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
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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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10 Must-Visit Historical Places Around the World
History + Culture
12 Must-Visit Historical Sites Around the World
March 07, 2024 08:22 AM
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Casey Hatfield-Chiotti
15 Beautiful, Abandoned Places Around the World
History + Culture
17 Beautiful, Abandoned Places Around the World
February 26, 2024 08:37 PM
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Sarah Buder
The Amache National Historic Site featuring an old barrack and guard tower
History + Culture
This Historic Site Is Now Officially Part of the U.S. National Park System
February 23, 2024 01:40 PM
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Bailey Berg
Couple walking in a market and holding hands in Busan, South Korea
Art + Culture
9 Ways to Avoid Offending Anyone When Traveling in Asia
February 20, 2024 12:59 PM
 · 
Maggie Fuller
USA, Washington, D.C. - The Howard Theatre is a historic theater, located at 620 T Street, Northwest, Washington, D.C.
Art + Culture
Diving Into Washington, D.C.'s Music History—From Jazz to Punk, Go-Go And Beyond
February 15, 2024 01:27 PM
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Karen Carmichael
The Anthem live music venue at the Wharf in Washington DC. The marquee is reflecting the Washington Nationals winning the World Series.
Art + Culture
Washington, D.C.’s Best Live Music Venues, According to the Musicians Who Live There
February 15, 2024 10:51 AM
 · 
Karen Carmichael
A man in a suit stands in front of grand doors in a historic stone building
Art + Culture
A Guide to the Chic Paris Filming Locations From Apple TV+’s New Drama About Chanel and Dior
February 14, 2024 01:14 PM
 · 
Nicholas DeRenzo
5 Charming Lighthouses That You Can Actually Sleep In
History + Culture
You Can Spend the Night in These 7 Charming Lighthouses
February 13, 2024 02:05 PM
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Robert Annis
Versailles, France, August 18, 2012. Le Grand Trianon at The Palace of Versailles.
History + Culture
8 Beautiful Châteaux in France You Can Visit—or Even Spend the Night In
February 13, 2024 10:51 AM
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Chloe Arrojado
Gene Kelly in "An American in Paris"
Art + Culture
The 15 Best Movies Set in Paris You Can Stream Right Now
February 12, 2024 04:58 PM
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Lyndsey Matthews
Aerial Drone Photo of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Downtown Cleveland
Art + Culture
8 Great Museums in North America for Music Fans
February 09, 2024 11:55 AM
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Andrew Parks
A Second Line romps through Jazz Fest
Art + Culture
5 Music Festivals Worth Traveling For
February 08, 2024 06:15 PM
 · 
Tim Chester
A painting by Pablo Picasso hangs in a common area of the Fife Arms in Scotland.
Hotels
At This Luxury Hotel in Scotland, You Can Sleep With World-Class Art
January 31, 2024 11:42 AM
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Laura Dannen Redman
The exterior Story Parlor—a brick building with tall arched glass windows.
Art + Culture
Why This Asheville Venue Is a Must-See
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The French Broad River
Books
How to Experience the Good Life in Asheville
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A group of people on a guided tour of Hollyford Track in Fiordland National Park, New Zealand
History + Culture
7 Meaningful Ways to Experience Māori Culture in New Zealand
December 21, 2023 01:26 PM
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Laura Dannen Redman
people walking on street during daytime in Osaka Japan, with signs in Japanese. Some of the storefronts have giant sculptures of animals as their signs, like a chicken or a turtle. A TV tower is visible at the end of the street
Trending News
These Are 2024’s Travel Destinations to Watch, According to TikTok
December 21, 2023 09:50 AM
 · 
Tiana Attride
Italy Drops Health Pass Requirement for Entering Restaurants, Museums
Books
14 Books to Read if You’re Dreaming About Italy
December 20, 2023 10:32 AM
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Sara Button
Woman dancing in a green mountain scene wearing a gauzy flowing dress.
Art + Culture
Asheville’s Creative Scene Is Bursting With Talented Artists. Here’s Where to Find Them.
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The interior of the National Air and Space Museum in Washington D.C.
Art + Culture
10 Must-Visit Museums in Washington, D.C.
December 19, 2023 01:57 PM
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Mae Hamilton
Three performers playing upright bass, fiddle, guitar and singing at The Grey Eagle in Asheville.
History + Culture
Here’s Where to Best Experience Asheville’s Artistic Heritage
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Manchester England - Midland Hotel - Billie Cohen.jpg
Cities We Love
The Essential English City to Visit—and the Best Things to Do There
December 12, 2023 09:53 AM
 · 
Billie Cohen
Read Your Way Across the USA: 14 Books to Inspire Your Next Trip
Books
16 Books About the USA Every Traveler Should Read
December 12, 2023 09:22 AM
 · 
Shannon Reed
Light shines through stained glass in exterior view of Dohány Street Synagogue in Hungary
Art + Architecture
Uncover Budapest’s Off-the-Beaten-Path Adventures
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Aerial view of the bowed, grass-covered rooftop of the Museum of Ethnography in Hungary
Museums + Galleries
Why Hungary Is an Epic Vacation for Culture Lovers
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Howth Beacon a seaside cliff outside of Dublin, Ireland
Books
10 Essential Books to Read Before You Go to Ireland
November 30, 2023 09:50 AM
 · 
Pat Tompkins
UNESCO Cities of Literature Every Bookworm Should Visit
Books
7 UNESCO Cities of Literature Every Bookworm Should Visit
November 27, 2023 11:06 AM
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Devorah Lev-Tov
Old City Jerusalem in a sunset haze
UNESCO World Heritage
These Are the World’s Most Endangered UNESCO Sites—and How You Can Help Save Them
November 21, 2023 02:02 PM
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Chloe Arrojado
The front office building of the Clown Motel in Nevada, a red building with a big sign on top that says Welcome to the World Famous Clown Motel
Hotels
Could You Sleep in a Clown-Themed Hotel?
November 20, 2023 09:30 AM
 · 
Tiana Attride
A guide speaking to a tour group near a body of water in Shark Bay, Australia.
History + Culture
12 Meaningful Ways to Experience Indigenous Culture in Australia
November 17, 2023 01:55 PM
 · 
Laura Dannen Redman
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