As the weather gets warmer, we’re itching to hop on a plane and see the world! It’s true what they say: once you’ve been bitten by the travel bug, you’re incurable for life. This summer, we’re drawn to architectural destinations – cities and places with beautiful buildings, ancient ruins, and all-around irresistible atmospheres. Keep scrolling to see which places have made our top 5 list (click the photos for sources)!

#5 Melbourne, Australia

Melbourne’s juxtaposition of experimental, modern buildings and classic, Victorian buildings creates a compelling and eclectic vibe that we’ve been dying to experience firsthand. It’s rapidly becoming a popular tourist destination, and looking at photos alone is enough to tell us why. Walking down a busy street lined with skyscrapers, you might just run into a Gothic cathedral! And don’t even get us started on the food – one glance at a restaurant website is enough to get our mouths watering!

#4 Florence, Italy

While this city isn’t unfamiliar to the RWD team, lately we’ve been missing the streets of Florence – you could call it a form of homesickness. Florence (or Firenze, if you’re Italian), is one of the most cultured and vibrant cities we’ve come across in our travels. The Duomo alone is intricate enough to occupy several hours at least, not to mention the museums packed to the brim with paintings and sculptures created by well-known classical artists. The Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge), pictured here, would also be a great stop on an architectural tour – it’s an outdoor shopping mall built over the river!

#3 Machu Picchu, Peru

Although this one sits in stark contrast to the other, more polished destinations on this list, we can’t help but be drawn in by these ancient Incan ruins. How cool would it be to witness the organization and creativity of a civilization that came way before our modern methods of design and construction?? Machu Picchu is definitely a destination for the more adventurous traveler, since it involves some scary bus rides and a bit of hiking, but we think it’d be worth it to get a glimpse of such an amazing, ancient site.

#2 Tokyo, Japan

With more Michelin star restaurants than any other city in the world, we’d be lying if we said architecture was our only reason for adding Tokyo to the bucket list. But the architecture certainly holds its own as well. With odd angles and experimental shapes around every corner, pushing boundaries seems to be the theme for many of the architects and designers in this city. We’re particularly interested in seeing Kenzo Tange’s ultramodern St. Mary’s Cathedral and, of course, Tokyo Tower.

#1 Barcelona, Spain

We’re particularly excited about this one, because one of RWD’s designers is headed here at the end of the month! Barcelona has been on the list for quite a while for many reasons, not the least of which being the gorgeous and bizarre architecture by Antoni Gaudí on display here. La Sagrada Familia boasts some of the most ornate stained glass we’ve ever seen, and we can’t complain about the ocean views we’re bound to see while there. Stay tuned on Instagram for some swoon-worthy pictures on our account!
Bon voyage!
Xoxo,
RWD