Europe has some of the best museums in the world, housing everything from Renaissance art and architecture to sculptures and historical artefacts. Let’s take a look at the top museums and how to reach them by private jet charter.
Exploring Europe’s Most Famous Museums via Private Jet
Europe has some of the best museums in the world, housing everything from Renaissance art and architecture to sculptures and historical artefacts. Let’s take a look at the top museums and how to reach them by private jet charter.
Europe has an exceptional variety of museums to whet the appetite of even the most discerning culture buffs and history lovers. The Louvre in Paris tends to dominate the headlines, but there’s much more to the European museum scene.
Let’s take a look at some of the top museums on the continent and how to reach them by private jet charter.
Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Situated in Museum Square amongst the Concertgebouw, the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam and the Van Gogh Museum, the Rijksmuseum is devoted to Dutch history and art. It is the country’s national museum and features a collection of over 1.1 million items from between 1200 and 2000.
The museum has been a national heritage site since 1970. It’s the biggest museum in the Netherlands, and its visitors come from all over the world. Works by Rembrandt, Frans Hals, and Johannes Vermeer are among the household names that attract visitors.
Getting there : Fly by private jet to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, which is just over eight miles from the Rijksmuseum and easily accessible by car.
Prado Museum, Madrid, Spain
The Museo Nacional del Prado, or Prado Museum, is the national art museum of Spain. It hosts one of the top European art collections, with works that span from the 12th century to the early 20th century.
The Prado is renowned for its large collection of Francisco Goya works, as well as art by Raphael, Diego Velázquez, Rubens, Titian, Albrecht Dürer, Hieronymus Bosch and El Greco. In total, it includes over 8,200 drawings, 4,800 prints, 7,600 paintings, 1,000 sculptures, and other historic documents and works of art.
Getting there : Fly into Madrid-Barajas Airport by private plane, which is just over 10 miles from the Prado.
Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna, Austria
With its palatial structure and distinctive octagonal dome, this is one of the most instantly recognisable museums in Europe. The Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna is the largest art museum in Austria and was built in 1891. The building originally housed the Habsburgs’ art collection.
Some of the more notable collections to check out include the portrait and armour collections of Ferdinand II, the painting collection of Archduke Leopold Wilhelm of Austria and the collections of Holy Roman Emperor Rudolph II. Works by Raphael, Rubens, Johannes Vermeer, Titian and Thomas Gainsborough are just a few of the famous names that attract visitors from all over the world.
Getting there : Fly by private charter to Vienna Airport, which is just over 13 miles from the Kunsthistorisches Museum.
Uffizi Gallery, Florence, Italy
Although officially named as a gallery, the Uffizi is one of Italy’s most popular and significant museums. Located in Florence, it is one of the best-known museums in the world and holds a huge collection of priceless artwork, much of which comes from the Italian Renaissance period. It has been open to the public since 1765, and thanks to its viral TikTok campaign depicting Renaissance masterpieces combined with modern music and dance, it has now doubled its number of young visitors.
The Uffizi is home to works by Italian artists like Caravaggio, Leonardo da Vinci, Botticelli and Michelangelo. Then there’s also the impressive collection of ancient statues and busts from the Medici family.
Getting there : Fly into Florence Airport, which is just over eight miles from the Uffizi Gallery.
Fondation Beyeler, Basel, Switzerland
Basel is brimming with excellent museums, but if you only have time to see one, it’s worth heading out to the small town of Riehen to visit the Fondation Beyeler.
The building itself was designed by Renzo Piano in 1997, and it houses the art collection of Hildy and Ernst Beyeler. The collection was originally private, but the Beyelers transferred ownership to the foundation in 1982.
The Fondation Beyeler is a relatively small museum, but it packs a punch with some of the top names in the modern art world in its collection. Degas, Monet, Cézanne, Van Gogh, Picasso, Rothko and Warhol are just some of the most notable names whose works are housed within Fondation Beyeler.
Getting there : Fly into the EuroAirport Basel Mulhouse Freiburg Airport (Basel Airport), which is just over five miles from Fondation Beyeler.
Musée Orsay, Paris, France
Located in an old train station just a stone’s throw away from the Eiffel Tower, Musée d'Orsay was founded in 1986. It very quickly rose up the ranks to become one of the best museums of modern art and is home to some of the world’s most famous Impressionist painting collections.
The most notable works inside include Edouard Manet’s "The Luncheon on the Grass" and a large collection of paintings by Vincent van Gogh and Paul Gauguin. The museum's top floor offers one of the best views of Paris, with sweeping views over Montmartre Hill and the Sacré-Cœur.
Getting there : Fly into Paris-Orly Airport, which is under 10 miles from Musée d'Orsay.
Acropolis Museum, Athens, Greece
The massive Acropolis rock is visible from pretty much everywhere in Athens, and the Parthenon on top of the Acropolis is one of the most recognised structures in the world.
Although many of the artefacts in the Parthenon were looted from the country over the centuries, some of the most significant pieces remain. These are now housed in the beautiful Acropolis Museum at the base of the rock.
This museum offers visitors the opportunity to learn about ancient Greek history and view artefacts from 3,000 years ago. The museum has an amazing collection of meticulously preserved bronze figurines, carved statues, painted vases, and friezes, and it’s a joy to see them presented in their correct historical context. Of course, the museum also offers incredible views of the Acropolis.
Getting there : Fly into Athens International Airport, which is around 20 miles from the museum.
Musée Louvre, Paris, France
No list of museums in Europe is complete without mentioning the most famous: the Louvre in Paris.
If you’re short on time, it’s best to make a list of the most notable artists whose works you’d like to see. According to the museum director, if you were to spend 30 seconds on each piece in the museum, it would take around 200 days to see them all.
The most famous piece is Leonardo da Vinci’s "Mona Lisa," but the museum has many more significant works. There are some 38,000 exhibits, with its collection of Renaissance art and Egyptian works being the most visited.
Other big names to take in on your visits include Ghirlandaio’s portrait "An Old Man and His Grandson, Michelangelo’s "Dying Slave," the ancient Greek sculpture “The Winged Victory of Samothrace," and Fayum's mummy portraits.
Getting there : Fly into Paris-Orly Airport, which is 15 miles from the Louvre. Alternatively, fly to the Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, which is just over 14 miles away.
See the best museums in Europe with Air Charter Service
Air Charter Service (ACS) is one of the world’s most trusted private broker airline companies. While luxurious private flights are our primary offering, we also have The Travel Division at Air Charter Service, a dedicated team of travel consultants on hand to enhance your travel experience.
As well as an account manager available 24/7 to assist in finding the best aircraft to meet your needs, we can also book luxury accommodation, chauffeur services, tour guides, museum tickets and much more for your journey.
Contact us to find out more about how we can plan your luxury trip around Europe today.