15 Activities Every Artsy Traveler Should Experience

Try your hand at the ancient tradition of mask-making or decorating by taking a class with a Venetian master artisan. Learn about the history and deep cultural significance of Venetian Carnival masks and take home your own creation.

Heat up your vacation and feel the Puerto Rican rhythm during a salsa dancing class. Whether you’re a newbie or looking to polish your salsa skills, this class will teach you the moves that will wow ‘em on the dancefloor.

Create your own personal perfume, which is unique only to you, during a Parisian workshop. Learn about the different families of perfumes and tenacities of scents, plus create three different fragrances and take your favorite bottle home.

Learn how to blend in with the locals in the Country Music Capital of the World. A line dancing class will teach you all the required fancy footwork—from sliding and swiveling to hopping and pointing—to get you up and dancing.

Head to a historic, family-owned studio and enjoy a hands-on experience while making traditional Roman mosaics with a master mosaicist. Work with local marble tiles; learn about texture, composition, and tile cutting; then take your completed mosaic home.

Discover the art of Japanese calligraphy (shodo) in the company of a master calligrapher in a quiet Tokyo studio. Practice using brushes and ink on paper and try your hand at writing beautiful Japanese characters.

Discover Cambodia’s timeless tradition of pottery-making and create a unique souvenir to take home. Learn to spin a pottery wheel and use Khmer carving tools to make your own ceramic masterpiece.

The gritty art of graffiti is a colorful part of the Brooklyn landscape, so if artistic inspiration strikes while visiting the borough, join a hands-on workshop. In the company of a renowned street artist, you’ll learn all the techniques required to create your own aerosol art.

Learn about the Japanese art of kintsugi, how to embrace imperfection, and the act of turning something old into something new. This class introduces you to the practice of repairing broken pottery with lacquer mixed with gold, thereby giving it a new lease on life and creating a unique souvenir.

Whether you’re a novice or a seasoned painter or sculptor, this small-group class will provide the inspiration and techniques needed to create your very own work of art. You’ll receive personalized attention from a working artist as you craft your creation in a sun-filled private studio.

Let the spirit of Antoni Gaudí guide you during a mosaic workshop in Barcelona. Discover the art nouveau technique of trencadis, pioneered by the famed architect, by using shards of glass or ceramic to create a totally unique souvenir to take home.

Immerse yourself in Polynesian culture with a fireknife lesson on Kaua’i. Learn about the rich history of fireknife dancing, as well as the basic moves; watch a demonstration; then try out your newly acquired skills.

Dive into the history and artistry of azulejos (Portuguese tiles). Make your own tile during a tile-making workshop in Azeitão, and then browse the vast collection at the National Tile Museum in Lisbon.

Discover the secrets of Murano glassmaking techniques from one of Venice’s most-respected craftsmen. At the end of this hands-on private lesson, you’ll have made your own glass artwork to take home and treasure.

Soak up China’s rich tradition of artistry by taking an ink-painting workshop in Shanghai. Learn different brush strokes and techniques, try writing Chinese characters, and create your very own work of art.