Top art destinations and cultural hubs
Top art destinations and cultural hubs
Top art destinations and museums for travellers
For many travellers, standing in front of a painting they have only ever seen in books is one of the best moments of a trip and it often feels very different from what they expected.
Some people plan whole holidays around big museums, like the Uffizi in Florence or the Louvre in Paris, where you could easily spend days and still not see everything. Others prefer art that is part of daily life, such as the murals of Mexico City or the street art that covers whole neighbourhoods in Berlin and Melbourne. There are also places like Naoshima in Japan, a small island where modern art, architecture and the sea come together in a way that is hard to find anywhere else.
Big museums get busy, so booking a timed ticket and going early in the morning or late in the day makes a visit much more enjoyable.
Lists by region
Region in Spain
Andalusia
Flamenco, Moorish Palaces and Sun
Flamenco developed in Andalusia, blending Roma, Moorish and Spanish musical traditions. Performers in cities like Seville still practice the art form in small, intimate venues. Visitors can watch a live flamenco show in a traditional tablao. Nearby, Moorish palaces reflect centuries of artistic influence across the region.
City in Russia
Saint Petersburg
Where history and elegance meet
The Hermitage Museum occupies the former Winter Palace of Russian emperors. Catherine the Great began the museum's collection by purchasing paintings from across Europe. Visitors can wander thousands of rooms filled with art spanning centuries. Nearby, the palace's ornate facade overlooks the Neva River in the city centre.
City in Italy
Rome
The Eternal City of history and charm
Caravaggio's paintings hang in several of Rome's churches, still in their original settings. The artist used dramatic light and shadow techniques that influenced generations of later painters. Visitors can view his work for free inside working churches across the city. Nearby, the Galleria Borghese houses sculpture by Bernini in a former villa.
City in Italy
Venice
A floating city of romance and history
The Venice Biennale has drawn international contemporary art to the city since 1895. Countries build pavilions across the Giardini gardens to present their national artists. Visitors can explore dozens of pavilions during the biennale's scheduled exhibition years. Nearby, glassblowers on the island of Murano continue a centuries-old craft tradition.
Region in Spain
Basque Country
Where tradition meets avant-garde beauty
The Guggenheim Bilbao transformed the Basque Country into a major destination for contemporary art. Architect Frank Gehry's titanium-clad building opened in 1997 to international acclaim. Visitors can tour the museum's galleries or simply admire its sculptural exterior. Nearby, San Sebastian's museums add to the region's cultural offerings.
Village in France
Giverny
Monet's living canvas of inspiration
Claude Monet lived and painted at his house in Giverny for over forty years. His water lily pond and Japanese footbridge inspired some of his most famous paintings. Visitors can walk the same gardens and pond that shaped his late work. Nearby, a museum displays Impressionist art tied to artists who followed Monet here.
Region in Italy
Campania
Ancient ruins meet coastal paradise
Ash from Vesuvius preserved detailed frescoes and mosaics across Pompeii's buried streets. The eruption in the year 79 buried the Roman city almost instantly under volcanic debris. Visitors can walk among preserved homes still decorated with ancient wall paintings. Nearby, Naples' archaeological museum displays many artefacts recovered from the site.
City in United States
Washington, D.C.
Capital of History and Culture
The Hirshhorn Museum's circular building houses one of the capital's major modern art collections. Financier Joseph Hirshhorn donated his personal collection to found the museum in 1974. Visitors can explore sculpture in the surrounding garden or modern art inside. Nearby, the National Mall connects the museum to other Smithsonian institutions.
City in Spain
Barcelona
Vibrant City of Art and Beaches
Antoni Gaudi's mosaic-covered Park Guell blends architecture with sculptural, organic design. The city commissioned Gaudi to design the park as a planned housing development in the early 1900s. Visitors can wander the park's curved benches covered in colourful broken tile. Nearby, the Picasso Museum traces the artist's formative years in the city.
Island in Japan
Naoshima
Art museums on a Seto Inland Sea island
Naoshima transformed from a quiet fishing island into an open-air contemporary art destination. A Japanese company began commissioning museums and installations across the island in the 1990s. Visitors can explore underground galleries or wander sculptures scattered along the coast. Nearby islands have since added their own art installations and museums.
City in United States
Los Angeles
The city of stars, beaches and dreams
The Broad museum in downtown Los Angeles displays a couple's extensive contemporary art collection. Philanthropists Eli and Edythe Broad opened the free museum to the public in 2015. Visitors can view works by Jeff Koons and other leading contemporary artists. Nearby, Walt Disney Concert Hall's curved steel exterior stands just across the street.
City in Canada
Montreal
A city of festivals, food and culture
Montreal's Museum of Fine Arts holds one of Canada's largest and oldest art collections. Founders established the museum in 1860, making it a pioneer among Canadian institutions. Visitors can explore galleries spanning centuries of Canadian and international art. Nearby, the city's murals festival adds new large-scale artwork each summer.
City in United States
Boston
Historic charm meets modern innovation
The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum still displays empty frames where stolen paintings once hung. Thieves stole thirteen works in a 1990 heist that remains unsolved to this day. Visitors can view the empty frames alongside the museum's remaining collection. Nearby, the Museum of Fine Arts holds a far larger permanent collection.
City in United States
New Orleans
Jazz, Creole Flavors and Mardi Gras Vibes
Jazz first developed in New Orleans, blending African, Caribbean and European musical traditions. Musicians in the city's early clubs and parades shaped the genre in the early 1900s. Visitors can hear live jazz in clubs along Frenchmen Street most nights. Nearby, the New Orleans Museum of Art holds a broader collection of visual art.
Region in Italy
Veneto
Venice, Mountains and Renaissance Splendor
Palladio's villas dot the countryside across Veneto, influencing architecture worldwide for centuries. The 16th-century architect designed symmetrical country estates that later inspired buildings globally. Visitors can tour several of his villas open to the public near Vicenza. Nearby, Venice reveals a very different, water-bound architectural tradition.
City in Germany
Dresden
A Baroque Beauty with a Modern Soul
Dresden's art collections survived centuries of royal patronage before wartime bombing destroyed much of the city. Restoration efforts rebuilt the historic Zwinger palace to house the recovered treasures. Visitors can view Old Masters paintings within the palace's restored galleries. Nearby, the rebuilt Frauenkirche stands as a symbol of the city's postwar recovery.
City in South Africa
Cape Town
Mountains, Beaches and a Vibrant Culture
The Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa occupies a converted grain silo on Cape Town's waterfront. Architects carved dramatic galleries from the silo's cylindrical concrete tubes in 2017. Visitors can explore contemporary African art across multiple floors of curved gallery space. Nearby, the harbour offers views back towards Table Mountain.
City in Turkey
Istanbul
Where East meets West in stunning contrast
Byzantine mosaics still cover the walls of the Chora Church in Istanbul. Craftsmen created the detailed gold-backed images in the early 1300s under Byzantine rule. Visitors can view the restored mosaics after years of careful conservation work. Nearby, the Istanbul Modern museum highlights the country's contemporary art scene.
City in Japan
Tokyo
Japan's capital of temples, towers and food
TeamLab Borderless creates immersive digital art installations that respond to visitor movement. A collective of artists and engineers designed the projections to shift constantly across rooms. Visitors can walk through rooms of shifting light, colour and projected imagery. Nearby, the Mori Art Museum offers more traditional contemporary exhibitions with skyline views.
City in Argentina
Buenos Aires
Where Tango and Culture Thrive
Colourful murals and tango dancers fill the streets of Buenos Aires' La Boca neighbourhood. Immigrant dockworkers once painted their houses with leftover ship paint in bright, mismatched colours. Visitors can watch street tango performances or browse open-air art markets. Nearby, the MALBA museum houses a major collection of Latin American art.
City in United Arab Emirates
Abu Dhabi
Modern luxury meets rich traditions
The Louvre Abu Dhabi opened in 2017 under a vast perforated dome designed to filter sunlight. French architect Jean Nouvel designed the dome to mimic light filtering through palm leaves. Visitors can view art from across cultures beneath the shifting patterns of light. Nearby, Saadiyat Island continues to add new cultural institutions.
City in Spain
Figueres
Dalí Surrealism, Castles and Catalan Charm
Salvador Dali designed his own museum in Figueres, his hometown, complete with eggs on its rooftop. The surrealist artist built the museum to house his largest collection of personal work. Visitors can explore rooms designed as immersive surrealist experiences throughout. Nearby, Dali's grave lies within the museum he built himself.
State/Prefecture in United States
New York (state)
Beyond the city that never sleeps
Chelsea's gallery district packs hundreds of contemporary art spaces into a compact Manhattan neighbourhood. Dealers began moving into the area's former warehouses starting in the 1990s. Visitors can gallery-hop for free across dozens of exhibitions on any given day. Nearby, the High Line elevated park connects many of the district's galleries.
City in Spain
Bilbao
Basque culture meets bold design
The Guggenheim Bilbao's curving titanium panels catch light differently throughout the day. Architect Frank Gehry designed the building to resemble a ship, referencing the city's industrial port. Visitors can tour rotating exhibitions inside or photograph the sculptural exterior. Nearby, a giant flower-covered dog sculpture greets visitors outside the entrance.
City in Mexico
Mexico City
Vibrant Culture, History and Street Food
Frida Kahlo's former home, the Blue House, now operates as a museum in Mexico City. The artist lived and worked in the cobalt-blue building for much of her life. Visitors can tour rooms filled with her personal belongings and artwork. Nearby, Diego Rivera's murals decorate walls across the city's historic centre.
City in Russia
Moscow
A grand city of history and power
The Tretyakov Gallery holds one of the world's most significant collections of Russian art. Merchant Pavel Tretyakov donated his personal collection to found the museum in 1892. Visitors can view centuries of Russian painting, from icons to avant-garde works. Nearby, Red Square and the Kremlin add to the city's cultural landmarks.
City in Morocco
Marrakech
A vibrant maze of colors and spices
The Yves Saint Laurent Museum in Marrakech sits beside gardens the designer once owned. Saint Laurent and his partner restored the nearby Majorelle Garden after buying it in the 1980s. Visitors can tour the museum's collection and the vivid blue garden next door. Nearby, the medina's souks sell textiles and crafts across narrow winding lanes.
City in Italy
Ravenna
Mosaics, History and Charm
Byzantine mosaics cover the walls and ceilings of Ravenna's ancient churches. Craftsmen created these gold-backed images in the 5th and 6th centuries while the city served as a capital. Visitors can tour several UNESCO-listed churches showcasing the glittering mosaic work. Nearby, small workshops still practice the traditional mosaic craft today.
City in Uruguay
Montevideo
Chill vibes on the Río de la Plata
Ciudad Vieja's colonial buildings house a growing number of galleries and cultural spaces. Uruguay's capital has worked to restore the historic district's crumbling architecture. Visitors can tour galleries tucked into restored colonial-era buildings. Nearby, street art projects have added fresh colour to previously neglected city blocks.
City in United States
Chicago
Skyline, Deep-Dish and Jazz Nights
Cloud Gate, a giant reflective sculpture nicknamed the Bean, anchors Chicago's Millennium Park. Artist Anish Kapoor designed the polished steel piece, completed in 2006 after years of work. Visitors can walk beneath the sculpture and photograph its distorted city reflections. Nearby, the Art Institute of Chicago houses centuries of painting and sculpture.
City in Austria
Vienna
A Symphony of Culture and Elegance
Gustav Klimt's golden paintings hang within the Belvedere Palace's ornate galleries. The Austrian artist created The Kiss and other gold-leaf works in the early 1900s. Visitors can view his paintings alongside the palace's grand baroque architecture. Nearby, the Secession Building displays a frieze Klimt painted specifically for the space.
City in Colombia
Medellín
The City of Eternal Spring
Comuna 13's outdoor escalators are lined with murals painted by local street artists. City planners installed the escalators to improve access to a once-isolated hillside neighbourhood. Visitors can ride up while viewing murals reflecting the area's transformation. Nearby, guided tours explain the district's turbulent past and creative revival.
Town in Denmark
Humlebæk
Coastal charm with historic castles and beaches
The Louisiana Museum of Modern Art sits along the coast in Humlebaek, Denmark. Founders designed the museum's low buildings to blend into the surrounding seaside landscape. Visitors can view modern art with the sea visible through the gallery windows. Nearby, a sculpture garden extends the museum's collection into the outdoors.
City in Ethiopia
Addis Ababa
Vibrant capital where history meets modernity
The National Museum in Addis Ababa displays the fossil remains of an early human ancestor. Researchers nicknamed the famous skeleton Lucy after discovering it in Ethiopia in 1974. Visitors can view a replica of the fossil alongside other archaeological finds. Nearby markets and churches reflect the city's long cultural history.
City in Australia
Brisbane
River City with a Laid-Back Vibe
The Gallery of Modern Art in Brisbane anchors a cultural precinct along the riverfront. Queensland opened the gallery in 2006 to house its growing contemporary art collection. Visitors can explore Australian and Asia-Pacific art within the riverside complex. Nearby, a pedestrian bridge connects the gallery to Brisbane's central business district.
City in Australia
Perth
Sun, surf and city style collide
The Art Gallery of Western Australia holds one of the country's largest Aboriginal art collections. Curators have built strong relationships with remote Indigenous art communities over decades. Visitors can view traditional and contemporary Aboriginal work alongside international pieces. Nearby, the Perth Cultural Centre adds several more museums within walking distance.
City in Netherlands
Amsterdam
Canals, culture and a vibrant spirit
The Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam holds the largest collection of the artist's work anywhere. Van Gogh's family donated many paintings and letters that form the museum's core collection. Visitors can trace his career from early dark studies to vivid late works. Nearby, the Rijksmuseum houses Rembrandt's The Night Watch.
Country
Vatican City
World's smallest sovereign art treasury
Michelangelo spent four years painting the Sistine Chapel ceiling, completed in 1512. He worked largely alone, lying on scaffolding high above the chapel floor. Visitors can view the ceiling and his later Last Judgment on the altar wall. Nearby, the Vatican Museums house centuries of papal art collections.
City in Spain
Madrid
A vibrant mix of culture and nightlife
The Prado Museum's Golden Triangle links three major art museums within walking distance. Madrid built the cluster around the Prado, Thyssen-Bornemisza and Reina Sofia collections. Visitors can view Velazquez at the Prado and Picasso's Guernica at the Reina Sofia. Nearby, Retiro Park offers a green break between museum visits.
Region in Egypt
Valley of the Kings
Ancient tombs in Egypt's desert
Pharaohs of ancient Egypt carved elaborate tombs into the cliffs of the Valley of the Kings. Builders hid the tombs' entrances to protect them from grave robbers for centuries. Visitors can descend into painted burial chambers, including Tutankhamun's tomb. Nearby, temples at Luxor and Karnak add to the region's ancient monuments.
City in United States
New York City
Five boroughs of skyline, food and museums
The Guggenheim Museum's spiral ramp was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, completed in 1959. Wright intended visitors to ride an lift up and walk down the winding gallery. Visitors can view art along the museum's continuous spiral interior. Nearby, Central Park offers green space just across the street.
City in South Korea
Seoul
Where Tradition Meets High-Tech Marvels
Dongdaemun Design Plaza's flowing metallic form houses exhibitions across Seoul. Architect Zaha Hadid designed the futuristic building, completed in 2014. Visitors can explore rotating design and art exhibitions inside the curved structure. Nearby, Insadong's traditional streets contrast sharply with the plaza's futuristic, curving modern architecture.
Overseas Territory in France
New Caledonia
Tropical Paradise with French Flair
The Tjibaou Cultural Centre in Noumea celebrates Kanak art and architecture. Architect Renzo Piano designed the building's curved wooden structures to echo traditional Kanak huts. Visitors can explore exhibits on Kanak history alongside contemporary Pacific art. Nearby gardens reflect plants significant to the indigenous culture.
City in Australia
Sydney
Where urban life meets stunning beaches
The Art Gallery of New South Wales added a striking new wing built into a hillside. Architects designed the underground galleries to connect with the harbour views above. Visitors can explore contemporary art in the new wing or classics in the original building. Nearby, the Royal Botanic Garden offers a scenic walk along the harbour.
City in Australia
Hobart
Coastal charm meets historic streets
MONA, the Museum of Old and New Art, sits carved into a cliff outside Hobart. A local gambler funded the unconventional museum, which opened to acclaim in 2011. Visitors can explore provocative contemporary art across underground gallery spaces. Nearby, a ferry ride connects the museum to central Hobart along the river.
City in Nigeria
Lagos
Buzzing Metropolis with Coastal Charm
Nike Art Gallery in Lagos spans several floors packed with Nigerian art and textiles. Founder Nike Davies-Okundaye built the gallery to support and promote local artists. Visitors can browse paintings, batik and sculpture across the gallery's crowded floors. Nearby markets sell traditional Nigerian crafts alongside contemporary pieces.
City in Brazil
Brasilia
Futuristic Capital of Modernist Marvels
Sweeping concrete curves define Brasilia's modernist architecture, planned entirely from scratch in the 1950s. Architect Oscar Niemeyer designed many of the capital's most striking government buildings. Visitors can tour the cathedral's crown-like structure or nearby government plazas. Nearby museums document the planned city's rapid construction.
City in Tunisia
Tunis
Where Ancient Meets Vibrant Modernity
Sidi Bou Said's blue and white buildings have inspired painters for over a century. Artists like Paul Klee visited the hillside village and captured its distinctive colour scheme. Visitors can wander the same steep, whitewashed streets that drew earlier artists. Nearby, the Bardo Museum holds one of the world's finest Roman mosaic collections.
City in Australia
Canberra
A cultural hub surrounded by nature
The National Gallery of Australia holds one of the country's largest collections of Indigenous art. Curators have built a significant collection representing artists from across the continent. Visitors can view Aboriginal art alongside international modern and contemporary works. Nearby, sculpture gardens display outdoor works along the lake's edge.
City in Germany
Berlin
Wall history, Museum Island and all-night clubs
Museum Island in Berlin gathers five major museums onto a single river island. UNESCO recognised the complex for its concentration of significant collections and architecture. Visitors can move between museums covering ancient, classical and modern art. Nearby, the East Side Gallery displays murals painted directly on the former Berlin Wall.
City in Peru
Cusco
Gateway to the Incan Empire's Heart
Inca stonework still forms the foundation of many colonial buildings across Cusco. Spanish colonisers built churches and homes directly atop precise Inca stone walls. Visitors can trace the seams where ancient and colonial construction meet. Nearby, the Museo de Arte Precolombino displays pottery and metalwork from across the Andes.
City in Spain
Seville
Andalusia's Heartbeat of History
Flamenco museums across Seville trace the art form's roots in Andalusian culture. Performers and historians founded several venues to preserve the dance's history and technique. Visitors can watch live performances or learn about flamenco's development. Nearby, the Seville Cathedral holds the tomb believed to contain Christopher Columbus's remains.
City in China
Beijing
Ancient history meets modern dynamism
The 798 Art District occupies a former military electronics factory converted into galleries. Artists began moving into the abandoned Bauhaus-style buildings in the early 2000s. Visitors can browse contemporary Chinese art in converted industrial spaces. Nearby, traditional hutong neighbourhoods contrast with the district's modern galleries.
City in France
Paris
The city of love, art and history
The Louvre houses the Mona Lisa behind protective glass in one of its busiest galleries. French kings began the royal collection that eventually formed the museum's core holdings. Visitors can view the painting alongside thousands of other works across the vast museum. Nearby, the Musee d'Orsay occupies a former train station filled with Impressionist art.
City in Australia
Melbourne
The heart of culture and coffee
Hosier Lane's walls change constantly as street artists paint over previous work. City authorities have allowed legal graffiti in designated laneways for years. Visitors can walk the lane to see art that may look different each visit. Nearby, the National Gallery of Victoria holds a major permanent collection.
City in South Africa
Johannesburg
Vibrant city life meets rich history
Maboneng transformed from a neglected industrial district into a hub for galleries and street art. Developers and artists revived the area's old warehouses starting in the 2000s. Visitors can tour murals and galleries across the reborn neighbourhood. Nearby, the Apartheid Museum documents the country's history through powerful exhibits.
City in Germany
Düsseldorf
Riverside Charm Meets Urban Style
Dusseldorf's art academy has trained influential German artists since the 1700s. Painters associated with the school helped shape movements from Romanticism to contemporary conceptual art. Visitors can tour K20 and K21, museums holding major twentieth-century collections. Nearby, galleries along a converted harbour district display newer contemporary work.
City in United Kingdom
London
A Tapestry of History and Modernity
The British Museum houses artefacts gathered from across the former British Empire. Founders established the museum in 1753 around a physician's private collection. Visitors can view the Rosetta Stone and Egyptian mummies free of charge. Nearby, Tate Modern occupies a converted power station along the Thames.
City in Italy
Florence
The cradle of the Renaissance
The Uffizi Gallery holds one of the world's most significant collections of Renaissance painting. Medici family patronage funded much of the art now displayed across the museum's halls. Visitors can view Botticelli's Birth of Venus among thousands of Renaissance works. Nearby, Michelangelo's David stands within the Accademia Gallery.
Village in France
Saint-Paul-de-Vence
Sunlit vineyards and historic hilltop charm
Artists like Matisse and Chagall once gathered at a hotel in Saint-Paul-de-Vence. The village became a magnet for painters drawn to its light and hillside views. Visitors can tour the Maeght Foundation, a major modern art museum nearby. Nearby galleries still cater to the artistic crowd the village has long attracted.
City in Chile
Valparaíso
Colorful Hills, Art and Ocean Views
Street murals cover building after building across Valparaiso's steep hillside neighbourhoods. Local and international artists have painted the city's walls for decades, especially since the 2000s. Visitors can ride funiculars between hills while spotting murals along the way. Nearby, colourful houses stack above the port in a maze of winding streets.
City in New Zealand
Auckland
Where Urban Life Meets Nature
Maori and Pacific art traditions shape much of the work displayed across Auckland's galleries. Contemporary artists here often blend traditional carving and weaving with modern techniques. Visitors can tour the Auckland Art Gallery or visit Maori cultural centres nearby. Nearby waterfront areas host public sculpture and rotating art installations.
City in India
Jaipur
The Pink City of Royal Splendor
Pink-painted buildings give Jaipur its nickname, the Pink City, dating to a royal decree in 1876. The maharaja ordered the colour to welcome a visiting British prince. Visitors can wander the old city's pink facades and ornate palace architecture. Nearby, the Hawa Mahal's honeycomb windows once let royal women observe streets unseen.
City in New Zealand
Christchurch
The Garden City of Adventure
Street art has transformed much of central Christchurch since earthquakes damaged the city in 2011. Local and international artists painted murals across rebuilt walls in the years that followed. Visitors can follow a self-guided trail through the city's colourful street art. Nearby galleries feature work by artists who helped rebuild the city's creative scene.
City in Brazil
São Paulo
A vibrant mix of culture and cuisine
The Museum of Art of Sao Paulo displays its collection on glass panels suspended in open air. Architect Lina Bo Bardi designed the striking concrete and glass building in the 1960s. Visitors can view European masterpieces displayed without traditional frames or walls. Nearby, Avenida Paulista hosts a lively Sunday art and craft market.
Museum in Washington, D.C.
Smithsonian Institution
World's Largest Museum Complex
The Smithsonian operates nineteen museums, most clustered along Washington's National Mall. British scientist James Smithson funded the institution's founding through a bequest in the 1800s. Visitors can explore art, history and science museums, all free to enter. Nearby, the Mall stretches between the Capitol and the Lincoln Memorial.
Art Gallery in Ottawa
National Gallery of Canada
Canada's Premier Art Destination
A giant bronze spider sculpture stands guard outside the National Gallery of Canada. Artist Louise Bourgeois created the piece as part of a series placed in cities worldwide. Visitors can view the sculpture before exploring galleries of Canadian and Indigenous art. Nearby, the gallery overlooks the Ottawa River and Parliament Hill.
Museum in San Francisco
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
West Coast’s modern art powerhouse
SFMOMA expanded dramatically in 2016, more than doubling its original gallery space. Architects added a rippled white addition beside the museum's original brick building. Visitors can explore contemporary art across the expanded, light-filled galleries. Nearby, a living wall of plants covers part of the museum's new facade.
Country in United Kingdom
England
Historic Nation of Timeless Charm
The Tate galleries across England hold one of the world's largest collections of British art. A former power station in London now houses Tate Modern's contemporary collection. Visitors can explore historic and contemporary art across the Tate's several locations. Nearby regional museums extend the country's cultural offerings beyond the capital.
City in Senegal
Dakar
Vibrant markets and historic waterfront charm
The Dakar Biennale has drawn contemporary African artists to Senegal's capital since 1992. Organisers built the event into one of the continent's most significant art gatherings. Visitors can tour exhibitions across the city during the biennale's scheduled years. Nearby markets sell traditional crafts alongside contemporary gallery pieces.
City in Kenya
Nairobi
Where urban life meets wild adventures
The Nairobi National Museum blends natural history exhibits with a growing collection of Kenyan art. Curators have expanded the museum's art wing to highlight contemporary East African artists. Visitors can view traditional and contemporary work under one roof. Nearby galleries in the city continue to support emerging local talent.
Region in France
Bourgogne
Crimson vineyards and historic châteaus
Romanesque churches across Bourgogne display carved stone capitals depicting biblical scenes. Medieval sculptors carved these detailed figures into pillars throughout the region's abbeys. Visitors can tour churches at Vezelay and Autun known for their carved doorways. Nearby vineyards produce some of France's most celebrated wine alongside this artistic heritage.
State/Prefecture in China
Hong Kong
Where East Meets West
M+ museum opened on Hong Kong's waterfront in 2021, focused on visual culture and design. The building's striking form has become a new landmark on the city's skyline. Visitors can explore contemporary art, architecture and moving image works inside. Nearby, the West Kowloon Cultural District continues to add new venues nearby.
City in Peru
Lima
Historic Charm Meets Coastal Vibes
The Larco Museum in Lima displays pre-Columbian pottery within an eighteenth-century mansion. Collector Rafael Larco Herrera assembled much of the collection in the early twentieth century. Visitors can tour galleries of ceramics alongside the museum's garden setting. Nearby, Lima's historic centre reflects centuries of Spanish colonial architecture.
City in New Zealand
Wellington
Creative capital by wild seas
Te Papa Museum blends Maori and European art and history under one roof in Wellington. New Zealand designed the museum to reflect the country's bicultural heritage from its 1998 opening. Visitors can explore Maori carvings alongside contemporary New Zealand art. Nearby, Wellington's waterfront hosts additional galleries and public sculpture.
City in Brazil
Rio de Janeiro
The heartbeat of Brazil's coast
Christ the Redeemer stands atop Corcovado Mountain, overlooking Rio de Janeiro's coastline. Engineers and artists collaborated to complete the massive statue in 1931. Visitors can ride a train up the mountain for close views of the statue. Nearby, Selaron's Steps display colourful tiles collected from around the world.
City in Colombia
Bogotá
Vibrant Culture in the Andean Highlands
Botero Museum in Bogota displays donated works from Colombia's best-known painter and sculptor. Fernando Botero gave dozens of his rounded, exaggerated figures to the museum for free public viewing. Visitors can view his sculptures alongside his personal collection of other artists' work. Nearby, La Candelaria's colonial streets host additional galleries and murals.
City in Egypt
Cairo
Where ancient history meets bustling life
The Egyptian Museum in Cairo holds one of the world's largest collections of pharaonic artefacts. Treasures recovered from Tutankhamun's tomb make up a major highlight of the collection. Visitors can view golden funerary masks and thousands of ancient objects. Nearby, a newer grand museum near the pyramids continues to expand the collection's display.
City in China
Shanghai
A dazzling mix of modernity and tradition
Power Station of Art occupies a former power plant converted into a contemporary museum. Shanghai transformed the industrial building after hosting it as an expo pavilion in 2010. Visitors can explore large-scale contemporary art within the converted industrial space. Nearby, the M50 art district houses dozens of independent galleries and studios.
City in Ghana
Accra
Vibrant Culture and Coastal Charm
Contemporary galleries across Accra have drawn growing international attention to Ghanaian artists. A new generation of painters and sculptors emerged from the city's art schools in recent decades. Visitors can tour galleries in the Osu neighbourhood or visit artist studios directly. Nearby markets sell traditional crafts alongside contemporary work.
Museum in Barcelona
Picasso Museum
Barcelona’s artistic Picasso treasure
Barcelona's Picasso Museum focuses heavily on the artist's early formative years. Picasso himself donated many works from this period, given his ties to the city. Visitors can trace his development from student sketches to early Cubist experiments. Nearby, the museum occupies several converted medieval palaces in the old town.
City in Chile
Santiago
A vibrant city between mountains
Bellas Artes Museum in Santiago occupies a neoclassical building modelled on French architecture. Chile built the museum in the early 1900s to house its growing national art collection. Visitors can explore Chilean and international painting across the museum's galleries. Nearby, Barrio Lastarria's streets host smaller galleries and cultural venues.
Art Museum in Buenos Aires
Museo de Arte Latinoamericano de Buenos Aires
Dynamic showcase of Latin art
MALBA gathers Latin American art from the twentieth century under one roof in Buenos Aires. A private collector's donation helped establish the museum's core collection in 2001. Visitors can view works by Frida Kahlo alongside other major regional artists. Nearby, the museum sits in the leafy Palermo neighbourhood.
Museum in Mexico City
Palacio de Bellas Artes
Mexico's Cultural and Artistic Jewel
A retractable stained-glass curtain rises above the stage inside the Palacio de Bellas Artes. Craftsmen in Europe assembled the elaborate glass piece before shipping it to Mexico. Visitors can watch a performance featuring the curtain or tour murals by Diego Rivera. Nearby, the palace anchors the edge of Mexico City's historic centre.
Art Museum in Washington, D.C.
National Gallery of Art
Masterpieces Across Centuries
The National Gallery of Art sits along the National Mall, free to enter for all visitors. Andrew Mellon donated his personal art collection to help establish the museum in 1937. Visitors can view European masterpieces or explore a modern art wing nearby. Nearby, the Mall connects the museum to other Smithsonian institutions.
City in Japan
Kyoto
Temples, geisha districts and kaiseki dining
Kinkaku-ji's golden pavilion reflects perfectly in the pond surrounding it. Monks rebuilt the temple after a 1950 fire, recreating its gold-leaf exterior exactly. Visitors can walk garden paths for classic views of the shimmering structure. Nearby, hundreds of traditional workshops still practice crafts passed down over centuries.
City in Colombia
Cartagena
Walled city of Caribbean color
Colourful colonial buildings line Cartagena's walled old town, protected as a UNESCO site. Spanish colonists built fortifications around the city to defend against pirate raids for centuries. Visitors can wander streets filled with galleries, murals and craft shops. Nearby, the city walls offer views over the Caribbean coastline.
Art Museum in Los Angeles
Los Angeles County Museum of Art
West Coast's Premier Art Museum
A cluster of street lamps forms an unusual sculpture outside LACMA's entrance. Artist Chris Burden assembled the piece from over two hundred restored antique lampposts. Visitors can photograph the illuminated sculpture at dusk before touring the galleries. Nearby, the La Brea Tar Pits sit just across the street from the museum.
Art Museum in New York City
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
World's Premier Art Collection
The Met's collection spans over five thousand years of art from cultures across the globe. Founders established the museum in 1870 to bring world art to American audiences. Visitors can wander from Egyptian tombs to European paintings within a single visit. Nearby Central Park offers a green space just outside the museum's steps.
Art Museum in Los Angeles
Getty Center
Art, Architecture and Gardens United
A tram carries visitors up a hillside to reach the Getty Center's museum campus. Architect Richard Meier designed the gleaming white travertine buildings, completed in 1997. Visitors can explore galleries of European art or walk the centre's cactus garden. Nearby, the complex offers sweeping views across Los Angeles.
Museum in Santiago
Museum of Precolombian Art
Ancient Americas' Artistic Treasures
Santiago's Museum of Precolombian Art displays artefacts from cultures across the Americas. A former Spanish colonial building now houses the museum's growing collection. Visitors can view pottery, textiles and gold work spanning thousands of years. Nearby, the museum sits within walking distance of Santiago's historic centre.
Museum in Chicago
The Art Institute of Chicago
A Treasure Trove of Artistic Masterpieces
Two bronze lion statues have guarded the Art Institute of Chicago's entrance since 1894. Sculptor Edward Kemeys cast the lions, which locals sometimes dress in seasonal decorations. Visitors can pass between the lions before viewing works like American Gothic inside. Nearby, Millennium Park sits just a short walk from the museum steps.
Art Museum in Bilbao
The Guggenheim Bilbao
Immersive modern art in a striking steel shell
Frank Gehry's titanium-clad museum transformed Bilbao's industrial riverfront starting in 1997. The building's curving, reflective panels have become an architectural icon studied worldwide. Visitors can tour rotating exhibitions inside or simply admire the sculptural exterior. Nearby, Jeff Koons' flower-covered dog sculpture greets visitors at the entrance.
Art Museum in Philadelphia
Philadelphia Museum of Art
Epic art and iconic steps
A set of stone steps outside the Philadelphia Museum of Art became famous after a boxing film. Fans still jog up the same steps and raise their arms at the top. Visitors can recreate the scene before exploring galleries inside. Nearby, a bronze statue of the film's boxer stands at the base of the steps.
Art Gallery in Toronto
Art Gallery of Ontario
Toronto’s Artistic Treasure Trove
Frank Gehry, a Toronto native, redesigned the Art Gallery of Ontario's facade in 2008. His swooping glass and wood addition became a landmark on the city's skyline. Visitors can view Canadian and international art beneath the distinctive curved ceiling. Nearby, Chinatown and Kensington Market sit just steps from the museum entrance.
Art Museum in New York City
MoMA
Modern Art's New York Landmark
MoMA's collection began with just eight prints and one drawing when it opened in 1929. Founders built the museum specifically to champion modern art at a time few institutions did. Visitors can view Van Gogh's Starry Night among thousands of modern works. Nearby, a sculpture garden offers an outdoor break between museum floors.
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