Travel has a way of shifting your perspective. Some places take you far beyond the familiar, immersing you in traditions, landscapes and daily rhythms that challenge your expectations. In one moment, you might be tasting street food perfected over centuries. And in the next, you could be watching robots serve dinner in a futuristic restaurant.
Top destinations for holidays of cultural contrasts
Exploring new places offers a change of scenery and gives you a deeper appreciation for the many ways people live. Seeking inspiration as to where to start? We’ve got you covered right here.
Japan
Here, the past and future co-exist in ways that few other places can match. You can start your day in Kyoto, strolling through wooden alleyways where geisha glide between teahouses, and end it in Tokyo’s Shibuya district, surrounded by flashing billboards and self-driving taxis.
Temples and shrines provide moments of quiet contemplation, but just beyond their gates you’ll find convenience stores packed with cutting-edge technology. If you want to experience this duality firsthand, visit a sentō, a traditional public bathhouse, before spending an evening in an izakaya, a lively local bar where salarymen unwind over sake.
Plan your trip to Japan:
- Things to Do in Tokyo: Where Your Explorations Should Start
- Where to Stay in Tokyo: The Best Hotels and Neighborhoods
- The perfect 3-day itinerary for Osaka
- Where to Stay in Osaka: Best Hotels and Neighborhoods
India
India overwhelms the senses in the best possible way. Its sheer scale and diversity create a constant interplay between ancient traditions and a rapidly evolving present. In Delhi, you can wander through centuries-old Mughal forts or sip an artisanal coffee in a sleek rooftop café. The contrasts are just as vivid in Varanasi, where funeral pyres burn on the ghats of the Ganges, while neon-lit tuk-tuks zip past chai stalls just metres away.
To truly appreciate India’s cultural layers, take a train journey. Indian Railways, a legacy of British colonial rule, connects metropolises with villages that have changed little in hundreds of years.
Get inspired:
- Transport in India: An Overview and Practical Tips
- 9 Ways To Experience Authentic India
- Where to Stay in Jaipur: Best Hotels and Neighborhoods
- Couples Travel Guide to Kerala
- Places to Visit in India for First-Timers: 11 Tips to Make Your Trip Awesome
Egypt
The timeless silhouettes of pyramids rise against the backdrop of modern highways, and feluccas glide along the Nile while cruise ships pass by with rooftop pools. On Egypt holidays, it’s impossible to ignore the weight of history. Stand inside the tomb of a pharaoh, and you’ll feel centuries pressing in on you, but modern life continues just outside.
In Cairo, the streets hum with energy. Vendors balance trays of fresh bread on their heads. Cafés echo with the sound of backgammon pieces clattering against wooden boards. Meanwhile, minarets tower above the cityscape. Yet just a short drive away, you can find contemporary art galleries and ambitious new urban developments reshaping the desert’s edge.
Georgia
Perched at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, Georgia blends influences from both yet remains uniquely its own. Walk through Tbilisi and you’ll see Persian-style bathhouses, Soviet-era architecture and trendy cafés filled with young creatives. The city’s Old Town is a maze of wooden balconies and winding alleys, while just across the river, modern glass bridges and futuristic buildings signal a country looking forward.
Georgia’s wine culture, one of the oldest in the world, reflects this mix of past and present. Many winemakers still use the ancient qvevri method, fermenting grapes in large clay pots buried underground. Yet in the same vineyards, you’ll find state-of-the-art cellars experimenting with bold new blends.
The most fascinating places are often those that exist between worlds, where no two moments ever feel the same.
