Top Europe Arts & Design - page 6

Enjoy an intimate look at the Vatican Museums' extensive collections on this small-group insider tour. Have a personalized experience learning directly from your guide as you explore the Gallery of the Maps, Pio Clementino Museum, Raphael Rooms, and Sistine Chapel. Extend your tour further by upgrading to include St. Peter's Basilica.

Ticking off the top sights in Louvre’s extensive collection can be tricky for time-limited travelers. Optimize your visit on a tour of the gallery’s must-see masterpieces, benefiting from reserved access to minimize time spent waiting to enter. Follow your guide past the crowds and straight to highlights such as the Mona Lisa, Nike of Samothrace, and Venus de Milo. You can also upgrade to a small-group tour for a more personal experience.

The Eiffel Tower is one of Paris’ most visited attractions, but long waits in ticket lines don’t have to be part of the experience. Save yourself a ton of when you prebook an Eiffel Tower tour, and enjoy the added benefit of learning about the architectural wonder from an English-speaking guide. As an added bonus, you can tack on an optional summit access upgrade and/or a Seine River cruise.

Catching the Changing of the Guard with a clear view takes knowing where to stand, and Buckingham Palace itself opens to visitors only a couple of months a year. This tour covers both: a guided walk through St. James's Park to watch the ceremony, then entry to the State Rooms on a self-guided audio tour. Palace admission is included, so the timing and tickets are handled in one booking.

Santorini is one of the most popular Greek islands and you’ll discover why when you explore it during this private day tour. Whether you’re arriving via cruise port, airport, or are staying the night in town, receive round-trip transportation for this exciting tour that covers everything from the Red Beach and Santo Winery to the medieval village of Pyrgos and hillside town of Oia.

The Vatican attracts millions of visitors every year—and have the daily crowds and lines to match. On this tour, experience the Sistine Chapel, Vatican Museums, and Raphael Rooms without feeling rushed: Skip the entrance lines with guaranteed priority access, and explore in the comfort of a small group. In addition, your guide provides earphones to ensure you can hear everything clearly.

This family-friendly tour reveals London locations used to film scenes from the world-renowned Harry Potter™ movies, including King's Cross Station, Goodwin's Court, Borough Market, and Westminster. Exploring the city with a guide means that you’ll be party to insider info and movie trivia that you won’t find in the guidebooks, and you don't have to worry about getting lost among the central London crowds.

Uncover Athens’ long history—and also see a side of the Greek capital few other visitors experience—on this immersive, half-day walking tour. Led by your guide, glimpse world-famous landmarks, UNESCO-listed ruins and opulent royal palaces. Then, step off the beaten path to discover busy markets, modern sights, and much-loved local spots in Athens' atmospheric neighborhoods. With a capped number of participants, this small-group tour ensures a personalized experience.

The Vatican Museums are a must-visit attraction in Rome, but the long lines and massive size can take a big bite out of your sightseeing time in Rome. Maximize your day on this express group—or small-group—guided tour with handy skip-the-line entry. Head straight to the museums' highlights and the Sistine Chapel, and cover top works with your guide's insights to better understand their history and significance.

Discover the secrets of the Castel Sant’ Angelo with the option of an audio-guided tour or a small-group tour with a live guide. Cross the bridge, beautifully decorated with statues of angels, and head inside with your admission ticket. Using the app or following your guide, hear stories of Emperor Hadrian, who commissioned the fortress as a mausoleum, and how it has been used since his death.

Discover Murano, just north of Venice, on a private tour of its charming streets and channels. Learn about Murano glass, which has been produced here for centuries and has traditionally been considered some of the most exquisite glass in the world. Visit a glass factory, and then have a little time to explore the islands on your own.

The Uffizi Galleries contain some of the world’s most famous Renaissance masterpieces, but the long line at the entrance can take hours out of your day. With this timed-entry ticket and skip-the-line access, enjoy more time marveling at works by Botticelli, Michelangelo, and other greats. Explore the galleries at your own pace and avoid the hassle of following the set itinerary of a group tour.

Amsterdam’s museums are some of the most popular attractions in the city and often have ticket lines to match. Optimize your time by booking your Moco Museum ticket in advance, to avoid long ticket lines. Head there at a time that suits you. Widen your perspective of European and international modern and contemporary art through works by Banksy, Andy Warhol, Keith Haring, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Yayoi Kusama, and many others.

Enjoy a more peaceful way to experience the always-popular Louvre Museum in Paris—and see its most famous artwork, Leonardo da Vinci's "Mona Lisa," with fewer crowds—on this early-evening tour. Follow your guide into the museum as it's getting ready to close, and explore with just a small group for company. In addition to the "Mona Lisa," look forward to seeing some of the museum's other masterpieces, too.

Trace the delicious history of cocoa with a ticket to the Choco-Story Chocolate Museum in Bruges. From the ancient Aztecs and Mayans to gourmet European chocolatiers, discover how cocoa beans have been cultivated and enjoyed for centuries. See historic chocolate-making objects from around the world and learn the steps for transforming raw beans into creamy chocolate truffles, bars, and figurines. End your visit with a sweet sampling of fine Belgian chocolate.

Whether you love opera or you hardly know it, this tour of legendary La Scala Theater and adjoining museum is a unique and fun way to get an inside look at one of the most famous opera houses in the world. With an expert guide by your side, tour La Scala Museum to see intricate outfits, musical instruments and various stage props. Then stroll through the foyer of the theater, taking in the beautifully designed 18th-century auditorium.

Get an inside look into the centuries-old art of glassblowing with a factory tour on Murano Island, home to the world’s finest artisan glass. Tour the facilities at Colleoni Glass Factory and watch a master craftsman shape molten glass through a combination of heat, blowing and sculptural techniques. Visit the factory showroom to see beautiful finished works of art, and receive a special Murano glass souvenir to take home.

Walking up to the London Dungeon often means joining a queue and hoping a slot's free for the time you want. Book ahead to lock in an entry time and head straight in to a theatrical walk through the city's darkest history. Actors and staged sets bring the Great Plague, the Great Fire of 1666, London's infamous criminals, and a sentencing at Newgate Prison to life across the experience.

Skip the long general-admission lines at Florence’s Accademia Gallery with this timed-entry admission ticket. Ideal for travelers with limited time to dedicate to sightseeing, save time and get straight to the gallery's displays. Explore the works of Michelangelo, including the original "David" statue, Botticelli, and other master artists at your own pace.

Trace the footsteps of Catalonia’s signature surrealist without worrying about parking or bus schedules on this guided Dalí tour from Barcelona, with different schedules for peak season and the rest of the year. In July-August, you’ll visit the Dalí Theatre-Museum, the Castle of Púbol (own expense), and Sant Marti d'Empuries; the rest of the year, you’ll follow the Theatre-Museum with Cadaqués and the Salvador Dalí House—Portlligat (own expense).

The Vatican is one of Rome’s most popular attractions, with the large crowds and long lines to match. Save valuable vacation time with this half-day guided tour, which offers skip-the-line entry to the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica, giving you more time to explore these iconic sites with ease. For a more relaxed experience, book the late afternoon tours (St. Peter’s Basilica excluded).

Discover the enchanting town of Sintra with ease on a private half-day tour from Lisbon. Customize your day to visit Pena Palace plus one other of your choice: Quinta da Regaleira, Monserrate Palace, or Sintra National Palace. Soak in ocean views passing through Cascais and Cabo da Roca, and enjoy time to purchase lunch in Sintra's historical center.

Swap crowded buses for a more intimate and personalized way of exploring Belfast—a private taxi tour. Learn about "The Troubles" that divided the city, and see its famous murals up close; including the Peace Wall, where you can sign your name. During the tour, find out about 800 years of history, and have the chance to visit the Memorial Gardens too.

Dive into the beauty of Tuscan art, architecture, and landscapes, without feeling overwhelmed, on this engaging small-group tour. In one experience, discover three iconic highlights: the opulent Pitti Palace, the stunning Palatina Gallery, and the enchanting Boboli Gardens. As you explore, your guide shares fascinating insights into the region's Renaissance history and the remarkable artworks that define each destination.