Must See Museums in Europe

Ah, Europe. The birthplace of Western Culture. An entire continent filled with an impressive collection of art and artifacts from the age of antiquity. But if you're a tourist without a plan, how do you even know where to begin? Luckily, this list is a perfect way to build your itinerary for your grand European escapades.

The Classics

The Museum of London, UK:

You were probably expecting the Louvre to be first. But everyone knows the Louvre and its most famous painting the Mona Lisa. So instead let's start off with a different classic, The Museum of London. This free museum (a huge plus anytime you're travelling), boasts a plethora of different collections, all spanning different eras of London's history. They've got everything here. Seriously, everything and anything ranging from interactive maps of London across time, to bones of hippopotamus that used to live in the River Thames.

The Ludwig Museum of Contemporary Art, Budapest, Hungary:

Budapest is a severely underrated city for art. Aside from the beautiful palaces and sculptures of horses littered around the city, Budapest also contains works of art from the Great Masters and modern, contemporary artists. The exhibits at the Ludwig Museum of Contemporary Art are as thought provoking and engaging as anything you would find in the MoMA.

The Uffizi Gallery, Florence, Italy:

Italy may have the largest collection of art in all of Europe. As the one of the ancient cultural hubs of the world, Italy boasts a history in the arts that can be matched by few other countries in Europe. Florence, specifically, contains an abundance of these cultural treasures. Once the city at the forefront of the Renaissance, and backed by the powerful Medici family as patrons of the arts, art in Florence flourished. The Uffizi Gallery, created by the aforementioned Medicis, is chock full of art from the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, including works from DaVinci, Michelangelo, Botticelli, and Raffaello. Entrance costs a little over $50 (€46) but the price is well worth it.

A Little Bit Out There:

The Archeological Museum of Olympia/Olympic Games Museum, Olympia, Greece:

Okay, so there's nothing that crazy about two museums revolving around the birth and history of the Olympic Games. For this one, when I say out there I mean, it's kind of inconvenient to get to as it's located on the Greek island of Olympia and only reachable by boat. But once do you get there, you'll be amazed at the artifacts and art in their collections. Complete with beautiful architecture, including the original field used for races in the very first Olympics, these two museums (entry can be bought as a combo package) are definitely a must for anyone who goes crazy every four years watching the Summer Olympics (because, let's be honest, no one cares as much about the Winter Games).

Mucha Museum, Prague, Czech Republic:

I love Prague as a city. The beer is great and cheaper than water, the people are extremely nice, and you can get a box at their opera house for only $50 a seat (something my friends and I did while we were there. Definitely a fun time). Prague was also the home of Alphonse Mucha, a Czech Art Nouveau painter and decorator from the early 20th century. This is here because in order to enjoy this museum you need to really (and I mean really) like a collection filled with Mucha's distinct style, mainly his watercolors of women. And if that kind of thing is your speed, then you'll love everything the Mucha Museum has to offer.

The Museum of Broken Relationships, Zagreb, Croatia:

People might see this and go, "Heartbreak? Isn't that depressing?" Probably. But heartbreak is also a feeling that is universal and can touch everyone at any age.

This Place is Whack, but Great.

The Sex Museum, Amsterdam, The Netherlands:

Besides the weed cafes, the Red Light District, and the Anne Frank House, Amsterdam has some pretty cool and unique museum collections. If you are obsessed with Van Gogh's A Starry Night, then definitely check out the Impressionist Master's museum. If lines and squiggles aren't for you, go to Amsterdam's very own Sex Museum. For only €4 (or about $5! What a steal!) you can see human sexuality expressed in every media imaginable. You'll probably be asking yourself, "Wait, is this just going to be porn?" Well, to quote their website, their collection contains, "many hundreds of interesting pieces of art, unique objects and rare old photographs, but avoiding bluntness of pornography managed to bring them together in an organized and interesting way." And to quote United States Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart, "I shall not today attempt further to define the kinds of material I understand to be embraced within that shorthand description ['hard-core pornography]... But I know it when I see it." Check it out and decide for yourself!

Sex Machines Museum, Prague, Czech Republic:

Our first attraction that repeats a city! I touted Prague as a wonderful city earlier, but this museum truly contains an impressive collection of pieces. Located just around the corner from Prague's renowned astronomical clock in the city's main square, this well-travelled gem of a museum contains an amazing array of over 300 different exhibits featuring medieval and current machines dedicated to sex and personal pleasure. I remember being in Prague and passing people coming out of the museum with smiles plastered onto their faces, while loudly reviewing their favorite pieces amongst themselves. If you're a parent thinking to themselves "can I bring my kids to this?" the answer is flat out, "No, you cannot." Entry is available to anyone over the age of 18 for only 250 Czech Krona (about $11).

Call to Action

Get out and go to Europe! A little bit of planning can make a trek like this super affordable, especially if you book flights ahead of time.