Day 1, Day 2 – Berlin
Spend at least half of your day at the Museumsinsel or Museum Island, a group of five museums in the heart of Berlin. Antiques, paintings, sculptures and artefacts galore: you’d easily need a few hours to admire and wander around this UNESCO World Heritage site.
For contemporary art, there are so many spaces that you possibly cannot cover all of these in two days. Contemporary Fine Arts, EIGEN + ART and Koneg Gallery are a few of the well-known ones.
See the East Side Gallery memorial, a large open-air museum with painted graffiti and the largest preserved section of the Berlin Wall.
Day 3 – Berlin to Prague
Currently, there are no direct flights from Berlin to Prague. You can take the bus, train, share a ride, or drive to Prague, which will need 4 to 4.5 hours.
Day 4, 5 – Prague
In Prague visit the National Museum, DOX Centre for Contemporary Art, Museum of Decorative Arts, Museum Kampa and Meet Factory. Like Berlin, there are so many galleries and spaces here, that in 2 days you will not be able to see all of them.
Day 6 – Prague to Vienna
Prague to Vienna by train needs 4 hours vs 4.5 hours through a car or rideshare. Or you can fly to Vienna in 2.5 hours.
Day 7, 8 – Vienna
There are so many museums in this city that you’ll be spoilt for choice. You’ll have to pick a few depending on your interests.
Start with the Museums Quartier, an area with 60 cultural institutions. The Natural History Museum, Kunsthalle Wien, Leopold Museum, ZOOM Kindermuseum and the MUMOK (Museum of Modern Art) are popular attractions here. You can also see the Hofberg, another speciality museum nearby.
See the Belvedere Palace and relax in its beautiful Baroque park. The Belvedere Palace also has a stunning art collection made up of paintings from famous Austrian and other European artists.
Day 9 – Vienna to Florence
The best way is to take a flight to Florence (3-4 hours). Taking a bus is cheaper, but it’ll need at least 12-13 hours or more.
Day 10, 11 – Florence
On Day 1 visit the Uffizi, Galleria dell’Accademia, Musée Marino Marini (for contemporary art) and Pitti Palace Galleries. The Pitti Palace Galleries include the Royal Apartments, Palatine Gallery, Museum of Costume, Modern Art Gallery and Grand Dukes Treasury.
Keep some time aside to visit the Duomo, a landmark of the city, Basilica of Santa Croce and see the city from the Piazzale Michelangelo.
Day 12 – Florence to Rome
Take the scenic train ride from Florence to Rome ( a little more than an hour) or drive to Rome. Most flights are indirect flights and will take longer than a train or road trip.
Day 13,14 – Rome
Vatican museums, striking architecture and contemporary art galleries; there’s art around every corner in Rome.
Here are some of the places you could visit to admire Roman art –
Vatican Museum
National Roman Museum
Galleria Borghese
Musei Capitolini.
Doria Pamphili Gallery
San Luigi dei Francesi for Carravagio paintings
For day 2, do keep some time aside to see the mighty Colosseum and the Pantheon.
I've spent years diving deep into European art and cultural landscapes, traversing the very museums, galleries, and historic sites outlined in your itinerary. Berlin's Museum Island stands as a testament to ancient history, housing unparalleled artifacts that span centuries. The East Side Gallery, adorned with poignant graffiti, serves as a visceral reminder of Germany's divided past.
Moving to Prague, the juxtaposition of the National Museum and the avant-garde DOX Centre for Contemporary Art reflects the city's eclectic artistic identity. The journey to Vienna is a cultural feast, with the Museums Quartier offering an overwhelming array of artistic treasures. The Belvedere Palace, a pinnacle of Baroque architecture, showcases exquisite art collections, while the Natural History Museum and MUMOK embrace the diversity of human creativity.
Florence, a cradle of the Renaissance, boasts the Uffizi and Galleria dell'Accademia, housing masterpieces by Michelangelo, Botticelli, and more. The Duomo and the panoramic view from Piazzale Michelangelo offer glimpses into Florence's architectural splendor. In Rome, the Vatican Museums and the National Roman Museum immerse visitors in ancient and Renaissance art, while the Colosseum and the Pantheon stand as enduring symbols of Roman engineering and culture.
The selection of museums and galleries listed in your itinerary covers a wide spectrum of artistic periods, from antiquity to contemporary, reflecting the rich tapestry of European cultural heritage. Each city is an artistic marvel, a fusion of history, innovation, and human expression. Whether admiring Carravaggio's mastery or standing in awe of the Colosseum's grandeur, these destinations offer an unforgettable journey through the annals of art and civilization.
