The best city breaks combine relaxation, excellent food, and cultural experiences. Here are some of the artiest cities in the world, where you are guaranteed to have an itinerary full of gallery visits if you wish.
Amsterdam, the Netherlands
This buzzing capital houses the Van Gogh Museum as well as Dutch master Rembrandt’s house, and a sizeable collection of masterpieces in the Rijksmuseum. Visiting Rembrandt’s house is a more intimate experience than going to either of the museums, but each location offers the chance to come face-to-face with some of the world’s most famous art. There are also numerous smaller museums dotted around the city and plenty of independent art galleries to browse in. If all the galleries are tiring you out, relax at a café with a coffee and stroopwafels.
San Francisco, California
This city offers a huge range of art, from classical to modern, housed in different venues right across the city. Go to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art to experience lots of contemporary, cutting-edge art, in a building that is itself an architectural masterpiece. Public art is dotted throughout the streets, so is easy to spot if you’re just going for a wander or looking for a place for lunch. There is also the Asian Art Museum, home to 18,000 works in its permanent collection, and the De Young Museum, where you can see American art from the 17th right through to the 21st centuries.
Shanghai, China
Within the metropolis of Shanghai, there are plenty of art and cultural spots to explore. The Shanghai Biennale is a contemporary art festival (inspired by the original in Venice) that takes place in the Power Station of Art. In 2023, the festival will start on November 9th and run through to March 31st, 2024. Visit the Museum of Contemporary Art if you like modern works or head to the Shanghai Museum which houses ancient Chinese art dating back thousands of years.
