Gamow-Teller (spin-flip, isospin-flip) transitions have played an important role in nuclear physics. Basic understanding of the processes requires reliable knowledge of the GT strength distribution at large excitation energy range as well as in nuclei far from the stability line. Spin-flip and isospin-flip transitions with higher multipolarities are also important. There is a predictable correlation between the cross section of the spin dipole resonance and the neutron-skin thickness of nuclei, which quantity is important for constraining the symmetry energy of the nuclear interaction. These investigations can be extended to unstable nuclei using (p,n) reactions with radioactive nuclear beams in inverse kinematics. Relativistic heavy-ion beams and especially rare-isotope beams open up a new avenue for studying spin--isospin giant resonances. Kinematically complete experiments can be performed in inverse kinematics and a large part of the physical background can be reduced in this way. After a review of the present status of the spin-flip and isospin-flip giant resonances I am going to discuss the future perspectives for studying such interesting giant resonances.

PACS numbers: 24.30.Cz, 21.10.Gv, 25.55.Kr, 27.60.+j