These are 5 of the best cities for art lovers that you can find throughout the world. Which city is your favorite?
Soaking up the culture of a new country is the best thing about traveling. Trying the cuisine, meeting the locals, or delving into their history, there’s nothing more valuable than learning everything there is to know.
One of the best ways to get a sense of a new place and understand the people who live there is to look at the art.
It gives you a reflection of the people who lived in the country over the years. Whether it’s museums and galleries holding collections of some of the most famous artists in history, or street art produced by some of the rising stars, these are five of the best cities in the world for art.
5 of the Best Cities for Art Lovers
#1. Paris
If you’re an art lover, you’ll be in heaven in Paris. There are over 1000 art galleries spread across the city so no matter how many times you’ve been before, there are always new collections to see. The Louvre, home to the world-famous Mona Lisa is surely on your bucket list.
Unsurprisingly, it gets incredibly busy so it might be worth booking a tour with priority entry. Click to find out more about the great tours and how you can skip the queues when you’re going to the Louvre. As well as the Louvre, there are some great contemporary galleries, showcasing work from the best French artists right now.
The Daniel Templon Gallery is the best established contemporary gallery but some newer ones like the Modus Art Gallery are making waves.
Even if you do somehow manage to visit all of the galleries in Paris, there are still other things to see. The Belleville neighborhood is filled with incredible street art with something new to discover around every corner.
#2. Berlin
Berlin is best known for the historical sites you can visit there but it also has one of the most vibrant art scenes in the world. There are so many great things to do in Berlin but visiting the amazing galleries is an absolute must. There are some great collections of classic art from the 13th to 19th centuries but it’s the focus on modern art that makes Berlin so great. And why it’s one of the best cities for art lovers.
Neue Nationalgalerie has an extensive collection of contemporary art from some of the biggest names in the German art world. A country with such a difficult history is sure to create some interesting and challenging artwork.
Like Paris, the galleries are only the start. The Berlin Wall is a site of historical significance but it’s also filled with some great artwork.
The East Side Gallery is a 1.3-mile stretch of the wall that has since been used as a canvas for over 100 artists from around the globe. While you’re there, you should take a walk along the river to see the world-famous Molecule Man sculpture by Jonathan Borofsky.
#3. New York
New York is a hotbed of creativity with a lot of artists and musicians choosing to make the city their home. Naturally, that means it will be one of the best cities for art lovers. The established galleries like the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Guggenheim (the building itself is a work of art) house some great collections of some of the best international artists in history.
There are all sorts of other smaller galleries around every corner and you’ll find some incredible street art on every available surface. The 100 Gates project in the Lower East Side is a partnership between local business owners and street artists.
Some incredible murals have been painted on the metal shutters in the front of the shops so during the day, the street looks just like any other.
But after the shops close and the shutters come down, the whole area turns into a great outdoor gallery showing the work of the best street artists in the city. Queens is another great district for art lovers where you’ll find the Socrates Sculpture Garden and the Queens Museum.
Check out this guide for a downtown Manhattan tour.
#4. Chicago
New York is probably America’s best-known city for art but Chicago is a close second. There are some world-class galleries like the Museum of Contemporary Art and the Art Institute of Chicago. But you don’t need to go inside a gallery to find incredible art in the city.
There are some incredible public artworks and sculptures dotted around the city. You’ll find a Picasso sculpture, some amazing murals, and, of course, the Millenium Gate (often referred to as ‘The Bean’). These are just a couple of the many amazing sculptures that you’ll find in the area.
The fact that most of the iconic artworks in the city are public gives you a unique experience in Chicago, you don’t need to battle through the crowds in the big galleries like you would in other cities. You can just take a stroll around the city and stumble across work by some of the best-loved artists in history.
#5. Barcelona
If you’ve been to Chicago and seen the Picasso sculpture, but that wasn’t quite enough for you, you should head over to Barcelona. The city is home to the biggest collection of Picasso artwork in the world.
The Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya has some great collections of Spanish and international artwork spanning history. As well as the great galleries in the city, people flock there to get a look at the amazing architecture that you find around every corner, particularly the Gaudi buildings.
The Sagrada Familia (the impressive cathedral designed by Gaudi) is one of the biggest tourist attractions in the city.
You can get tickets to go up one of the towers which gives you a great view of the city and also gives you the chance to see some more of the incredible architecture on the inside.
Check out this guide for where to stay and what to eat.
These are the best cities around the globe where you can see collections of the best artists throughout history.
