Your Guide to Arts-Inspired Travel

Last updated on November 17th, 2025 at 09:52 am

Artsy Traveler is for you if…

You love the arts
You prefer independent, comfortable travel
You want to get top value for your travel budget

I’ve been traveling for a loooong time(!) and my favorite things to do are touring museums and art galleries, seeking out interesting artsy activities (including cooking classes because food is art!), and finding ways to make travel comfortable and impactful.

Special Feature on Artsy Traveler: New Zealand

I spent three glorious weeks in New Zealand, a country I highly recommend you explore. To get some inspiration and tips about where to go, what to see, and where to stay, check out my six posts covering my journey from Queenstown on the South Island to Auckland on the North Island, with a whole lot of awesome sites in between.

Ariel view of Queenstown on the South Island in New Zealand

10 Awesome Things to Do in Queenstown, New Zealand

If you're traveling to Queenstown in New Zealand (and I highly recommend that you do!), then check out my suggestions ...

Pancake Rocks along the west coast of New Zealand's South Island

Driving the West Coast of New Zealand’s South Island

A road trip through glaciers, gold towns, and coastal magic Introduction: One of the World’s Great Drives The long drive ...

Kayaks on the beach at Abel Tasman National Park, the place for a multiday kayak and walk adventure with Wilson's

Abel Tasman National Park: Best Luxury Adventure

If you’re looking for a wonderful way to experience Abel Tasman National Park on New Zealand's South Island, then I ...

View over Wellington in New Zea;land, a great place to spend a day.

Best of Wellington in One Day: Culture & Charm

Affectionately nicknamed Windy Welly, New Zealand's capital city Wellington is quirky, cultured, and gorgeous. This harbor-hugging city is a vibrant ...

What to See in New Zealand’s Steamy North Island

No trip to New Zealand is complete without spending time in the simmering center of New Zealand’s North Island, where ...

Stunning view of Cathedral Cove on the Coromandel Peninsula in New Zealand

Discover New Zealand’s North Island: Hobbiton, the Coromandel, & Auckland

Our three-week New Zealand odyssey is entering its final, golden chapter. After geysers, glowworms, and volcanoes, we trade steam and ...

What’s New On Artsy Traveler?

Check out the latest posts on Artsy Traveler! I just returned from a seven-week trip through the Netherlands, France, and Italy, ending in always enchanting Roma. You’ll find lots of new posts full of suggestions for you to enjoy some of the places I visited and recommend.

Carol Cram at the Resin Art Jewelry Workshop at Soigne in Vancouver

Make Your Own Jewelry: Beginner-Friendly Resin Workshop at Soigné Vancouver

Coming to my home town Vancouver? Consider taking the resin art jewelry workshop or another one of the craft workshops ...

Carol Cram, the author of Artsy Traveler with her daughter Julia Simpson in front of the Rocky Mountaineer sign i n Jasper, Alberta

Memorable Mother-Daughter Bonding on the Rocky Mountaineer

Moms and daughters can make excellent travel companions. If you’re looking for a special way to celebrate your relationship with ...

Deserted street in Piacenza at night with the figure of a man walking in the foreground

Peaceful Piacenza: Why Visit and What To See

The small city of Piacenza in the Emilia-Romana region of northern Italy is the perfect place for travelers looking for ...

Colorful shelves of art supplies at the ochre museum in Roussillon

Explore The Ochre Museum in Colorful Roussillon

For a truly delightful—and delightfully colorful—museum experience far from the crowds, check out the Ôkhra Écomusée de l’Ocre just outside ...

Diorama of women in Arlesieene costumes form the 19th century featured at the Musee Arletan in Arles, France

Discover Three Unique Museums in Arles

Arles is one of those fascinating little cities that rewards lingering. Sure, you can tick off the Roman arena and ...

Pont d'arc in the Ardeche Gorge in France

The Ardèche Gorge in France: Best One Day Stay

Prehistoric drawin of a large bison at Grotte Chauvet 2 in the Ardeche region of France ...

Carol Cram at Museum Ludwig with Cologne Cathedral in the background

Cologne’s Museum Ludwig: Best Bet for Modern Art Lovers

If you’re looking for a modern art fix while traveling down the Rhine, make your way to Museum Ludwig in ...

Choose Murano For a Unique Venetian Experience

The laid-back island of Murano is the perfect getaway if you're pining for a relaxing day or two away from ...

How to Spend Two Nights & One Day in Luxembourg City

Luxembourg City makes a great choice for a laid-back two-night stay. While it may be short on blockbuster sights, it’s ...

Carol cram next to a bust of Ludgwig Van Beethoven at Beathoven House Museum in Bonn

Best Tips for Visiting Beethoven House in Bonn

Beethoven House Museum (known as Beethoven-Haus) in Bonn, Germany, is the place for fans of classical music (like me!) The ...

Carol Cram on Dufferin Terrace overlooking St. Lawrence River in Quebec City

Top Ten Excellent Things to Do in Québec City for the Artsy Traveler

As many North American travelers have said before me, visiting Québec City is like going to Europe—without the jet lag ...

Carol Cram in the floating lantern room at the Arte Museum in Las Vegas

Best Bets in Las Vegas: Neon Museum and Arte Museum

The Neon Museum and the new Arte Museum in Las Vegas are two of the most compelling attractions in a ...

Carol Cram in front of the formal gardens at Villandry in the Loire Valley with the chateaux in the background.

10 Best Loire Valley Castles (Châteaux): Fairytale Magic

Planning a trip to check out the Loire Valley castles and châteaux? This post describes the ten best! The Loire ...

Caorl Cram in front of the Seine with the Notre Dame in the evening light in the distance

Visit Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris & Don’t Line Up

Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris has—literally—risen from the ashes and is again open to the public. If you’re visiting Paris, carve ...

Mauritshuis in the Hague with skyscrapers behind it

The Hague’s Best Museums: Mauritshuis and Escher in the Palace

lf you love art, visit The Hague to tour two excellent museums—the Mauritshuis and M. C. Escher in the Palace ...

Exploring Amsterdam’s Anne Frank House and Begijnhof

The Anne Frank House in Amsterdam attracts visitors from all over the world, and for good reason. A visit to ...

Front of the Basque museum in Bayonne France

13 Unique Museums in Europe to Put On Your List

One of the many joys of traveling is discovering new-to-you museums, particularly artsy ones! While world class must-see museums such ...

Caro;l Cram on a canal boat cruise in Amsterdam

An Amsterdam Canal Cruise: Should You Take One?

You've arrived in Amsterdam and started strolling around the Centrum—that enchanting half-circle of canals built four hundred years ago that ...

Fave Posts on Artsy Traveler

The world is awash with artistic and cultural sights! Check out these top posts to get your imagination fired up for trip planning.

View of Athens and the Acropolis of Athens: A panoramic view showcasing the city of Athens with the Acropolis prominently perched on a hilltop, highlighting its significance as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Should You Make the Climb to the Acropolis of Athens?

Ah, the Acropolis of Athens! It is the pinnacle of Greek culture and a mecca for cultural travel. It's both ...

Guggenheim museum in Bilbao, Spain, one of the top ten modern art museums in Europe

12 of the Best Modern Art Museums in Europe

Are you a fan of modern art? If so, then you'll find plenty of art thrills in Europe, where some ...

Music in VIenna - statue of Johann Strauss

A Music Lover’s Guide to Enjoying Music in Vienna

If you love music, you owe it to yourself to plan a trip to Vienna in Austria. For over 250 ...

Explore Seven of the Best Prehistory Sites in Europe

Do you enjoy visiting prehistory sites when you're traveling around Europe? You'll soon discover that prehistory sites abound thanks to ...

Uffizi Gallery: Top 10 Must-See Masterpieces and How to Visit

The Uffizi Gallery in Florence is chock full of masterpieces, and an Artsy Traveler must-visit, particularly for first-time visitors to ...

How to See the Art of Pompeii at the National Archaeological Museum in Naples

Naples-bound? Then put the Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli aka the National Archaeological Museum of Naples high on your list ...

Best Three Copenhagen Museums to Discover and Enjoy

Wonderful museums are thick on the ground in Copenhagen. You'll be spoiled for choice. But if your time is limited, ...

View over Verona at sunset - you'll find lots to see in Verona for the artsy traveler

Beyond Romeo and Juliet: What to See in Verona, Italy

Guest Post by Zoe Disigny Heading to northern Italy? Consider spending time in lovely Verona, which has plenty to see ...

How Not to Tour the Colosseum in Rome: Mistakes to Avoid

You’ve arrived in Rome! Maybe you’ve been lucky enough to have your taxi whisk you past the Colosseum on your ...

NEW! The “Perfect Artsy Traveler Day” Series

When I travel to new places, I like to know what other travelers think is a perfect way to spend my time, even if I have only one day. With that in mind, I’ve created a new series of Artsy Traveler Posts that give you my take on a Perfect Artsy Traveler Day in various destinations.