The Art Collector’s Charter: Sail to the World’s Best Art Destinations

Embarking on a luxurious charter can also be about art exploration. Many of the world’s premier cultural destinations are by the water, allowing you to anchor there on a yacht trip. And you can always combine visiting galleries and museums with lounging in exclusive beach bars and marveling at hidden coves—that’s the beauty of luxury yacht charters. We take a look at the world’s best art destinations, including the timeless Italian cities, chic French Riviera towns, Miami’s contemporary art scene, and the wonderful cultural proposition of Istanbul. This is how to visit them on a luxury yacht charter and have a top-notch experience. 

Venice, Italy

Since medieval times, the stunning Venice has been one of the world’s art centers. The artists of the Venetian school, such as Tintoretto, Titian, and Paolo Veronese, greatly influenced European painting. The lagoon town is also a powerhouse of applied arts, famous for its Murano glass factories and Burano lace. The Venice Biennale annually transforms the city into an open-air contemporary art exhibition space. Arriving in Venice by sea is the most enchanting way to get acquainted with this town. Marina Santelena, on the eastern edge of the city center, offers a scenic and convenient mooring. You’ll anchor close to the top sights, such as Piazza San Marco, the Doge’s Palace, and Giardini della Biennale. Hire a private gondola to navigate around the narrow canals and admire the Renaissance palaces from the water. 

Nice, France

The French Riviera has always been a magnet for artistic souls. As the coast’s capital, Nice allows you to immerse yourself in a world-class art scene. The harbor here—stunning Port Lympia—is right in the heart of the city. Wander the elegant Haussmannian streets of the Quartier du Port, admire the colorful Baroque facades of the Old Town, gaze at the sapphire-blue Mediterranean waters from the Promenade des Anglais, and reach the top of Colline du Château hill for a magnificent city view. Then, head to the museums. Set in a historic villa, the Matisse Museum hosts one of the world’s largest collections of the French master’s works. Another important art address is the Marc Chagall National Museum—the Belarus-born artist lived in Saint-Paul-de-Vence, near Nice. You will find Rodin and Picasso sculptures at the palace-set Musée des Beaux-Arts de Nice on the seafront. Sail to Antibes, another French Riviera gem, to visit Musée Picasso. Housed in an old château where the Spanish painter lived, it exhibits a superb collection of his works. 

Rome, Italy

It’s not only the roads that lead to Rome—you can visit the Eternal City on a yacht too. Thanks to Porto Turistico di Roma, a large marina in Ostia, you can arrive in the Italian capital by boat. From there, it’s a 10-minute drive to the high-speed Leonardo Da Vinci International Airport train or a 40-minute private car hire trip to Rome. The city’s cultural scene needs no introduction: it’s among the world’s most exceptional. Treasures of ancient Rome are on display at the Forum Hill, the Pantheon, and the National Roman Museum. You will marvel at the well-known architectural feats, such as the Baroque Trevi Fountain, the cinematic Spanish Steps, and Renaissance St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, featuring Michelangelo’s Pietà sculpture. Then there are Roman museums. Galleria Borghese features Bernini sculptures and paintings by Titian, Raphael, and Caravaggio. One of Italy’s top art collections, the National Gallery of Modern Art, exhibits works by Van Gogh, Cézanne, Monet, and Rodin. Rome is the ultimate destination for art aficionados. 

Naples, Italy

Naples may be chaotic and full of contrasts. But there’s something magnetic in its labyrinthine streets, non-stop energy, and a whirlwind combination of architecture. The city is among the oldest urban centers in the world, founded by Greeks in the first millennium BCE. Its historic part is a mesmerising blend of ancient Greek and Roman influences with Baroque, Renaissance, Liberty, and modern styles intertwined. Walking through its Old Town feels like an adventure—you never know what stunning church will hide around the corner or what art masterpiece is found in the shabby-looking palace. The National Archaeological Museum of Naples is a must-visit for the ancient Roman frescoes. The Baroque grandeur of the monumental Duomo will take your breath away. Enter the Cappella Sansevero to admire Giuseppe Sanmartino’s masterful Veiled Christ marble statue. Chartering a yacht to Naples means you are close to other gems of the Campanian coast, such as Capri, Ischia, the Amalfi Coast, and Sorrento. 

Dubrovnik, Croatia

Small Dubrovnik certainly can’t rival Rome or Miami in terms of its art scene scale. But the Dalmatian coastal town is a perfect charter destination if you’re looking for boutique, independent galleries set among the picture-perfect Old Town. Its walled center is a UNESCO-listed stunner, inviting you to wander through the narrow alleys. Dubrovnik’s historic part is an open museum of architecture, showcasing Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque in a stunning Adriatic setting. Monuments such as the Rector’s Palace, Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, and Saint Blaise’s Church transport you to the time when Dubrovnik was a strong maritime republic of Ragusa. You will also find many smaller galleries, such as Talir, AMO art studio, and Little House, showcasing local art. The city is an ideal base for exploring South Dalmatia on a yacht charter and you can sail to the divine islands of Hvar, Mljet, and Korčula from Dubrovnik. 

Barcelona, Spain

Barcelona is a gift that keeps on giving for art connoisseurs. A large Mediterranean port that loves to reinvent itself, the Catalan capital offers phantasmagoric architecture, fascinating museums, and trendy modern art districts. Its cityscape is defined by the Modernist masterpieces of Antoni Gaudí, which will leave you awe-in

spired. Sagrada Familia Cathedral—the architect’s most stunning and intricate work—is a must-visit, along with other mesmerising creations, such as Parc Güell, Casa Batlló, and La Pedrera. But it’s just the beginning of cultural acquaintance with Barcelona. You will find Museu Picasso in the hip La Ribera neighborhood with over 4.000 of the artist’s works. The steel-and-glass MACBA offers a definitive showcase of contemporary Catalan art in the El Raval district. Another art hotspot is the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya (MNAC), with a large collection of Catalan and Spanish paintings (including works of Velázquez, Rubens, Goya, and El Greco). Visiting Barcelona by yacht is effortless—the modern Marina Vela Barcelona is steps from the Old Town.

Athens, Greece

Athens is an essential yachting stop if you’d like to immerse yourself in the ancient art. The Greek capital’s silhouette is immediately recognizable—the dramatic Parthenon rises above the city with its marble columns and Caryatid statues. Athens is a megalopolis, where thousand-year-old temples stand near modern residential blocks and Neo-Classical buildings of the Plaka neighborhood host cheerful taverns and bars. The National Archeological Museum is an obligatory visit for ancient Greek art, where you can admire Mycenaean and Cycladic treasures and sculpture masterpieces of the Greek Empire. More priceless objects await you at the modern Acropolis Museum, at the foot of the Parthenon. Visit the National Gallery to see Greek and European art from the 14th to the 20th century. Housed in the former brewery, the National Museum of Contemporary Art houses a comprehensive collection of modern art. 

Miami, US

Being on a yacht is part of Miami’s lifestyle. The sunny Florida city is among the most vibrant destinations in the US, famous for its white-sand beaches, Art Deco architecture, and Latin American influences. Located a few blocks away from the exclusive Venetian Marina & Yacht Club is the Wynwood Art District—Miami’s ultimate neighborhood for art lovers. It’s home to a thriving artistic community, with numerous galleries, art stores, and museums. Also, it’s where you find the Wynwood Walls, one of the most exciting street mural collections in the United States.  Check out The Margulies Collection at the WAREhOUSE, Bakehouse Art Complex, and Rubell Museum for the amazing collections of contemporary art and photography. If you’re in a planning mode, save the first week of December for a yachting charter to the city. It’s when the Art Basel Miami, one of the world’s largest and most respected art fairs, takes place, gathering hundreds of galleries under the Florida sun. 

Istanbul, Turkey

Bridging Europe and Asia, Istanbul is a thrilling destination for history, food, and culture. Exploring it on a chartered yacht elevates your experience—you’ll glide through the gorgeous Bosphorus Strait, marveling at the centuries-old palaces, gargantuan bridges, and countless minarets of the ornate mosques. Art-wise, Istanbul’s offer is as nuanced and diverse as you’d expect from a city of 16 million at the cultural crossroads. From the classical Turkish & Islamic Arts Museum, Sakıp Sabancı Museum, to contemporary arts-focused Galerist, Istanbul Museum of Modern Art, and SALT, there’s a lot to unpack here. The central Beyoğlu district is where you find the largest concentration of galleries. Located in the former Hotel Bristol building, the superb Pera Museum exhibits Orientalist paintings and Kütahya tiles and ceramics. Another respected modern art address in the city is Arter. You can combine an Istanbul visit by yacht with escapes to nearby Princes’ Islands, 9 charming islands in the Sea of Marmara. 

Abu Dhabi, UAE

In recent years, the capital of the UAE has emerged as the Middle East’s prime art destination. All thanks to the Louvre Abu Dhabi, a mesmerizing museum complex of enormous proportions that instantly put the emirate on the planet’s art map. Opened in 2017, it measures 260,000 square feet and features 12 galleries and 55 buildings that aim to connect East and West. The museum’s collection is always on rotation—the agreements with the Parisian Louvre, Musee d’Orsay, and Centre Pompidou allow the Abu Dhabi institution to bring the best of the French capital’s art scene to the Arabian Gulf. This makes for a unique experience, where, during one visit, you see millennia-old Egyptian sarcophagi, medieval Chinese Jin Dynasty statues, 18th-century Japanese ukiyo-e prints, and the works of Mondrian, Rembrandt, and Picasso. What’s even better, Abu Dhabi offers state-of-the-art marina infrastructure with the ultra-modern Yas Marina. You can also always combine the Louvre visit with a day trip to Dubai.