They have marked the history of art and are part of our culture. The Best Paintings in Europe, the most important works of art of the greatest artists can be seen in the best museums in Europe.

Plan your trip and choose your destination according to the works of art you want to see and discover famous painters’ masterpieces such as Michelangelo’s, Vermeer’s, Leonardo Da Vinci’s, Boticelli’s, Munch’s, Mondrian’s, Picasso’s and Van Gogh’s, in our selection of the best destinations in Europe to see the most famous paintings.

Book your flights, your accommodation as well as your tours and activities and discover the Best Paintings in Europe.

1. Wheatfields with Crows - Vincent Van Gogh

Van Gogh Museum - Amsterdam

This painting is one of Van Gogh's last works before he committed suicide and probably one of the Best Paitings in Europe. 

For some people crows symbolize death and unbeaten tracks, confusion… Come discover the painting at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam and book your hotel at the best price in Amsterdam as well as your best activities and tours such as your ticket for the Van Gogh Museum or a  city canal cruise in Amsterdam.

You can also directly discover the landscapes Van Gogh painted by booking your hotel in Auvers-sur-Oise (France), visit the many landscapes that inspired him and meditate at his grave.

During your stay in the Netherlands discover the Best Hidden Gems in the Netherlands and Best Things to Do in the Netherlands.

2. Die Ideale  - Piet Mondrian 

Gemeentemuseeum - The Haag

"Die Ideale" is certainly one of the Most Beautiful Paintings to be seen in Europe. Piet Mondrian is certainly one of the most important Dutch painters; he was linked to the Cubism, Expressionism and Impressionism movements but he has really marked the history of art for his unique work in abstract art.

Mondrian was born in the beautiful city of Amersfoort (The Netherlands), then he went to Paris where he met Picasso and Braque. He went back to Holland shortly before World War I.

Piet Mondrian was one of the main founders of the "De Stijl" movement which means "The style".

Come discover his straight lines paintings and primary colours at the Municipal Museum of the Hague in Holland.

Book your accommodation and your activities and tours at the best price.

3. Guernica - Picasso

Reina Sofia Museum - Madrid

Guernica is one of the Most Famous Paintings in Europe. Picasso is one of the most important painters probably because he managed to break major traditional art school codes.  Guernica is certainly his masterpiece. This painting is a spontaneous reaction to the events of late April 1937, the bombing of Guernica, a Spanish city. This massacre, was carried out by the Nazis and fascists, but it was ordered by nationalist Spaniards.

Picasso started painting this art of work 4 days after the bombing. The painting became soon famous and  raised awareness about the horror of the Spanish War and the Franco regime.

Come discover” Guernica at “The Reina Sofia Museum” in Madrid and book your B&B, guesthouse, hostel or apartment in Madrid at the best price and your tours and activities in Madrid such as a visit to the Reina Sofia Museum or your Madrid Cards for 1, 3 or 5 days.

We recommend the "60 balconies urban stay", located a few metres from the Reina Sofia Museum ; the rooms have beautiful views of Madrid.

Need more inspiration? Discover the Very Best Of Spain, the Best Hidden Gems in Spain, Best Beaches in Spain as well as the Best Castles in Spain.

4. Blue Monochrome - Yves Klein

The Centre Pompidou Museum - Paris

It is impossible to understand this painting without encountering it directly. Yves Klein stretches research on painting to its ultimate. Even though you may prefer figurative art, this painting, one of the Most Famous Paintings in Europe, cannot leave you indifferent. It vibrates, radiates; the pigments pure and strong and this saturated blue, intense, will leave their mark on your memory for a lifetime. 

It is said that at the exhibition’s opening Yves Klein had concocted cocktails based on blue dye, so blue that the guests, once in the bathroom, were surprised to pee Klein blue.

Yves Klein died aged 34, after a short artistic career yet has his place in the hall of fame. Come and discover his exceptional painting at the Pompidou Museum in Paris.

Enjoy your stay in the capital of love and treat yourself to little extras such as a cruise on the Seine. Discover the best things to do in Paris and book your activities and hotel at the best price.

During your stay discover the Best Things to Do in France as well as the Best Hidden Gems in France and Best Beaches in France! 

5. Impression, soleil levant - Monet

Marmottan Museum - Paris

The Marmottan Museum in Paris holds one of the most important paintings in the history of art. Monet, who stayed with his wife in a hotel in Le Havre, got up early in the morning to paint this picture of the industrial port of Le Havre and the rising sun.

Did you know that "Impression soleil levant” is at the origin of the term "impressionist"? The term was first coined by the journalist Louis Leroy intending to make fun of the painting’s technique but was adopted by the artists who claimed being part of this new school. 

We recommend the nearby hotel "Saint James", one of the few hotels in Paris set in lush greenery and a few metres from the most beautiful avenues. 

Book your hotel, apartment, guesthouse at the best price in Paris as well as your best activities and tours, such as a tour of Monet's garden by bike.

6. La Nascita di Venere - Boticelli

Uffizi Galery - Florence

The most famous painting of the Uffizi Gallery in Florence is most certainly "The Birth of Venus". Boticelli himself never saw the woman who had already died at the time when he painted her. This beautiful young woman named Simonetta Vespucci died of pneumonia at the age of 23 years.

Come discover all the secrets of this magnificent painting in Florence at the Uffizi Gallery by booking your accommodation at the best price and your activities and tours in Florence such as a ticket to Michelangelo's David.

We recommend "Hotel Degli Orafi" located a few metres from the Uffizi Gallery with views of the Ponte Vecchio in Florence.

7. Mona Lisa - Leonardo da Vinci

Louvre Museum - Paris

Marcel Duchamp painted her with whiskers and named her "L.H.O.O.Q." which means "she has a hot ass” but the real Leonardo da Vinci Joconde can be seen at the Louvre Museum in Paris.

This painting is certainly the most famous one in the world and one of the few officially attributed to Leonardo da Vinci the famous inventor.

Come discover La Joconde in Paris by booking your hotel, B&B, guesthouse, apartment or hostel at the best price, also book  your tours and activities in Paris such as your entrance ticket to the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower.

We recommend the "Grand Hôtel du Palais Royal", its spa and restaurant, located in the 1st arrondissement; it is a perfect choice.

8. The Scream - Edvard Munch

Munch Museum - Oslo

The Scream is  the Norwegian artist Edvard Munch’s famous masterpiece. A work of art that obsessed him so much that he painted  three versions of it over a period of 20 years.

Have you ever wondered what that painting represents? It expresses modern man facing an existential crisis and frightened by his life. Watch the painting carefully, the Oslo fjords are at  the background. The painting can been seen at the Munch Museum in Oslo. 

Book your accommodation at the best price in Oslo and your tours and activities in Oslo such as  a 2 hour fjord sightseeing tour.

There are no hotels near this museum set in an unspoilt area, so we advise you to choose your hotel in Oslo city centre and get there by public transport. We recommend Hotel Continental, located 100 metres from the main street (Karl Johan Street).

9. The Creation of Adam - Michelangelo

Sistine Chapel - Rome

The creation of Adam can be seen in one of the smallest countries in Europe, the Vatican. This painting by Michelangelo is the most famous one of a series of paintings on the vault of the Sistine Chapel.

Come discover this painting; book your hotel, guesthouse, B&B, apartment, hostel or villa in Rome at the best price, choose your favourite activities in Rome such as direct access to Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel or your ticket for the Colosseum.

For your stay, we recommend the hotel Gran Melia Rome overlooking the Vatican. 

10. The Return - Magritte

Magritte Museum - Brussels

Qualified as "Surrealist", Magritte has throughout his career played on the difference between the word that designates an object and the representation of this object. "This is not a pipe" is undoubtedly the most famous painting. Of course. Magritte is right, this representation of a pipe is not a pipe but a painting of a pipe.

Similarly, the word "pipe" is also not a pipe. Neither his representation nor the word that designates it are pipes.

Confused? Come and discover the talent of this incredible Belgian painter in the Magritte Museum in Brussels. We advise you to stay at "The Hotel" located near the Museum and the luxury shopping spots of the Avenue de la Toison d'Or and the Avenue Louise.

Book your tours and activities in Brussels and your hotel, apartment, guesthouse at the best price in the capital of surrealism.

11. The Kiss - Gustave Klimt

Belvedere Museum - Vienna

Gustav Klimt's famous painting hangs in the Belvedere in Vienna and is in for sure one of the Best Paintings in Europe. The Museum was founded by Klimt himself and other artists of his time.

Inspired by Japanese prints, Klimt has created a unique painting in the world. Inspired by the Art Nouveau school, yet utterly contemporary, this painting represents an embracing couple, isolated from the outside world, who seem to live only for love.

Love is here almost like a religion, a sweet and comforting religion that unites beings who love each other.

Come discover this painting by booking your plane tickets to Vienna and your hotel, apartment, guesthouse at the best price guaranteed; book your tours and activities in Vienna, such as a tour in the very beautiful and very romantic ferris wheel of Vienna.

We advise you to stay in the hotel Intercontinental Vienna, so romantic and a few metres’ walk from the museum.

12. The girl with a pearl earring - Johannes Vermeer

Mauritshuis Museum  - The Haag

This small painting is one of the Most Famous Paintings to be seen in Europe. It is known throughout the world because the composition looks a bit like the famous Mona Lisa of Leonardo da Vinci. 

Come discover Johannes Vermeer’s art of work at the Mauritshuis Museum. Book your hotel as well as your tours and activities in The Hague such as a private tour of The Hague and Delft.

We recommend the Novotel Den Haag City Center located in the shopping mall. 

13. Las Meninas - Velazquez

El Prado Museum - Madrid

Velasquez was a Spanish painter (17th century); ”Las Meninas” is certainly his most famous painting and one of the Best Paintings in Europe. This picture is a bit disturbing, why? Why did it enter the history of art? Watch the painting carefully. What is the link between reality and illusion? Look closely: Velasquez is painting himself painting this scene. He is not facing the scene, he is facing us!

Can you see the royal couple? Come discover this painting which is certainly the most commented one at the Prado Museum in Madrid.

Book your accommodation in Madrid at the best price as well as your best activities and tours in Madrid. Facing the Prado Museum, the Hotel Mercure Madrid Centro is perfectly located. 

14. Bal du Moulin de la Galette - Auguste Renoir

Orsay Museum - Paris

Like Monet, Renoir belonged to the school of Impressionist painters. You can see this one of the Most Famous Paintings in Europe at the Musée d'Orsay in Paris. It depicts a Parisian scene in Paris, on the hill of Montmartre.

After a visit to the Musée d'Orsay, set off for the butte Montmartre to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of this painting and relive the festive atmosphere of the Bal du Moulin de la Galette in 1876.

Book your activities and tours in Paris, such as a guided tour of the Musée d'Orsay for an unforgettable stay in the capital of art and love.

15. The Last Supper - Leonardo da Vinci

Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie - Milan

The painting represents the last supper of Jesus with his Apostles.  It was made for the Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan where it stood in the refectory. It was traditional in all convents to have a representation of Jesus’ last supper. All are articulated in perfect geometry around Christ at the centre of the picture.

It took Leonardo da Vinci 3 years to paint what is today considered to be one of the most important works of art in Europe.

Book your flight tickets for Milan airport as well as your hotel at the best price . To avoid wasting time, book your tours and activities in Milan, such as your entry tickets to the roof of the Duomo.