Art + Culture

From festivals and events around the world, to museum openings and architectural wonders, let these articles inspire your next trip.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Socotra, Yemen - January 19, 2025: Discovering Socotra Islands breathtaking landscapes and coastlines on an adventure
Longreads
Can the “Galápagos of the Arabian Sea” Survive Its Popularity?
January 29, 2026 11:10 AM
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Rachel Nuwer
A group of four visitors walk over fossil-like hoodoos while exploring the badlands at Dinosaur Provincial Park
Destination Spotlight
Don’t Miss These UNESCO Sites of Alberta—Which Has More Than Any Other Province in Canada
November 13, 2025 01:22 PM
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Jennifer Malloy
Spectacular Castles Built in the Name of Love
UNESCO World Heritage
11 UNESCO World Heritage Sites That Spark Wonder, From Ancient Cities to Legendary Rocks
July 25, 2025 11:28 AM
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Chloe Arrojado

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For the bookworms
Interior of the Strand bookstore in nyc, with red signs everywhere, a high ceiling, and lots of people buying books
Books
28 Independent Bookstores in the U.S. You Should Visit
From a shipping container in Portland, Maine, to the world’s largest indie bookstore in Portland, Oregon, these are Afar staffers’ favorite bookshops.
November 19, 2025 03:21 AM
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Aislyn Greene
Art + Culture
Visit 9 Spine-Chilling Bookstores in North America Dedicated Exclusively to Horror
October 22, 2025 04:02 PM
Books
These 10 Wanderlust Books of the Summer Will Take You to Japan, Italy, and More
June 18, 2025 09:30 AM
Books
13 of the Best, Most Community-Oriented Black-Owned Bookstores in the U.S.
February 24, 2025 08:45 AM
Books
Escape the Winter Doldrums With These 9 New Books
January 13, 2025 12:24 PM

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Art and Architecture
The Frank Gehry–designed Fondation Louis Vuitton is hosting two major exhibits featuring Jean-Michel Basquiat and Egon Schiele this fall.
Art + Architecture
9 Iconic Frank Gehry–Designed Buildings You Can Visit
December 05, 2025 05:42 PM
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Mae Hamilton
a white curved modern building beneath a blue sky
Style + Design
Zaha Hadid Was an Architectural Visionary. Here’s Where to Find Her Most Iconic Buildings.
September 09, 2025 04:07 AM
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Sarah Buder
A picture of Fallingwater in Pennsylvania.
Art + Architecture
Step Back in Time at These 12 Frank Lloyd Wright Houses Across the USA
July 14, 2025 12:54 PM
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Mae Hamilton

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Museums + Galleries
a woman in braids holds a small glass piece at the Corning Museum's glass shop. she is surrounded by other glass pieces.
Museums + Galleries
What to Buy at the World’s Coolest Museum Gift Shops. Because We All Know the Shops Are Why We Go to Museums.
Because sometimes the finest masterpiece is the one you take home.
November 24, 2025 07:58 AM
 · 
Ashlea Halpern
Longreads
Inside Switzerland’s New Saint Bernard “Theme Park”
November 12, 2025 08:27 AM
Trending News
The Louvre Museum Has Closed Following a Jewelry Heist—Here’s What Travelers Should Know
October 20, 2025 04:30 PM
UNESCO World Heritage
The Best Way to See Madrid is on a Walking Tour
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History + Culture
How to Go Off the Beaten Path in the Nordics
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History + Culture
Outside the HT Home for the Aged
History + Culture
Harriet Tubman’s Story Didn’t End With the Underground Railroad—See Where Her Life Began Again in New York
February 02, 2026 04:10 PM
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Tykesha Spivey Burton
Two men chat outside the storefront of M. Dumas & Sons in Charleston
History + Culture
Charleston Markets and Makers Worth Visiting
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A sting quartet playing on the Spoleto Festival stage.
History + Culture
How the Charleston Area Became a Creative Force in the South
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Festivals and Events
Everything You Need to Know About 2022 Mardi Gras in New Orleans
Festivals + Events
When Should You Celebrate Mardi Gras in New Orleans?
Mardi Gras day celebrations in NOLA start well before Fat Tuesday.
November 04, 2024 03:45 PM
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Tim Chester
Festivals + Events
Your Month-by-Month Guide to the Most Exciting Cultural Events in the U.S. in 2026
January 15, 2026 12:23 PM
Festivals + Events
I’m a New Orleans Local—Here’s How to Plan the Perfect Mardi Gras Trip in 2026
December 30, 2025 07:34 PM
Festivals + Events
New Year’s Traditions Around the World Go Way Beyond Fireworks—These Are the 15 Coolest
December 15, 2025 04:27 AM
Holiday Travel
8 U.S. Cities Putting Their Own Spins on the Holidays, From Festive Boat Parades to Nouveau Nutcrackers
November 24, 2025 10:37 AM

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Weisman Art Museum Frank Gehry
Art + Culture
University Museums Are Underrated Places to See Art in the U.S.—Here Are 8 of the Best
September 29, 2024 10:13 PM
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Pat Tompkins
Beijing Library
Art + Architecture
10 New Buildings Every Architecture Buff Should See This Year
September 23, 2024 03:18 PM
 · 
Nicholas DeRenzo
A light-filled gallery inside the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Art + Culture
10 Must-Visit Museums in New York City
September 17, 2024 01:24 PM
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Mae Hamilton
Fall-Reading-List.jpg
Books
8 Great New Books for Fall That Might Inspire Your Next Travel Adventure
September 04, 2024 07:01 AM
 · 
Pat Tompkins
An aerial view of the Schwerin Castle surrounded by gardens and water and a cityscape in the background
UNESCO World Heritage
UNESCO Just Designated 24 New World Heritage Sites. These Are the Ones We Want to Visit
August 21, 2024 01:25 PM
 · 
Bailey Berg
A domed cathedral over a river at twilight.
Art + Culture
The Secret to Seeing the Vatican Without the Crowds
August 20, 2024 12:25 PM
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Laura Itzkowitz
Man holding tea leaves in a bowl
History + Culture
You Have to Leave Tokyo to Try Japan’s Best Matcha
August 14, 2024 05:15 PM
 · 
Alex Schechter
So many cheeses; so many clues about what your future travel plans might be.
Food + Drink
I Met a Cheese Fortune Teller and She Told Me Where I Had to Travel Next
August 02, 2024 04:13 PM
 · 
Kristin Vuković
The lobby of JW Marriott Savannah Plant Riverside District
Art + Architecture
Engage with Compelling Art at These Top Southern Hotels
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the interior of El Ateneo Grand Splendid bookstore in Buenos Aires. The store is in an old theater and you can see the stage, red curtains, and all the balconies where the seats used to be. The floor is lined with bookcases.
Cities We Love
5 Reasons to Go to Buenos Aires That Aren’t Steak and Wine
July 26, 2024 09:02 AM
 · 
Billie Cohen
Two women in traditional Latvian clothes behind a man in white clothing
Festivals + Events
9 Festivals Around the World Worth Traveling For
July 24, 2024 07:30 AM
 · 
Chloe Arrojado
An art nouveau bookstore with stained glass ceiling
Books
17 Independent Bookstores We Love Around the World
July 19, 2024 06:56 AM
 · 
Tim Chester
On a Road Trip Through Wyoming, Celebrate a Legacy of Women’s Voting Rights
History + Culture
A Road Trip in Wyoming Celebrates Its Women’s Voting History
July 18, 2024 04:44 PM
 · 
Lindsay Lambert
Time Travel Through Old New Orleans During Its Spectacular Tricentennial Celebration
Festivals + Events
A History Lover’s Guide to New Orleans
July 09, 2024 09:40 AM
 · 
Julia Eskins
Tour guide giving a talk to a few tourists outside the Freedom House Museum in Alexandria Virginia. The museum is a federalist-style yellow-brick building and the street has other brick row houses on it. It's now a museum and National Historic Landmark.
History + Culture
A Lesser-Known Black History Museum Is Getting a Facelift and Deserved Attention
July 02, 2024 10:58 AM
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Tykesha Spivey Burton
People visiting the Louvre in Paris, France.
Art + Culture
10 Paris Museums for Every Kind of Traveler
June 27, 2024 08:20 AM
 · 
Mae Hamilton
The Santiago Calatrava-designed Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge spans Dallas’ Trinity River.
Art + Culture
What a Local Artist Loves Most About Dallas
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There’s always something lively happening at Dallas’ Latino Cultural Center.
Art + Culture
8 Ways to Experience Dallas’ Culturally Diverse Arts Scene
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See art everywhere you look in downtown Dallas
Art + Culture
Why Art Fans Love Visiting Dallas
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Black sculpture of a headless man on a horse
Art + Culture
8 Must-Visit Stops for Your Paris Trip if You Love Art or History
June 25, 2024 04:36 PM
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Sara Lieberman
Sign,Bahama,Village,In,Key,West,,Florida,,Usa.
History + Culture
Another Side of Key West? Its Rich Black History
June 18, 2024 09:57 AM
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Victoria M. Walker
Brick home on a green lawn
History + Culture
5 Black History Landmarks in the U.S. You’ve Probably Never Heard Of
June 17, 2024 04:28 PM
 · 
Chloe Arrojado
Flag with the words "Paris 2024" shown flying with the Paris city skyline in the background.
Festivals + Events
9 Paris Olympic Activities That Are Free—No Reservations or Tickets Required
June 14, 2024 04:17 PM
 · 
Kristy Alpert
Stacks and rows of vintage books with leather covers with a small globe sitting on one stack of books
Books
9 Classic Travel Books to Inspire Your Next Epic Trip
June 13, 2024 11:22 PM
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Pat Tompkins
Performers in mime attire at the Fringe advertise their shows on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh
Festivals + Events
Everything You Need to Know About the Edinburgh Festival Fringe
June 13, 2024 10:40 AM
 · 
Shannon Reed
A rocky island bordered by sandy beaches and turquoise water
History + Culture
18 Beautiful Greek Islands for Every Kind of Traveler
June 10, 2024 08:54 AM
 · 
Amanda Castleman
An overhead shot of a bull running through the streets surrounded by people, many dressed in white
Festivals + Events
How to Prepare for the Running of the Bulls at Pamplona’s Festival of San Fermín
June 05, 2024 02:00 PM
 · 
Lisa Abend
0-summer books 2024-hero.png
Books
9 New Books Savvy Travelers Should Put on Their Summer Reading List
June 04, 2024 12:45 PM
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Pat Tompkins
Chef Andrew Zimmern of 'Bizarre Foods' wears a white bucket hat and denim apron as he tends a barbecue grill along with some helpers
Ocean Cruises
Learn to Cook from Star Chefs on This New Culinary-Themed Cruise
May 31, 2024 07:24 PM
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Fran Golden
The City center, cathedral, city hall and the old main bridge across the Main river at night time in Germany, Lower Franconia, Würzburg
History + Culture
History Buff? Add These Places in Germany to Your Must-See List
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