Artsy Traveler in Europe

I love traveling in Europe and have definitely missed going over the past two years. That’s all about to change as I gear up for a major trip to Europe in the fall of 2022. I’ll be visiting Britain, Denmark, Germany, France, and Italy and searching out artsy travel sites and activities to share with you.

Discover artsy sightseeing opportunities in these European countries:

You’ll also find plenty of links to posts about specific topics such as Music Lover’s Guide to ViennaTop Ten Modern Art Museums in Europe, and Exploring and Loving San Gimignano.

Why Sensational Siena Belongs on Your List of Top Medieval Cities

Why Sensational Siena Belongs on Your List of Top Medieval Cities

What is it about Siena that makes an artsy traveler swoon? Mention Siena to anyone who has traveled there and ...
Carol Cram in Amsterdam

Two Terrific Small Museums In Amsterdam You Should Visit

I love Amsterdam, which is why on almost every trip to Europe I make it my first stop. Since 1970 ...
Carol Cram in Sirmione on Lake Garda in northern Italy

Experience the Magic of a Night in Sirmione on Lake Garda

The tiny town of Sirmione on Lake Garda in northern Italy is truly magical. Stay overnight and you'll have the ...
Carol Cram at Pratto del Valle in Prato

A Week in Fascinating Little Padua Reveals Hidden Treasures

Padua in northern Italy, a quick train ride from Venice, can keep the Artsy Traveler well entertained for several days ...
Top Ten Favorites at the Uffizi Gallery in Spectacular Florence

Top Ten Favorites at the Uffizi Gallery in Spectacular Florence

The Uffizi Gallery in Florence is an Artsy Traveler must-see, particularly for artsy travelers who love Renaissance art. I've visited ...
Carol Cram, the Artsy Traveler, in Madrid

Exploring Fascinating Madrid–Europe’s Best-Kept Secret for the Artsy Traveler

In October of 2023, I spent two weeks in Madrid (minus a three-day excursion to Ávila and Cáceres at the ...
Savoring Life in Pont-Aven—The City of Artists

Savoring Life in Pont-Aven—The City of Artists

We’ve come to beautiful little Pont-Aven in southern Brittany for six days. The works created by painters of the Pont-Aven ...
Six Sensational Days in Paris for an Artsy Traveler

Six Sensational Days in Paris for an Artsy Traveler

This post presents a day-by-day account of six days I spent in Paris in September 2023. During our stay, my ...
Musée d'Orsay in Paris: An Inspiring Must-See for the Artsy Traveler

Musée d’Orsay in Paris: An Inspiring Must-See for the Artsy Traveler

I don't think I've ever not visited the Musée d'Orsay on any of my many trips to Paris. The museum ...
Exterior of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam

Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam: Guaranteed Thrills for the Artsy Traveler

I first visited the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam in 1970 and remember it as a gloomy, rather dingy place. The famous ...
Carol Cram at Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam

Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam: Best Bets for the Artsy Traveler

I remember the first time I saw the Van Gogh Museum, almost 50 years ago. Compared to the gingerbread façade ...
Tanvi Pathare and the Villa Lena in Tuscany

Free Your Inner Floral Artist at Stunning Villa Lena in the Tuscan Countryside

Ever wanted to paint in the Tuscan countryside? This is your chance! Sign up for a flower painting retreat with ...
Exterior of the National Gallery in London

London’s National Gallery: The Best of the Best

I love the National Gallery in London! It's small enough to enjoy in a few hours without getting exhausted (unlike ...
Birmingham city center canals

Birmingham: A Pleasant Surprise for the Artsy Traveler

Back in the day, industrial Birmingham did not have the best of reputations. I lived in England for four years ...
Row of cypress trees in Tuscany in the late afternoon

A Tuscan Dream Come True: Sant’Antonio Country Resort near Montepulciano

Every so often when traveling, serendipty rears its delightful head. The plans you've made go awry, but instead of facing ...
A Visit with Tuscan Artist Silvia Salvadori in Arezzo, Tuscany

A Visit with Tuscan Artist Silvia Salvadori in Arezzo, Tuscany

Artsy traveling means being on the lookout for interesting encounters with artists, artisans, musicians, writers—the whole pantheon of creative people ...
View of heather and moorland in Yorkshire

Yorkshire: Plenty of Variety for the Artsy Traveler

I first visited Yorkshire in 1974 at the age of eighteen during my epic around-England-by-train journey with two friends (read ...
Chef Marco at InRome Cooking making pasta

Cooking in Roma with InRome Cooking

Culinary tourism is definitely a thing, and nowhere more so than in Italy. Food tours and cooking classes abound and ...
View of the RSC theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon

Stratford-upon-Avon: A Must-Stop for the Artsy Traveler

Stratford-upon-Avon is about a two-hour train journey from London and a perfect first stop after visiting the capital. Stay at ...
Arlington Row in Bilbury in the Cotswolds

Exploring the Cotswolds with Go Cotswolds Tours

Although I lived only a few hours from the Cotswolds back in the 1970s, I rarely visited the area and ...
London skyline including big ben and parliament buildings

London in Two-and-a-Bit Days for the Artsy Traveler

Doing London in two days (even with a bit added on after landing on the first day) is kind of ...
Bar at the Folies Bergeres by Manet

Courtauld Gallery in London: A Treasure Trove for the Artsy Traveler

I recently visited the Courtauld Gallery within hours of landing at Heathrow after flying to London from Vancouver. After three ...
Front door of the Wilde Aparthotel

We Have a Winner – Stay at the Wilde ApartHotel in Central London

The Wilde Aparthotel at Covent Garden is the perfect place to stay on a short visit to London. The price ...
Trunk of a large cork tree

Myth-Making & Travel: Three Magical Moments with Trees in Dartmoor, England by Guest Poster Tina Overbury

An Artsy Traveler is always on the look-out for those magical moments that make traveling so, well, magical. And if ...
Venice in Three Days for the Artsy Traveler

Venice in Three Days for the Artsy Traveler

A three-day visit to Venice gives you a flavorful taste of this float-on-water, impossibly beautiful city. I love Venice and ...
Best of France: Ten Day Itinerary for Paris and the South

Best of France: Ten Day Itinerary for Paris and the South

This short itinerary works well if you have a limited time and you want to explore, at a reasonably leisurely ...
Top Ten Artsy Novels to Read in Europe

Top Ten Artsy Novels to Read in Europe

Do you enjoy reading novels set in the places you are traveling to? I know I do. I love curling ...
Courtyard in the Alhambra in Spain

Artsy Favorites in Spain

When it comes to artsy favorites, Spain has more than its fair share of wonderful sights and experiences. From amazing ...
Whitewashed house in Sparin

Favorite Regions in Spain

You can’t “do” Spain in one trip, but you can see a fair bit of it in two or three ...
Caves on the Algarve in Portugal

Favorite Regions in Portugal

We've traveled to Portugal several times and find it a compact country that packs a lot of sightseeing punch. You’ll ...
Statue of Beethoven

Artsy Suggestions in Germany

Following are a few artsy highlights that I’ve enjoyed in Germany. You’ll find hundreds more. Bach Museum in Leipzig If ...
View of castle in Germany

Favorite Regions in Germany

My suggestions are based on my trips to Germany. We plan to explore much more of the country over the ...