Every artist eventually falls into a rut. The important thing is how to escape when you find yourself uninspired and unable to create. And while there are dozens of techniques and strategies, travel is one of the most effective methods of reviving inspiration and stoking creativity.

The Role of Travel in Inspiration and Creativity
Everyone has a favorite method or approach to feeding inspiration. Some people like to spend time walking around the neighborhood, exercising, listening to music, or reading poetry. And sometimes these simple methods are enough to inject a little creative energy into your veins and allow you to push through. Other times you need an extra kick.

“Travel has long been a favorite activity for artists, offering inspiration on different fronts,” artist Nubia Gala mentions. “Seeing new cities and meeting new people opens up a whole new artistic world, and it’s common for artists to start working influences from a trip into their projects. These influences range from representational physical characteristics to abstract thoughts and emotions.”

There’s something about travel that causes us to see things in a new light. Not only are we exposed to fresh and exciting landscapes that we’ve never seen before, but the shift in mentality, comfort, and excitement allows us to experience environments through a fresh perspective.

“If travel does anything, it shows people that there is more out there than what they are used to seeing,” Gala continues. “There are more artistic styles to investigate, more emotions to ponder, more color combinations to test, and more patterns to discover. Artists who travel often find themselves taking more risks because they now know that their previous artistic paths were not the only ones possible.”

The key is to let the inspiration come naturally. Don’t force yourself to feel a certain way or put yourself on a timeline to create art. Simply steep in the novelty of your surroundings and let the beauty permeate your thoughts and ideas.

Set Your Sights on These 3 Travel Destinations
You could spend the rest of your life traveling to different parts of the world and extracting inspiration from beautiful landscapes, art, and architecture. And while we could create a list of hundreds of destinations, here are just a few that commonly revive inspiration and promote creativity:

1. Egypt
When it comes to travel bucket lists, most westerners will list off countries like France, England, Portugal, or Italy. You won’t hear a lot of “Egypt” in the responses. But in terms of inspiration and ingenuity, few countries have as much to offer as Egypt.

Egypt exposes visitors to unique architecture (pyramids!), beautiful landscapes, and culture unlike anything tourists have experienced. To get the most out of a trip to this country, it’s highly recommended that you book a luxury tour. This will ensure you see all of the highlights and get the background information/commentary needed to fully understand your experience.

2. Ireland
When you think of Ireland, what comes to mind? If you’re like many, it’s pubs, stout beers, sheep, and potatoes. But these are just the surface level icons. The reality is that Ireland is a gorgeous country with climactic landscapes and gorgeous views.

From Inishmore and Benbulbin to Mount Errigal and the Cliffs of Moher, there are views that will take your breath away and inspire you to do more. You’ll even feel a twinge of sadness and regret that you’ve shared the planet with this beautiful country and never immersed yourself in its bosom.

3. Iceland
“Legend (probably a false legend) has it Iceland was named by some sneaky Vikings who, in a quest to keep it all to themselves, tried to hide the fact that their new settlement was actually a lush, green wonderland worthy of envy from the entire Nordic world,” travel blogger Suzy Strutner writes. “Indeed, Iceland is so striking beautiful – and quirky, and romantic, and adventurous – that we can't say we blame them.”

While the Iceland tourism scene has exploded over the last two or three years, it’s still worthy of a visit. After all, where else can you sit in steamy outdoor spas, stand inside waterfalls, scuba dive between continents, glide across snowy tundras, travel inside a volcano, or watch geysers explode like clockwork? (Hint: There’s nowhere else on this planet where you can do all of these things within a very small geographical radius.)

Exploration and Inspiration
Don’t let too much time pass between your travels. You don’t need to be a wealthy member of the upper class to travel to exotic locations and enjoy the beauty that the world has to offer. There are plenty of cost-effective ways to travel – particularly for artists who can add value to their surroundings. Let your exploration drive your inspiration and you’ll discover that travel is a critically important piece to your overall success and happiness.