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Culture holidays

Christmas descends on Dubai Mall and its more than 1200 shops.

Ten unexpected destinations where Christmas is surprisingly huge

Move over North America and Europe: You can find plenty of festive fun and decorations in places you never imagined as tinsel towns.

  • by Brian Johnston
The opening of Palazzo Citterio as part of the Grande Brera project.

The incredible new art centre 50 years in the making

Milan, the northern Italian capital mostly known for fashion, design and finance, is staking its claim to being a centre of art – with the culmination of a plan conceived half a century ago.

  • by Julietta Jameson
The Biltmore and its sky scraping neighbours.

LA Downtown’s hidden riches that reach for the stars

Skyscrapers and stardom were pies in the unsullied skies when 44 settlers arrived from Mexico in 1781 and established a pueblo in today’s Downtown Los Angeles.

  • by Catherine Marshall
Ice skating outside the Ateneum Art Museum in Helsinki.

Nine glorious European cities that are at their best in winter

Some destinations simply look and feel more glorious, not in the dazzle of a summer midday, but when the mercury slips downwards.

  • by Chris Leadbeater
The church of Our Lady of the Rocks in Perast, Montenegro.

The strange island that feels like a piece of Venice floated away

Our Lady of the Rocks looks absurdly out of place in Kotor Bay, Montenegro, where it sits atop shipwrecks and other discarded debris.

  • by Brian Johnston
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China is surprisingly great for outdoor adventure. You can explore the famous humped landscapes and rivers around sub-tropical Guilin.

Beyond cliches: 15 unexpected highlights in popular destinations

Beaches in Paris, fine-dining in Germany, hiking in China: don’t think you know everything a destination can offer before you go there.

  • by Brian Johnston
Isola Bella on Lake Maggiore.

The stunning Italian lake islands trapped in a Renaissance time warp

The influential House of Borromeo purchased four rocky islets on glorious Lake Maggiore in the 16th century and transformed them into showpieces.

  • by Julie Miller
Kew Palace in the famed Kew Gardens.

The UK’s smallest royal palace is now a global star

Visits to Kew Palace have surged since Netflix drama Bridgerton became a worldwide phenomenon, but there’s much more to its history than TV stardom.

  • by Sue Williams
Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter.

Formerly strife-torn, this is now one of Europe’s coolest cities

Northern Ireland’s capital is increasingly striking a chord with folk seeking culture, festivals and gigs.

  • by Steve McKenna
Claims of overcrowding on the Camino are overstated, according to experts.

A transformational experience: Ultimate guide to Europe’s greatest walk

Some leave in tears, others irrevocably changed. Whatever you’re seeking on this epic pilgrim’s trek, you’ll join more people along “the way” than ever before.

  • by Sarah Baxter

Original URL: https://www.smh.com.au/traveller/topic/culture-holidays-l5l