Black and white image of the Gloriette at Schönbrunn Palace, Vienna, reflecting classical architecture.

A 7-Day Train Journey Through Paris, Amsterdam & Vienna’s Secret Art Havens

February 25, 2025 Francesca 5 min read

For art lovers, Europe’s iconic museums often mean long lines and crowded galleries.

But beyond the Louvre and the Rijksmuseum lies a world of hidden gems—quirky private collections, immersive digital exhibits, and avant-garde spaces accessible via scenic train routes.

This 7-day itinerary connects Paris, Amsterdam, and Vienna through lesser-known museums, workshops, and art-centric dining experiences, all reachable by train.

Discover where art meets adventure on rails.

Days 1–2: Paris – Beyond the Louvre

Destination 1: Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature (Museum of Hunting & Nature)

Vivid sunset sky over Arc de Triomphe, capturing Parisian traffic and architecture.

Start Point: Paris Gare du Nord, 18 Rue de Dunkerque, 75010 Paris
End Point: 62 Rue des Archives, 75003 Paris
Train Distance: 3 km (10-minute Metro ride to Rambuteau Station)
Experience Duration: 2–3 hours

Tucked in the Marais district, this eccentric museum blends contemporary art with Renaissance-era taxidermy.

Highlights include Sophie Calle’s installations exploring human-animal relationships and a ceiling covered in 1,500 porcelain butterflies. Book the “Night at the Museum” tour (Fridays only), where actors reenact hunting myths by candlelight.

Destination 2: Atelier des Lumières (Digital Art Center)

Start Point: Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature
End Point: 38 Rue Saint-Maur, 75011 Paris
Distance: 3 km (15-minute Metro ride to Voltaire Station)
Experience Duration: Evening (2 hours)

Once a 19th-century foundry, this immersive space projects masterpieces by Klimt or Van Gogh onto 10-meter walls. The “Create Your Own Digital Art” workshop lets visitors animate sketches, which are then projected alongside the exhibit. Pair with a glass of Burgundy at the in-house wine bar.

Days 3–4: Amsterdam – Canal Houses & Counterculture

Destination 3: Museum Van Loon

The Rijksmuseum facade with modern art sculptures and reflection in Amsterdam.

Start Point: Paris Gare du Nord
End Point: Keizersgracht 672, 1017 ET Amsterdam (via Thalys train to Amsterdam Centraal + 10-minute tram)
Train Distance: 500 km (3h15m via Thalys)
Experience Duration: Morning (2 hours)

This 1672 canal house, once home to the Van Loon family (co-founders of the Dutch East India Company), showcases Golden Age portraits and a coach house turned sculpture garden. The “Secret Servants’ Tour” reveals hidden passages used by staff to avoid disturbing the family.

Destination 4: Cobra Museum (Modern Art)

Start Point: Amsterdam Centraal Station
End Point: Sandbergplein 1, 1181 ZX Amstelveen (20-minute Metro ride)
Distance: 10 km
Experience Duration: Afternoon (3 hours)

Dedicated to the CoBrA movement (1948–51), this museum in Amstelveen bursts with bold, experimental works by Karel Appel and Asger Jorn. Join the “Splatter & Sip” workshop, creating CoBrA-inspired art while sampling jenever (Dutch gin) flavored with elderflower or rhubarb.

Days 5–7: Vienna – Imperial Treasures & Underground Art

Destination 5: The Secession Building

Majestic view of the Palace of Justice in Vienna, showcasing neoclassical architecture.

Start Point: Amsterdam Centraal
End Point: Friedrichstraße 12, 1010 Vienna (via Nightjet sleeper train to Vienna Hauptbahnhof + tram)
Train Distance: 1,100 km (11h30m overnight)
Experience Duration: Morning (1.5 hours)

Home to Klimt’s Beethoven Frieze, this Art Nouveau icon is a manifesto of the Vienna Secession movement. The “Rebel Artists” tour uncovers protests against traditionalism, including Otto Wagner’s radical architectural sketches. Don’t miss the rooftop laurel leaves symbolizing “art for art’s sake.”

Destination 6: Kunstkammer Wien (Chamber of Art & Wonders)

Start Point: The Secession Building
End Point: Maria-Theresien-Platz, 1010 Vienna (15-minute walk)
Distance: 1 km
Experience Duration: Afternoon (3 hours)

Housed in the Kunsthistorisches Museum, this Renaissance-era Wunderkammer displays 2,200 curiosities: dragon-blood gems, automatons, and a 16th-century unicorn horn (actually narwhal tusk).

The “Alchemist’s Dinner” event (monthly) pairs Baroque dishes with tales of Habsburg collectors.

Tips for Art-Centric Train Travel

Rail Passes: Use the Eurail Global Pass for flexible travel across France, Netherlands, and Austria.

Timed Entries: Book workshops and special tours 2–4 weeks in advance.

Local Eats: Try sel sur vin (salt-kissed wine) at Paris’ Atelier des Lumières or Kaiserschmarrn (shredded pancake) at Vienna’s Kunsthistorisches Café.

Pack Light: Bring a foldable tote for art books and souvenirs.