Art tips

Today, around 4.4 billion people live in cities. That’s more than half the world’s population, set to increase to almost 70% by 2050. While urban environments bring with them myriad benefits, from economic advantages to entertainment, they also often come with a lack of connection to nature — and it shows. Travel destinations, hotels and wellness centres around the world are catching on, offering a variety of outdoor therapies that promise to help visitors with their physical and mental wellbeing.

Famously beautiful, San Francisco is one of the most filmed, photographed (and shared on social networks) cities in the world. It’s even better in real life.

With Hong Kong Art Month approaching in March, art-world insider and Museum Director of M+ Suhanya Raffel shares her top recommendations for art aficionados

The 20th century was unkind to Vienna. The capital of the Habsburg empire until 1918, it was, by early 1989, a bleak and battered outpost within touching distance of the iron curtain. Now that the city has undeniably recaptured its glory of old (symbolically, its population grew to two million last year, its pre-first world war imperial population), it might seem counterintuitive to visit it for its modernist architecture. But this is a highly rewarding endeavour, especially if one wishes to avoid an overdose of Sachertorte (chocolate cake), horse-drawn carriages, flamboyant churches and palaces, and imperial tat.

Wheeling my luggage past the sliding doors, it was hard to believe I was in the middle of Newark Liberty International Airport and not a hotel lobby. Upon entering the light-filled room, I walked past a wooden bookshelf lined with eclectic decor to the fruit-infused water station sitting on vibrant flooring. This was all far from what I'd come to expect of an airport lounge.

Move over, Myers-Briggs. Human design has become one of the most popular frameworks for assessing our personalities. But it’s more than a way to understand yourself better—human design can also help travelers find the best places to visit that align with their innate nature and energy.

If you’ve ever dreamed of getting lost in a whimsical work of art or sleeping in a fairyland, your dream can come true at the The Kelsey Montague Art Experience, also known as the Gulch Wings Home. It’s an Airbnb unlike any other, and it’s the brainchild of Kelsey and Courtney Montague who are sisters and business partners in the venture.

Situated on the banks of the Mississippi River, Baton Rouge blends 300 years of diverse history into an enticing melange of culinary, creative and entrepreneurial culture. Home to Louisiana State University along with Cajun and Creole cultures, "the Red Stick City" of Baton Rouge is where Louisiana's capital, flagship university and distinctive cultures all come together. The city boasts a thriving arts culture and food scene making it a hub for unique festivals all year long. From gumbo and crawfish to parades and tailgates and its very own brand of blues music, Louisiana's capital city’s calendar is buzzing with events throughout 2024.

Kagoshima, the prefecture that wraps around the southern end of the Japanese island of Kyushu, is said by some to resemble the head of a dragon. At the mouth of this dragon stands Sakurajima, one of the country’s most active volcanoes, whose plumes of smoke can often be seen from the capital, Kagoshima City, just a short ferry ride away.

The editors of Forbes Travel Guide predict that 2024 will be a year filled with “meaningful travel.” Of course, the meaning of meaningful is entirely in the eye of the frequent flier. FTG’s list of 24 top destinations for 2024 covers it all, whether you enjoy sports, art, food or history. From Portugal to Peru, these places promise to make a lasting impression.

The memories of my first encounter with the California desert are so clear and intense that sometimes I wonder if I invented them, but I don’t believe so. I was hitchhiking across the States — it was the 1970s — and I was a young Englishman ‘on the road’, having read too much Jack Kerouac. My lift dropped me at a gas station near Barstow, a city in the Mojave Desert, in the south of the state. The car was air-conditioned and as I got out, I was hit by a wall of heat as strange and thrilling as anything I’d ever experienced. 

Palm Beach is hot and is making its mark on the art scene. With the constant trickle of millionaires and billionaires moving to the area, the desire to build a robust art community is greater than ever, and gallerist Sarah Gavlak is among those leading the charge.

An explosion of colorful, engaging painting shows provide a welcome antidote to the short days and general lack of sunshine that can make winter in London a tad dreary. Here are six essential art exhibitions to visit over the next month.

Scores of travelers trek to Italy each year in order to experience the country’s majestic landscapes, fascinating culture, artistic treasures and renowned cuisine. Visitors flock to Rome, Venice, Milan and Florence for a true taste of Italian flare.

As with all of the Nordic region, Finland is known for its striking natural beauty. Lakes and forests cover much of the country, yet the majority of Finland’s 5.5 million residents live in cities.

Guests on Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas will now have the opportunity to see the world’s largest kinetic art installation.

Mark your calendars: On April 8, 2024, a rare total solar eclipse will cut a path across the continent beginning with Mexico, passing through the US, and exiting through Canada. The line of totality for this celestial phenomenon will cross through 13 US states with some areas seeing a maximum totality of over four minutes (including Bloomington, Indiana, and Mesquite, Texas). So, there are plenty of chances to observe the eclipse as it arches from Texas to Maine, hitting Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, and New Hampshire on the way.

While traveling in a country as big as the USA can be daunting, you have to start somewhere. Why not a weekend getaway?

A Victorian favourite once billed as the ‘Queen of Welsh resorts’, Llandudno has kept much of the charm that made it so popular. The curving promenade framing Llandudno Bay, the aroma of fish and chips wafting in the air, pastel-coloured art deco houses lining the seafront and old-fashioned amusements on Llandudno Pier all combine to deliver a quintessential British seaside break. The town also serves as gateway to a wealth of natural attractions in Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park and water-based adventures in Colwyn Bay.  And a stay in Llandudno can be combined with a trip to Conwy, across the river of the same name, which has a mighty castle and Britain’s smallest house.

A woman who said she was diagnosed with breast cancer after stealing artifacts from Pompeii said she hadn't' known about "the curse," referencing a myth that stealing from the site brings bad luck.

Delve into Local Strolls, a series where writers reveal their favorite walks in their hometowns. Each route offers a snapshot of urban life, guiding you to lesser-known attractions and cherished local spots. Here, Cristian Bonetto explains why an aimless stroll through South Melbourne reveals some overlooked delights.