Culture trip Great Destinations for Culture

Málaga

Culture and history collide in Malaga, the sun-soaked Spanish city pseudonymous with Picasso, the Mediterranean, and some seriously delicious cuisine. Long living in the shadow of Madrid and Barcelona, Málaga has emerged as cultural epicenter. Few things are more magical than a holiday in Spain and to experience its full romantic glory, spend an evening strolling through its historical botanic garden which is open late in the summer months. Eat your way through the city, moving through ‘tapas’ bars and sampling more than just ‘sangria’. Try the local favorite, ‘tinto de verano con limón’ (red wine and lemon fanta) and ‘manzanilla’ (extra dry sherry). Feria de Málaga, Málaga’s ultimate summer festival, runs for nine days and brims with flamenco, rock, and ‘fino’ (dry, light sherry).

Málaga

In July you can watch the procession of the Virgin del Carmen who is believed to protect fishermen. Take part in the statue’s processes from the Church of San Patricio to the sea where she is taken by boat to bless the water. Watch from the shore or make friends with a fisherman and join them on the water.  No visit is complete without an afternoon at the Museo Picasso which boasts 204 pieces of the artist’s works, as well as Phoenician, Roman, Islamic, and Renaissance archaeological remains in the basement.

New York City

In the summer, the city that never sleeps takes a nap. The streets are a little less crowded and the parks offers a just a little more picnic room, and the city’s cultural offerings skyrocket. With concert halls closed for the season, music pours into the city and overflows into Central Park where on any given night you’ll find a world-class performances of everything from opera to mariachi. Catch the New York Philharmonic at their annual Great Lawn concert and picnic beside 50,000 new friends, or wait in line to snag coveted tickets to ever-popular free Shakespeare in the Park. Classic and new films play nearly every night in a variety of venues from beautiful Bryant Park to Chelsea Piers on the Hudson.

New York City

Make the most of museums’ longer hours and take in the unbelievable park and city views from the Met’s famous roof garden which boasts an Adrián Villar Rojas installation these holidays. Cast a wider net and take a free ferry to Governor’s Island which boats impressive downtown views and a grove of hammocks, or travel by train from the iconic Grand Central Station to the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx where an impressive collection from the glass sculptor, Dale Chihuly intermingles with acres of flora and fauna.

Budapest

Budapest is a city begging to be admired, and there is no end of ways to take it all in. Whether hiking the popular Gellért Hill for incredible views of the city, hopping on BKK (public transport) boat rides to experience the city from the water, or taking a chair lift up into the Buda Hills and venturing to Elizabeth Tower, Budapest is a feast for the eyes. Summer in Budapest means the re-emergence of fröccs, the distinctive tasting traditional Hungarian white or rose wine mixed with fizzy water.

Budapest

Start your days at the thermal baths (try the Gellért or Király Baths) and make your way in the afternoon to any number of the festivals that arrive in the city in the summer—the Red Bull Air Race, the F1 Grand Prix, and the Sziget Festival arrive with a flurry. When the thrust of summer tourists dwindle out in early September, the wine festival arrives and spreads itself out on the castle grounds. Sip Hungarian wines while overlooking the Danube, Budapest’s many bridges, and the incredible architecture of the Parliament and the Basilica.

Marrakech

Like Paris, the heat of the summer brings Marrakech’s pace to languorous crawl. However, it’s a pace that suits the city and makes for an ideal backdrop to a summer visit. For a feast for the senses, and a true introduction to the city, head to Djemaa el-Fna, a UNESCO world heritage site, where you can easily pass a few hours people watching amid snake charmers, tea stalls, and vendors selling some of the country’s incredible fresh-squeezed orange juice. Make your way to the sumptuous Jardin Majorelle, which Yves Saint Laurent gifted to Marrakesh in 1964. The garden is home to over 300 plant species from five different continents. While in the garden, check out Musée Berbère, one of the country’s most gracefully curated museums, which houses an impressive display of artifacts from the country’s indigenous inhabitants. While festivals, like Oasis take place in the cooler fall months, for those who can’t wait, the Atlas Electronic Festival lights up the city in August.

Havana

Dusty glamour and echoes of another time—Havana is on everyone’s list. And with temperatures climbing, the city literally sizzles in the summer. Inexorably intertwined with a deep history of music and dance, the best way to experience the wealth this fascinating city offers, is by throwing yourself into the thick of it. A meeting point for live music, fashion, art, and Cuban cuisine, Fábrica de Arte Cubano has an ever-changing list of artists, musicians, and cultural offerings which keeps the place alive. Mesón de la Flota not only serves unforgettable ‘tapas’ but plays host to nightly 'tablaos' (flamenco shows).

Havana

Just ten miles outside the city in San Francisco de Paula, is Finca la Vigía, Ernest Hemingway’s home until 1960. Virtually unchanged from when he called it home, the house is now a museum worth a visit. If you’re in Havana in July or August, join in the city’s annual Carnival celebrations. Regardless of the month, grab a habanos (Cuban cigar) and walk along El Malecón, the walkway bordering the ocean. The seven kilometer stretch offers some of the city’s best people-watching and will transport you to a time long-ago past.

Madrid

Sun-soaked Madrid is home to some of the best museums in Europe and its streets are infused with a sense that great art lives here. After all, this is the city Goya and Velazquez called home. The Museo del Prado is drawing even more attention than usual with its much buzzed about summer exhibition, 'Treasures from the Hispanic Society of America', which runs until early September. Before the heat of day blossoms, window shop along the Gran Vía or simple admire the stretch’s belle-époque buildings. On Sundays, head to the Embajadores neighborhood for El Rastro, Madrid’s oldest flea market. Browse vintage clothes, jewelry and knickknacks or explore the nearby streets’ antique shops. Wander through the enormous Buen Retiro Park and make your way to Palacio de Cristal, an 1887 glass and metal structure.