10 Contemporary Art Museums to Explore in Europe during 2024
I am fascinated by the diverse world of contemporary art, and we are lucky that Europe hosts some of the most renowned contemporary art museums in the world that are perfect to visit during a city break.
This blog post provides details of the most iconic contemporary art museums in Europe, showcasing their unique collections and exhibitions. Whether you are an avid art lover or a curious traveller on a weekend city break, this guide will help you discover the best contemporary art museums Europe has to offer.
All details are correct at the time of writing, but it is best to check current information before your visit.
Table of Contents
2. Centre Pompidou, Paris, France
3. Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia, Madrid, Spain
4. Museum of Contemporary Art Barcelona (MACBA), Spain
5. Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao, Spain
6. Pinakothek der Moderne, Munich, Germany
7. Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, Netherlands
1. Tate Modern, London, UK
Admission: Free Entry, but there is a charge for some exhibitions
Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday 10am to 6pm
Located on the banks of the River Thames, Tate Modern in London is one of the most iconic contemporary art museums in the world. Housed in a former power station, the museum is home to an impressive collection of international modern and contemporary art, with works dating from the 1900s to the present day.
The museum's collection is comprised of over 60,000 artworks, ranging from painting and sculpture to photography, video, and installation art. Some of the notable artists featured in the collection include Pablo Picasso, Mark Rothko, Andy Warhol, and Louise Bourgeois, among many others. Recent exhibitions have included retrospectives of artists such as Joan Jonas, Olafur Eliasson, Nam June Paik, and Paul Cézanne.
One of the most unique aspects of the Tate Modern is its focus on interactive and immersive art experiences. The museum offers visitors a chance to engage with contemporary art in new and exciting ways, and has regularly hosted a variety of installations from a giant slide that was once housed in the Turbine Hall to the live art, film and video art performances in the Tanks. The Tate Modern also hosts a range of temporary exhibitions throughout the year, showcasing the latest contemporary art.
The Kitchen and Bar is also worth visiting for refreshments. This dining space has stunning views over the River Thames towards St Paul’s Cathedral and the City.
A visit Tate Modern could take anywhere between an hour to a full day, as there is plenty to see once you are in there.
2. Centre Pompidou, Paris, France
Admission: Adult tickets from €15. Visitors younger than 18 years of age, EU citizens under 26, and those with a disability certificate can enter the museum for free
Opening Hours: Open everyday, except on Tuesdays, 11am to 9pm
Address: Place Georges-Pompidou 75004 Paris
Located in the heart of Paris, Centre Pompidou is a world-renowned contemporary art museum that attracts millions of visitors every year.
The museum's iconic building, designed by architects Renzo Piano and Richard Rogers, features a distinctive exposed arrangement of brightly coloured tubes and pipes.
The museum's permanent collection of modern and contemporary art is one of the largest in Europe, with works by some of the most influential artists of the 20th and 21st centuries. From Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse to Andy Warhol and David Hockney.
Centre Pompidou also hosts a number of temporary exhibitions throughout the year, featuring works by both established and emerging artists. Recent exhibitions have included works from artists such as Germaine Richier, Sayed Haider Raza, Serge Gainsbourg and Jeff Koons.
One of the unique aspects of the Centre Pompidou is its focus on interdisciplinary art forms, having one of the very first collections in the world dedicated to video, sound, digital media and installation art.
The museum's innovative programming often blurs the boundaries between art, science, and technology, offering visitors a truly immersive and thought-provoking experience.
Another notable feature of the Centre Pompidou is its stunning views of the Parisian skyline. Visitors can take in panoramic views of the city from the museum's rooftop terrace, which also features a restaurant and bar.
3. Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia, Madrid, Spain
Admission: Adult tickets from €12. Visitors younger than 14 years of age are free
Opening Hours: Closed on Tuesdays. Monday, Wednesday to Saturday from 10am to 9pm Sunday from 10am to 2.30pm
Address: Sabatini Building, 52 Santa Isabel, 28012, Madrid, Spain
Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia is conveniently located near Madrid Puerta de Atocha–Almudena Grandes, the grand train station in the Atocha district of Madrid. It is also just a short walk from the large Parque de El Retiro.
The museum is housed in a former hospital building that was transformed into an art centre in 1990. It now boasts a comprehensive collection of 20th Century art, including works by some of the most significant artists of the modern era.
The collection includes:
Avant-garde territories: City, Architecture and Magazines, which includes pieces from the early 20th Century from artists such as Salvador Dalí, Alberto Sanchez, Max Ernst and Pablo Picasso. Of particular note is Pablo Picasso's iconic painting "Guernica".
Exodus and life together, which represents the inequalities found in modern society. This includes works by Efren Alvarez and Andrea Buttner.
The museum also features a variety of temporary exhibitions, cultural events, and educational programs throughout the year, making it a hub for contemporary art in Madrid.
4. Museum of Contemporary Art Barcelona (MACBA), Spain
Admission: Adult tickets from €10.20. Visitors younger than 14 years of age are free
Opening Hours: Closed on Tuesdays, Monday, Wednesday to Friday 11am to 7.30pm, Saturday 10am to 8pm and Sunday and public holidays: 10am to 3pm
The Museum of Contemporary Art Barcelona (MACBA) is a modern and contemporary art museum located in the city centre of Barcelona, Spain.
The museum was designed by Richard Meier and is characterised by its striking white concrete exterior. MACBA opened its doors in 1995 and soon became a popular destination for contemporary art lovers due to its extensive collection of more than 5,000 works by both national and international artists.
The museum's collection focuses on art produced since the 1950s and includes works by some of the most influential artists of the 20th century. One of the most unique aspects of MACBA is its focus on contemporary art from both Spain and Latin America, with a large collection of works by Latin American artists, which is rare for a European art museum.
MACBA's collection includes works by renowned artists such as Ignasi Aballí, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Joan Miró, and Pablo Picasso. The museum also has an impressive collection of works and exhibitions by modern contemporary artists, including Bouchra Khalili, Josep Grau-Garriga, Daniel Steegmann Mangrané.
MACBA also hosts a variety of educational programs and events, including a MACBA for families activity titled ‘Tenderness’, workshops, as well as film screenings. The museum's library is also a valuable resource for researchers and art enthusiasts, with an extensive collection of books, magazines, and journals.
I would recommend visiting MACBA’s rooftop terrace, which offers stunning views of the city. The terrace is a popular spot for visitors to relax and enjoy a drink while taking in the views.
5. Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao, Spain
Admission: Adult tickets from €13. Visitors younger than 18 years of age are free.
Opening Hours: Closed on Mondays, Tuesday to Sunday 10am and 7pm
The Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain is a world-renowned contemporary art museum that has become an icon of modern architecture. Designed by architect Frank Gehry, the building's unique design features curved and flowing shapes covered in titanium, creating an impressive visual spectacle.
The museum's collection includes a wide range of contemporary art, with a particular focus on significant works of art from the mid-twentieth century to the present day. The collection features artworks from Antonio Saura, Jeff Koons, Joseph Beuys, as well as Jorge Oteiza’s works that focus on cultural, political, and educational activism in the Basque country.
In addition to its permanent collection, the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao also hosts a variety of temporary exhibitions. In 2023, there are several exhibitions being held throughout the year, including the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao Collection, which is inspired both by the Museum’s holdings of singular works by artists and by historical artistic movements that seeks to bring together art and architecture.
6. Pinakothek der Moderne, Munich, Germany
Admission: Adult tickets from €12. Visitors younger than 18 years of age are free.
Opening Hours: Closed Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday to Sunday 10am to 6pm, Thursdays 10am to 8pm
Address: Pinakothek der Moderne, Barer Straße 40, 80333 München
CC Image courtesy of Ralf Steinberger, Wikimedia Commons
The Pinakothek der Moderne is a modern and contemporary art museum located in Munich, Germany.
The Pinakothek der Moderne houses four museums devoted to art, works on paper, architecture and design.
The art collection ranges from the most important avant-garde movements of the early 20th century to current contemporary art and includes a rich collection of Expressionism, Cubism and Futurism artworks. Many of the great artists are represented here, including Pablo Picasso, Max Ernst, René Magritte and Salvador Dalí.
The Pinakothek der Moderne is also one of the most important museums of drawings and prints in Germany.
The building itself is a modern architectural statement, designed by German architect Stephan Braunfels. The museum's exterior is made of glass and steel, with a massive entrance hall that leads to four separate wings, each dedicated to a specific art form.
7. Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Admission: Adult tickets from €22.50. Visitors younger than 18 years of age are free.
Opening Hours: Daily between 10am and 6pm
The Stedelijk Museum is a small museum, but it is one of the most important museums for modern and contemporary art and design in the Netherlands. It was originally founded in 1895 and recently extended in 2012 with a new contemporary wing.
This museum is conveniently located near the Van Gogh Museum and the Rijksmuseum to create an art hub in Amersterdam.
The Stedelijk Museum has a mission to make modern and contemporary art and design accessible to the public and has an extensive collection of contemporary paintings, sculptures, photographs, design objects, film and installations and contains some of the most renowned works from artists of the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries.
Yesterday Today is a collection of art from well known artists between 1880 to 1950, including works from art movements such as De Stijl, Bauhaus, and CoBrA. The rise of industrialisation, poverty, ideology, the modern city and nightlife is shown in the work of Steve McQueen, Max Ernst, George Grosz, and Willem Sandberg. There are various other exhibitions held throughout the year.
A visit to Stedelijk Museum should take between between 90 minutes and 2 hours and once you have finished viewing the exhibits, you can spend time relaxing in the library or shop. I recommend booking your ticket online before your visit.
8. Moderna Museet, Stockholm, Sweden
Admission: Parts of the museum are free, but a tickets is required for exhibitions. Adult tickets from 150 SEK. Visitors younger than 18 years of age are free.
Opening Hours: Closed Mondays, Tuesday & Friday between 10am and 8pm, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday between 10am and 6pm
CC Image courtesy of Francisco Anzola Flickr
Moderna Museet is a leading contemporary art museum located in Stockholm, Sweden and is a must-visit destination for art lovers and tourists alike.
Moderna Museet is situated on the island of Skeppsholmen in central Stockholm, providing visitors with stunning views of the city and waterfront.
Moderna Museet opened in 1958 but moved to its currents location in 1998. This museum aims to showcase the latest trends in contemporary art and has a collection of over 130,000 artworks, from Swedish and Nordic art to various artists around the world.
There are a number of curated themes such as, Photography in the 1940s, ‘Alternative Secrecy’ from Annika Elisabeth von Hausswolff and ‘spirituality and religion’, with works from several artists including, Wassily Kandinsky, Yves Klein, and Marcel Duchamp. You will also find works by Maria Abramovich, and Pablo Picasso, amongst others.
More recently, the museum has invested heavily in historic Swedish art, supporting over 370 works from over 160 artists.
This is a small art museum, but with an extensive collection. A visit to Moderna Museet should take between 1 - 2 hours and once you have finished viewing the exhibits, you can spend time relaxing in the cafe.
9. S.M.A.K., Ghent, Belgium
Admission: Adult tickets from €12. Visitors younger than 19 years of age are free.
Opening Hours: Monday Closed, Tuesday to Friday between 9.30am and 5.30pm, Saturday & Sunday between 10am and 6pm
Address: Jan Hoetplein 1, 9000 Gent, Belgium
CC Image courtesy of Cristina Pastor, Wikimedia Commons
The Stedelijk Museum voor Actuele Kunst (S.M.A.K.) is a contemporary art museum located in Ghent, Belgium.
The museum focuses on art from the mid-20th century to the present day, with an emphasis on contemporary art from Belgium and Europe. S.M.A.K holds more than 3,000 works dating from after WWII to the present day, covering a number of leading art movements such as pop art, minimal art, conceptual art and arte povera.
The collection includes pieces by famous Belgian artists such as Jan Fabre, Panamarenko, and Wim Delvoye, as well as international artists like Joseph Beuys, Marcel Broodthaers, and Gerhard Richter.
The building that houses S.M.A.K. was a former casino, which was renovated and transformed into a museum in the late 1990s. This building now contains several large exhibition spaces, as well as smaller galleries and a cinema.
10. Kumu Art Museum, Tallinn, Estonia
Admission: Adult tickets from €12.
Opening Hours: Closed on Mondays, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday to Sunday 10am to 6pm, Thursday 10am to 8pm,
CC Image courtesy of Jean-Pierre Dalbéra, Wikimedia Commons
The Kumu Art Museum is a contemporary art space that forms part of the Art Museum of Estonia, and is the largest exhibition venue in Estonia.
The design of this relatively new contemporary art space is based on a circular limestone building with a large and lofty atrium, creating a unique venue.
The Kumu Art Museum contains a number of permanent exhibitions, including Conflicts and Adaptations: Estonian Art of the Soviet Era (1940-1991), an exhibition that represents the art that was born out of the conflict of the Second World War and the political order that followed. It also includes The Future is in One Hour: Estonian Art in the 1990s, an exhibition that embraces the birth of the new Estonian nation that emerged in the 1990s.
For more information about Kumu Art Musuem, please see my blog post dedicated to this museum.
I hope you have found this list helpful. If you know of any other art galleries that you think I should include, please email me at sarahransomeart@gmail.com.
