna, Austria
These two majestic buildings, facing each other across a vast square, opened in 1889. Commissioned by the Emperor, they were designed to house the extensive art collection of the Habsburg royal family. Each rectangular structure is crowned with a dome reaching nearly 200 feet in height, while the interiors are lavishly decorated with marble, gold leaf, intricate paintings, and stucco embellishments.
Both museums are remarkable, with the Museum of Art History boasting world-class artwork. However, the Museum of Natural History stands out as one of the most significant institutions of its kind, home to approximately 30 million artifacts from a collection that began over 250 years ago. The museum employs 60 full-time scientists to manage its vast array of specimens.
5. British Museum, England
The establishment of the British Museum owes much to Sir Hans Sloane, a physician and naturalist who amassed a collection of 71,000 antiquities, artifacts, and artworks. To preserve his collection, he bequeathed it to King George II. In 1753, the British Museum was founded using Sloane’s collection, along with two library collections, including Sir Robert Cotton’s Elizabethan-era library and the Royal Library.
Initially housed in Montagu House, a former manor, the museum opened in 1759. By the 1800s, the building had deteriorated, and the museum required more space. Montagu House was replaced by a Greek Revival structure designed by Sir Robert Smirke, which opened in 1857. Over the next century, additions like the iconic Round Reading Room were made. In 1998, the relocation of book collections to the British Library allowed the creation of the Queen Elizabeth II Great Court, now Europe’s largest covered square.
Though the museum no longer houses books or natural history items, its collection has grown to around 13 million works, chronicling human culture from prehistoric times to the present. Only 1% of the collection is displayed at any time. Today, it is England’s most visited museum and the third most visited globally.
6. The Vatican Museum, Vatican City
Over the centuries, the Roman Catholic Church has amassed an extraordinary collection of art and antiquities, making its museum collection truly remarkable. The museum, now over 500 years old, was officially opened to the public in 1506 when Pope Julius II displayed the sculpture of Laocoon and his Sons.
Since its inception, numerous buildings have been added to accommodate the Vatican’s vast collection. Among its most renowned treasures are Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel ceiling and Raphael’s Stanze della Segnatura. Beyond these masterpieces, the museum also features significant Etruscan and Egyptian artifacts discovered during Vatican-sponsored archaeological digs.
7. The State Hermitage Museum, Russia
Established by Catherine the Great in 1764, this expansive museum in Saint Petersburg began with the Small Hermitage building. Over time, five additional main structures were added, including the iconic Winter Palace, which once served as the primary residence of Russian czars. Parts of two other large buildings also contribute to the museum’s vast complex.
The museum’s collection boasts over three million items, forming the world’s largest assembly of paintings, featuring works by masters like Raphael, Rembrandt, Matisse, and Picasso. It is Russia’s most visited museum and ranks as the thirteenth most popular art museum globally.
8. State Historical Museum, Russia
You’ve likely seen images of the State Historical Museum, located near Moscow’s iconic Red Square. This breathtaking neo-Russian structure, completed in 1881, chronicles Russia’s history from ancient tribes to the modern era. Initially decorated in the Russian Revival style by artists like Viktor Vasnetsov, Henrik Semiradsky, and Ivan Aivazovsky, its murals were deemed overly ornate during the Soviet era and covered with plaster. Thankfully, these magnificent artworks were meticulously restored after the USSR’s dissolution.
The museum houses more than four million artifacts, including a Viking longboat unearthed from the Volga River, Scythian gold treasures, and ancient Novgorod scrolls.
9. Rijksmuseum, Netherlands
This Netherlands landmark was first established in The Hague in 1800 before relocating to Amsterdam in 1808. The current building, blending gothic and renaissance styles, was designed by Pierre Cuypers and opened in 1885. Its interior and exterior are decorated with works by B. van Hove, J.F. Vermeylen, G. Sturm, and W.F. Dixon, all reflecting Dutch art history.
Unlike many museums that have undergone multiple relocations and expansions, the main building of the Rijksmuseum remains largely unchanged since its 1895 appearance. Additional structures have been added to house its collection of over one million objects, and the main building recently reopened after a decade-long renovation. The museum displays around 8,000 items at any time, including iconic works by Dutch masters like Rembrandt, Johannes Vermeer, and Jan Steen.
10. Museum Island, Germany
This island is home to five distinct museums, making it so significant to Berlin that UNESCO designated it a World Heritage Site in 1999.
The island features the Altes Museum (1830), the Neues Museum (reopened in 2009 after WWII destruction), the Alte Nationalgalerie (1876), the Bode Museum (1904), and the Pergamon Museum (1930). The Altes Museum showcases Greek and Roman art and traveling exhibits; the Neues Museum houses archaeological finds, including the bust of Queen Nefertiti. The Alte Nationalgalerie focuses on 19th-century art, the Bode Museum displays Late Byzantine to 1800s paintings, and the Pergamon Museum features reconstructions of historic structures like the Pergamon Altar and the Ishtar Gate of Babylon.
This list is far from complete, so don’t hesitate to share your favorite European museums. Additionally, as we aim to highlight stunning museums worldwide, feel free to suggest beautiful museums outside Europe too. You might just see them featured in a future list.
