Beyond the biggest names
Every major museum has queues at peak times, but some are easier to visit, especially with timed tickets.
Museums worth your time
- Museo del Prado, Madrid: Velázquez, Goya and El Greco. Free entry hours in the evening can be busy, so consider paid daytime tickets.
- Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam: Rembrandt's Night Watch and Vermeer. Book timed tickets.
- Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna: Bruegel and Habsburg collections in a grand building.
- National Archaeological Museum, Athens: Ancient Greek treasures, often quieter than the Acropolis.
- Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya, Barcelona: Romanesque and modern art on Montjuïc.
- Hermitage Amsterdam or the Pushkin Museum: Check current availability.
- Statens Museum for Kunst, Copenhagen: Danish and European art.
How to avoid queues
- Book timed tickets online.
- Go early or in the last two hours.
- Visit midweek and outside holidays.
- Choose a few galleries instead of seeing everything.
- Use city passes if they include queue-skipping.
Enjoy the visit
Take breaks in the café, use audio guides if you like context, and leave time for the museum's gardens or neighbourhood.
Opening times and ticket rules change, so check each museum's website.
