Posted 20 June 2022

Best international destinations on every art lover’s bucket list

Art lovers make the best travellers! With so many incredible destinations around the world, there are plenty of places with vibrant culture, rich heritage and eventful history for them to explore. Ranging from remarkable art galleries to fascinating museums and striking architecture to awesome street art, every city across the globe is home to some form of admirable artwork. Including familiar hotspots of the vibrant art scene as well as offbeat arty hubs.

Here is a list of the world’s best international destinations that must be on every art lover’s bucket list.

1. Paris, France

Popularly known as the ‘City of Lights’, Paris is the capital city of France. Whether you are interested in architecture, painting or sculpture, Paris is the perfect destination for all kinds of art enthusiasts. The city offers a distinctive blend of traditional and contemporary art.

Some best spots in France for art lovers include:

Musée du Louvre is listed amongst the world’s most popular museums. It is home to a spectacular art collection including the famous Mona Lisa by Leonardo Da Vinci. Located in the former royal residence, the museum houses a beautiful sculpture garden, opulent interiors and monumental paintings by Caravaggio, Jacques-Louis David, Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres and El Greco.

Musée National d’Art Moderne, located in Centre Pompidou, is counted amongst Europe’s largest modern art museums. The Renzo Piano-designed building displays Marcel Duchamp’s Urinal, the most famous toilet and an incredible art collection including some formidable pieces of Dadaismand Fauvism

Bugada and Cargnel, officially called Cosmic Gallery, is an amazing art gallery showcasing the works of established as well as emerging French and international artists such as Pierre Bismuth and Cyprien Gaillard.

Street art is on the rise in many areas of the city. Many buildings on various streets like Rue Oberkampf and Le Mur have become canvases for the city’s many talented graffiti artists. You can even take a guided street art tour of the city.

Notre Dame Cathedral is a striking architectural gem and a famous mediaevalgothic church. The building is counted amongst the must-visit places in Paris.

Other prominent places include Musée Rodin, Cafe La Palette, Galerie Perrotin, Le Grand Restaurant and Musée d’Orsay.

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2. Vienna, Austria

Vienna, the capital city of Austria, is an excellent destination for a true art-lover. The city is home to plenty of beautiful architecture and artwork. It houses more than 100 museums and several magnificent palaces. The city is particularly famous for opera and its glorious musical heritage. Whether you are a seasoned art buff or just someone with a taste for finer things.

Here are some places you will definitely love:

Belvedere Palace consists of two stunning baroque buildings situated in the middle of a lovely park. It was built as an Austrian royal family’s display of wealth and prestige. Currently, the palace is home to a well-established art gallery that showcases many famous art pieces by artists including Gustav Klimt.

The Albertina Museum, located opposite the city’s renowned State Opera House, features the world’s largest classical and graphic art collection. It houses the work of world-famous artists like Warhol, Liechtenstein, Monet and Picasso. Apart from the artworks, the museum is also home to 20 intricately decorated staterooms that formerly served as the home of Hapsburgs.

Ernst Hilger Galerie is a popular art gallery owned by a famous dealer and curator named Ernst Hilger. The gallery showcases the art from artists such as Peter Krawagna, Mel Ramos and Karl Korab.

Situated near the Imperial Palace, Kunsthistorisches Museum is a beautiful museum known for its admirable art collection and gorgeous interiors. The paintings include the early works of Klimt, Ernst and Matsch. Apart from the paintings, the museum also displays an imperial coin collection and awe-inspiring sculptures.
Galerie Ulysses, Leopold Museum, MUMOK, Georg Kargl Gallery, Galerie OstLicht and Galerie Andreas Huber are some other arty spots.

3. London, UK

London is not only an incredible travel destination but also the capital city of the United Kingdom and England. With museums, art galleries and architectural marvels dotting its streets, the city of London has been a highly sought-after art destination. London has always been ahead at organising revolutionary art exhibitions. Whichever kind of art you like - classic, contemporary or modern - the city has something for everyone.

The following places are the highlights of London’s booming art scene:

Tate Modern is a remarkable art museum featuring brilliant live art and temporary displays. It is a combination of an art gallery, a museum and a piece of architecture.

Situated in Lloyd Park on London’s Forest Road, William Morris’s former home is a majestic Georgian building that currently serves as a popular art gallery. The gallery commemorates the life and works of William Morris, a talented writer, illustrator and textile artist.

Gagosian Britannia Street is one of the oldest art galleries in London. It is built on the siteof a former garage by architect Caruso St John. The gallery exhibits Katharina Grosse’s immersive painting installations and monumental steelworks by Richard Serra.

Victoria & Albert Museum is a magnificent museum founded by Queen Victoria in 1899. It features 150 grand art galleries across its seven floors. These galleries house numerous pieces of furniture, sculpture, ceramics, paintings, jewellery, posters, metalwork, textiles and dresses, and glass.

The National Gallery is home to one of the world’s greatest painting collection. The collection consists of more than 2,300 art pieces including several famous works like van Eyck’s ‘Arnolfini Portrait’,Turner’s ‘Fighting Temeraire’, Van Gogh’s ‘Sunflowers’ and Velázquez’s ‘Rokeby Venus’.

A few other great spots include The National Portrait Gallery, The Wallace Collection, Royal Academy, White Cube, Victoria Micro Gallery, Big Ben and The Barbican.

4. Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Amsterdam is a dream destination for all kinds of art buffs, especially those who love the work of the legendary artist Vincent Van Gogh. Over the years, the city has grown to become a hotspot for contemporary art. Dotted with fascinating museums and iconic art galleries, Amsterdam is one of the world’s greatest contributors to the global art scene. The city’s artistic culture is blatantly reflected in the admirable architecture lining the streets of Amsterdam.

Following are some of the best hotspots in Amsterdam for those who live and breathe art:

Rijksmuseum was founded more than 200 years ago and is the Netherlands’ oldest museum. It is home to the country’s finest art collection including numerous culturally and historically significant artworks. The collection contains over 8,000 art pieces, the majority of which are from the Dutch Golden Age.

Amsterdam is renowned for housing the world-famous Van Gogh Museum that features the world’s largest collection of Vincent van Gogh’s artwork. Besides the legendary artist’s paintings and drawings, the museum also displays his personal letters.

Stedelijk Museum is one of Amsterdam’s leading museums for contemporary and modern art. The permanent collection of the museum includes an amazing collection of over 2,500 art pieces from several important Dutch as well as international artists includingPablo Picasso, Andy Warhol and Jackson Pollock.

Founded in 1988, Galerie Fons Welters supports talented artists during their early stages. Upstream Gallery is famous for its experimental exhibitions showcasing the works of rebellious artists. Grimm gallery and Annet Gelink are some other prominent art galleries in the city.

There are many other spots in the city that may interest art lovers. These places include Foam, W139, Mediamatic, de Appel arts centre and the Public House of Art.

5. Athens, Greece

Athens, the capital city of Greece, is packed with age-old monuments and stunning ancient architecture. Whether you are a history buff, an art lover or an architecture enthusiast, the city is an exceptional vacation spot for all. With its countless museums, art galleries and historical buildings, the Greek capital is an art hub boasting of classical, contemporary, street and visual art.

Some of the most sought-after places for art enthusiasts include:

The Benaki Museum - It is counted amongst the country’s most prominent and oldest museums. Its numerous annexes are scattered across the city showcasing a wide range of artistic genres. The Pireo Annexe, the most popular of all, is located in a modern building consisting of an inner atrium. The Annexe frequently hosts contemporary art exhibitions, events and performances.

B & M Theocharakis Foundation for the Fine Arts and Music - It focuses on music and art and endeavours to promote the work of local artists abroad.

Frissiras Museum is an offbeat spot for art enthusiasts. Housed in two stunning neoclassical mansions in Plaka, the museum features a large collection of sculptures and figurative paintings by Greek and European artists.

Acropolis Museum is situated on the site of the ancient monument of Acropolis and preserves the stories of the past many centuries.

There are plenty of amazing art galleries across the city. Some of the most famous ones include The Breeder, Kalfayan Gallery, The Ileana Tounta Contemporary Art Center (ITCAC), Rebecca Camhi Gallery,Nikos Hadjikyriakos-Ghikas Gallery and Koroneou Gallery.

Pirée and Metamatic taf are two very popular cafes in Athens often frequented by the art-loving locals and tourists.

Other highlights of this art destination include the National Museum of Contemporary Art, Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Centre (SNFCC), Epigraphic Museum and Museum of Islamic Art.