Six Best Cities In Europe For People Who Love Art And History (2024)

There’s nothing quite like travelling the world during your holiday break. After all, you work hard each week, and bringing home the bacon alongside just generally keeping up with the demands of modern life, can be taxing on the mind, body and spirit. With all this considered, it just makes sense to take your precious time off to explore the world and escape your usual setting. Then, you return to your routine rejuvenated, full of energy and ready and raring to tackle life head-on.

But what if you absolutely love your art and history? Where should your ideal holiday destination be? Well Europe is undoubtedly the correct answer here, with many cities bursting with arts, culture and countless historical sites. But Europe is a big continent. If you’re planning a European holiday in order to soak up art and history, you might be stumped about where to go. Well, you’re lucky because this helpful article will share six of the best European cities for people who love art and history. So, get ready to book your flights and luxury accommodation for your big European getaway, and read on to discover where you should visit during your time up north.

1. The Netherlands – Amsterdam

This city is a must-visit for the discerning art lover. Known as the “Venice of the North”, Amsterdam is a gorgeous city filled with canals and plenty of art galleries and museums. If you enjoy Van Gogh’s work, then you’re in luck because this city also happens to be home to the Van Gogh Museum. This iconic post-impressionist painter is one of the world’s most famous artists, with Van Gogh’s unique painting style being celebrated by artists from all walks of life. This museum holds 200 paintings and over 1,000 drawings and letters penned by the famous artist.

Also situated in Amsterdam is the revered Rijksmuseum, a distinguished museum that houses over a million artworks. It boasts art painted by heavyweights including Vermeer, Rembrandt and even Van Gogh. Simply put, any artists looking to explore Europe just cannot miss out on walking through the streets of Amsterdam.

2. Spain – Barcelona

The Spanish city of Barcelona is over 2,000 years old and has a rich history to reflect its age. You can see the wide variety of different cultures and spiritualities influencing the architecture and general look and feel of Barcelona, from the ornate tiles and geometry of Islamic architecture, to the sweeping steeples of  Christian churches.

And speaking of church architecture, it’s also worth visiting Barcelona specifically for gazing upon the famed architectural work of Antoni Gaudi. His famous Sagrada Familia Cathedral has been in construction since 1882 and probably won’t be finished until the 2040s.

Suppose you’re interested in earlier architecture and culture. In that case, the Gothic Quarter is the place to visit, with buildings dating back to mediaeval times. It is filled with plazas, museums, cathedrals, and business locations. You’ll also want to pay a visit to the Museu d’Història de Catalunya, a gorgeous museum that traces Barcelona’s rich history, and the Picasso museum to see the history of the famous artist.

3. Italy – Rome

Rome is a melting pot of ancient, mediaeval and modern history. A trip to Rome means visiting incredibly iconic sites such as the Colosseum which is almost 2,000 years old, or Vatican City, the city-state home of the Catholic Church. You’ll also want to visit the Sistine Chapel to take in its iconic ceiling, adorned with The Last Judgment, a work of art produced by Michelangelo himself.

A trip to Rome should also include the opportunity to toss a coin into the city’s Trevi Fountain, a large stone sculpture from the 18th century that measures up at a whopping 85 feet tall and 65 feet wide. Many believe that tossing a coin into the Trevi Fountain in a particular way can grant wishes or just generally provide good fortune. Local government uses the funds gathered from the fountain to support local charities and social initiatives.

4. Germany – Berlin

Often considered to be one of Europe’s most artistic modern cities, Berlin has a rich music and arts scene, alongside also boasting an expansive military history, for all you modern history buffs! During your time in Berlin, you can expect to see museums and memorials acknowledging the time of Nazi rule and the Holocaust. We highly recommend visiting Museum Island during your time in this striking modern city, as it’s home to most of Berlin’s history and war museums.

Even though most of the city was lost to bombing during the Second World War, it has been rebuilt with a forward-thinking approach. As a result, Berlin is a pretty comfortable city to walk around, with plenty of attractions and a wide public transport network for ensuring that the city stays consistently pedestrian-friendly.

5. Greece – Athens

Athens is one of the world’s oldest cities in the world, as well as the oldest city in Europe. The city actually dates all the way back to the 5th century BC and is thus considered to be the birthplace of democracy and philosophy. Much of the art and culture to explore here is related to ancient Greek mythology – such as the Acropolis and the Parthenon Temple. The Acropolis is fully intact and is a stellar example of the Doric architectural style. Still, there are more ruins to explore throughout the city for the willing history buff.

6. Switzerland – Basel

Basel is a modern art paradise and is home to the most well-known art fair in the world, held annually in June. This city is a priority to visit for the modern art buff, if you can organise your trip to coincide with the Art Basel fair. Over 60,000 people visit the city for this event to browse around 300 galleries, all collectively displaying the work of thousands of modern artists.

You can also visit the Kunstmuseum Basel, which hosts art from the 15th century to the present. See the work of the old masters, such as the Holbiens, and modern art from Dali, Miro and Mondrian. Be sure to take a guided tour for a fully immersive gallery-viewing experience!

A Stunning Summary

This helpful article has shared the six best European cities for people who adore art and history. You’ve got your perfect mix of ancient history with Rome and Athens and modern history with Barcelona and Berlin. Amsterdam is the place to be for art buffs, but travelling to Basel in June for the art fair is also well worth it. Enjoy your trip.