Culture tips

Sandra has recently returned from her native Azores, where she was researching the upcoming Pocket Azores guidebook, out in October 2024. Here she shares her local knowledge of the archipelago to help you choose the best island for your trip.

Abu Dhabi is having ‘a moment’. Visit the city, the capital of the UAE, in 2024 and you’ll see a skyline punctuated with cranes and hi-rises shooting up like exclamation marks. This is a city in rapid development. In fact, the Abu Dhabi Projects and Infrastructure Centre (ADPIC) has recently announced that the Abu Dhabi Executive Council has approved the launch of 144 future projects across Abu Dhabi. “These were approved with a total budget of around AED66 billion (US$180 billion) and will span various sectors, including housing and quality of life, education and human capital, tourism, and natural resources.”

I spent the first few years of my life in Greece and then moved to the US.

Throughout April, we're honoring the ancient Arab tradition of hakawatis, or storytellers, highlighting the writers, performers, and poets who are driving the conversation around what it means to be Arab American today—and celebrating the rich culture and histories of the diaspora.

As a born-and-raised Canadian, I’m often surprised by how little people know about my country.

As Mother’s Day approaches, consider giving the gift of quality time paired with a unique culinary experience. These nine restaurants, set in picturesque locales across Europe, offer more than just exceptional food—they promise unforgettable getaways where culinary art, sustainability and ambiance blend perfectly to celebrate this special occasion.

As travellers increasingly seek transformative wellness experiences, Indigenous cultural practices have entered the mainstream. From the commercialization of ayahuasca retreats to Mexican sweat lodges (known as a temazcal, it’s now easier than ever to access ancient modalities of healing on your next trip. But many of these cultural practices are divorced from their origins, eliciting criticisms of cultural appropriation. Subsequently, travelers pursuing a more ethical and regenerative approach to travel look to go to the source for their next culturally rooted wellness experience.

Traveling to Europe in the summer months is a rite of passage—steamy nights spent in the south of Spain, snoozy days on the most beautiful Greek islands, breezy afternoons sipping rosé on a terrace in the South of France. But as tourism levels continue to rise after a few quiet years, and peak-season temperatures climb from Italy to Croatia, is the appeal of a big European summer holiday dwindling?

Most travelers visiting Istanbul for the first time tend to stick to the hotspots like Taksim Square and Sultanahmet when booking a hotel in the city—which makes sense if you’re hoping to check off the most famous attractions in Istanbul. But once you’ve visited the Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque, taking a ferry ride over to the Asian—or Anatolian—side of Istanbul is where you’ll find the more local-leaning attractions.

TOULOUSE, France -- A restored Notre Dame Cathedral, severely damaged in an April 2019 fire, will reopen to individual visitors daily from 7:45 a.m. to 7:45 p.m. beginning on Dec. 16. Continuing previous practice and in accordance with French law, entry will be free to all comers.

Asian and Pacific Islander people have played a profoundly significant role in shaping American history, contributing to the rich heritage of the United States in countless ways.

The inaugural MedBodrum festival is set to unfold this May in Bodrum, a charming town where the Mediterranean meets the Aegean. This new cultural event, spearheaded by Sahir Erozan, the visionary behind the esteemed Maçakizi Hotel & Villa, promises to bring a fresh vibrancy to Bodrum's already picturesque landscape. MedBodrum aims to celebrate the Mediterranean lifestyle through an impressive array of food, art, music, and a strong commitment to sustainability.

School is out, the sun is up, and the good times keep rolling! New Orleans offers activities for all types of travelers. Break away from ordinary summer vacation destinations and plan a getaway that allows your clients to go off the beaten path and experience the culture, magic, and timelessness of New Orleans.

Dublin is Ireland's largest and liveliest city, with neighborhoods that have little intricacies and quirks to uncover during your visit.

On a recent Monday evening in Manhattan, a flurry of guests in richly embroidered lehengas, sherwanis, and kaftans swirled around Bungalow, a stylish new restaurant from celebrity chef Vikas Khanna—who previously earned a Michelin star at Junoon—for a lavish iftar dinner to mark the end of a day of fasting. “I feel so honored to be cooking for you, especially during this holy month,” he said as he surveyed the gathering.

As World Heritage Day on 18th April approaches, the spotlight turns on renowned landmarks across the globe. UNESCO sites like Stonehenge in the UK, Pompei in Italy and the Acropolis in Greece get no shortage of visitors. But there are plenty of designated destinations in Europe that still fly under the radar. Here are some of the best in Europe from remote archaeological wonders to untamed natural landscapes.

Like many South Florida residents, I came first as a tourist before my family made the leap and moved here.

With the recent release of the acclaimed Hulu historic epic TV miniseries Shogun, travelers are itching to explore firsthand the land of samurais, geishas, picturesque villages and urban centers throughout Japan that epitomize the thrilling spirit of Shogun. Based on James Clavell’s 1970s novel, Shogun is the story of William Adams, better known as Anjin-san, who rose to become the top advisor to Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu in feudal Japan in the early 17th century.

Amidst verdant green valleys and rugged mountains lies a remarkable piece of cultural heritage at the heart of Norway. Dating back to the late 12th century, Borgund Stave Church is an architectural masterpiece that has stood the test of time.

Educational travel and voluntourism often serve as a conduit for experiential learning. An educational vacation or community service travel can enrich knowledge of places and customs in ways that can’t be taught via textbooks, especially for younger kids who tend to soak up hands-on lessons like a sponge. Through cultural exploration and immersion, students become enriched as global citizens, while developing a stronger knowledge of language and geography as well as an increased confidence and problem solving skills.

Florence has been a key destination on Italian itineraries since the Grand Tour days, when British and German aristocrats traveled through the peninsula to enrich their cultural baggage and gain status. While much has changed since the 17th and 18th centuries, the Tuscan capital remains a major draw, as proven by the thousands of people who reach the city every day.