Arts-inspired Travel that Goes Beyond the Checklist

Are you an independent traveler who chooses museums over tourist traps, personalized experiences over generic tours, and local restaurants over anywhere with laminated menus in four languages?

Then you’re in the right place!

I’m Carol Cram: novelist, passionate lover of the arts, and an enthusiastic traveler who books concert tickets and special exhibitions before hotel rooms.

If you love arts and culture, concerts, great food, the occasional wildlife encounter, and hidden gems that make a trip genuinely memorable rather than just another checklist of sights, then come along with me for the ride!

Know What You Want?

New to Artsy Traveler? Start Here

Love Museums?

Explore curated museum guides and must-see highlights that bring history and art into focus.

Carol Cram in front of the National Gallery of canada

Want Cultural Experiences?

Discover performances, workshops, and hands-on experiences that connect you more deeply to a place.

Khon masked dancer performing traditional Thai classical dance at Penthai Theatre Bangkok

Planning a Trip?

Browse destination guides with arts-focused itineraries and practical tips to help you travel comfortably and confidently.

Short on Time?

Try a “Perfect Day” itinerary that brings together art, culture, relaxed wandering, and memorable meals.

Guards doing the changing of the guards in Athens

Get Arts & Travel Inspiration

Every two weeks, I send a short update with a featured post from Artsy Traveler, a Travel Tip drawn from my decades of independent travel, a Carol’s Pick featuring a recommended hotel or tour, a featured episode from The Art In Fiction Podcast, and an artsy novel recommendation to read before, during, or after your next trip. It’s the kind of email arts-loving travelers look forward to.

Send Me the Update

What’s New on Artsy Traveler

Fresh posts, new discoveries, and the occasional deep dive into a museum, destination, or cultural experience worth knowing about.

The Sound of Music Tour in Salzburg: Is It Worth Your Time?

I saw The Sound of Music when it came out way back in 1965. I was nine years old and ...

Carol Cram in front of a viaduct in Yorkshire on a Yorkshire day trip

A Day Trip to Haworth and the Yorkshire Dales from Manchester

If you're touring England without a car and want to take a day trip to Haworth and the Yorkshire Dales, ...

Design Hotel Modez, Arnhem: A Fashion Hotel in an Artsy Neighbourhood

When I booked two nights in Arnhem so I could revisit the Kröller-Müller Museum, I expected the museum to be ...

Kröller-Müller Museum: Why It’s Worth a Trip

I first visited the Kröller-Müller Museum in 1974 when, at the tender age of eighteen, I was backpacking solo in ...

Carol Cram standing among the ancient stones of Castlerigg Stone Circle near Keswick, with Lake District fells behind

Ten Lakes in a Day: A Mountain Goat Tour from Windermere

My first day in England's Lake District was gloriously sunny and breezy: sun sparkling off the water, fluffy clouds kissing ...

White three-story Lindeth Howe hotel seen across its landscaped gardens near Bowness-on-Windermere

Staying at Lindeth Howe: A Beatrix Potter Base in Bowness-on-Windermere

On a glorious breezy, sunny day, I arrived at Windermere station and caught an Uber to Lindeth Howe, my very ...

View All Posts

The “Perfect Day” Series

When I visit a new destination, I like to distill my experience into one satisfying day to share with fellow artsy travelers. My Perfect Day itineraries balance art, culture, relaxed wandering, and memorable meals to help you connect more deeply with a place, even if you have just one day to explore.

How to Spend a Perfect Artsy Traveler Day in Venice

Every time I visit Venice, I spend the first hour or two smiling so broadly my face aches. Even with ...

Statue of Mozart in front of a treble clef picked out in red flowers in Vienna

How to Spend a Perfect Artsy Traveler Day in Vienna

If you love music, then put Vienna on your Artsy Traveler bucket list. Here is where Beethoven, Mozart, and Haydn ...

Nyhavn colorful houses and harbor in Copenhagen.

How to Spend a Perfect Artsy Traveler Day in Copenhagen

I love Copenhagen! The last time I visited, I found myself wishing I could move there so I too could ...

How to Spend a Perfect Artsy Traveler Day in Florence

Florence reeks of the Renaissance probably more than any other city in Europe. In fact, I sometimes think it's becoming ...

How to Spend a Perfect Artsy Traveler Day in Athens

During a perfect Artsy Traveler day in Athens, you'll balance cultural sightseeing with relaxed wandering and memorable meals. My itinerary ...

How to Spend a Perfect Artsy Traveler Day in Madrid

Madrid was a revelation. I had the opportunity to spend two weeks there while Gregg Simpson (husband, artist, frequent travel ...

Go to the entire series…

Meet Your Artsy Traveler Companion

Looking for museums, cultural experiences, and novels set in the places you’re planning to visit? Your Artsy Traveler Companion knows the Artsy Traveler archives and the Art In Fiction database inside out. If you’re Europe-bound, ask it about destinations, art museums, or novels set in the countries and cities you’re visiting, and it will match you with exactly what you’re looking for.

About Carol

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.