Planning where to travel in 2024? I’ve ranked the countries I’ve visited this year from best to worst for a cultural traveller – in my honest opinion – and carefully selected a highlight in each country not to miss!
It many ways this has been a really bad travel year for me. So many failed plans and missed opportunities due to a surgical operation in my arm, my travel companions changed plans and bad luck. Failed plans include Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia, Tanzania and Zanzibar as well as Porto and Iceland. Yeah, talk about missing out! Instead, new plans emerged, and in the end, I ticked off 2 bucket list adventures.
In 2023, I travelled 7 times visiting a total of 8 countries, where as 3 was new getting me to 51 out of 195. I also saw some new UNESCO World Heritage Sites. So hopefully you can find a destination that inspires you for your next cultural adventure.
WHERE TO TRAVEL IN 2024
UNITED KINGDOM
Canterbury is a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its cathedral, the abbey and the oldest church in England. The cathedral is very impressive outside, and the Black Prince’s burial inside is a tale to be heard. It’s also the site of a famous incident: The murder of Thomas Becket!
In the ruins of St. Augustine Abbey, the tombstone of the first Bishop of Canterbury Augustine who died in 605! puts time in perspective. Maybe I should write about Canterbury…
HIGHLIGHT
Visiting the actual burial site of king Richard 3 beneath a former car park in Leicester was definitely memorable. You can see a light installation in my pictures below. The whole architecture surrounding the former grave (the king is now in the cathedral) was very moving.
Most of you probably know London better than me, so will not go into details. Since I was here for work, I was fortunate enough to meet with a member of staff in Westminster Abbey to share knowledge on dead kings and queens was very rewarding. She even let me in to see the otherwise closed off area, where the sarcophagus of the oldest royal burial is: Edward the Confessor – who died in the Battle of Hastings in 1066. Epic!
In conclusion: a fantastic work trip, but not anywhere I would return to. If you want more of United Kingdom? Explore the 7 Top Attractions in Manchester.
CRETE, GREECE
Greece and the island of Crete is one of my favourite places in the world. If you haven’t been, you should go. Crete is beautiful, full of history and very much its own among the Greek islands. It even has a palm beach. Take my advice if you want to Summer Like a Local on Eastern Crete.
So why is Crete always at the bottom of my lists? The fault is definitely not Greece’s. But I’ve been more times than I can count, and it’s not my choice to travel here, when I do. My husband used to live here and has a very good friend we visit, and my autistic son prefers we travel to the exact same place by the same beach, stay at the same hotel and eat at the exact same restaurant. Not my kind of travel – it’s just a holiday.
But the perfect holiday! (Nonetheless, I’m trying to get the family to Albania instead for summer 24…)
KRAKOW, POLAND
I don’t know many people who go to Poland. I really like to travel here and with the recent change of government hopefully, it will be even nicer. I’ve been to Warsaw, Gdansk and now Krakow. It’s not for nothing Poland made it to Lonely Planet’s Best in value 2024 list.
Krakow is the capital by the Vistula River and was once the center of a vast and impressive empire, not too many people today know about. The old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a main town square dating back to the 13th century.
I visited in wintertime with fewer tourists and a bit of snow on the city wall. Exploring the old Jewish neighbourhood is also a must.
HIGHLIGHT
For me being somewhat of a dark tourist, my favourite site was the dead kings and queens in the Wawel Cathedral by the castle. For others it might be Schindler’s factory which is now a museum about WWII.
MUNICH, GERMANY
Being from Denmark, I’ve been to our neighbouring country Germany many times. The reason that Munich still jumped the list to 4th place, is because it surprised me.
While sitting in the city’s oldest beer garden enjoying a helles (a large draft beer), a young German couple began a conversation with my mom and me. One of them stated something interesting: That all tourists actually think of Bavaria, when they think of Germany.
Now, like most Danes, I think of Berlin, when I think of Germany (I even went to Berlin a few days this year as well, but it’s so close to home I didn’t include it here) Despite my own feelings, I still thinks he’s right more generally speaking. Lederhosen, beer gardens and mountains are all very Bavarian. Munich is all that. People actually wear lederhosen and dirndls – especially on Sundays.
HIGHLIGHT
Okay, I have to admit the highlight is the beer gardens and the vibe here, but you don’t need me to tell you that. Instead, I’ll give you a hidden cultural gem: Museum Villa Stuck for a going-all-the-Jugend-way experience.
ISTANBUL, TÜRKIYE
Its was only my 2. visit to the capital (not counting countless stopovers), but I loved from first sight. How can you not – for a history lover, this is maybe the most excellent cultural city destination. The city that lies in both Asia and Europe was the capital of Byzantine Empire and the Ottoman Empire as Constantinople and the historic areas are of course a World Heritage Site.
Even more amazing, it’s not that expensive and you can enjoy A Luxury Weekend in Istanbul on a Budget
HIGHLIGHT
That’s a hard one due to the city’s countless cultural treasures. Not naming the obvious, my biggest cultural surprise was the archaeological museum withe the Alexander Sarcophagus.
Oh and the hamam and the food and…
The south coast of the country is also beautiful and full of historical gems, and I hope to explore more on the east coast soon – maybe in 2025.
KENYA
My first trip to Kenya and the East African country is spectacular! Most people (almost all) come to Kenya for the incredible wildlife, but it also has a few cultural sights, although not enough to top the list.
What makes the entire trip even more memorable is, that it was the first long trip with my husband and son for 7 years!!! Also my first trip to Sub-Saharan Africa in 10 years.
Experiencing cheetahs in the wild was the main goal of our trip due to our son. Luckily, we did see 2 brothers sitting in the shade under a tree on a safari. Unforgettable!
Some travellers (like us) combine a safari trip with a stay at the beautiful palm beaches.The region of the Swahili coast of Tanzania made it to Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2024, but in fact the Swahili coast runs from Somalia to Mozambique and also covers Kenya.
Mombasa should definitely see more visitors, especially the old Portuguese Fort Jesus with 500 year old graffiti next to doors from Oman. It’s a World Heritage Site and encapsulates the history of the coast in one building.
Diana Beach just south of the city is one of the prettiest I’ve ever seen and was ranked as one of the best beaches in Africa by CNN. If it’s good enough for Brad Pitt..,
HIGHLIGHT
Seeing the leopard relaxing in the dry bushes with it’s white fluffy tail. But as a cultural traveller and a Dane, the actual home of “Out of Africa”-author Karen Blixen was a real treat. However, if you’re not bookish or Dane, you might prefer the fort in Mombasa.
The capital Nairobi was named as an upcoming city in Best in Travel 2024 by Lonely Planet. But is it? Read if I agree in Is Nairobi a New Cultural Destination?
This list has no #1 country…
I visited Israel and The State of Palestine in the Spring of 2023 before the conflict escalated. Even thought the trip was the most engaging cultural trip I had this year, I decided not to include it in the list for 2024. Hopefully a diplomatic solution will stop the fighting and the area’s shared history will become the source of a safer future.
TRAVEL 2024
In 2024, I will start the year travelling to a new country in the Middle East (UAE) with a new travel partner. And then I’m hopefully catching one of the countries, I missed this year.
What was your best trip in 2023?
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