Indigenous cultures, contemporary art, high fashion, wartime history, and ancient artifacts line the halls of the world’s most intriguing museums. It is through these cultural institutions, and their captivating collections and exhibitions, that the world’s curious travelers find deeper insight in a new destination. 

We are delighted to bring you an array of museums and exhibitions chosen by Rebecca Recommends partners as some of the can’t-miss options in their respective locales. Dream Escape, in particular, can arrange for exclusive opportunities at some of London’s finest cultural centers, including:

• The Somerset House’s Photo London exhibition, coming up May 10th – 14th, with an inspirational mix of vintage and modern photography from Master of Photography Martin Parr and a number of galleries from around the globe.

Located in the center of London, Somerset House Studios connects artists, makers,
and thinkers with audiences. Photo credit Flickr

• A pre-opening tour inside the British Museum with a specialist guide, followed by a privately guided backstage tour of the Royal Opera House. 
• Privately guided tours of both the Tate Modern and the Victoria & Albert Museum with specialist guides. 
• A private viewing of the “Sistine Chapel of the UK,” a masterpiece of English baroque art with an in-house guide.

The Painted Hall in Greenwich is one of Europe’s most beautiful Baroque interiors. Photo credit Flickr

We’re happy to make the introduction so that you may offer your art- and history-loving clients Dream Escape’s unassuming, yet ultra-luxe experiences with their touch-down to take-off itineraries incorporating these fine museums. 

Now, read on for more of the world’s top museums and exhibits of the moment, which Rebecca Recommends partners can help provide access, either by proximity or private visits. 

Visit Istanbul’s New Art Museum with Sea Song

Istanbul Modern showcases works of modern and contemporary art, photography,
design, architecture, and new media. Photo credit Renzo Piano

Museum lovers – and those with an eye for architecture – won’t want to miss the re-opening of the Istanbul Modern in Turkey. This beautiful building was designed by the Italian architect Renzo Piano and is an elegant addition to the seaside and Galataport area. Time magazine has called the city itself “a classic reborn,” particularly calling out this new addition in Karaköy. The front of the museum will be adorned with a sculpture by Tony Craig, while inside, museum-goers will find an array of art by Turkish and other contemporary artists, further securing Istanbul as the Contemporary Art Capital of the Middle East. Stay tuned for the opening date. 

Focus on Parisian Art Exhibits with Découvertes 

Découvertes has an eye for the best Paris art exhibitions – use this as a starting point to arrange your clients’ artistically inclined visits to the City of Light. The esteemed DMC has curated a series of exceptional exhibitions that showcase a diverse range of artistic styles, from classic to contemporary. 

Start with the “Matisse and the 1930s” exhibit at the Centre Pompidou, open until June 18th. The exhibition will showcase some of the finest artworks of Henri Matisse from this time period, during which he experimented with new techniques and styles. The collection features more than 200 art pieces, including paintings, drawings, sculptures and more. 

If the Matisse exhibit does not line up with your clients’ travel dates, they can perhaps visit for the Germaine Richier exhibition, on display until July 31st. Richier was a French sculptor known for her unique style that combined abstract and figurative elements. Visitors may view some of her best works, including sculptures, drawings, and photographs. 

From May 3rd to August 13th, the Musée Jacquemart-André will host “The Work of Giovanni Bellini” exhibition. Giovanni Bellini was an Italian Renaissance painter known for his religious artworks, some of which can be seen here, including altarpieces, Madonnas, and portraits.

Découvertes also recommends the “Neo-Romantics” exhibition at the Musée Marmottan-Monet, showcasing the works of some of the most important Neo-Romantic artists from Britain. Over at the Musée d’Orsay, they suggest the “A Meeting with Léon Monet” exhibition, which explores the remarkable friendship between Claude Monet’s brother, Léon Monet, and renowned Impressionist artists such as Renoir and Pissarro. This exhibition features paintings, sketches, and letters that provide an intimate look at the lives and artistic practices of these influential figures. Also at the Musée d’Orsay, don’t miss “Between Manet and Degas,” which examines the artistic relationship between these two masters of the Impressionist movement, highlighting their differences and similarities in technique, subject matter, and style.

For lovers of modern art, the “Basquiat and Warhol” exhibition is a must-see. Located at the Centre Pompidou, this exhibition explores the relationship between two of the most iconic artists of the 20th century, Jean-Michel Basquiat and Andy Warhol, who were instrumental in shaping the contemporary art scene in America and beyond.

We encourage you to visit us at [email protected] to learn more about these remarkable exhibitions, which provide an opportunity to gain insight into the lives and works of some of history’s most celebrated artists.

Explore New York City’s World-Class Museums with Beyond Times Square

One of the world’s largest and finest art museums, the Metropolitan Museum of Art has more
than two million works of art spanning 5,000 years of world culture.

People travel to New York City for myriad reasons, not least of which is the city’s seemingly endless selection of museums. From art to aviation, from history to the Holocaust, from ice cream to the Intrepid, from books to Broadway, from science to space, from wax to war, there truly is a museum for everyone.

To make it easier for your clients to decide which ones to check out when they’re visiting the Big Apple, Beyond Times Square has come up with a list of the top four not-to-be-missed museums. Read on for inspiration, then get in touch so we may connect you with the museum connoisseurs of BTSQ.  

The Metropolitan Museum of Art (aka The Met)

The Met famously houses more than 5,000 years and more than 2 million works of art from around the globe, making it one of the world’s largest and most extensive art collections. Sound like a lot to take in? No worries – with Beyond Times Square’s Treasures of the Met Guided Tour, guests are introduced to The Met’s most important works in its permanent collection, with a BTSQ-savvy art specialist serving as a licensed tour guide. Plus, this private tour can be customized based on your client’s interests.

The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum

This is a must-see for many reasons, but one of the coolest is the fact that this museum is actually an aircraft carrier – the USS Intrepid – that served in World War II, the Cold War, and the Vietnam War. Within this unique venue, visitors will also find the infamous supersonic British Airways Concord and the Space Shuttle Enterprise. Be sure to walk through the Growler, the United States’ only nuclear submarine open for the public to tour.

Museum of Broadway

This new experience (opened in November 2022) immerses you into the world of Broadway through artifacts, props, costumes, and much more. What can visitors expect? A totally Instagrammable journey that takes one from the birth of Broadway in the 1700s to the present via three sections: the Map Room, The Timeline, and The Making of a Broadway Show. Learn about the history of the theaters, find out which shows became known as “groundbreakers” back in the day, and see why it takes a village to bring shows from conception to opening night.

The Museum of Modern Art (aka The MoMA)

The MoMA plays a major role in developing and collecting modern art.

Thanks to its extensive collection of modern and contemporary art, including pieces from famed 20th– and 21st-century artists van Gogh, Picasso, Kahlo, Warhol, and more, it’s little wonder this is one of the most visited museums of its type in the world. Looking to take it all in without the crowds? Check out Beyond Times Squares’  Private Pre-Opening or After-Hours VIP Tour at The MoMA with an art historian who’ll provide a guided museum tour of the masterworks of MoMA’s collection, the museum’s architecture, and current exhibitions. Tours can be customized to focus on specific galleries, mediums, or collection areas.

Explore a Lesser-Known India Museum with Ventours International 

For travelers who have “been there, done that,” Ventours International suggests the insightful Sanskriti Museums. Start with the Museum of Everyday Art, established in 1984 to create an environment for the preservation of India’s heritage and to showcase objects that demonstrate excellence in craftsmanship and conceptual innovation, be it in design or functionality. Objects of everyday life connected with the manners and customs, beliefs, and practices of the urban and rural populations of India are on display, exemplifying the exuberant imagination and aesthetic creativity of craftspeople from all over India.

The Sanskriti Foundation cultivates an environment for the preservation and promotion
of India’s artistic and cultural resources.

Move on to the Sanskriti Museum of Indian Terracotta, a celebration of the functional art of terracotta, the first creative expression of civilization. From the common earthen pot that stores drinking water to the giant-sized cultic equestrian figures of the rural Tamil deities of the Aiyyanar cult, terracotta art occupies a central position in Indian life and culture. Terracotta art bears testimony to the varied and ancient traditions of its practice in India over five millennia and has been free from the rigid rules of the constituted Hindu canons governing artistic expression. 

The genesis of the Sanskriti Museum of Indian Textiles is rooted in what started as a small private collection built over the last three decades by Shri O.P. Jain, the founder/president of Sanskriti Pratishthan. Professor Jyotindra Jain then joined him in conceptualizing and curating the exhibits in the museum galleries. The unique feature of this collection is that it stems from one individual’s aesthetic and cultural vision, which makes it a harmonious, unified whole.

Resemble Reassemble at the Devi Art Foundation explores artworks that, when taken apart
and then reassembled, produce meanings that are universally true in ‘visual thinking’.

Ventours also suggests visiting the The Devi Art Foundation, the first contemporary art museum in India. Born out of a desire to increase viewership of creative expression and artistic practice, the museum hosts permanent and temporary exhibitions of Indian art from the collections of its founders, Anupam Poddar and his mother, Lekha Poddar. The museum is described by Art Asia Pacific as “one of India’s most important private collections,” containing “more than 7,000 contemporary, modern and tribal artworks from across the Subcontinent.”

Centered around the collection of the naturalist, collector, and gemologist Late Gyan Chand
Ji Dhaddha, the museum showcases an eclectic collection not to be missed.

In Jaipur, consider visiting the Gyan Museum & Gem Factory, which employs 250 specialized craftsmen involved with the intricate process of designing, stone cutting, and setting bespoke jewelry for boutiques across the US, UK, and Europe.

This private museum is designed by the renowned French architect Paul Mathieu and displays more than a thousand treasured artifacts, amassed during the lifetime of collector and gemologist Mr. Gyan Chand Dhaddha. Textiles, paintings, rare inscriptions, antique jewelry, and more, some of which date back 3,000 years, are all available to view in a minimalistic, tasteful display.

Check Out Notable Australia and New Zealand Museums & Exhibitions with Southern Crossings

From New Zealand’s North Island to the nation’s southernmost reaches, there are museums and exhibitions right across the country that cover almost every interest. While it’s certainly hard to choose where to begin, Southern Crossings considers the following among those not to miss. 

Te Papa Tongarewa, Museum of New Zealand, Wellington

Te Papa Tongarewa translates to ‘container of treasures’, and explores the national identity of
New Zealand. Photo credit Camilla Rutherford

New Zealand’s preeminent museum is without a doubt Te Papa, located on the waterfront in the nation’s capital. Learn about New Zealand’s past, present, and future through one of the most important collections of Māori artifacts, including a specially commissioned marae (traditional meeting house) featuring intricate Māori carvings, woven panels, and stained glass. With interactive permanent exhibits and a colorful calendar of touring exhibitions, Southern Crossings can arrange behind-the-scenes tours of the museum tailored to suit guests’ individual interests.

Waitangi Treaty Grounds, Bay of Islands

Waitangi Treaty Grounds, the signing location of New Zealand’s founding document,
the Treaty of Waitangi. Photo credit Tourism New Zealand

On a beautiful waterfront site in the Bay of Islands sits what is perhaps New Zealand’s most sacred site: the Waitangi Treaty Grounds. It was here on February 6, 1840 that the Treaty of Waitangi was signed by the British Crown and Māori chiefs, effectively becoming the founding document of New Zealand. Today the grounds are home to various historic buildings, two museums, a beautifully carved marae and Ngātokimatawhaorua, the world’s largest ceremonial waka (war canoe). On a Southern Crossings private guided tour, visitors can learn about the Māori history of the region, as well as local legends, and hear how dramatically the Treaty of Waitangi has shaped New Zealand right through to today. 

International Antarctic Centre, Christchurch

How many museums have penguins and huskies, or rooms in which you can experience a polar blizzard? The International Antarctic Centre in Christchurch has them all. This southern city has been a staging post for explorations of the polar continent for more than a century, and visitors can now relive these brave and perilous journeys through the many exhibits at this interesting museum. Bringing together history, science, and spectacular nature, museum highlights include the Storm Dome in which visitors can shelter from an Antarctic storm in an ice-cave buffeted by -18℃ winds; the Hagglund Field Trip, where visitors ride aboard the all-terrain vehicles used to traverse Antarctica’s icy landscapes; and come face to face with flipper-flapping penguins. 

Christchurch Street Art 

A decade on from the devastating earthquakes that tore through downtown Christchurch, the rebuilding of the city has really taken shape – also as a canvas for creative street art that delivers new vibrance and joy to the Christchurch cityscape. As the city rebuilds, colorful works by inspiring artists have created an ever-evolving exhibition. Together these works have earned Christchurch a place on Lonely Planet’s list of street art capitals of the world and Southern Crossings Travel Designers can arrange interpretive walking tours that provide context to the city’s most colorful works. 

Australia’s capitals and regional towns present a collection of intriguing museums covering everything from the history of Qantas to the “Shearers Hall of Fame,” the National Museum of Surfing or Cricket, and maritime history and space discovery. The Southern Crossings team can suggest museums that cater to almost any interest and in every corner of the continent, often with privileged access or private guided tours.  

MCA (Museum of Contemporary Art), Sydney

Containing over 4,000 works by Australian artists in addition to other artists around the world,
the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia is located on the beautiful waterfront
of Syndney’s The Rocks neighbourhood. Photo credit Tourism Australia

Exhibiting the works of acclaimed Australian and international artists across all artforms – painting, photography, sculpture, moving image, and more – the MCA’s constantly evolving collection of contemporary works also includes significant representation of works by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists. Located on the water’s edge between the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge, the MCA café and rooftop sculpture terrace offer sweeping Sydney Harbour views.

MONA (Museum of Old and New Art), Hobart, Tasmania

Located within the Moorilla winery, the museum exhibits ancient, modern, and contemporary art
from the David Walsh collection. Photo credit MONA

The largest privately funded museum in the Southern Hemisphere, David Walshe’s MONA presents a showcase of striking architecture and a thought-provoking (often controversial!) collection of art, sculptures, sensory challenges, and exhibitions. The museum, the brainchild of passionate art collector and proud Tasmanian Walshe, is co-located with Moorilla winery, Source Restaurant, Faro Bar and Restaurant (bringing together food, wine, in-situ art, music, performance, and experimentation), and a collection of other eateries. Southern Crossings can arrange tailored experiences, lasting from sunrise to sunset.

Engaging Exhibitions

Featuring more than 150 prints, photographs, sculptures, and murals that celebrate renowned street artist Banksy’s works, “Without Limits” opens in Brisbane’s Queen’s Plaza in May before traveling to Sydney, Perth, Adelaide, and Melbourne in the coming months (dates and venues yet to be announced). The touring exhibition includes recently recreated works that have not been readily accessible, including seven murals that originally popped up in war-torn Ukraine.   

During Vivid (held annually in May and June), Sydney comes alive with outdoor and immersive light and music installations dotted around the harbor foreshore and popular city precincts. Each year, boundary-pushing artists shine new light on the city of Sydney cleverly fusing art and technology. Annual highlights include the kaleidoscopic transformation of the Sydney Opera House’s white sails and the Harbour Bridge pylons as canvases for art. Southern Crossings can arrange luxury cruising experiences to cruise amongst the floating light installations or guided walking tours to introduce visitors to interactive installations.   

Finally, Sculpture by the Sea in Sydney (annually in October and November), is one of the largest free outdoor sculpture exhibitions in the world, presenting a collection of outdoor sculptures that line the breathtaking coastal landscapes along the perennially popular Bronte to Bondi walk. Each year, the 2-km walk presents more than 100 works by local and international artists. Pro tip: Arrive early to see the sun rising over the Pacific Ocean and beat the crowds.  

As always, if you need assistance with trip planning or execution with any of our Rebecca Recommends partners, or more information on any of the above, please be in touch. We love to hear from you.