10 Must-Visit European Cities for Art Lovers
The City of Light is a must-visit destination for lovers of art, style and architecture—so much so that a place just within the top 10 shows how much competition there is from other European cities. Gaze upon Monalisa and Venus de Milo in the Louvre, discover Impressionist wonders in the Musée de l’Orangerie, and take time to get lost down the French capital’s back street, looking up at the architectural details fine-tuned over centuries.
Athens
The city is home to timeless monuments such as the Acropolis and the Parthenon, which stand as testaments to classical art and architecture. Beyond its ancient landmarks, Athens boasts an impressive array of museums, including the National Archaeological Museum and the Benaki Museum, where visitors can explore Greek art from antiquity to contemporary times. The city’s vibrant neighborhoods, like Monastiraki and Psiri, are alive with street art, galleries, and cultural spaces that reflect the dynamic and evolving art scene.
Helsinki
Finland’s capital doesn’t get as much attention for its artistic and cultural heritage as it should. There are a handful of well-stocked galleries and museums, including the Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma and the Sinebrychoff Art Museum, and architectural highlights like the 20th-century Helsinki Central Station and more contemporary Kamppi Chapel—see many of the sights on a guided tour of the city.
Nobody can deny Milan’s influence on Europe’s fashionista circles. Fashion weeks pull the global glitterati into the glitzy Italian city each year for a jam-packed schedule of runway shows and high-profile events. While the catwalk is home to head-turning designer creations, Milan’s historic buildings and galleries are home to some of the most iconic artworks in the world. The hand of Botticelli, Raphael, and Da Vinci can be seen in the fashion capital—perhaps most notably The Last Supper, the fresco in the Museo Cenacolo Vinciano depicting the final meal Jesus shared with the disciples before his crucifixion.
Berlin
Berlin is a contemporary art lover’s dream. A long weekend—or an entire week, if you’ve got the stamina—can be wiled away just in the German capital’s spectacular galleries and museums. The open-air East Side Gallery houses the largest continuous section of the Berlin Wall. At the same time, showrooms such as König Galerie and BQ Berlin are home to changing, eclectic exhibitions curated to excite Berliners and international design lovers alike.
Oslo
Just as Norway’s capital heads into a dark, chilly winter, it suddenly lights up again, as Fjord Oslo transforms Harbour Promenade into an outdoor exhibition of light. At the end of summer, the annual Oslo Art Weekend welcomes a contemporary art program to the city full of pop-up events and exhibitions. While art festivals are a big thing in Oslo, there are highlights year-round; the city is home to The National Museum of Art in Norway, among many other curious collections.
Rome is a culture vulture’s dream. The imposing Colosseum, fascinating ruins at every turn, and some of the most captivating religious architecture in the world, thanks to thousands of years of settlements. There’s so much to see in the Italian capital, in fact, that it’s easy to forget how well its galleries capture the contemporary art scene. MAXXI, the National Museum of 21st Century Art, is one such hotspot, holding thousands of works across 2,700 square feet of gallery space. Rome Art Week arrives in the city again this October, featuring over 170 exhibitions, and more than 170 open studios from up-and-coming and established artists.
Edinburgh
The National Galleries of Scotland is a collection of galleries in the very heart of Edinburgh; Modern One, Modern Two, National, and Portrait. These halls (and vaults) house more than 120,000 paintings and artefacts, including works by Vincent Van Gogh and John Singer Sargent. Thanks to a history dating back thousands of years, Edinburgh’s architecture is unmatched—amble around the castle’s fortress, check out the regal Palace of Holyroodhouse, and look down on the cityscape from Arthur’s Seat on a clear day.
Amsterdam
Scooping silver is the Venice of the North. An afternoon amble along the uncountable canals makes it clear how arty Amsterdam’s residents are, so it’s little surprise that this charming city only just misses the top spot. Contemporary artists that call the city their birthplace include Saskia de Brau, Rob Scholte and Inez Van Lamsweerde—creatives inspired by myriad galleries, museums and art festivals, perhaps. Only got a few days? Be sure to check out the Rijksmuseum, home to the country’s most extensive collection of art and artifacts, and the Van Gogh Museum, where the permanent collection consists of around 700 works by the famed artist.
London
Scooping the top spot is London, regarded by many as the creative capital of Europe. International students descend on the city to study in prestigious schools such as Central Saint Martins, Fine Arts College and the range of campuses that make up the University of the Arts London. While London is not a cheap city to navigate, many of the capital’s world-class museums and galleries are free to enter, including the National Portrait Gallery, the National Gallery, Somerset House, and the Tate Modern; traveling exhibitions are where there’s a fee to consider. If art is your thing, save the pennies for awe-inspiring suppers in London’s best restaurants and stays in the prettiest hotels, and gaze upon the work of Monet, Bellini, Rubens, Rembrandt, and so many other artists who continue to inspire the creatives of tomorrow. Each autumn, Regent’s Park is a haven for aesthetes—amateur and well-versed—thanks to the arrival of Frieze, while the London Art Fair, Photo London, and London Craft Week are just a few of the other art festivals that fill a jam-packed calendar year-round.
Traveling through these art-centric locales not only enriches our appreciation of creativity but also allows us to connect with the histories and stories that shape these vibrant cultures. As you plan your next artistic adventure, remember that each city holds its own narrative, waiting to be uncovered.