Interior of Kunsthistoriche Museum in Vienna (Mic Fleming)
Every city in Europe has an art museum worth a visit. They range from the huge treasure houses of the Louvre in Paris, The National in London and The Prado in Madrid to specialized collections such as The Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, Monet’s Garden in Giverny outside Paris and the Museum of the Second World War in Gdańsk, Poland.
Visits offer entertainment, education and a chance to see the prized cultural treasures of the ages, often in surroundings that are themselves amazing. Whichever museum you choose, here are some ways to make the best of your visit.
All the major galleries have sites listing hours, fees and highlights. Look for opening times, closing days, late hours and free entry days. For example, the Louvre is closed on Tuesdays. At The National Gallery, London, general admission is free but special shows have a fee. The Vatican Museum is free on the last Sunday of the month from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (exit by 2 p.m.) but closed on other Sundays.
Except for special exhibits and very popular and large museums, advance tickets are rarely required but are a good idea to save time. Just be sure that you are booking on the museum site and not a bundler adding a processing charge. Early mornings and late evenings are always the least crowded times.
The grand venues have thousands of objects. It’s impossible to see everything. My own tolerance is two hours before it all becomes a blur. You can certainly just walk in, but here are some ways to plan your approach.
See the highlights. Many museums offer maps of their most popular holdings. Maybe you really want to see Rembrandt’s “Night Watch” (Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam), Gustav Klimt’s “The Kiss” (Belvedere, Vienna), “Mona Lisa” by Leonardo da Vinci at the Louvre or Botticelli’s “The Birth of Venus,” popularly named “Venus on the half shell” at The Uffizi in Florence. Make that your primary objective; then, work through the galleries around it.
Pick a theme such as Dutch seascapes, Impressionist works or medieval armor.
Go for a special exhibition. Through August 31, 2025, there is a blockbuster show of 400 works of David Hockney at the Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris, which is worth a visit just to see the controversial building. Can’t make it before then? That’s okay. The Fondation Louis always has something special going on.
Preferring to go it alone, I rarely get a guide but taking a tour can be a personalized and informative experience.
Join a scheduled docent’s tour. Docents are enthusiastic, trained and sponsored volunteers who will show you the highlights. You can then go back to the rooms that you found particularly interesting.
Rent an audio guide. Technology has advanced so that you can choose at what stops to activate the audio guide.
Hire a recommended guide. Checking references will avoid the chance of hiring an amateur. Check digital resources such as Get Your Guide, Tripadvisor or Yelp.
Take a paid group tour. You can’t control the agenda or pick all your companions, but these can be cheaper than a private tour.
Patron viewing “The Kiss” painting at a museum (Mic Fleming)
Security: Many museums have installed metal detectors, bag checks and TSA-worthy monitors. So be ready. Guards have the main objective to protect the artworks; respond politely to their instructions. Some collections have sensors that beep if you get too close. And obviously, don’t touch!
Use the coat and parcel checks. Security will tell you if something must be checked. But otherwise, you will want to be as hands-free and comfortable as possible to read your guidebook and take pictures. You don’t want to be stuck carrying a coat and bag through the galleries.
Take a break: Few museums offer re-entry, but most have a coffee shop, and many have excellent restaurants such as the Café Dix in the Berlinische Galerie, Berlin or the Café and Restaurant at the Archeological Museum of the Acropolis, Athens.
Check the locations of the toilets. (This needs no further explanation).
For the most pleasant experience, here are some general guidelines.
Timing: Everyone wants a full view of the objects and, maybe even like me, a close-up to admire brush strokes and details. That’s fine; however, be mindful that others want the same chance.
Talking: Half the fun of a visit is to talk with each other about the paintings, sharing likes and dislikes, questions, comments and once in a while, exclamations. Museums are public spaces that encourage interaction. Just mind the volume.
Photography is generally allowed with cameras and phones without flash and tripods. Observe the signs, but when in doubt, ask a guard. If you don’t speak the language, pointing to your device and the paintings will work.
Visiting an art museum can be a rewarding excursion for everyone. Following these tips can enhance your visit. Have fun!
Exterior of museum on a cloudy day (Mic Fleming)
Editor’s Note: This article was written by a member of the local military community, not an employee of Stars and Stripes. Neither the organization nor the content is being represented by Stars and Stripes or the Department of Defense.
