While some cities around the world may seem slightly one-dimensional, there are others that are absolutely packed with culture, and are known around the world for being a cultural hot spot. When it comes to a city’s culture, its heritage, diversity, and involvement in the arts are all taken into account, and, if you are hoping to soak up plenty of culture on your next city break, these are the cities that you should consider visiting.

Paris, France
The City of Lights can almost overwhelm visitors with the amount of culture that surrounds you wherever in Paris you go. With 24 national museums, and various other private ones, museum lovers will be in their element in Paris. The city also has a number of world-famous landmarks, from the Arc de Triomphe to the Eiffel Tower to the Notre Dame, and many of its chic boutiques could easily double as landmarks themselves! Paris is also the city with the largest number of public libraries, as well as cinemas, and has an impressive 353 performing arts theaters that support artistic talent and urban culture. Parisian culture is charming and intriguing, and needs to be experienced first-hand in order to be fully appreciated.

London, UK
You will never be short of cultural activities to fill your days with while in London, a city that is truly cosmopolitan yet has a strong sense of heritage. From visiting Buckingham Palace to taking a tour of the Tower of London to taking in a Shakespeare production at the Globe Theatre, the city is overflowing with culture. London’s culture is made even richer by the diversity that can be found around the city. Brick Lane is where you can enjoy the best Indian food outside of India, while Borough Market brings together food culture from all over the region. In addition to all of its national museums, London also has a massive 162 other museums, as well as an impressive range of music and art performances.

Kyoto, Japan
With great importance placed on history, tradition and art, Kyoto is a fantastic destination to visit for those who want to experience authentic Japanese culture. Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines, most of which date back to many centuries ago, are dotted throughout the city, and there is definitely a noticeable lack of the looming skyscrapers and flashy advertising campaigns that usually take over a developed city. Kyoto has managed to progress forward whilst retaining a strong grip on its heritage, and this applies to everything from its ponds and gardens to traditional cuisine. To fully immerse yourself in the culture and traditions of Kyoto, spend a night at a local ryokan inn, sampling some traditional dishes and getting to know the locals.

Spending time soaking up the culture in a new city is a great way to open up your mind and learn about different parts of the world, and you will also end up feeling much more attached to a destination that you would have otherwise felt.