There are thousands of inspirational places in the world to travel but some are better than others for art lovers. The arts comprise all the things that Millennial women value most: a sense of community, creativity and the power of personal expression. The new generation of art enthusiasts are emerging to embrace today’s arts scene in a new way: as immersive experiences, and the best way to gain those is through travel.
From Buenos Aires to Helsinki, these are Notable x American Tourister’s Top 4 Trips For Women Who Love Art + Design.
Helsinki, Finland
The city is a mix of architectural styles with side streets lit in pinkish northern light, the things Instagram dreams are made of. The ornate Jugendstil facades, painted pretty shades of pastel in the Eira neighbourhood, look like households made of macarons. The epicentre of Helsinki style is a neighbourhood called Punavuori, now formally known as the Design District with nearly 200 cafés, bars and hotels along Mannerheimintie, the city’s main street, to Heitalahti harbourside where the antiques hall and flea markets are.
Pro packing tip: Finland is one of the warmest European countries in summer but you’ll want to dress in layers because the wind and rain can arrive without notice. Make sure your luggage is spacious enough for an umbrella, there’s a good chance you’ll need it for a few hours in Finland.
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Buenos Aires is a classic bucket list destination for lovers of art and design. The Metropolitan Design Centre is located right in the heart of the city’s Design District and doubles as host for the International Festival of Design. The city of Buenos Aires believes that economic development is entirely dependent on creativity so there’s funding for arts around every corner. This is a city that blends century-old cafes with tree-lined streets and a population of incredibly passionate people. The Meseo de Art Latinoamericano de Buenos Aires (Malba) is considered one of the best art museums on the South American continent.
Pro packing tip: Remember that Argentina’s summers are opposite to Canada’s so, it will be wintertime when you arrive in July. In your luggage, you’ll need space for denim, the #1 fashion staple in Buenos Aires, and a couple of nice jackets. Argentina is passionate for fashion; pack to dress well and impress.
Austin, Texas, USA
The state capital of Texas is a magical place where small businesses thrive at the intersection of art, music and digital technology. You can visit the Mexic-Arte Museum to see Latino figures and iconography, The Harry Ransom Center for a self portrait by Frida Kahlo and one of the first books to ever come off the printing press, the Guttenburg Bible, or the Mondo Gallery, “the coolest movie theatre in the world”. With festivals like SXSW Music, Film and Interactive, Austin City Limits Music Festival and Fantastic Fest, Austin is an arts + culturalist paradise.
Pro packing tip: Austin is full of eclecticism, especially with fashion. Most days are sun-soaked and sweltering so pack a few hats, plenty of denim cut-offs and some vintage rock tees. Suede ankle booties and a fringe bag wouldn’t be bad ideas either.
Turin, Italy
Far from the glitz and glam of Venice, Florence, Rome and Naples, Turin is far up north and infused with the industrial grit that artists tend to love. Turin is surrounded by rolling green hills with snowy Alpine peaks in the background, and the historic centre is filled with sumptuous baroque palaces and art nouveau mansions, and a labyrinth of shady arcades lined with fashion boutiques, funky aperitivo bars and romantic restaurants serving delicious Piemontese cuisine. Though there is an endless stream of art, design and fashion exhibitions, opera and concert performances, food and wine tastings, plus festivals of theatre, cinema, street art and music, the city of Turin itself is the real star of the show.
Pro packing tip: Sun dresses and breathable fabrics are the solution for sweltering summers in Italy but leave room for light sweaters too. As Turin is in the north of Italy, you’ll feel a nice breeze and cooler temperatures in the evenings. Turin is an ancient city with uneven cobblestone streets; bring a large enough suitcase to pack 1 pair of walking shoes, 1 pair of flats, 1 pair of flat boots and a pair of flip-flops.
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Contest alert!
Notable Life has teamed up with Samsonite Brand American Tourister to give away FOUR (4) pairs of tickets to this summer’s hottest music festivals and concerts (Red Hot Chili Peppers, Queen & Adam Lambert, NXNE and Sled Island), AND each prize package comes along with a shiny new set of Air Force 1 luggage pieces.
You can easily enter the contest by clicking the link below, and you can check out the straightforward contest rules here too.