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Local and international graffiti artists have helped transform these destinations into open-air exhibitions of urban creativity.

The Best Cities in America for Football Fanatics

At these five spots, contemporary street art and cultural heritage go hand-in-hand.

A self-guided tour at the historic Paris museum enables visitors to check out prominent artworks featured in the Carters’ internet-breaking music video.

How a trip to the Middle East taught a blue-state liberal to get along with her red-state mother

Here are a few reasons to check out the tiny isle.

A Room With No View: The dystopian Walled Off Hotel opens in Bethlehem

Around a corner, a glimpse of color: Street art shows up in unexpected places. Whether it’s well-known artists like Banksy or an anonymous renegade with a spray can; a political statement or a gorgeous, simple image—street art gives us a sense of local culture (and great photo opportunities!).

The façade may be classic, the doormen crisp, and the location tony, but once inside Le Royal Monceau, you’ll feel an independent, unexpectedly edgy spirit running through this luxury hotel. Opened in 1928, the historic spot, now part of the Raffles collection, underwent a complete renovation in the mid-2000s, overseen by interiors master Phillipe Starck, who—true to form—filled the spaces with contemporary style, dramatic flair (like oversized lobby sculptures and a stairwell adorned with dozens of chandeliers), and over 350 pieces of art, many culled from the hotel’s private collection. Art is a big focus here overall: along with a well-stocked art-library-cum-bookstore (which draws a lot of gift-seeking locals) and an on-site showroom curated by local gallerists (recent shows have spotlighted street artists, from Basquiat to Banksy), there’s a resident Art Concierge—the first in Paris—who can create bespoke itineraries for guests and arrange for special access, studio tours, and VIP experiences (including, with enough notice, an after-hours visit to the Louvre).

Fortunately I had just recently seen a movie that enlightened me about urban art and artists. I was introduced to the likes of Banksy and Invader. So a few weeks later when I ran across Invader’s tile calling card while meandering the Gothic quarter in Barcelona, I was extremely excited. As I was chittering and snapping a photo, a girl walking by asked me if I knew who Invader was. “Of course!” I said, feeling smug as other tourists passed around us unfazed by the space invader. Even though I’d just spent an entire Sunday afternoon cataloging tons of street art in the quarter, I was most excited to see the Barri Gotic had been Invaded.

With a lot of family and friends in the southwest part of the city, London is in some ways my second home. But in visits over the last few years, it was rare that I would stumble upon the sort of casual cool you find so easily in Brooklyn. This was before I spent a Friday night in Shoreditch, and mingled at the Box Park pop-up mall before grabbing a table at Yalla Yalla. The second of three locations, this pop-up food court on Shoreditch High Street slings Beirut street food at prices that beat the great expense of eating and drinking in London. More importantly, it’s a cool scene, with indoor and outdoor communal picnic tables.This was London’s answer to Smorgasbug in Brooklyn and the food truck enclaves in Portland, and I loved it.

Although I’m a frequent visitor to London – Leake Street (also called Banksy Tunnel for a festival he held there in 2008), was a complete surprise on my last trip. The street is about 300 yards long, located under Waterloo Station and closed to cars. It’s the one place in London where Grafitti and urban art is sort of legal. As you can see from the photographs above, the artwork is pretty spectacular, and this urban art museum is definitely worth stopping by. You can make your mark and add to it, but don’t tag over the good stuff, that’s seriously frowned upon. How did I find out about it? Through my fabulous new friends at Small Car Big City Tours – they included this gem on their hidden secrets tour! >>>A huge thank you to The Trafalgar St. James and Curio Collection for a great time in London. @CurioCollection @TrafalgarSW1 #DiscoverWhatsInside #CurioCollection #BeCurious

See thought-provoking contemporary art, world-class performances, and more at Toronto’s most treasured cultural institutions on this three-day itinerary.