The world’s most popular muses: Iconic cities & figures that spark creativity

Given that our environments can have an effect on our creativity levels, we wanted to learn more about which global cities serve as inspirational havens.

We uncovered the 200 cities that rank as the best muses for creative inspiration based on various factors such as quality of life, social capital score, Google reviews, whether the city is a haven for digital nomads, and more.

Additionally, looking at TIME’s most influential people of the past 3 years we identified their creative muses and asked our team about what helps to spark their creativity. If you’re looking to embark on your own creative journey, our world-class designers provide various design services to bring your visions to life.

The most inspiring creative havens

Traveling to a new destination can help clear up any writer’s block, and with several Superside team members saying travel helps them become more creative, we set out to discover which global cities serve as the best muses.

# 1

Barcelona wins as the most inspiring city

Spain’s second-largest city, Barcelona, ranks as the top inspirational city when it comes to creativity. The over 2,000-year-old city has become a hot spot for tourists and digital nomads – ranking #20 overall for those part of the ‘work from anywhere crew’.

The city also boasts a plethora of iconic landmarks and destinations, including 120 museums with 4-star reviews and over 5,400 4-star reviews for the top five attractions that are focused on design and creativity – such as Basílica de la Sagrada Familia, Casa Batlló, Park Güell, Mercat de la Boqueria, and Palace of Catalan Music.

# 2

London ranks as the #2 most inspiring city in the world

England’s capital city, London, ranks as the second most inspiring city in the world. With roots dating back over 1,900 years, it’s not surprising that the city ranks among the top two most inspiring cities. When asked about what type of environment helps to inspire creativity among our team, most Supersiders said they feel an urban environment keeps their creative juices flowing.

Want to spark some creativity? London Town has a whopping 370 museums with 4-star reviews and over 530 4-star reviews for the top five attractions that focus on design and fostering creativity including The Tower of London, The British Museum, Borough Market, the Sky Garden, and Natural History Museum.

# 3

Anchorage ranks as the #3 most inspiring city

Hopping way across the pond to the U.S. – in a surprising turn of events – Anchorage, Alaska ranks as the third most inspiring city in the world. However, with a deep history and beautiful landscapes, it’s easy to understand how the 49th state ranks so high. While most of the Superside team finds inspiration in an urban jungle, some prefer a calm, coastal setting as opposed to a high-energy city – making Anchorage the perfect place for people looking to immerse themselves in nature to help spark creativity.

Though the city has only 23 museums with 4-star reviews, there are nearly 2,260 4-star reviews for the top five attractions that focus on design and creativity. Some of the attractions that can help get those creative juices flowing are The Anchorage Museum, Tony Knowles Coastal Trail, Alaska Native Heritage Center, Portage Glacier, and Flattop Mountain Trail.

# 4

Las Vegas ranks as the #4 most inspiring city

Moving over 2,500 miles south, Las Vegas, Nevada ranks as the fourth most inspiring city across the globe. Perhaps shockingly, Sin City has also become synonymous with creativity for many people.

Vegas boasts 60 museums with 4-star reviews and there are 270 4-star reviews for the top five attractions focused on design and creativity. Many people find creative inspiration at The Fountains of Bellagio, Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Garden, the High Roller, and The Mob Museum.

# 5

New York rounds out the top 5 most inspiring cities

Traveling across the country, New York rounds out the top five most inspiring cities globally. Considering New York has been a city where people go to chase their dreams, both big and small, it’s not surprising that the Big Apple is among the most inspiring cities in the world – many Supersiders even prefer the high-energy of a big city to help boost their creativity.

There are 209 museums across the city with 4-star reviews and 510 4-star reviews for the top five attractions that focus on creativity and design. Native New Yorkers and visitors find the most creative inspiration at attractions such as Central Park, The National 9/11 Memorial & Museum, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Empire State Building, and The High Line.

Wondering how inspiring other global cities are? Check out our interactive table

Celebrity muses:
The most inspirational individuals

From Kate Moss, to Audrey Hepburn, to Prince, to David Bowie, there have been countless individuals who have served as muses across artistic mediums throughout the decades. We analyzed TIME’s list of most influential people from the past three years to learn more about who the new generation of creative titans pull inspiration from.

1. Madonna
2. David Bowie
3. Gwen Stefani
4. Daniel Day-Lewis
5. Heath Ledger
honorable mentions
Other inspiring artists from TIME's list include: (6) Jay-Z / (7) Denzel Washington / (8) Ryan Coogler / (9) Bruce Lee / (10) Jackie Chan / (11) Marlon Brando / (12) Gilda Radner / (13) Joan Rivers / (14) Cicely Tyson / (15) Etta James / (16) Ava DuVernay / (17) Oprah Winfrey / (18) Lady Gaga
The muses for many of TIME’s most influential people span a diverse spectrum of iconic figures within various artistic fields.

Many draw inspiration from the legends of music and film, with Dua Lipa citing pop icons like Madonna, David Bowie, and Gwen Stefani – while Dev Patel is influenced by acting greats Daniel Day-Lewis and Heath Ledger.

These muses often serve as foundational influences, shaping the creative visions of today's stars. Creative minds like Issa Rae and Michael B. Jordan look toward contemporary artists and directors – such as Ava DuVernay, Ryan Coogler, and other groundbreaking filmmakers – whose visionary work continues to inspire a new generation of creators.

If you need help bringing your creative vision to life, our talented team can take the lead with our design services and AI-enhanced design services.

Methodology

Using ListChallenges’ Top 200 most visited cities, we determined which cities rank highest for creative inspiration by analyzing QoL, social capital score, presence on digital nomads list and friendliest country list, number of museums with 4-star+ rating, the average Google review score for each city’s top 5 attractions, and how many reviews mentioned design, creativity, and friendliness on a weighted scale.

Additionally, we identified the muses for those who were voted TIME’s most influential people in 2022, 2023, & 2024. We also surveyed 90 Superside team members about how and where they find creative inspiration. Data accurate as of December 9, 2024.