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People travel for different reasons. Some travel with the intention of doing nothing besides laying on the beach for a week or to check something off from a bucket list. Others travel to immerse themselves in a foreign culture. For travelers, we’ve rounded up five destinations for cultural travel.
Tuscany, Italy
While there is no shortage of cultural experiences throughout Italy, Tuscany, a region in central Italy, is a must-visit. In Tuscany, visitors can spend a day exploring the many famous museums of Florence and the next riding a bike through the Chianti vineyards and olive gardens before relaxing in a hot spring.
Paris, France
Paris is another European city full of cultural experiences. The city is home to both the Moulin Rouge, the original birthplace of the can-can dance,that hosts shows most nights, and the Louvre, the most visited museum in the world, where visitors can view the original Mona Lisa. Those interested in history can visit the Cathedral de Notre Dame or Les Invalides and the Luxembourg Gardens often host additional cultural events. NESCO World Heritage site since 1983.
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Santorini, Greece
One of the most visited islands of Greece, Santorini is arguably one of the best places in the world to catch a sunset. It’s where Cousteau looked for the lost city of Atlantis and is actually made up of several islands. Visitors to Santorini can immerse themselves in Greek culture by tasting their way through the local villages and sampling everything from cherry tomatoes to “hloró tyrí,” a goat cheese found on the island. Then they can head to one of the many cultural sites, including Ancient Thira and the Fira Catholic Cathedral before heading down to one of the volcanic beaches.
What’s your favorite European destination for a cultural travel experience? Please share in the comments below.
By Sky Fisher
Jessica Festa is the editor of the travel sites Jessie on a Journey (http://jessieonajourney.com) and Epicure & Culture (http://epicureandculture.com). Along with blogging at We Blog The World, her byline has appeared in publications like Huffington Post, Gadling, Fodor’s, Travel + Escape, Matador, Viator, The Culture-Ist and many others. After getting her BA/MA in Communication from the State University of New York at Albany, she realized she wasn’t really to stop backpacking and made travel her full time job. Some of her most memorable experiences include studying abroad in Sydney, teaching English in Thailand, doing orphanage work in Ghana, hiking her way through South America and traveling solo through Europe. She has a passion for backpacking, adventure, hiking, wine and getting off the beaten path.
