9 Famous Painting Locations To Travel To

There are many reasons to pick a holiday destination: culture, movie sets and family ties. But what about the landscapes and destinations that are so breathtaking they inspired some of history’s most famous works of art?

From Vincent Van Gogh to Norman Rockwell – famous artists around the globe couldn’t help but be inspired by nature to create some of their most revered works. Why not pay a visit to these famous painting locations to find your own inspiration?

1. Water Lilies by Claude Monet

Claude Monet’s famous and rather dreamy Water Lilies was the artwork that inspired this list, and it was a recreation of his very real garden at his home in Giverny, France (yes, I’m jealous too).

Located along the Seine River, you can still stroll through the gardens of Monet’s home today. Expand your cultural experience in Giverny by joining one of many art tours, stopping in at the Musée des impressionnismes, walking or cycling through the quaint streets or jumping in a hot air balloon to see it all from above.

Monet Giverny, France — Visit Monet’s home in Giverny.

2. Cafe Terrace at Night by Vincent Van Gogh

This 1888 oil painting by famous Dutch artist Vincent van Gogh actually depicts the very real Le Café La Nuit in Arles, France. In fact, that cafe leaned so hard into its reputation that it is now called Cafe van Gogh.

You can laze away an afternoon at this bright yellow cafe even today with coffee, or a delicious meal matched with wine.

Dine in at Cafe van Gogh. (Image: Restaurant Café Van Gogh)

3. Stockbridge Main Street at Christmas by Norman Rockwell

Painting the quintessential white Christmas scene is 20th-century artist Norman Rockwell’s Stockbridge Main Street at Christmas. It’s not hard to deduce that the inspiration for this artwork was, in fact, Main Street in Stockbridge, Massachusetts.

You can visit not only this street but also the Normal Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge today. You’ll find plenty of nearby places to find further inspiration, including rotating outdoor sculpture exhibitions and the native plants of Berkshire Botanical Garden.

Stockbridge Massachusetts — Wander the snowy streets of Stockbridge that inspired Rockwell.

4. At the Moulin Rouge by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec

While the crowds found inside the famous Moulin Rouge may look quite a bit different since Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec memorialised them in his painting of the Parisian icon sometime between 1892 and 1895, it’s still an incredible sight.

Get dressed up and take in dinner and a show, from around 133€ ($217), before exploring the rest of what this romantic city has to offer.

5. American Gothic by Grant Wood

If you haven’t laid eyes on this iconic painting from 1930, then you’ve at least seen it goofily referenced in several movies since (.

While the people featured in the painting were just “the kind of people [he] fancied should live in that house", the house itself was actually inspired by the American Gothic House (also known as the Dibble House, after its builders Catherine and Charles Dibble) in Eldon, Iowa.

Built in 1881-82, it changed hands many times until it was donated to the State Historical Society of Iowa in 1991. Today you can enter the house on the second Saturday of the month from April to October.

See American Gothic House, then visit the centre across the road. (Image: Cari Nicely)

6. Au Lapin Agile by Pablo Picasso

It’s no secret that Paris inspired more than its fair share of artists, and this famous painting by Picasso depicts a very real and famous cabaret club in the Montmartre area of Paris, Au Lapin Agile.

Today, you can still book into this 19th-century stone house for an entertaining night of classic French songs and poetry in a casual, intimate setting. Prices start at 35€ ($57) and include a glass of champagne.

Listen to local musicians at Au Lapin Agile.

Weekly travel news, experiences
insider tips, offers, and more.

7. Christina’s World by Andrew Wyeth

One of the best-known American paintings of the mid-20th century may have many stories explaining who the woman in the painting is, but what we can be sure about is that the location is Olson House in Cushing, Maine.

While the house is temporarily closed to the public while ongoing restoration work goes on inside the house, tours will return when it’s done.

8. Guernica by Pablo Picasso

Considered Picasso’s most important political painting with a strong anti-war sentiment, Guernica depicts the aerial bombing of this small northern Spain town during the Spanish Civil War in 1937.

While you can visit the painting in Madrid’s Museo Reina Sofía, you can also travel to Guernica (official name Gernika-Lumo) and get a look into the history of the Basque people when you stop at the Biscayan Assembly and the famous Guernica Tree (and oak tree symbolising freedom) – both of which survived the bombing.

9. Starry Night Over the Rhône by Vincent van Gogh

At the time of painting his famous Starry Night Over the Rhône, van Gogh was living in his famous Yellow House on Place Lamartine in Arles, so while the exact location he sat along the bank of the Rhône to create this artwork isn’t known, it is believed to be within a couple of blocks of this house.

Today, find your own vantage point to view the night skies with a stroll along the river or join a river cruise.

Rhône Arles — Watch the sun set over the Rhône.

Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

1. Easy access to good food

meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 — Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

2. Better sleep options

Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room — Sleep deeply with Novotel.

There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

3. More ways to move

woman hiking around queenstown new zealand — Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

4. Better connections

Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

5. Location is everything

Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld — Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.

9 alluring places to travel based on famous paintings