How to Choose What’s Worth Seeing: An Artsy Traveler’s Approach
I'm Carol Cram, novelist and arts travel writer, and founder of Art In Fiction, a curated database of 2,700+ novels inspired by the arts. Artsy Traveler contains affiliate links for products and services I personally use and recommend. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read the Disclosure for more information.
Many travelers wonder how to decide what’s truly worth seeing when time is limited.
I’ve been traveling around Europe for decades and I’ve learned (sometimes the hard way) to stop chasing the major sites just because they are bucket-list-worthy.
I’ve discovered that standing in long lines in the heat with thousands of cranky tourists and shuffling through a place that has long since lost its charm isn’t for me.
I get much more enjoyment from touring the Keats-Shelley Museum in Rome, for example, and chatting with the attendant about literature than I do waiting for hours to be herded through the Colosseum where even getting a place at the railing to snap a photo is a struggle.
I think we all, to some extent, suffer from FOMO, otherwise known as Fear Of Missing Out.
When you let that go and instead use your precious sightseeing time to seek out authentic arts and cultural experiences, you’ll enjoy rather than endure what you’ve come so far to see.
In this post, I share the approach I’ve developed over decades of cultural travel, including a simple worth-it filter that helps me decide what belongs on my itinerary and what doesn’t.
Table of Contents
- What I Mean by “Artsy Travel”
- Start With Your Interests, Not the Destination
- How To Decide What’s Truly Worth Your Time
- Why Skipping Major Sites Is Not a Failure
- Developing A “Worth-It” Filter
- The Role of “Perfect Days” and Slower Itineraries
- How This Approach Changes the Way You Travel
- FAQs: Artsy Travel in Europe
- An Invitation
What I Mean by “Artsy Travel”
Artsy travel is not about checking off sights, but rather about making connections, understanding context, and following your curiosity wherever it leads.
Artsy travel also involves seeking cultural experiences that bring you closer to the people and places you’re visiting: walking tours of historic neighborhoods, food tours, art openings, concerts, theater performances, and local museums.
One of my favorite things to do when I travel is going to art openings. I meet local artists, chat with fellow art lovers, and get a feel for a destination that no amount of queuing at major sights could replicate.
Ask the question: How can I get closer to the people and culture of my destination?
Start With Your Interests, Not the Destination
Being an artsy traveler is an extension of my lifelong love of the arts and culture.
If you also share this love, start with what interests you and then study the destination in terms of how it meets those interests.
When I plan a trip, I don’t start with the city’s “top sights”. I start by asking myself what kinds of cultural experiences I’m most drawn to, and then I build from there.
Museums
What kinds of museums are at your destination? Search online for local museums and choose two or three that appeal to you.
For example, in Paris, maybe skip the Louvre and check out a smaller art museum devoted to a favorite artist, such as the Rodin Museum. If you love history, choose to tour the stunning medieval collection at the Cluny Museum.
Architecture
What about architecture? Prioritize interesting temples, churches, palaces, and other architectural monuments that you find interesting but that are not necessarily three-star sights.
Seek out the places that may be fascinating, but don’t draw the crowds. For example, in Athens, skip the Acropolis and spend time wandering around the magnificent Temple of Haephestes in the Agora.
Music
If you love music, then build your itinerary around concerts and performances. Check what’s playing in your destination and get tickets in advance.
For example, if you’re traveling to Vienna, you won’t want to miss an evening concert and a visit to one or more of the composer houses. Standing in the room where Beethoven composed the 7th Symphony is artsy traveling at its best.
Dance
What kind of dance is popular in your destination? If you’re visiting Seville, Spain, for example, you may want to allocate time to take in a flamenco performance (highly recommended).
Literature
If you’re a literature lover, find museums, locations, and tours associated with your favorite authors. For example, in London, join an Oscar Wilde walking tour, and in the Lake District, visit Dove Cottage where Wordsworth lived.
Theater
I love theater and so when I’m traveling around England, I almost always pop into Stratford-upon-Avon to catch a performance by the Royal Shakespeare Company. And, of course, I never miss taking in a few West End musicals when in London.
If you love theater too, find out what’s on and purchase your tickets in advance.
An evening spent at a theatrical performance brings you closer to locals and gives you insights into a destination that you can’t get by following the tourists hordes.
Cities and sights don’t matter as much as what you’re personally drawn to. You really don’t need to visit the big sights just because everyone says you should.
That’s not to say you should never visit a major attraction, but do so judiciously to avoid crowds and enjoy the experience.
For example, if you love architecture and you’re visiting Barcelona, you don’t want to miss touring the Sagrada Familia. To ensure a stress-free visit, purchase your timed-entry ticket well in advance of your visit.
An artsy traveler is a savvy traveler.
How To Decide What’s Truly Worth Your Time
When I’m deciding how to spend my time in a new city, I apply these criteria to deciding what to see and what to skip.
Does This Sight/Experience/Performance Add Something New?
I prioritize sights that give me new experiences. For example, on a recent visit to Rome, I joined a small-group photography tour that took me to seven churches I’d never visited and taught me new photography skills.
Is There Context or Story?
Seek out museums or sites that help deepen your understanding of a subject, whether it’s of an artist, a period in history, or a cultural icon.
Instead of waiting in line to take the elevator up the Eiffel Tower, go to the Musée Quai Branly and explore one of the world’s richest collections of Indigenous art and artifacts. You’ll have the place to yourself and you’ll learn a lot.
Will I Remember This a Year From Now?
Consider how the place will resonate emotionally. When you think back on your experience, will you be glad you took the time to go deeper and connect with the experience, or will you just remember sore feet and sharp elbows?
Does It Fit My Energy?
Take into account your energy levels when deciding what to see in a day. Schedule active sightseeing for the morning and take time in the afternoons to relax in a café and watch the world go by.
Why Skipping Major Sites Is Not a Failure
I get it. You go to Paris and you feel that if you don’t shuffle through the Louvre, you’ve not really seen Paris. And don’t get me wrong—the Louvre is incredible, but it’s also hot, crowded, and enormous.
If you don’t have a lot of time in Paris, go to the Orangerie and commune with Monet’s water lilies, or seek out an off-the-beaten-path gem like the Musée Zadkine with its quirky sculptures.
Make joy your priority.
Instead of worrying about what you’re skipping, think about what you’re choosing. Every site you choose to visit will be one that resonates with you and your interests.
The only perfect itinerary is the itinerary that feels right for you.
Developing A “Worth-It” Filter
Over time, I’ve developed what I think of as my “worth-it filter”, which is a simple way to decide what belongs on my itinerary and what doesn’t.
The worth-it filter consists of four questions:
- Does this sight or experience interest me?
- Is this something I can only (or best) experience here? For example, I may pass on a generic sightseeing tour and instead choose a neighborhood walk or food tour that helps me understand how people actually live.
- Does it fit the pace I want for this trip?
- Is there a cultural experience here I can only have in this destination?
The Role of “Perfect Days” and Slower Itineraries
I like to craft perfect, thoughtfully shaped days in the destinations I visit. Instead of rushing around seeing six sights in eight hours, I structure a day that builds in free time and opportunities for serendipity.
Think about what a perfect day might look like for you.
What’s Your Perfect Day?
For example, on your perfect day, you may get up early and have a stroll through the historical center of a city before the crowds emerge and then enjoy a leisurely breakfast in a small café.
You might then visit one museum that really speaks to your interests. For me, such a museum would be the Etruscan Museum in Rome because I’m fascinated by the Etruscans, or the Courtauld Gallery in London with its incredible collection of Impressionist and medieval art.
Following a museum visit, take an hour or two to enjoy lunch at a restaurant filled with locals, with no plasticated menus in four languages to be seen.
In the afternoon, wander around a neighborhood to window-shop and people-watch and then relax in a garden. What’s the hurry?
In the evening, take in a concert followed by a splurge dinner featuring local cuisine. End the day with a stroll back to your hotel.
If you’d like a ready-made perfect day itinerary for Paris or Copenhagen, my Perfect Day guides are available to download.
How This Approach Changes the Way You Travel
An artsy traveler is a calm and happy traveler. By seeking out sites and experiences that resonate with your interests, you are engaged and involved.
For example, touring the DDR Museum in Berlin to learn about life in East Germany gave me an appreciation for the Cold War, an era I lived through and yet knew very little about in terms of its effect on people living in Soviet Bloc countries.
The goal is to come home with stories rather than just photos. Months later when you reflect on your trip, you want to feel good about what you saw and experienced.
FAQs: Artsy Travel in Europe
Artsy travel is an approach to travel that prioritizes cultural experiences over ticking off famous sights. It means building your itinerary around your interests, whether that’s art, music, theater, architecture, literature, or food, and choosing depth over breadth. The goal is to come home feeling connected to the places you visited rather than simply having photographed them.
Start with your interests rather than the city’s top ten list. Ask yourself what kinds of experiences you’re most drawn to, and then research what the destination offers in those areas. Apply the worth-it filter: does it interest you, is it something you can only experience here, does it fit the pace you want for this trip, and is there a cultural experience here I can only have in this destination? Those four questions will serve you better than any guidebook ranking.
Yes. Skipping a famous sight is not a failure. It’s a choice. If the Colosseum doesn’t interest you as much as the Keats-Shelley Museum, your time is better spent at the Keats-Shelley Museum. Travel is not a test with required answers. The only itinerary worth following is the one built around what gives you joy.
Search online for museums devoted to specific artists, periods, or subjects that interest you. Read destination guides that focus on arts and culture rather than general tourism. Ask locals and hotel staff for recommendations. Wander gallery districts in the early evening and drop into art openings. Some of the best cultural experiences in Europe are found by paying attention rather than following a list.
Fewer than you think. One or two meaningful experiences in a morning, lunch at a local restaurant, an afternoon of wandering or rest, and an evening concert or performance makes for a satisfying day. Trying to see six sights in eight hours leaves you exhausted and with shallow memories of each. Slow down and you’ll remember more.
Go directly to the websites of the venues you’re interested in: concert halls, opera houses, theaters, and cultural centers. Search for terms like “concerts in Vienna in October” or “theater in London in June.” GetYourGuide is also a good resource for finding smaller performances, specialty tours, and cultural experiences that don’t always appear on major booking platforms. Book as early as possible since popular performances sell out months in advance.
Search online for terms like “vernissage Paris” or “art opening Rome” combined with your travel dates. Stroll gallery districts in the early evening, particularly on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, when openings are most common. In Paris, the Left Bank and Marais districts have high concentrations of galleries. If you pass a gallery with people spilling out onto the pavement with wine glasses, walk in. You’ll be welcomed.
An Invitation
If this approach to travel resonates with you, here are some posts that put it into practice.
Perfect Day Itineraries for Culture Rich Cities
These posts present itineraries for thoughtfully shaped days designed around art, culture, and unhurried exploration:
- Perfect Day in Florence: An Itinerary for Artsy Travelers
- Perfect Day in Paris: An Itinerary for Artsy Travelers
- Perfect Day in Madrid: An Itinerary for Artsy Travelers
Museum Guides that Focus on Depth Rather Than Volume
Here are some of my guides for travelers who want to experience museums without burnout.
- 12 of the Best Modern Art Museums in Europe
- Paris for Art Lovers: Nine of the Best Small Museums in Paris
- How to Get the Most Out of Your Visit to the Victoria & Albert Museum in London
Guides to Planning Meaningful Cultural Travel
These posts help you plan trips around curiosity, context, and connection, rather than crowded must-see lists.
- How to Plan Meaningful Culture Travel
- Experiential Travel for Art Lovers: How to Connect With Local Artists
- How to Experience Europe Without the Crowds: 10 Joyful Travel Tips
Carol M. Cram writes novels inspired by the arts; runs Artsy Traveler, an arts-focused travel blog, and Art In Fiction, a curated database of 2,700+ novels inspired by the arts; and hosts The Art In Fiction Podcast. She has also authored 60+ textbooks on computer applications and taught at Capilano University for over two decades. Carol lives with her husband, artist Gregg Simpson, on beautiful Bowen Island near Vancouver, BC.
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