Culture & ExperiencesIs it time to change how we buy travel souvenirs?The BBC looks into the psychology behind travel souvenirs: why we buy them, their impact on local communities and the planet, and how we can shop more thoughtfully.There's more to Iceland than Reykjavik This more remote part of Iceland offers visitors a deep dive into its fascinating history and authentic culture.6 days agoTravelThe Japanese city where matches are made in heavenIf you pray for love in Izumo, there's a good chance you'll be heard. Every year, eight million gods gather in this seaside city to decide the fate of humans' relationships.7 days agoTravel'It risks becoming a Venice in the desert': The dark side of Uzbekistan's tourism boomThe Uzbekistan government is on an ambitious tourism drive – but is sparring with heritage experts over how to protect its historical sites.10 Feb 2025TravelBeyoncé album highlights the long history of Black cowboy cultureAnyone confused about Beyoncé's foray into the country genre has only to visit her home state of Texas to learn about Black Cowboy culture.4 Feb 2025TravelThe surprising new dress code at Vienna’s annual ballsWhile the formal dress and classic dances of the Vienna balls have prevailed since the early 1800s, some events are taking unique approaches to the tradition.30 Jan 2025TravelA Chinese fashion influencer's guide to Hong KongAngelababy has called Hong Kong home since she was a young girl. Here are her local insider picks, from shopping on Hollywood Road to hiking Dragon's Back.29 Jan 2025TravelWatchThe little-known truth behind a Christmas taleScience says that Santa must have a crew of female reindeer. So why do we think Rudolph the reindeer is a boy?18 Dec 2024Culture & ExperiencesExploring Japan's ancient tradition of lacquerwareFind out how Japan's renowned Wajima-nuri lacquerware is crafted through more than 100 intricate steps.22 Nov 2024Culture & ExperiencesWhy nudity is a rule in Japan's traditional onsensJapan's popular hot spring baths come with a unique requirement, full nudity for anyone entering the onsen.19 Nov 2024Culture & ExperiencesHolocaust survivor shares story of journey to AuschwitzIn a disarmingly frank interview, Holocaust survivor Freddie Knoller recounts his story of survival.9 Nov 2024Culture & ExperiencesJantelagen: Why Swedes won't talk about wealthIn Sweden, a deep-rooted cultural code called Jantelagen stops many from talking about their wealth.5 Nov 2024Culture & ExperiencesThe Irish folk history of Jack-O'-LanternsLong before pumpkins became a sign of Halloween, people carved faces into turnips to ward off evil spirits.31 Oct 2024Culture & ExperiencesThis is not black magic: The real voodoo of New OrleansVoodoo, often portrayed as something to be feared, is having a renaissance in New Orleans.29 Oct 2024Culture & ExperiencesPhotos offer rare glimpse into Jewish shtetl lifeA treasure trove of photographs provides a window into early 20th century Jewish shtetl life.26 Oct 2024Culture & ExperiencesFriday the 13th: The psychology behind the superstitionToday is widely considered an unlucky day. But where did the superstition come from, and why do people still believe in it?13 Sep 2024Culture & ExperiencesA surprising Welsh enclave in PatagoniaIn 1865, 150 Welsh immigrants fled to Argentina, discovering a new world far from home.5 Aug 2024Culture & ExperiencesTurkey's answer to 'Burning Man'A music and art extravaganza takes place in an 'otherworldly' landscape amid unique volcanic rock formations.22 Jul 2024Culture & ExperiencesWhy is Finland the happiest country in the world?What makes the Finns such happy people? And what can we learn from it?28 Mar 2024Culture & ExperiencesPust: An ancient festival to chase away winterReady for spring? Here's how locals saved an almost forgotten ritual in Slovenia.27 Mar 2024Culture & ExperiencesFour Japanese principles to lead a good lifeWe are entering Cherry Blossoms Season in Japan and in many US cities. What does this tradition teach us today?20 Mar 2024Culture & ExperiencesBaggage fees and the rising costs of airline travelBaggage fees made airlines a record $33 billion in 2023 so we look at how we got here.29 Feb 2024Culture & ExperiencesHow the Amazon became a safe-haven for enslaved AfricansThe history of how the Maroons escaped slavery through an unknown route in the Amazon rainforest. 22 Feb 2024Culture & ExperiencesSurprising origins of the Super BowlAmerican Football is a US tradition unlike any other and yet it traces its roots to an ancient Roman game.8 Feb 2024Culture & ExperiencesThe country with earliest wake-up time in the worldEarly birds: Why do Colombians tend to get up earlier than all other countries around the world?11 Jan 2024Culture & ExperiencesTiwanaku: The civilisation that mysteriously disappearedThe ancient Tiwanaku civilisation is known as the 'mother culture' of South America.6 Dec 2023Culture & ExperiencesEl Dorado: The remarkable story behind a mythical cityThis is the story of how our collective lust for gold gave rise to the myth of El Dorado, a lost city of gold.5 Dec 2023Culture & ExperiencesWell WorldThe nation that wants you to embrace your sleepy sideSweden's long, cold nights might put you off going there in winter, unless, that is, you are in search of that elusive 21st-Century luxury: a good night's sleep.See moreAn ancient healing ritual to find inner peace10 Jan 2025TravelThe new travel retreats addressing depression and grief2 Jan 2025TravelThe US state where 'America drinks its way to health'13 Sep 2024TravelThe 2024 wellness trend to help you switch off8 Aug 2024TravelAsia's tattoo-friendly hot springs18 Jul 2024TravelRediscovering AmericaThe illegal church at the heart of US historyIn the heart of what was once Britain's largest colony in the New World, a "secret" church reveals how Black people lived and worshipped in the US's earliest days.6 hrs agoTravelThe museum in the middle of Trump's name changesThe world's only museum dedicated to the history and culture of the Gulf of Mexico may be in hot water following Trump's decision to change the name of the planet's largest gulf.6 Feb 2025TravelThoughtful travelThe new museum trend helping us regain our lost attentionIn a Manchester art gallery, a quiet room with just three paintings is starting a mental health movement aimed at reclaiming our lost attention spans.Four holiday spots where tourists are welcomeAs overcrowded European destinations struggle to deal with hordes of travellers, some places not only offer an alternative to mass tourism but actively want you to visit.23 Dec 2024TravelIs this the answer to sustainable flying?Amid talk of sustainable aviation fuel and electric flights, there's another form of air travel currently being mooted as a green alternative to flying: the airship.12 Dec 2024TravelThe growing travel trend of clean, fresh airAs smog in New Delhi makes headlines yet again, experts and holidaymakers alike are pondering how worsening air quality will change travel in the long term.10 Dec 2024TravelWill you be going on holiday to… Greenland?Greenland is about to open up to adventure-seeking visitors. How many tourists will come is yet to be seen, but the three new airports will bring profound change.27 Nov 2024TravelThe SpeciaList : Global guides from local expertsA rock star's weekend guide to DenverWesley Schultz, half of the rock duo The Lumineers, knows all the best places to go in Denver. Here are his local favourites, from concerts at Red Rocks to wine at Sunday Vinyl.5 days agoTravelGiada de Laurentiis' family guide to RomeThe celebrated TV chef calls her Roman heritage her "superpower". Here are her picks for enjoying the Eternal City with kids.12 Feb 2025TravelWhere to get the best gumbo in New OrleansEmeril Lagasse is an expert on all of NOLA's iconic foods but has a special place in his heart for gumbo.8 Feb 2025TravelWhere to see Boston's Black cultureFrom Nubian Markets to the National Center for Afro-American Artists, a local tour guide offers his picks for the best places to see Boston's Black culture.1 Feb 2025TravelMore culture and experiences27 Jan 2025The man who revealed Auschwitz's atrocities to the worldIn 1940, Witold Pilecki infiltrated the camp and began smuggling out reports of what was happening inside, at the same time inspiring an underground resistance movement from within.27 Jan 2025Travel25 Jan 2025Six ways to experience family-friendly HawaiiActress and singer Tia Carrere has deep Hawaiian roots and loves sharing her culture via music, films and moments spent with family. Here are her favourite ways to find "ohana" in Hawaii.25 Jan 2025Travel20 Jan 2025The West African nation welcoming the worldA new generation of Sierra Leoneans is eager to show visitors that the nation's civil war is long gone and reintroduce one of Africa's great destinations to the world.20 Jan 2025Travel18 Jan 2025Six ways to experience GreenlandGreenlandic politician and Inuit educator Aleqa Hammond shares her top ways to experience the country, from sampling Greenlandic cuisine to viewing the Northern Lights in Ilulissat.18 Jan 2025Travel14 Jan 2025Is this the end of Berlin's famous club scene?From techno temples to hedonistic hideouts, anything-goes revelry has been core to Berlin's soul for the past century. But rising rents and rapid gentrification may kill the party.14 Jan 2025Travel7 Jan 2025In search of Europe’s rarest wild mushroomsIn Lithuania’s Dzūkija National Park, losing yourself amongst the pine trees while hunting for mushrooms is an occurrence so common it has its own word: "nugrybauti".7 Jan 2025Travel31 Dec 2024The man who inspired New York's NYE ball dropA British Royal Navy officer named Robert Wauchope is credited with creating the time ball, an ingenious Victorian-era contraption that inspired New York’s New Year’s Eve ball drop.31 Dec 2024Travel25 Dec 2024BBC Travel's favourite stories of 2024From freediving in Mexico's cenotes to sketching in Bhutan's cafes, these 20 stories helped us see the world in a new way this year.25 Dec 2024Travel24 Dec 2024The country where residents live longer than everWhen it comes to longevity, few places in the world have seen such a drastic jump in life expectancy as the island city-state in Southeast Asia.24 Dec 2024Travel
