When we travel, we often talk about “experiencing the culture” of a place, but what does that really mean?
What’s for sure is that culture is far more than food, festivals, or famous landmarks. It’s a complex, layered system of shared values, traditions, expressions, and daily habits that shape how people live, interact, and see the world.
In this guide, we explore what makes up a country’s culture, diving into the key elements that create a nation’s unique identity. Whether you’re planning a trip abroad, exploring culture through journaling or crafts, or simply curious about global diversity, this overview offers insight into how culture is formed and how we can better understand and respect it.
Make sure to check out our blogs in the categories of Cultural Exchange & Understanding, Educational Exploration & Lifelong Learning, Creativity & Self-Expression, Environmental & Social Consciousness, and Connection to Self & Community.)
CULTURAL DEEP DIVE
LANGUAGE, COMMUNICATION & STORYTELLING
At the heart of every culture is language. This includes not just the spoken tongue but local dialects, writing systems, alphabets, idioms, sayings, and even body language, gestures, and storytelling traditions.
And don’t forget communication styles. Some cultures place emphasis on directness, while others communicate through nuance and tone. The way people speak (or remain silent) offers deep insight into social values and interpersonal dynamics.
A country’s literature, creation stories, myths & legends, and oral traditions also reveal how its people make sense of the world. What do you know about a country’s people’s beliefs and superstitions? What (cosmological) explanations do they have of the world?
Whether it’s epic poetry, folktales, fairy tales, fables, historical novels, or contemporary fiction, written and spoken narratives preserve memory and convey values. Look up national and regional authors to get to know more of a destination through storytelling.
READING TIP: Learn Japanese, find the best travel journal prompts, go on a language holiday in Norway, get inspired by author Paulo Coelho quotes, get better at storytelling, or read about the history of travel writing.
RELIGION, SPIRITUALITY & WORLDVIEW
Each culture is underpinned by unique values, philosophies, and worldviews: core beliefs about success, freedom, beauty, happiness, time, nature, the environment, social justice, community, well-being and the meaning of life.
Cultural concepts like Japan’s wabi-sabi (beauty in imperfection), Brazil’s saudade (longing), or Sweden’s lagom (balance) shape everything from design to personal relationships.
Religious beliefs and spiritual practices shape national holidays, daily rituals, moral values, and even architecture. Many destinations on Earth are visited by tourists and pilgrims for sacred reasons.
Whether it’s the influence of Buddhism in Thailand, Orthodox Christianity in Greece, or Indigenous spiritual practices in South America, religion is woven into cultural identity. It also plays a role in how people relate to nature, community, and the cosmos.
READING TIP: Learn about the mystical Stonehenge in England, take a Buddhism tour in Cambodia, or even stay overnight in a Buddhist Temple in Korea, Learn about Australian Aboriginal astronomy, take a 3D tour of the Saint Peter’s Church in Leuven, Belgium, experience an Ayurveda treatment in India, try try plane meditation, visit the Hassan II mosque in Casablanca, Morocco, visit the monasteries on the Romanesque Road in Germany, visit Buddha Park in Vientiane, Laos, listen to the chanting monks of Silos in Spain, discover your Ikigai, add walking meditations to your daily routine or even try walking (part of) the Camino de Santiago.
FOOD, DRINKS & CULINARY PRACTICES
One of the most delicious ways to explore a culture is through its cuisine. What staple ingredients and dishes people eat, how they prepare them, and when they share them reveal so much about a society’s history and geography.
From fermentation to spice blends, food customs are often passed down through generations. Regional dishes, mealtime etiquette, and festive recipes all play a central role in shaping cultural identity.
READING TIP: Visit a spice plantation in India, go on a food tour in Morocco, take a pierogi cooking class in Poland, taste Jenever in the Netherlands, learn all about cider making in England, cook with Japanese superfoods, taste local food at the Christmas markets in Germany, bake a banana cake from Fiji, visit a maple farm in Canada, taste tropical fruit in Australia, join a Pastel de Nata baking class in Portugal, try fruit carving in Thailand or learn how to make chocolate in Belize.
TRADITIONS, SOCIAL CUSTOMS, & APPEARANCE
From wedding ceremonies, coming-of-age, birth and death rituals to gift-giving, etiquette and even common daily greetings, every culture has its own way of doing things.
Social roles around age, gender, and family structure reflect long-held customs. Understanding these everyday details helps you connect more meaningfully with locals on your travels and approach interactions with curiosity and respect.
Traditional clothing also reflects a culture’s history, climate, materials, and aesthetic values. From the embroidery of Eastern Europe to the indigo dye of West Africa or the silk robes of East Asia, dress and adornment can carry deep social or spiritual meaning. Even modern fashion and streetwear are cultural expressions worth noticing.
READING TIP: Learn about Maori traditions in New Zealand, take a tour with a Nightswatch in Germany, learn about traditions, customs and etiquette in Japan, visit a Sami village in Russia or a Maasai village in Tanzania, wear traditional Bolivian clothing, try on a kimono in Kyoto, or a Ryukyu-style kimono in Okinawa, Japan, learn about traditional Fijian clothing made from barkcloths (masi), get your picture taken in traditional Dutch costume, see the ‘Bollenhut’ hats in the Black Forest in Germany, see the Crown Jewels of the British Royal Family in London, or even think about what clothing on a Mars base would look like!
ART, MUSIC & PERFORMANCE
Culture comes to life through visual arts (painting, sculpture, pottery, etc.), music, architecture, design, dance (traditional, folk, ceremonial, etc.), theatre, and crafts. And don’t forget the importance of body art, such as tattoos and henna, in various cultures!
From calligraphy, indigenous painting styles, and folk dance to classical compositions and contemporary textile design, artistic expression is often the bridge between the past and the future.
Whether you’re creating travel-inspired collages or attending a local music performance, you’re engaging directly with a country’s soul.
READING TIP: see the sculptures of Oviedo in Spain, try pinata making in Mexico, take a painting workshop in Curacao, make your own Moroccan slippers in Marrakech, dance Salsa with the locals in Cuba, take a weaving class in Kigali, Rwanda, or a weaving class in Peru, learn all about Shakespeare’s birthplace Stratford-Upon-Avon in England, take an architecture walk in Cardiff Bay in Wales, go on a sketching tour of Johannesburg, South Africa, have a go at Medieval calligraphy in Spain, try Newari wood carving in Nepal, learn woodblock printing in India, or Jade carving in New Zealand, take a Nihon Buyo dance class in Japan, a tango lesson in Buenos Aires, Argentina, or learn Flamenco dancing in Spain, try ebru paper marbling in Istanbul, Turkey, weave your own Minsa Cloth in Okinawa, Japan, follow the Romanesque Road in Portugal, attend a Van Gogh painting workshop in Francex, learn about Kalamkari textile painting in India, make your own Murano glass jewellery in Italy, or learn all about the general concept of creative travel.
HOLIDAYS, FESTIVALS & CELEBRATIONS
Annual festivals and seasonal holidays are collective expressions of identity and joy. These events mark religious dates, historical events, agricultural cycles, or cultural heritage. There can be local fairs and parades, as well as traditional games and competitions unique to a region.
Joining a celebration like Holi in Nepal or India or Carnival in Brazil can be an unforgettable way to experience the energy of a place.
READING TIP: Carry a shrine at the Sanja Matsuri Festival in Japan, celebrate Holi in Nepal, attend the Garlic Festival on Isle of Wight, England, witness the historic ‘Tempora in Aquileia‘ festival in Italy, celebrate Dutch Carnival in Venlo, indulge at the Cannstatter Wasen Harvest Festival in Stuttgart, Germany, learn all about the Dutch Royal Family at Prinsjesdag in The Hague, participate in the Songkran festival, Thailand, dance at Igloofest in Montreal or enjoy the Ice Wine Festival in Ontario, Canada, attend the rose festival in Bulgaria or enjoy the tasty Apricot Festival in the Wachau region in Austria.
SOCIAL STRUCTURE, EDUCATION & HISTORY
How people live day-to-day, from work routines and school systems to family dynamics and leisure activities, reflects broader cultural values.
Are people punctual? What is their work ethic? Do they value community over individualism? What role do elders play in decision-making? Is there a difference between rural and more urban lifestyles? Which sports and recreation are popular in a specific region? What are the minority cultures and subcultures? Is there a specific youth culture, street art or graffiti that expresses culture in a unique way?
Observing daily rhythms and human relationships can offer just as much cultural insight as a museum visit.
And material culture shows how people adapt to their environment and meet daily needs: from housing styles and cooking utensils to transportation and craftsmanship. Even the rise of digital culture and mobile technology is reshaping traditional practices in exciting ways. Under the influence of social media, popular TV, radio, and cinema, we see how cultural adaptation leads to innovation and the reinvention of a country’s material culture.
A nation’s education system and historical narrative also shape how its people understand themselves and the world around them. From early childhood education to university traditions and Indigenous knowledge systems to informal learning, how knowledge is passed on says a lot about cultural values. Countries may prioritise collective memory, critical thinking, or rote learning depending on historical context.
Meanwhile, a country’s history, including colonialism, migration, independence, or conflict, is reflected in museums, monuments, school curricula, symbols (such as flags, anthems, and mottos) and public discourse. Learning how a society tells its own story helps travellers better grasp the emotional and cultural landscape of a place.
READING TIP: Experience a homestay in Goa, India, attend a Kava ceremony in Fiji, discover street art in London, England, or street art in Glasgow, Scotland, find the best Australian Aboriginal books for children, visit the exploration museum in Iceland, try sauna yoga in Seinäjoki, Finland, learn about the mining history of Wales, or simply discover the power of backyard travel right where you live.
ENVIRONMENT & CONNECTION TO LAND
A country’s landscape, climate, and biodiversity influence not only how people live, but also how they think and feel. Witness seasonal rhythms and agricultural patterns and learn about the cultural significance of animals and plants.
Sacred mountains, coastal villages, rice terraces, and desert communities all tell stories of human-nature relationships.
READING TIP: Learn how to grow rice in Laos, find unique landscapes in Italy, learn from silent spaces, go dogsledding in Finland, take a snowshoe tour with a fireman in Canada, try fossicking in the Australian Outback, join the walnut harvest in Kyrgyzstan, train your survival skills in Finland, try sand boarding in Chile, do a permaculture work exchange in France, go rock climbing in Thailand, go on a wildlife safari in Sri Lanka, take a multiple-day hike in the Annapurna Region of Nepal, learn how to kitesurf in Mozambique, visit a tea garden in Northeast India, get in touch with nature and yourself through forest bathing, go hiking in Luxembourg, learn how to pole a Mokoro canoe in Botswana, take a glamping or camping trip, or discover Mars and Moon landscapes on Earth.
Understanding what makes up a country’s culture takes time, observation, and humility. But the reward is a deeper connection, not just to a place but to the people who call it home. Whether you’re travelling abroad, learning from afar, or journaling about your experiences, exploring culture in all its complexity is a lifelong journey.
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