From ancient architecture to contemporary street art, internationally-important museums to life at street level, the world doesn’t lack grand cultural institutions or ways to experience them at their best. If you like to include a little culture as part of your vacations, don’t miss the best cities in the world for it!
1. London, England, United Kingdom
With origins stretching back more than 2,000 years, the UK capital has had plenty of time to develop its cultural attractions. Today they rank as some of the best in the world. Follow the course of the River Thames through its heart and you’ll pass the Tower of London, a thousand-year-old castle and keeper of the crown jewels. It’s quickly followed by St Paul’s Cathedral and the Houses of Parliament. A short tube ride away you’ll also find the British Museum and Tate Galleries, Royal Ballet and Westminster Abbey. The only question is where to start!
2. Kyoto, Japan
Former capital of Japan, Kyoto remains the country’s cultural lynchpin. The city of geisha girls, narrow cobbled streets of historic wooden buildings and Buddhist temples that have stood for centuries, there’s nowhere better to become part of what it means to be Japanese. Explore its religious practices, then experience kaiseki dining, a multicourse meal showing off the skill of the country’s chefs.
3. Venice, Italy
Few destinations can claim the unique cultural charms of Venice, whose canals and gondolas continue to astound visitors. Begin your explorations at St Mark’s Square, where the attractions come thick and fast, before crossing the waters of its lagoon to quiet Lido Island, glass-making Murano or the traditional fishermen’s cottages of Burano. The atmosphere peaks during Carnival in February or March, though at other times of year there’s still plenty to entertain.
4. Havana, Cuba
Capital of one of the most intriguing nations in Latin America and the Caribbean, Havana has something for everyone, as any cultural tour in Cuba will demonstrate. The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Habana Vieja (Old Havana) is packed with colonial-era structures built to impress. Some are 500 years old. Newer districts display the ingenuity of the Cuban people, combining a shining central business district with street art districts and thriving marketplaces.
5. Cape Town, South Africa
Called the ‘mother city’ by South Africans, Cape Town is the country’s oldest city. A fascinating blend of different neighborhoods, it is dominated by Table Mountain and the shores of the South Atlantic Ocean. Regular ferries connect the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront to Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for much of his 27 years in prison, while when Zeitz MOCAA opened its doors in 2017 it became the largest space for African contemporary art anywhere on the continent. Neither should be missed.
Seeking out Culture Across the Globe
Whatever the continent, there’s a destination that’s just perfect for culture lovers. Whether its London’s historic streets, Kyoto’s geisha traditions, the lagoons of Venice, heritage of Havana or new developments in Cape Town, you’re sure to have a vacation you’ll be talking about for months and years to come.
