The Best Cities for Female Travelers Who Love Art, Culture, and History

Close up of the water flowing in a fountain at the Place de la Concorde in Paris.

What are the Best Cities for Women Who Love History, Art, and Culture to Explore?

What sorts of things do you look for when you choose a spot to travel? Everyone has their own preferences, and often the destinations are determined by these preferences. Some people love to find the most beautiful spots in nature or the most remote places to escape the bustle of society. Others love to find the best shopping centers and malls, or the fanciest clubs and casinos. However, while we love a bit of everything, our biggest preferences are history, culture, and art. We’re a women’s travel group called The Dandelion Journals and we have a variety of itineraries for our annual trips to our favorite places on earth!  While we love a bopping modern bar in a busy nightlife scene as much as a quiet nature walk in the densest forest, what we are most after in our trips abroad is the culture and all it entails (including how history drives it and how art highlights it). In today’s article, we are going to discuss some of the world’s best cities for art, history, and culture for women to travel to who love immersion in culture as much as we do. Ready to get started? Let’s go!

Best Cities for History

Every town and city in the world has a history of its own. Some cities, however, have deep, extensive histories that date back for hundreds of thousands of years and have hosted some of the most significant events in history. We chose three cities that are among the top of this list and that each have a deep and important history: Rome, Athens, and London.

History of Rome

Founded nearly 3,000 years ago in the year 753 B.C., Rome, Italy is considered to be one of the most influential empires in the history of the world. Not only that, but with the expansion of the Roman Empire reaching its peak in AD 117, its influence extended to Asia, Africa, most of Europe, and even as far north as Hadrian’s Wall near the border of England and Scotland. Considering this, it is not surprising that Roman culture and technology was adopted by many of these places, the effects of which can still be seen today! As the primary capital of the Roman empire, the city of Rome was a marvel in its prime, with architecture, artwork, aqueducts, and other various forms of advanced technology. To this day, many of its ancient structures still stand thousands of years later, making Rome a must-see city for women who love history! Some of the most famous sites are the Colosseum, the Pantheon, St. Peter’s Basilica, and the Trevi Fountain.

History of Athens

Even older than Rome by thousands of years is the city of Athens, Greece. Athens is one of the world’s oldest cities, which actually inspired much of what was to later come in Rome. Around the 5th century B.C.E., roughly 2,500 years ago Athens was the cultural center of Greece known for its democracy, philosophy, art, education, and commerce. As the birthplace of democracy, the Olympics, the marathon, and the inspiration for Rome, it is easy to deduce Athens to be one of the most influential and important cities in history! Modern-day Athens is still the capital of Greece and is a busy and vibrant city that blends modern culture with ancient history. If you want to travel to the best cities for history, then you can’t keep Athens off of your list! Any woman traveler who loves history should visit the Acropolis, the Parthenon, Odeon of Herodes Atticus, and the Temple of Hephaestus to name but a few of the great historical sites in the city.

History of London

While Athens inspired Rome, it was actually Romans who first founded London, England. As the Roman Empire expanded its conquest north and occupied England, they built London as a strategic settlement that was close to the River Thames and provided easy access to mainland Europe. After the Roman occupation of England came to a close, the Anglo-Saxons were able to reclaim their country and took control of London. Since then, the city has blossomed and grown tremendously, eventually becoming the capital of England. The city has withstood Viking invasions, plagues, a great fire, civil war, the London blitzkrieg bombings in World War II, terrorist attacks, and riots. To put it simply, this city is resilient and is steeped in important history. Today, London is still England’s capital and is a great place to visit for any history lover. The city boasts more than 200 museums, many of which are dedicated to its vast and extensive history. Even at night, London is a generally safe city, adding to its appeal for tourists, especially solo female travelers. As one of the best cities for history, some of the historical sites to add to your bucket list are the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, the Tower Bridge, and Buckingham Palace. London is an absolute must-see city for any history lover!

Best Cities for the Arts

Cities in general are known for their architectural achievements, plethoras of museums, and public displays of artwork. Some cities, however, far outshine the average city for their contributions to the art world, and contain some of the most beautiful and visited art in the world. We chose three cities that are known as some of the best cities for the arts across the globe: Paris, Florence, and Seoul.

Art of Paris

When most people think about Paris, France the first thing that comes to their mind is a famous artistic sculpture called the Eiffel Tower. Right off the bat, this should tell you what to expect in Paris. As an art hub and one of the best cities for art in the world, Paris is a place where all sorts of art styles have become popular, including impressionism, symbolism, art nouveau, fauvism, cubism, and abstract art to name just a few! This is a city where many great artists come to learn and fine-tune their craft. Paris also hosts many great art museums, including the Louvre, which is the largest museum in the world. Not only does its symbolic glass pyramid out front represent the valuable artwork that can be found inside, but it is the home of the Mona Lisa, the most famous painting in the world. Paris is also covered in murals and street art, and hosts thousands of local street artists, street performers, mimes, and other types of artists. If you love art, then Paris should be first on your bucket list!

Art of Florence

Whether you remember studying it in school or not, you have all likely heard of the Renaissance. This artistic movement was born out of Florence, Italy, one of the best cities for the arts, not only in Italy or in Europe, but in the world! This artsy city is also known for the Florentine School, which is a large group of famous artists who developed their skills in, around, or through the influence of Florence. This group includes some of the most famous artists in history, including both Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci! Considering how many masters of their craft created their masterpieces in Florence, it is not surprising that the city is filled with wonderful art museums. Some of the best include the Galleria dell’ Accademia, which is where you can find Michelangelo’s famous sculpture of David, the Uffizi Gallery where you can find Botticelli’s Birth of Venus, and the Palazzo Pitti, which contains at least 500 Renaissance paintings and a beautiful garden property beside it known as the Boboli Gardens. Again, while these are some of the best museums in the city, there are dozens to choose from.

Art of Seoul

While many people might think of European countries such as France and Italy when they think of famous artwork, one city not to overlook in your pursuit of fine art is Seoul, Korea. The art styles of Asia are unique from those in Europe and Seoul is known for traditional art forms that date back hundreds of years, including calligraphy, pottery, and ink wash painting. Not only is Seoul a lively and incredible city to visit on its own, but the art that can be found there makes this one of the best cities for the arts and a must-visit for art lovers. Seoul boasts a variety of famous art museums, including the Leeum Art Museum, the Seoul Arts Center, and even the National Museum of Korea. The latter contains Comb-pattern Pottery of a ceramic cup that dates back to 3,000 BCE, the Pensive Bodhisattva statue that dates back to the sixth century, and even a breathtaking Ten-story Stone Pagody from the fourteenth-century. The variety of artwork and styles makes Seoul a worthy destination for art-loving female travelers!

Best Cities for Rich Culture

One of the best things about cities are the rich cultures that form there. As places with large populations, often named the capitols of the countries that they are in, and that represent the heart of their respective countries, cities are usually steeped in unique, rich culture. We chose three cities that have irresistibly rich and must-experience cultures: Kyoto, Mexico City, and Johannesburg.

Culture of Kyoto

While Tokyo is more world-famous, more populated, and the capital city of the nation, Kyoto, Japan is considered to be the cultural heart of Japan. This city is filled with the old and the new, a blend of ancient artwork, temples, and shrines, along with modern shops, restaurants, and festivals. Nicknamed the “City of a Thousand Temples,” Kyoto is rooted in deep spiritual traditions that still carry on to this day. Kyoto is home to hundreds of Japanese national treasures and blends the beauty of architecture with the serenity of traditional gardens. Not only is this city a great place to experience the essence of Japanese culture, but it is also the perfect place to find solace, meditate, and do some self-reflection. Temples, gardens, and shrines make it easy to connect with your spirituality in this cultural city. Learn about their traditional tea ceremonies, flower arrangements, and more when you visit this amazing place.

Culture of Mexico City

Often overshadowed by its larger neighbor to the north, Mexico is an amazing place filled with a rich and unique culture. The capital of the country, Mexico City, is the cultural hub of the nation and gives visitors a glimpse into what Mexico is all about. With a history stemming from the blending of indigenous cultures such as the Nahua, the Mayans, and the Mixtecs with the settling culture of the Spanish, Mexican culture is a beautiful blend of ancient culture and colonization. The culture of Mexico City is very vibrant! From energetic mariachi music and salsa dancing, to colorful architecture and decorations, to spicy mouthwatering cuisine, the lively culture of the city is a breath of fresh air for any woman traveling who loves to experience rich culture Mexico City is well-known for its party culture that starts on “little Friday,” which is their fun way of describing Thursday. The city also celebrates Día de Los Muertos, which translates to Day of the Dead, on November 1st and 2nd. This holiday celebrates the concept similar to Halloween’s origins of All Hallow’s Eve, where a portal is opened up between the living and the dead and is even the theme of the Disney movie Coco. If you want to experience an energetic culture, then add Mexico City to your bucket list!

Culture of Johannesburg

Lastly but most certainly not least, we head to the continent of Africa! The capital city of Johannesburg, South Africa is an incredible blend of a variety of cultures, including native African cultures and a series of colonizing European cultures. Subsequently, this city is a polyglot with a variety of common languages spoken. It is also one of the most diverse cities in Africa, because while the majority of the white people in Africa live in South Africa, the capital city still has a black majority. It is a racial, religious, and linguistic melting pot, giving it a diverse and very unique culture! Joburgers, as locals refer to themselves, are known for their Sunday Market on Main where all sorts of vendors come to sell food, clothing, artwork, furniture, and other goods. Live music is usually part of these events, making it an exciting shopping experience for the visitors. The city is also big on outdoor activities such as dancing and dining because of the beautiful climate and landscape of the area. Johannesburg truly provides travelers with the South African Experience and is the perfect travel destination for anyone who loves rich culture. 

Join a Group of Women to Travel Alongside in 2025

As you plan out 2025, consider where you might want to travel to. If you are interested in visiting the best cities for art, history, and rich culture, then tag along with us! The Dandelion Journals is a small women’s travel group offering intimate and enriching travel experiences. We have several trips planned throughout the year to some of the most beautiful countries with the best cities for the arts. We would love for you to join our group and travel abroad with us on one of our international trips in 2025. Send us a message to learn more about what trips we have available. We look forward to seeing you in 2025!