Best Value Museums in Europe

We can all agree that Europe’s cultural wonders are bountiful, including some of the world’s most beautiful universities, and the best news is visiting them need not break the bank! Join us as we uncover the best value museums in Europe — a curated collection of affordable art, history, and heritage. 

First, The Knowledge Academy obtained a seed list of twenty of the best museums in Europe from Tripadvisor to produce this study. To produce an index of the best-value museums in Europe, we carefully considered five factors:

● Location

● Tripadvisor reviews

● General adult admission fee

● Saturday opening hours

● Instagram hashtags

Europe’s rich tapestry of history and artistic heritage has woven a legacy of world-renowned museums. The results of our study shine a bright light on the best. From London to Paris and Amsterdam, we’ll travel to several European countries to better understand the treasures they hold in their most famous museums, from London’s National Gallery to the Louvre in Paris and Anne Frank House in Amsterdam.

Europe's 10 Best Value Museums

1. National Gallery, London

The National Gallery holds the number one spot in our study of Europe’s best-value museums, with the highest score of 63 out of 100, beating the Natural History Museum by a cat’s whisker (61 out of 100). Better yet, it also happens to be one of the top 25 free museums in London! 

The National Gallery is known for its exceptional collection of European paintings spanning the 13th to the 19th centuries. Perhaps one of the most famous paintings on its walls, with a vibrant use of colour and emotional intensity, is “Sunflowers” by Vincent van Gogh. 

2. Natural History Museum, London

Next on our list is a museum that showcases the diversity of life on Earth and the history of our planet. The Natural History Museum, which has over 822,000 hashtags on Instagram, features several unmissable highlights that have captured the public’s imagination, from Dippy the Diplodocus to the dramatic blue whale skeleton suspended from the ceiling of the Hintze Hall. 

Beaten by The National Gallery by just two points, the Natural History Museum scores 61 out of 100 in our study of the best value museums and holds an average review rating of 4.5 out of five on Tripadvisor.

3. Louvre Museum, Paris

Taking us from London to Paris is the Louvre Museum in third place with a score of 60.5 out of 100. Two of the greatest treasures found in the Louvre are the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo. 

But the brilliant thing about the Louvre is it's a treasure in itself. The Louvre’s iconic glass pyramid entrance and its’ blend of architectural styles are visually stunning. A visit to the Louvre is guaranteed to capture visitors’ attention, just ask the 5.6 million people who have posted a shot of the museum on Instagram. 

4. Prado National Museum, Madrid

Step into the Spanish Golden Age and beyond at the Prado National Museum in Madrid. Fourth on our list of the best-value museums in Europe, with an index score of 59 and a 4.5 review rating on Tripadvisor, this museum houses works by Spain’s most celebrated artists, such as El Greco and Diego Velazquez, alongside masterpieces of Western art. Founded in the late 18th century, the Prado National Museum is one of the world’s oldest art institutions.

5. Anne Frank House, Amsterdam

A profoundly moving and thought-provoking historical site, the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam is fifth on our list. The house not only serves as a poignant reminder of the Holocaust but it plays a vital role in preserving the memory of Anne Frank, a Jewish girl who wrote a diary during World War II while hiding from the Nazis. 

Visitors won’t want to miss the secret annex and Anne’s original diary. This museum was awarded 58.5 out of 100 points in our study and visitors can expect to pay a general adult admission fee of €16 (£14). 

6. The British Museum, London

The British Museum is the third site in the capital to make the top 10 proving why London blows the rest of Europe out of the water for the best-value museums. The British Museum’s collection spans civilisations and cultures across continents and periods, making it a global institution not to be missed. 

This museum scores lower, at 57.5, than the National Gallery and the Natural History Museum, but it leaps ahead of London’s Victoria and Albert Museum and the Churchill War Rooms — both of which do not make the top 10. 

7. Acropolis Museum, Athens

A trip to the Acropolis Museum is like stepping back in time. It’s a site that encourages visitors to connect artefacts with their original context through its proximity to the ancient citadel of the Acropolis and its architectural design that complements the antiquities it houses. This is perhaps why the site is regularly photographed, with over 76,000 hashtags available to view on Instagram. 

Visitors will marvel at the museum’s glass floors, through which they can observe archaeological remains and excavation findings. This museum is awarded 56.5 out of 100 points and shares seventh place with Hamburg’s Miniatur Wunderland and Vatican City’s Vatican Museums. 

8. Miniatur Wunderland, Hamburg

Sharing seventh place with the Acropolis and Vatican Museums, Miniatur Wunderland in Hamburg is famous for being the world’s largest model railway exhibit. Visitors can enjoy a captivating miniature world that brings various landscapes, cities, and scenarios to life in meticulous detail. 

The night illuminations are particularly captivating. Miniatur Wunderland comes to life at night with intricate lighting effects that mimic a magical atmosphere, emphasising the realism of the small world. Exceptionally, the Miniatur Wunderland also holds a review rating of five out of five on Tripadvisor — the highest Tripadvisor rating of all museums featured in our study!

9. Vatican Museums, Vatican City

Sharing seventh place with 56.5 points, the Vatican Museums have a rich history dating back to the early 16th century. An extensive collection of religious art exists in the Vatican Museums, including sacred artefacts, paintings, sculptures and manuscripts, so it’s no wonder 602,206 hashtags are mentioning the museum on Instagram!

Among the unmissable highlights are the Sistine Chapel, Raphael’s Rooms and “Laocoon and His Sons”  — a monumental ancient sculpture depicting a Trojan priest and his sons entangled with serpents. Entry to this museum typically costs €17 (£15) per adult. 

10. Gallerie Degli Uffizii, Florence 

Another of Italy’s cultural gems closes the top 10 best-value museums. The Uffizi Gallery, awarded 55 out of 100 points in our index, houses an exceptional collection of Renaissance masterpieces by some of the greatest artists in history. Works by Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, Botticelli, Titian and Caravaggio, among others, can be viewed inside. “The Birth of Venus” by Sandro Botticelli is one of the cultural highlights. 

Mapped: London's Best Value Museums
 

The results of our study have defined London as a treasure trove of museums. The National Gallery, Natural History Museum and the British Museum all made the top 10 European museums. But two more museums in the capital made the top 20. These are the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Churchill War Rooms. 

The Victoria and Albert Museum, which also happens to be free, features eclectic collections spanning centuries, such as the “Cast Courts” which house life-size replicas of the world’s grandest treasures. Ranked 11th in our study of the best value museums in Europe, the V&A just missed out on a place in the top 10. 

While the Churchill War Rooms, 20th in our final ranking with 33 out of 100 points, offer a unique glimpse into the underground nerve centre of World War II. 

The even greater thing about the best museums in London featured in our study is that 80% are free! Free museums in London include:

● The British Museum

● National Gallery

● Victoria and Albert Museum

● Natural History Museum

However, to visit the Churchill War Rooms, visitors should expect to pay a general adult admission fee of approximately €32 (£27). 

Europe's Most Affordable Museums
 

With the cost of living and affordability at the forefront of minds, it’s important to emphasise that there are free and relatively low-cost cultural experiences we can access and enjoy in the UK and Europe. 

Not only are there several free museums in London and the inexpensive Kilmainham Gaol Museum in Dublin, the Prado National Museum in Madrid and the Acropolis Museum in Athens are reasonably priced too. A general adult admission fee to either of these two sites costs €15 (£13). 

But just because these museums have lower entry fees (or are free!) doesn’t mean visitors miss out on any value. All the museums featured in our most affordable list have an average Tripadvisor review rating of 4.5 out of five.

Europe's Most Instagrammable Museums

Alongside great Tripadvisor reviews and fair pricing, the social media shareability factor gives the museums in our study an added boost. 

A great snap of a museum will add value to any social media feed. Not only are there bountiful treasures to observe inside, but the intricate architecture and mind-blowing artworks make an exceptional background to photographs. But which of our museums is the most photogenic of them all?

The Louvre Museum in Paris! As you glimpse the Louvre’s iconic glass pyramid entrance, there’s no mistaking this museum. It is so iconic that the Louvre has over 5.6 million hashtags on the social media platform Instagram. For perspective, the Louvre has been posted on Instagram 5,200,253 times more than its closest rival in our study — the Musee d’Orsay with 484,738 Instagram hashtags.

Three of the free museums in London are next on our most Instagrammable list. Top of the lot is the Natural History Museum with 822,539 Instagram hashtags, and the National Gallery is in hot pursuit with 819,816 — just 2,723 fewer. The British Museum follows. 

The British Museum boasts The Great Court as one of its most photogenic features, so is it any wonder visitors have photographed it over 700,000 times?

However, the popularity of these museums can mean you have to tackle hundreds, if not thousands, of other avid visitors. But there’s no need for a tussle over the perfect shot if you know where to go. Step forward to our list of hidden gems that offer the same value but fewer crowds.

Europe's Best Value Hidden Gems

 

 

The most special hidden gem in our collection is Naples’ Museo Cappella Sansevero. This museum has 9,634 Instagram hashtags thanks partly to its historical chapel setting that feels like something straight from the Da Vinci Code. The museum also boasts mind-blowing sculptures like the famous “Veiled Christ” by Giuseppe Sanmartino and anatomical wonders that include intricate models of the human circulatory system.

Next is the Churchill War Rooms in London, with 10,476 Instagram hashtags. A magnet for history buffs and avid Instagrammers, stepping into the Churchill War Rooms is like stepping into a time capsule. There are underground chambers to explore, old-school typewriters and retro furnishings, and even Churchill’s artefacts (such as his famous cigars!), offering a glimpse of history that will make any photo look like the vintage real deal. 

The Royal Yacht Britannia in Edinburgh is yet another highlight. Captured over 13,000 times on Instagram, this museum is a floating treasure trove of nautical splendour. Here, visitors can stroll the same decks as royalty once did and swoon over the yacht’s wondrous design and craftsmanship, complete with polished brass and intricate woodwork.

Methodology

1. A list of the top 20 museums in Europe was sourced from Tripadvisor.

2. Review numbers and ratings taken from each museum’s page on Tripadvisor. These were calculated to create a weighted average rating for all museums.

3. For each museum on the list, relevant Instagram hashtags were identified e.g. #louvreparis, #museedulouvre etc.

4. The counts of each hashtag were added up to give an overall “# count”.

5. Admission fees and opening hours were taken from each museum’s website.

6. All data was then ranked and added together to get an overall ‘point score’ out of a possible 100 points.

7. The data was collected on 1st August 2023 and is correct as of then.