2024's Top 5 Culture Travel Destinations

"Do we really want to travel in hermetically sealed popemobiles through the rural provinces of France, Mexico and the Far East, eating only in Hard Rock Cafes and McDonalds? Or do we want to eat without fear, tearing into the local stew, the humble taqueria’s mystery meat, the sincerely offered gift of a lightly grilled fish head? I know what I want. I want it all. I want to try everything once." -  Antony Bourdain,  American celebrity chef, author, and travel documentarian.

Cultural travel is about experiencing and preserving the various traditions around the world. It’s about being open to new experiences and willing to step into another’s shoes. Cultural travel is jumping in with both feet and leaving your preconceived notions about what your trip should be behind you.

Culture is the most popular trip type, according to Tripadvisor’s most recent Seasonal Travel Index. 

Top 5 Culture Destinations (according to research)

Cuba is an island that regularly lurches forward, then crunches into reverse. And it is also a place renowned for its stagnation over the last six decades, since the 1959 Revolution stopped the clocks and turned everything upside down. When you travel to Cuba you’ll be struck by vintage radios, refrigerators and lamps, and swinging neon signs hanging over storefronts. There are antique pharmacies and traditional barbers, and iconic classic American cars everywhere. But this is no retro trend, it’s make-do-and-mend, frozen-in-carbonite Cuba.

However, the pace of modernization on the island is increasing exponentially. New swish hotels are springing up and first-class, family-run boutique hotels are flourishing. And house-based restaurants – paladars – are slowly putting Cuban cuisine on the culinary map.

There have been other transformations. In recent years this communist stronghold has lost its titanic patriarch, Fidel Castro and celebrated the first US presidential visit in 80 years. It has sworn in a new president of its own, Miguel Diaz-Canel, the first person outside the Castro family to lead the country since 1959.

But the uniqueness of Cuba is unwavering. Roadside billboards still proclaim “Socialism or death”, world-class ballerinas and baseball players earn the same meagre state salary as the ordinary workers. On your Cuba travels you can meet Cuban artists in their own front-room galleries and learn how to dance salsa in home-based studios. You can take a city tour in a 1956 Chevrolet and learn how to kite surf, rock climb, play the conga and ride a horse. And the island's breathtaking beaches, unspoiled seas and forest-covered mountains haven’t gone anywhere.

The best time to travel to Cuba is typically between December and May. However, you can almost always except sunny warm weather due to the islands fairly close location to the equator. Even if you travel to Cuba during the rainy season, between May and October, you’re unlikely to have a waterlogged holiday, as the rains never last very long. September and October are peak hurricane season.

Known to the Incas as the “navel of the world”, colourful Cusco was built by the Spanish on the remains of Inca temples and palaces, and is as rich in human activity today as it must have been at the height of the empire. One of South America’s biggest tourist destinations, the city boasts a thriving Andean culture, and Inca architecture and colonial treasures galore, not to mention exclusive access to the mighty Machu Picchu, an unmissable highlight to any trip to Peru. In high season – June to September – the entire Sacred Valley swarms with visitors. It may be difficult to avoid the crowds, but Cusco’s magnificent history and ancient feel may well tempt you to consider extending your stay.

Nestling majestically in the belly of a highland valley and fed by two rivers, CUSCO's unique layout was designed by the Incas in the form of a puma. Many of the city’s finest Inca architectural treasures were so masterfully constructed out of local stone that they are still in great shape today, and the city is ripe for exploring: one minute you’re walking down a shadowy, stone-walled alley, the next you burst onto a plaza full of brightly dressed dancers from the countryside, joining in what, at times, seems like the endless carnival and religious festival celebrations for which Cusco is famous.

The wider region of Cusco is mainly mountainous, with several peaks over 6000m, all of them considered sacred. The entire region is high altitude and even the city of Cusco sits at 3399m, an altitude which needs to be treated with respect, particularly if arriving by air from sea level (see Mountain sickness). Within easy access of the city, there are dozens of enticing destinations. The Sacred Valley of the Río Urubamba is the obvious first choice, with the citadel of Machu Picchu as the ultimate goal, but there are hundreds of other magnificent Inca ruins – Pisac and Ollantaytambo in particular – set against glorious Andean panoramas.

Agra is dominated by the Taj Mahal, one of the world's most awe-inspiring architectural (and romantic) achievements. But there's more to this bustling Indian metropolis than just the - admittedly gorgeous - mausoleum.

There's no denying the star of the show in Agra. Built by Shah Jahan in the mid-17th century in memory of his wife, Mumtaz Mahal, it has been described by the great Indian poet Tagore as a "teardrop on the cheek of time." It's a stunning marble tomb, with four delicate minarets and a spectacular dome, and is rightly classed as a wonder of the world.

The Mughals (who ruled northern India until the British arrived in the late 18th century) made Agra their capital, and the historic attractions reach far beyond the Taj Mahal. The Red Fort is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, there's the abandoned capital at Fatehpur Sikri and the tomb of Akbar the Great - only marginally less impressive than the Taj itself.

Once you've had your fill of historical architecture, there are plenty of out-of-town escapes to explore. The 1890s Chambal Safari Lodge is a few miles to the southeast, and offers great wildlife spotting opportunities. 

Back in Agra, shopping lovers will adore the city's variety of lively markets. You can snap up footwear bargains at Raja Ki Mandi, dine on street food and find craft souvenirs at Sadar bazaar, or haggle for gold and silver jewelry at Kinari bazaar.

Mughal cuisine is one of India's most famous exports, and Agra is one of the best places to experience it in all its glory. Whether you need a filling biryani, a spicy lamb Rogan Josh, or a slow-cooked Nihari beef curry, Agra's street food vendors and fine restaurants will oblige.

Fez is the oldest of Morocco’s imperial cities and has served as the country’s capital no fewer than three times throughout its history. It was founded in 789 by the first sultan of the Idrisid dynasty, although many of its most famous landmarks date back to the 13th and 14th centuries, when the city reached the height of its influence during the rule of the Marinids.

Today, it is one of the most authentic cities in Morocco, known around the world as a center for traditional artists and artisans. Fez is divided into three sections—the original old town or medina, Fes el-Bali; Fes el-Jedid, built to accommodate the city’s expanding population in the 13th century; and the contemporary Ville Nouvelle quarter. Here are ten of the best things to do and see on your trip to this fascinating city.

Fez’s old town, or medina, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site recognized as one of the best preserved historic towns of the Arab-Muslim world. It is also one of the world’s largest urban pedestrian zones, comprising a maze-like tapestry with dozens upon dozens of narrow streets, bustling squares, and souks lined with shops containing anything your heart could desire. 

The oldest and largest of the traditional tanneries in Fez’s leather souk, Chaouwara Tannery dates back to medieval times. Here, skins are cured using archaic ingredients (including cow urine, quicklime, and pigeon feces) and laid out to dry in the sunshine. The smell of ammonia and raw hide can overwhelm first-time visitors, but the sight of the multi-colored dyeing vats in the central courtyard is not to be missed. Enter the leather shops built into the surrounding walls for a bird’s-eye view of the action (best in the morning when the vats are still filled with dye). Then once you have your fill, you'll be in the perfect spot to purchase supple leather goods made from the tannery’s hides.

You can discover the history behind Morocco's beloved traditional craft of brass etching. You'll find beautifully etched brass all over the country, especially when shopping in the buzzy souks. If you're tempted to buy a piece, why not learn more about the art and try your hand at this skill with an interactive workshop? After a history lesson, you'll discover the process of brass etching with the help of a professional artisan as you create your own tea tray.

The ancient city has long been a popular travel destination, thanks to its bountiful historical sites, distinct architecture, and oh-so fantastic food. Athens is, without question, one of the world’s greatest travel destinations, especially for those famed attractions.

A hub of European historical marvel, Athens features some of the world’s most amazing antiquity. Dating to between 7, 000 and 5, 000 BCE, it is a place that is often considered to be the birth of not only classical Greece but equally modern civilisation, home of the great philosophers Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. Distinct markings from the Ottoman, Byzantine and Roman civilisations can be found in all corners of the region, bounded by the mountains of Ymettos, Parnitha and Pendeli – landmasses that provide serene views of southeast Greece. Such influences have paid dividends from a cultural perspective, the city showcasing captivating ruins, valuable artefacts, marvellous mythology and renowned monuments.

Fast forward to the present day, Athens is a modern city, featuring luxurious hotels, restaurants and other tourist attractions that rival the world’s very best. Moreover, the city is the epicentre of the Greek economy, home to approximately half of the country’s entire population. Having merged these two worlds, the Greek capital provides something for everyone, from the ancient and the new to the conservative and the creative.