5 holiday ideas for art and architecture lovers

Special interest touring holidays are becoming more and more popular and it is a great way to spend time with people that share your interests, whether you're interested in history, wildlife, dancing or the arts. We look at the holidays that can inject a little beauty into your trip and allow you to wander in the footsteps of some of the greatest artists and architects in the world.

Visit the Pharaohs in Egypt

Cruise the winding Nile and marvel at the awe-inspiring archaeology of ancient Egypt. On Saga's Land of the Pharaohs holiday you can explore Egypt’s most stunning sights, including the Pyramids of Giza, the Sphinx, Abu Simbel, the Temples of Karnak and Luxor and Valleys of the Kings and Queens – all with a knowledgeable local guide. Back at the hotel you can delve deeper into the fascinating archaeology of this ancient land with a series of archaeological talks.

Start in Cairo where you can immerse yourself in Egyptian culture and enjoy all this vibrant city has to offer, including a sightseeing tour of the city and an excursion to Giza. Move on to Aswan, where you can enjoy an optional trip to a Nubian village before seeing the Aswan High Dam and the Philae Temple complex, built during the reign of Ptolemy II in 280 BCE. Finally, enjoy a gentle mini cruise along the Nile to take in the many sights of this magnificent landscape, including a visit to the City of the Dead to walk through the Valley of Kings and Queens.

Feel the dry desert breeze from the Sahara and contemplate 5,000 years of human history in the magical land of the pharaohs. Find out more here

Cruise the scenic Dutch waterways

The Netherlands doesn’t always spring to mind first when it comes to art and architecture breaks in the way that Spain, France and Italy often do, but some of the finest masters came from a Dutch tradition. 

Van Gogh and Rembrandt are undoubtedly among the most famous European artists, but they are flanked by Vermeer, Hals and Steen for painting. The Netherlands is also home to some striking architecture, including the Dutch Renaissance style featuring distinctive stepped gables.

Saga's Golden Age of Art on the Rhine cruise explores the treasures of the low countries, including trips to Mondrian House, Utrecht's Central Museum and Mauritshuis to admire masterpieces from some of the world's best artists, including Vermeer, Rembrandt and Van Gogh.

Set sail on a wonderful river cruise through the Belgian and Dutch waterways. Find out more here

Tour Italy, home of Renaissance art

The home of Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Botticelli and Dante, Italy was the centre from which the Renaissance emanated. Art, literature and music flourished here, so it’s the perfect place to holiday. See the Uffizi and Accademia galleries in the beautiful Tuscan city of Florence or step inside the legacy of the Roman Empire, its architecture, history and art, in Rome, before witnessing the Vatican City and its murals. Whatever your interest in art and culture, Italy is bound to satisfy.

Saga's Grand Tour of Italy serves up every flavour of Italian culture. Wander the streets of Venice under your own steam, perhaps take a gondola ride or visit the Doge's Palace. Visit the enchanting city of Florence, and go back in time 3,000 years to the Colosseum, Pantheon and Roman Forum in Rome.

Discover more about Italy and everything it has to offer. Find out more here

Explore India's famed Golden Triangle

Lavish, colourful and expressive India wears its art on its sleeve, from the kaleidoscopic saris worn by women, to the semi-precious stones winking in the sunlight on the walls of the country’s temples.
India embraces art down to its roots, making it a great cultural holiday location. In Delhi you will be able to see the Mughal influence of its rulers in the many forts and palaces. 

Agra boasts the most famous of all Indian landmarks, the Taj Mahal, with its eerie symmetry and its dark yet romantic history. Take the time on your holidays to look at the delicate borders and artwork carved into the marble and learn more about the Taj Mahal was constructed.

With its dazzling breadth of experiences and deep spirituality, India never fails to delight the senses and uplift the soul. Find out about our holidays to India here.

Take in the art galleries along the Danube

There's a rich art scene lining the banks of the Danube and these can all be enjoyed on a river cruise that takes in many of the region's best galleries, museums and architecture. Saga's Art on the Danube cruise starts in Budapest, where you can visit The Hungarian National Gallery (Magyar Nemzeti Galéria) for a range of Medieval, Gothic Renaissance, and Baroque art alongside more recent Hungarian artists and sculptors from the 19th and 20th Centuries.

Travel along the Danube to Vienna and back again, visiting some stunning sights along the way. Stop off at thoroughly modern art gallery Danubiana Meulensteen Art Museum, a gallery and sculpture garden accessible by ferry, take a tour of the fabulously historic Vienna and perhaps take in a classical concert at a Viennese palace in the evening.

Few rivers can match the sheer variety that the Danube has to offer. Find out more here