15 Travel Destinations for Art Lovers of the World
Written by: Pavita Singh
In a previous blog post, we talked about how art is fundamental to the human condition—our highest expression of ourselves. There are various benefits to pursuing art—whether as a hobby or as a career—including creative thinking, stress relief, increased self-esteem, and improved communication. Seeing and appreciating the work of other artists also has a number of benefits, including enhanced empathy and open-mindedness. Art reminds us of our interconnection with other beings across space and time. In a generation where so much of our waking time is spent in front of computer screens, engaging with creative works in person is deeply refreshing. Plus, looking at things that we find beautiful simply makes us feel better. So why not soak in all these benefits and more during your next vacation? Art lovers should consider checking out some of these 15 creative travel destinations.
Mexico City, Mexico: Of all the cities in the world, Mexico City has the highest number of museums and art galleries per capita. Diego Rivera’s and Frida Kahlo’s legacies are carried on in Mexico City to this day, and you can see their work at the Palacio Nacional and La Casa Azul, respectively. Other galleries of interest in Mexico City include House of Gaga and Kurimanzutto, particularly for contemporary art. The City has also hosted the Material Art Fair since 2014. About a 3-hour drive outside of Mexico City is the magical San Miguel de Allende, which has been described by New York magazine as “the closest thing Mexico has to Florence.” There are dozens of galleries lining the town’s colorful streets. Many people travel to San Miguel de Allende to create art. Tourists can take inexpensive or even free classes in painting, jewelry making, sculpting, and ceramics taught at the town’s many art schools, one of the most famous of which is Instituto Allende, which occupies a cloister covered in murals and ornate stone work.
Beijing, China: Beijing has hundreds of museums, galleries, and design schools, including the Ullens Center for Contemporary Art, Galerie Urs Meile, Galleria Continua, Long March Space, and de Sarthe gallery, which can all be found in Beijing’s booming 798 Arts District. Several notable exhibitions take place in the 798 Arts District, such as the Beijing Biennale and the Dashanzi International Art Festival. Many people also head to the northern suburb of Nan Luo Gu Xiang or to Modernista in the heart of the old Beijing hutongs for creative inspiration. In Nan Luo Gu Xiang, you’ll find the National Aquatics Center and the National Center for the Performing Arts, both considered architectural wonders that double as creative spaces. In Modernista, you can check out a light and dance display at the Lantern Club.
London, UK: With nearly 500 museums and galleries in London, there’s never a shortage of places to find creative inspiration, no matter your taste in art. For classic pieces, check out the National Gallery. If modern art is more your scene, the Tate Modern is the place to be. For the most cutting-edge displays, you might pay a visit to the often controversial Saatchi Gallery. Other art havens you’ll find in London include the British Museum, the Victoria & Albert, and the Royal Academy of the Arts. London’s Shoreditch neighborhood is a mecca for street art. London also hosts the annual Frieze London art fair every October.
Paris, France: Another art capital, Paris has over a thousand galleries and museums. Perhaps the most famous is the Louvre, where you’ll find the Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo. Other artsy hotspots are the Musée D’Orsay (famous for impressionist art), Musée de l’Orangerie, and the Musée Roudin, which is free the first Sunday of every month. Many famous artists spent time in Paris, particularly at the Ecole de Beaux-Arts, one of the most prestigious fine arts schools in the world. Other important artistic institutions include the Centre Pompidou and the Palais de Tokyo. Every October, Paris hosts the FIAC art fair—one of the most looked-forward-to events of the year.
Berlin, Germany: Since the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, the German capital has reinvented itself with cutting-edge art and architecture while also preserving much of its history. In the old city, you’ll find Museumsinsel, a complex of 5 museums and a UNESCO World Heritage. It includes the Alte Nationalgalerie, famous for German and French impressionist paintings, and the Altes Museum, famous for Greek and Roman antiquities. The Dahlem Museum features art and artifacts from India, East Asia, Africa, and Native American and Early European cultures. The Gemäldegalerie features paintings from all the great European artists of history. If you’re looking for more alternative art, you can check out the East Side Gallery, a small section of the Berlin Wall where the works of artists from around the world are displayed. Some of the key events of the year in Berlin are Gallery Weekend in April and Art Week in September.
Florence, Italy: No list of creative, artistic cities is complete without the birthplace of the Renaissance. Big names associated with Florence include Michelangelo, da Vinci, Botticelli, Raphael, and Rembrandt. At the Galleria dell’Accademia, you can see Michelangelo’s famous works, including the David. At Galleria degli Uffizi, you can find The Birth of Venus by Botticelli and Madonna of the Goldfinch by Raphael. You can walk through the Piazza Michelangelo and take in the beauty of Florence. While the emphasis in Florence is on Renaissance art, contemporary art also has a place in the city, particularly at the Centro di Cultura Contemporanea Strozzina. Some of the Strozzina’s highlights include video installations and Chinese modern art exhibits.
New York, NY: Just like London and Paris, New York is a major world art capital. With over 1000 museums and galleries, you can spend years in New York City and still not have seen it all. Along Fifth Avenue bordering Central Park you’ll find Museum Mile, which includes the Met (Metropolitan Museum of Art), Neue Galerie New York, the Guggenheim, the Cooper Hewitt National Design Museum, the Jewish Museum, the Museum of the City of New York, and El Museo del Barrio. How’s that for cultural diversity—all within one small section of the city. But that’s not all. There are other famous museums and galleries, including the Frick, the MoMA, the Whitney, and the New Museum of Contemporary Art. Manhattan’s Chelsea and Lower East Side neighborhoods are well-known for their gallery scenes. Outside of Manhattan, you can check out street art and contemporary galleries in Brooklyn’s Bushwick neighborhood and the Socrates Sculpture Garden and Queens Museums in Queens. Some of the big events of the year include the Armory Show in March and the Frieze in May. Two-thirds of auction sales over $1 million take place in New York, and in 2015, ten of the most expensive works purchased at auction were from Christie’s and Sotheby’s New York sale rooms.
Amsterdam, Netherlands: Amsterdam is known for its free, creative, artsy, bohemian spirit. Take a trip to the Van Gogh Museum or the Rijksmuseum (featuring works of the likes of Rembrandt and Vermeer) to experience the city’s historical art scene. The city’s beautiful canals, buildings, and tulips can’t help but light a spark in the soul. It’s no surprise that budding artists and seasoned artists take to Amsterdam. In fact, many of the city’s empty buildings and abandoned industrial terrain have been adopted by young artists and brands looking to make their design mark.
Tokyo, Japan: Modern art lovers will relish in Tokyo’s art scene. Similar to Berlin, Tokyo does an awesome job of blending the modern with the classic. The Tokyo National Museum has the largest collection of Japanese art in the world, including paintings, sculptures, and mummies. One of Tokyo’s artsy neighborhoods is Roppongi, where you’ll find the Mori Art Museum, the National Art Center, and Ota Fine Arts. In the neighborhood of Taito, you’ll find SCAI The Bathhouse. Formerly a Bathhouse, this 200-year-old building is now a contemporary gallery, and one of Tokyo’s most prestigious art destinations at that.
Vienna, Austria: A must-see art destination in Vienna is the Kunsthistorisches Museum, where you’ll find on display much of the art collected by the Hapsburgs—Austria’s ruling family from 1282 to 1918. This includes ancient Greek and Egyptian art as well as the works of Pieter Brueghel the Elder, Van Dyke, Rembrandt, Velásquez, Raphael, and Titian. In Vienna’s Museum Quarter, is home to the Leopold Museum and the MUMOK. The Leopold Museum is dedicated to Austrian art and includes the works of Klimt and Schiele. The MUMOK is dedicated to 20th– and 21st-century art. The Kunsthalle Wien features modern and contemporary art from the likes of Klee, Kandinsky, Picasso, and Pollock, and the Osterreichische Galerie Belvedere features Medieval and Baroque art as well as a collection of Klimt’s works.
Rome, Italy: The city of Rome can be considered a work of art in and of itself, with all of its stunning architecture, piazzas, gardens, and villas. One of the most impressive works of art is the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, created by Michelangelo. The Musei Vaticani features everything from ornate papal palaces from the Renaissance to spiritual-themed works by Picasso, Gaugin, and Chagall. At Basillica de San Pietro, you can see the works of Raphael, Bramante, and Maderno, all under a dome designed by Michelangelo. Other hot spots for art include the Galleria Borghese, the Museo Nazionale de Villa Giulia, the Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Moderna, and the Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Antica.
São Paulo, Brazil: If you’re not already familiar with Brazilian art, you’ll definitely want to check it out. You can see plenty of it in person at the Museu de Arte Moderna, which features modern and contemporary Brazilian art and has a sculpture garden where you’ll find 30 sculptures. The Choque Cultural gallery features the work of local, emerging artists. Other influential galleries in São Paulo include Mendes Wood DM, Galeria Nara Roesler, Galeria Jacqueline Martins, and Galeria Fortes Vilaça. São Paulo also hosts the São Paulo Biennial, the world’s second-oldest art biennial after Venice.
Lagos, Nigeria: Lagos has an up-and-coming art scene, and you’ll find he work of burgeoning artists, both local and global, at the Omenka Gallery. Lagos is also home to the Centre for Contemporary Art and the African Artists’ Foundation. The African Artists’ Foundation is responsible for the annual Lagos Photo Festival and National Art Competition. What a great way to encourage artistic expression!
Melbourne, Australia: Melbourne is home to the National Gallery of Victoria—Australia’s oldest public art museum. Other artsy hot spots in Melbourne include the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art and the Gertrude Contemporary, which is in Melbourne’s bohemian neighborhood of Fitzroy. You’ll also find art in public spaces in Melbourne, such as Simon Perry’s Public Purse in Bourke Street Mall and Federation Bells and Deborah Halpern’s Angel in Birrarung Marr Park.
Porto, Portugal: Porto is home to some amazing museums and galleries, including MMIPO, FC Porto Museum, Belomonte 20, Porto Art Gallery, and Galeria Amiarte. But perhaps one of the most rewarding artistic experiences you can have in Northern Portugal is a visit to the Pink Buddha Art Studio in Lousada, a short train ride outside of Porto.
The Pink Buddha is the brainchild of Linda Chaves, a long-time resident of Portugal and lifelong artist and teacher. You can take an artistic pilgrimage to the Pink Buddha and stay at Linda’s house, which is just above the studio. She offers both group and one-on-one classes, and you also have the option of making art or just spending time in her studio. She frequently hosts art retreats and workshops with guest artists. In addition to spending time in the studio, Linda also offers personalized trips and outings around Northern Portugal. Some popular destinations include downtown Porto, the River Duoro, Agueda and Aveiro, Braga, Quinta de Aveleda, and Guimaraes, all of which can spark some artistic inspiration. Linda’s “partner in crime,” Isabel Meireles, is a fabulous cook and offers cooking lessons. All artists and art lovers should spend some time at the Pink Buddha—it is a truly life-changing experience.
Have you been to any of these cities? Do you have a desire to visit? Do you love art, do art, or want to learn more about art? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you’ll definitely want to get on Konversai. Konversai is a global knowledge marketplace that allows for one-on-one live video conversations between anyone, anywhere, about anything. Konversai was founded under the premise that everyone everywhere has valuable knowledge, skills, and experiences that can benefit people all over, and when people seeking said knowledge, skills, and experiences can connect with people who can provide it, magic happens. Konversai provides a platform for providers of knowledge to share what they know and make money doing so and for seekers of knowledge to connect with people who can offer them personalized content on exactly what they’re looking for on any subject. Whether you’re an expert or just know a little bit, you belong on Konversai. All users are encouraged to both providers and seekers of knowledge on any and as many topics as they wish, including painting, drawing, art history, architecture, music, math, foreign languages, travel, education systems, food and drink, fashion, home repair, and etiquette. The only limit is your imagination. Get in on the fun today. Being part of Konversai is an opportunity you don’t want to miss.
Sources:
- Armitage, Helen. (2017). The 15 Best Cities in the World for Art. The Culture Trip.
- Artsy Editorial. (2015). The 15 Most Influential Art World Cities of 2015. Artsy + Planet Art.
- How I Travel. (2016). The 9 Most Creative Cities in the World.
- ShermansTravel. (2005). Top 10 Cities for Art Lovers.
- Storey, Stephanie. (2015). Top 10 Art Cities in the World. Oil and Marble.
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