Le Louvre (Paris, France)
The Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci, Venus de Milo by Alexandros of Antioch, and Liberty Leading the People by Eugène Delacroix: these are just a few of the thousands of works of art housed inside Musée du Louvre, dating back to antiquity through the first half of the 1800s. Even the gorgeous pyramid entrance, only added in 1989, adds to the beauty of the museum, making it a sight to see both inside and out.

State Hermitage (St. Petersburg, Russia)
Russia isn’t necessarily included in remembering the Renaissance of Europe, but the State Hermitage in St. Petersburg has more than three million art pieces from all around the world. The building itself actually consists of six separate buildings along the Neva River, housing works from as early as the Stone Age to the early 20th century. It was originally founded by Catherine the Great with just 255 paintings, but has grown to include pieces from artists such as Rembrandt, da Vinci, Picasso, van Gogh, and more.

Museo Nacional del Prado (Madrid, Spain)
The Museo Nacional del Prado is truly a royal museum, as the Spanish royal family is responsible for its massive collection of classical art. Esteemed Spanish artists such as Goya and Ribera are proudly displayed here, along with dozens of other European artists. The museum was opened in 1819 and remains in its original building, and is a prime example of neoclassical architecture.

National Gallery of Art (Washington, D.C.)
Not to be outdone by Spanish royalty, the U.S. government is responsible for the National Gallery of Art and Sculpture Garden in the nation’s capital, which has always been open and free to the public since it was established in 1937. Focusing on Western Art, it houses pieces from the Middle Ages to the present, and is home to the only painting by Leonardo da Vinci in the Americas.

The British Museum (London, England)
The largest museum in the U.K., the British Museum has collections that span beyond art, housing more than eight million objects that include prehistoric bones, former feats of architecture such as pieces from the Athens Parthenon, and, incredibly, the Rosetta Stone. But its art collection is nothing to sneeze at either, with works from every region of the world spanning thousands of years.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York City, USA)
The largest museum in the Western Hemisphere, you could visit the Met in New York City every day for a month and still not see everything. A range of art from antiquity to modern day and from every region of the world is continually on display, along with stunning temporary exhibits that feature more contemporary artists. The Met is home to the likes of Botticelli, Rembrandt, and Rodin, as well as one of the most famous Egyptian collections in the world, featuring the tomb of Perneb.

National Palace Museum (Taipei, Taiwan)
As the Asian continent has an incredibly rich art history of its own, it’s no surprise that the National Palace Museum in Taipei is the place to see the history of ancient China through its artifacts and artworks. Spanning from the Neolithic era to the Qing Dynasty, many of the pieces on display were once owned by former Chinese emperors. It also boasts a “sister” museum, the Palace Museum in Beijing, that was split as a result of the Chinese Civil War, but features even more pieces that display the country’s heritage.

Musei Vaticani (Vatican City, Italy)
Musei Vaticani, or the Vatican Museums, are actually 22 separate collections in which each tries to top the last. Including classical sculptures, medieval and Renaissance paintings, ancient Egyptian exhibits, and Gregorian architecture, there’s a little something for everyone. Oh, and a little known thing known as the Sistine Chapel. Ever heard of it?

Galleria degli Uffizi (Florence, Italy)
The Galleria degli Uffizi, or the Uffizi Gallery, has some of the world’s greatest Renaissance paintings, including those done by the Italian greats, but also the other artistic royalty of that era. The gallery is also home to artists from medieval, baroque, and mannerist eras, but is probably most known for housing the “The Birth of Venus,” by Botticelli.

Rijksmuseum (Amsterdam, The Netherlands)
The Rijkmuseum is slightly smaller than some of the others on this list, but as the largest collection of art and history in the Netherlands, its 900,000 pieces are nothing to turn your nose up at. Mostly filled with masterpieces done by Dutch artists from the 1600s, it also has a vast collection of Middle Age pieces, and is best known for being home to “The Night Watch,” by Rembrandt.