Cultural experiences give travellers an opportunity to see the world from a different perspective and to appreciate a different way of life.
From admiring awe-inspiring architecture and mesmerising museums to captivating castles and beautiful bridges, if you are looking to combine your love of travel with a serious injection of culture, here’s our standout cultural destinations for 2024 and beyond.
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is not only the birthplace of the dramatic tango, but this vibrant city is also the bookstore capital of the world.
There are roughly 25 bookshops for every 100.000 inhabitants which works out at 734 book stores in total ranking ahead of both Madrid and Hong Kong.
A must-visit when it comes to cultural destinations, culture pulses through Buenos Aires’ veins.
Whether this is from the ever-growing street art-plastered neighbourhoods, the show stopping theatre or the enriching opera, there’s no doubt that Buenos Aires is the cultural heart of Argentina.
Make sure you pay a visit to the Evita museum where you can learn more about the life and times of Eva Perón.
Melbourne
One of the most cultural destinations in Australia, Melbourne is a must-visit thanks to its vibrancy and variety of things to do.
From the fantastic street art and the artistic hub of Fed Square, culture is alive and well in Melbourne.
The city is home to a thriving community of creatives and artists and both locals.
As Australia’s undisputed culture capital, you can enjoy a range of exciting events that celebrate art, dance, literature and music.
The National Gallery of Victoria is one of Australia’s oldest and most popular art museums.
Here you can enjoy both classic collections and modern talents.
You can also learn about the unique cultural heritage of the indigenous people of Australia at the Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre at the Melbourne Museum.
Madrid
Synonymous with art, the capital of Spain is one of the top cultural destinations in Europe as well as the world.
From the expansive neo-classical Museo del Prado, where you will find a vast and spectacular collection of Spanish and European art.
It forms part of the city’s Golden Triangle of Art which is located by the Paseo del Prado, one of the city’s main and most historical streets in Madrid.
Whether you favour old-school heritage or cutting-edge culture, Madrid won’t disappoint and it ticks all the boxes.
Theatre buffs will love taking in a show at the Teatro Real which is one of Europe’s most esteemed venues for opera and the performing arts.
Music fans will be spoilt for choice when it comes to gigs and festivals as Madrid which includes Primavera Sound and Mad Cool.
Why not tie in a trip to Madrid with a music festival where you can watch some of your favourite acts in the sun?
Athens
The culturally-rich city of Athens has been a mecca for the arts since the days of Ancient Greece.
Despite its storied history, Athens is as equally renowned for its contemporary and underground culture as it is for its ancient ruins and age-old philosophers.
Exploring both sides of Athens’s culture scene has never been easier and this enduringly creative city offers so much beyond its citadels.
From summer festivals to open-air cinemas, as cultural destinations go, Athens is a true contemporary cultural and creative hub where you can enjoy street art, live music, workshops and more.
The Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (SNFCC) was designed by famous Italian architect Renzo Piano and is the new home for the Greek National Opera and the national Greek library.
It’s an oasis of glorious greenery and also offers far-reaching views of the Acropolis
Art lovers should check out Athens’ First Cemetery, which is one of the city’s most intriguing off-radar sights thanks to its marble tombstones and ornate sculptures.
Montreal
Arguably one of the most cultural destinations in North America and beyond, Montreal is one of the top cities for culture and is also home to some of the region’s most exciting and culturally rich festivals.
Throughout the year, you can enjoy festivals which cover everything from jazz and electronic music to Korean film and coffee.
One of the highlights is the Montréal Fringe Festival where 700 performers and musicians take to the stage to entertain visitors and locals alike.
Montreal offers visitors a rich history, captivating architecture, exceptional restaurants and of course some incredible culture, without doubt Montreal has something special to captivate every traveller.
This intriguing city boasts numerous awe-inspiring museums, art galleries, and theatres that will be absolutely unmissable for those that love all things culture-orientated.
Some of the cultural highlights include the Musée d’Art Contemporain de Montréal and The Musee des Beaux-Arts de Montreal to name but a few.
Chemnitz
The under-the-radar city of Chemnitz is one of the upcoming cultural destinations to keep an eye on in 2024 and beyond.
Steeped in culture and history, this vibrant German city is often overshadowed by other cultural destinations in Germany like Berlin and Leipzig.
However as cultural city breaks go, there’s no doubt that the spotlight will be on Chemnitz which has been named as the European Capital of Culture for 2025.
Located in the Saxony region which is chock-full of extravagant baroque palaces and castles, expect to enjoy a wide range of exhibitions showcasing paintings,sculptures, and more.
These effortlessly sit alongside some exciting music and arts festivals that are hosted in this pretty city.
Fez
One of the most ancient cities in Morocco, Fez is infinitely rich when it comes to culture, gastronomy and more.
It’s often referred to as Morocco’s cultural capital and is home to the oldest medieval medina in the world.
With so much history for you to explore, this Moroccan city is one of the most extensive and best conserved historic towns of the Arab-Muslim world.
It’s also a UNESCO World Heritage site and has an abundance of mosques, souks, palaces and medinas.
Be sure to check out the medina which is chock-full of shopping souks and the famous green and white Al-Andalous Mosque.
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is not only the birthplace of the dramatic tango, but this vibrant city is also the bookstore capital of the world.
With roughly 25 bookshops for every 100.000 inhabitants which works out at 734 book stores in total ranking ahead of both Madrid and Hong Kong.
A must-visit when it comes to cultural destinations, culture pulses through Buenos Aires’ veins.
Whether this is from the ever-growing street art-plastered neighbourhoods, the show stopping theatre or the enriching opera, there’s no doubt that Buenos Aires is the cultural heart of Argentina.
Make sure you pay a visit to the Evita museum where you can learn more about the life and times of Eva Perón.
Melbourne
One of the most cultural destinations in Australia, Melbourne is a must-visit thanks to its vibrancy and variety of things to do.
From the fantastic street art and the artistic hub of Fed Square, culture is alive and well in Melbourne.
The city is home to a thriving community of creatives and artists and both locals and as Australia’s undisputed culture capital.
You can enjoy a range of exciting events that celebrate art, dance, literature and music.
The National Gallery of Victoria is one of Australia’s oldest and most popular art museums.
Here you can enjoy both classic collections and modern talents. You can also learn about the unique cultural heritage of the indigenous people of Australia at the Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre at the Melbourne Museum.
Madrid
Synonymous with art, the capital of Spain is one of the top cultural destinations in Europe as well as the world.
From the expansive neo-classical Museo del Prado, where you will find a vast and spectacular collection of Spanish and European art.
It forms part of the city’s Golden Triangle of Art which is located by the Paseo del Prado, one of the city’s main and most historical streets in Madrid.
Whether you favour old-school heritage or cutting-edge culture, Madrid won’t disappoint and it ticks all the boxes.
Theatre buffs will love taking in a show at the Teatro Real which is one of Europe’s most esteemed venues for opera and the performing arts.
Music fans will be spoilt for choice when it comes to gigs and festivals as Madrid which includes Primavera Sound and Mad Cool.
Why not tie in a trip to Madrid with a music festival where you can watch some of your favourite acts in the sun?
Athens
The culturally-rich city of Athens has been a mecca for the arts since the days of Ancient Greece.
Despite its storied history, Athens is as equally renowned for its contemporary and underground culture as it is for its ancient ruins and age-old philosophers.
Exploring both sides of Athens’s culture scene has never been easier and this enduringly creative city offers so much beyond its citadels.
From summer festivals to open-air cinemas, as cultural destinations go, Athens is a true contemporary cultural and creative hub where you can enjoy street art, live music, workshops and more.
The Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (SNFCC) was designed by famous Italian architect Renzo Piano and is the new home for the Greek National Opera and the national Greek library.
It’s an oasis of glorious greenery and also offers far-reaching views of the Acropolis
Art lovers should check out Athens’ First Cemetery, which is one of the city’s most intriguing off-radar sights thanks to its marble tombstones and ornate sculptures.
Montreal
Arguably one of the most cultural destinations in North America and beyond, Montreal is one of the top cities for culture.
It is also home to some of the region’s most exciting and culturally rich festivals.
Throughout the year, you can enjoy festivals which cover everything from jazz and electronic music to Korean film and coffee.
One of the highlights is the Montréal Fringe Festival where 700 performers and musicians take to the stage to entertain visitors and locals alike.
Montreal offers visitors a rich history, captivating architecture, exceptional restaurants and of course some incredible culture, without doubt Montreal has something special to captivate every traveller.
This intriguing city boasts numerous awe-inspiring museums, art galleries, and theatres that will be absolutely unmissable for those that love all things culture-orientated.
Some of the cultural highlights include the Musée d’Art Contemporain de Montréal and The Musee des Beaux-Arts de Montreal to name but a few.
Aim to get to the clock at nine on the dot so you can see the procession of the Twelve Apostles as the hour strikes.
Chemnitz
The under-the-radar city of Chemnitz is one of the upcoming cultural destinations to keep an eye on in 2024 and beyond.
Steeped in culture and history, this vibrant German city is often overshadowed by other cultural destinations in Germany like Berlin and Leipzig.
However as cultural city breaks go, there’s no doubt that the spotlight will be on Chemnitz which has been named as the European Capital of Culture for 2025.
Located in the Saxony region which is chock-full of extravagant baroque palaces and castles, expect to enjoy a wide range of exhibitions showcasing paintings, sculptures, and more.
These effortlessly sit alongside some exciting music and arts festivals that are hosted in this pretty city.
Fez
One of the most ancient cities in Morocco, Fez is infinitely rich when it comes to culture, gastronomy and more.
It’s often referred to as Morocco’s cultural capital and is home to the oldest medieval medina in the world.
With so much history for you to explore, this Moroccan city is one of the most extensive and best conserved historic towns of the Arab-Muslim world.
It is also a UNESCO World Heritage site and has an abundance of mosques, souks, palaces and medinas.
Be sure to check out the medina which is chock-full of shopping souks and the famous green and white Al-Andalous Mosque.
