Art tips

Lonely Planet social media manager, Rachel Lewis, recently traveled to Rhode Island for a cozy weekend break filled with festive walks, coffee shop hopping and yoga. Here, she shares some tips and insights for anyone planning a similar trip.

An Aboriginal healer, dressed as a Jedi and wielding a glowing blue boomerang like a lightsaber, beckons to me. Inching my way along the shadowy corridor of Flinders Street Station’s third floor, I find twisted tree roots carved into haunting sculptures, ancient spirits cast in red neon lights, and an ochre termite mound rising from the centre of a cavernous ballroom. A woman’s mournful singing floats in the darkness. 

An armada of towering icebergs has arrived along the coastline of Qaanaaq, Greenland.

In the heart of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh is undergoing a transformation unlike any before. The city is redefining its contours and colors under the aegis of Riyadh Art, a national public art initiative that is turning the capital into a canvas for creative expression. This initiative is part of a broader cultural movement, one that seeks to weave art into the very fabric of Riyadh's urban landscape, making it synonymous with an immersive artistic experience. At the forefront of this cultural renaissance is Noor Riyadh, the world's largest light art festival, which returned for its third edition, transforming Saudi Arabia's capital into a luminous playground for artists and art enthusiasts alike. The festival, which once again cast its glow on November 30, 2023, and will continue to shine until December 16, distinguishes itself by inviting artists from all corners of the globe to participate in the city's metamorphosis into a realm of light and art. It's a celebration that extends beyond mere visual spectacle, transforming Ryadh into an open-air gallery that marries the beauty of the desert with the boundless possibilities of light and art.

Locals and tourists frequently swarm to the DUMBO area of Brooklyn for some iconic photos of the Manhattan Bridge, as well excellent shopping and cutting edge art. Visitors can now add another reason to stop by. Just steps from the Brooklyn Flea, NINA is a new restaurant that focuses on fresh, seasonal ingredients and seeks to create a warm environment where sharing plates add to the fun.

Founded by Greeks in the first millennium BCE, Naples is one of the most ancient cities in Europe – and it remains alluring to this day.

Consider Gold List the answer to the question our editors get asked more than any other: What are your favorite places to stay? Our 30th annual iteration of the world’s greatest hotels and cruises captures nearly a year’s worth of work: This collection of 75 resorts and hotels represents hundreds of hours of researching, scouting, and impassioned debating by our team of editors in seven cities across the globe. But more than that, it reflects our ongoing love affair with the places where we stay, which often become our gateways to entire destinations. Read on to inspire your next trip.

Paris is a mosaic of densely populated neighborhoods, known as arrondissements, which spiral clockwise like a snail shell from the Left Bank (south) and Right Bank (north) of the Seine River right up to the périphérique (ring road) that encircles the city.

Ask A Local is a new series where we ask clued-up insiders to share their top tips for the place they call home.

It’s easy to spend your way across Lima.

The Tokyo skyline is known for its ulta-sleek 5-star hotels perched high above the city overlooking walled gardens, centuries-old royal palaces, and majestic Mount Fuji. But the soaring cityscape was taken to new heights this year with the addition of Bulgari Hotel Tokyo, which occupies the 40th-45th floors of Tokyo Midtown Yaesu ultra-skyscraper.

You might think it’s a given that a globemaker is well-travelled; making or painting a globe is, after all, like having a travel brochure staring you in the face all day. In my case, it’s also, apparently, in the blood. My great-grandmother was Marion Carswell Livingstone, who, according to my grandmother (with whom I’d never argue), was descended from David Livingstone. But when I travel, it’s often to see where globes are made, as much as the place they’re made in.

What do you get when you cross two alums of the fine dining pantheon The Modern with the finest Italian seafood, creative cocktails and deep and esoteric wine list all in a gorgeously chic Soho setting? Say hello to Principe, which is fast becoming everyone's new favorite downtown destination.

Hilton, the iconic hotel empire whose first property opened in 1919, has once again been named the most valuable hotel brand in the world, remaining above its pre-pandemic brand value and topping the Brand Finance Hotels 50 ranking with $11.7 billion in brand value. The Brand Finance Global 500 rankings assess the value of brands globally based on their financial strength and brand equity. Hilton’s world-class brand portfolio is comprised of more than 7,215 properties, in 122 countries and territories.

The skyline of Amman looks a bit like a game of Tetris. From the top of the Bronze Age Citadel, the city’s highest point, the view seemingly comprises tiny blocks of tightly compacted, limestone houses strewn with washing, topped with water tanks and interspersed with the odd cypress tree. The clear blue sky is occasionally pierced by one of the city’s many minarets. The soundtrack, a cacophony of traffic and car horns honking from the streets below, is soothed by the echoes of the call to prayer.

Cairo is a magnet for travelers on a budget, and many of the capital’s attractions are free or cheap to visit – paying just $11 gets you entry to the Pyramids of Giza, the only surviving wonder of the ancient world.

In Lima, the equatorial climate is never cold and it almost never rains, making it a perfect place for kids to play outside in parks and at the beach.

As one of the world's favorite budget travel playgrounds, Bangkok has freebies galore. From golden temples, captivating monasteries and vast open-air markets to meditation sessions and people-watching on the most famous backpacker strip in the world, the Thai capital can keep you entertained for weeks, even on the tightest of budgets.

For travellers planning a culture-focused adventure, as hubs of human creativity, cities are the best place to start. From Milan to Riyadh, Budapest to Shanghai, the world abounds with buzzing metropolises, each offering something unique in the cultural sphere. Some cities function as living galleries in themselves through city-wide street art or award-winning architecture. Others offer artistic ways to explore history and culture, from immersive exhibitions to forward-thinking initiatives. But whichever you choose, you'll find inspiration on every corner. Here are five of the best.

Cosmopolitan Melbourne is arguably Australia's most exciting urban adventure. Famed for its food, sport and obsession with artisanal coffee, it's a city that never stands still. The Central Business District (CBD) mixes Victorian architecture with the steely glint of a skyscraper skyline, carved up by tram lines and the Yarra River, making it a handsome place to wander and easy to travel around. You could try to catch an Aussie Rules match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, or pay your respects to Australia's top artists at the National Gallery of Victoria — but many of the city's greatest delights are hidden down its skinny laneways and ornate arcades, where locals nurse flat whites at hole-in-the-wall cafes splashed with street art, or while away hours dipping in and out of small independent shops.  

There are a handful of towns, sprinkled across the US, that celebrities love to hunker down in. There’s Montecito, the costal area around Santa Barbara, that counts Oprah and Prince William as neighbors. There’s Montana’s Gallatin county, where Jessica Biel and Justin Timberlake supposedly savor the Big Sky along with Bill Gates. And then there’s Franklin, an apple-pickin’ Americana town just outside of Nashville. Among the white picket fences and wide brick porches, a number of celebrities, mostly with country music ties, call Franklin home including Keith Urban, Brad Paisley, and Tim McGraw.