The Smartest and Most Creative Cities in the World

Getaways can be about connecting with nature, relaxing on a beach or riding fun amusements. It can also be a chance to learn about new places, brush up on history and surround yourself in culture.

A recent study conducted by U.K.-based Luggage Hero reviewed the 20 top-visited cities based on the number of things to do, city size and number of visitors to come up with those that are best for cultural and educational visits. Using their top 10 lists for culture, education, most culture per kilometer and most culture per international visitor, we created a list of the 11 most educational and cultural cities in the world and included the top must-sees in each one, based on TripAdvisor reviewers’ favorites.

Whether you want to spend your days exploring UNESCO World Heritage Sites, attending a show at an opera house or exploring a city’s street art scene, these are the smartest cities you can find to indulge both your intellectual and creative sides.

With 239 museums, art galleries and architectural buildings, Singapore is considered one of the world’s most educational cities.

Luggage Hero gave the city a high score for offering the most culture per international visitor. Singapore’s food scene is largely to thank for earning it recognition in this top 10 list, along with its natural features and parks.

You’ll definitely be educated at the National Museum of Singapore, which is the nation’s oldest museum showcasing history and culture.

The Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum (shown) is one of the holiest in Singapore and features a collection of ancient artifacts.

When visiting Singapore, visit Battlebox, the World War II Malaya Command Headquarters where Singapore surrendered to the Japanese.

Stroll through the Gardens by the Bay (shown), where you can walk around the Flower Dome, the Supertree Grove and the Cloud Forest Dome to discover amazing indoor waterfalls and plant diversity.

You can catch the city’s amazing views from atop the Marina Bay Sands’ Skypark Observation Desk, which is 56 stories high.

Or take a ride around the Singapore Flyer observation wheel for a longer-lasting look at the city.

Seoul found itself on several of the Luggage Hero lists. That’s because it’s one of the most cultural cities in the world with a number of sights and landmarks, museums, nature and parks, art galleries, and sacred and religious sites. The city has 518 attractions that educate as well.

Seoul also offers more culture per kilometer than most cities, with 1.91 culture markers available for every km² in the city.  It also ranked No. 10 for offering the most culture per international visitor.