In the northern English village where my daughter lives (near Hadrian’s Wall), most of the homes have names (e.g. “Bellsgate House,” “Grey Cottage,” “Linden House”) rather than numbers and streets (e.g. 123 Main St.). Thus, mail is delivered to a house, not an address. Those who have traveled to Italy quickly realize that Italian pizza is made considerably differently than pizza in the U.S. (so, too, the gelato).
These “out-of-the-ordinary” discoveries alert our brains to the fact that there’s usually more than one way—a unique and creative way—to do something. When we travel, we open up our minds to those new discoveries, new visions, and new practices. We break out of normal expectancies and allow ourselves to engage in novel interactions or experiences. As a result, our creativity is kindled. Let’s take a look.
What the Research Says About Creativity and Travel
We travel to see new sights, make new friends, and create new memories. But there’s another factor involved.
A study out of the Columbia Business School demonstrated that travel in other countries is creatively stimulating. Overall, the authors found that multicultural experiences were positively related to both creative performance (insight learning, remote association, and idea generation) and creativity-supporting cognitive processes (retrieval of unconventional knowledge, recruitment of ideas from unfamiliar cultures for creative idea expansion).
Another study looked at cognitive flexibility, or the mind’s ability to jump between different ideas. The researchers discovered evidence that experiences abroad “are critical for creative output.” Those travels help spark different synapses in the brain, which help in building new connections in tandem with a re-wiring of the brain. This data is supported by a study offering concrete evidence that having an “incubation” period away from a problem can help us to come up with a unique variety of creative solutions.
Clinical psychologist Charlotte Russell also emphasizes that “travel can provide [an] important opportunity for creative thinking and problem solving.” She points out that we are more likely to experience potential sources of inspiration when we are travelling and experiencing new cultures.
She offers the following tips to make that happen:
- Frequently immerse yourself in new surroundings.
- Notice cultural or environmental differences.
- Record new discoveries in a journal.
- Talk to locals regularly.
- Take multiple photographs.
In so doing, she explains, we are more inspired to see the world through new lenses.
Why Travel Matters
Crystal Robertson is a leadership coach and consultant based in Durango, CO, who writes about the intersection of travel, creativity, and personal growth. She has personally traveled through a dozen U.S. states and across several countries on three continents—journeys that include childhood trips, studies abroad, family adventures, and several professional trips each year.
When I asked her how travel improves and/or expands our creativity, she told me that “Travel fuels creativity by serving as a platform to immerse ourselves in unfamiliar environments that can challenge our assumptions, spark new ideas, and offer fresh perspectives. When we step outside our routines, navigating new cultures, languages, and landscapes, we’re pushed to think differently, rely on our own resourcefulness in problem-solving, and expand our capacity for innovation. Creativity thrives on variety and curiosity, and travel offers both in abundance.”
She went on to emphasize that travel pulls us out of autopilot and into presence by stimulating our senses, stretching our thinking, and fostering empathy through direct human connection. She said, “Whether near or far, travel invites us to grow personally, creatively, and even professionally, by helping us see the world, and ourselves, more clearly.”
When asked for specific examples of how travel affected creativity, she told of how Picasso’s time in Spain and France helped shape his iconic “Blue Period.” She also shared how Airbnb’s founders refined their platform by staying with hosts to understand diverse customer needs.
In addition, she said, “Even small changes in our environment can stimulate creativity, so travel becomes less about distance and more about perspective.” What matters most, she emphasized, was novelty and intention, both of which are available on simple day trips as well as extended Mediterranean voyages.
Creativity Essential Reads
She was emphatic when she said, “Frequent travel alone doesn’t guarantee greater creativity. What matters is how we engage and the meaning we make from those experiences. Purpose-driven travel that intentionally disrupts our comfort zones and invites reflection can trigger powerful insights and new ways of thinking.”
But, perhaps her most telling words were in response to a question about the overall creative benefits of travel. Here’s how she responded:
“One of the most powerful ways that travel enhances creativity is by breaking us out of habitual patterns and forcing our brains to adapt. This kind of mental stretching, like navigating a new city, learning cultural norms, or problem-solving in unfamiliar settings, builds cognitive flexibility, a key ingredient in creative thinking. The more we practice seeing the world through different lenses, the more agile and inventive we become, serving us in our personal and professional lives.”
As Robertson inferred, our creativity can be kindled (or re-kindled) just around the corner, in a new and unexplored territory, or in a faraway land or unique culture. We need only open the door and step outside.
