Cultural Tours & Holidays in Europe
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250+ cultural tours of Europe with 53,240 reviews
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NadineEurope travel expert at TourRadar
- Embark on a Balkan Odyssey: 11 Days of Cultural Exploration
- West Balkans Tour: History, Culture, and Scenic Landscapes
- Discover Bosnia Montenegro and Macedonia in a 14 days tour from Sarajevo. UNESCO sites. Nature. Architecture. Culture. History. Cuisine. Wine. Slow travel
- The Essence of Italian Culture - 8 Days
- The best of Montenegro, Albania & Greece! All seasons, 14 days tour from Tivat. Balkan Peninsula. UNESCO sites. Nature. Architecture. Culture. Archaeology. History. Cuisine. Wine. Slow travel
- Balkan Experience – seven countries in two weeks - SMALL GROUP
- Spanish Culture - 9 Days
- Athens to Dubrovnik Adventure 7-countries (Small Group)
- Hidden Balkan with Greece
- Year-round 18 days Bosnia +Serbia discovery tour from Dubrovnik. Tour across Bosnia and Serbia: monasteries, fortresses, Roman findings, impressive nature, long history, rich culture and a whole lot more
Duration 11 days Destinations Albania, Macedonia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Bosnia Age Range Ages 16+ Operator Go as Local From
- NZ$3,778
Duration 7 days Destinations Albania, Macedonia, Kosovo, Montenegro Age Range Ages 16+ Operator Go as Local From
- NZ$2,180
Rich cultural heritage awaits at 5 UNESCO sites including Mostar's iconic bridge and Kotor's medieval quarter. Monastic traditions come alive at Ostrog and Tvrdos, while Roman ruins at Stobi reveal ancient history. Professional guides illuminate cultural context throughout the route.
Duration 14 days Destinations Bosnia, Montenegro, Macedonia, Greece Age Range Ages 12+ Operated in English, Spanish Operator Monterrasol Travel From
- NZ$10,578
The Essence of Italian Culture - 8 Days
1 Review by TourRadar travelers“The tour itinerary was excellent with stops in Parma, Bologna, Modena and Verona.”
Anthony, traveled in June
Duration 8 days Destinations Rome, Assisi, Siena, Florence, Bologna, Venice, Tuscany, Montepulciano, Vatican City Age Range All Ages Welcome Operator Click Tours From $4,670
36% Off- NZ$2,989You save $1,681
Seven UNESCO sites showcase European grandeur, from Meteora's dramatic monasteries to Delphi's ancient oracle. Venetian heritage graces Kotor's streets, Ottoman culture lives in Gjirokaster's fortress, and Greek mythology comes alive at Thermopylae.
Duration 14 days Destinations Montenegro, Albania, Greece Age Range Ages 12+ Operated in English, Spanish Operator Monterrasol Travel From
36% Off- NZ$12,819
Balkan Experience – seven countries in two weeks - SMALL GROUP
24 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“If you want to get the know the Balkans quickly but also thoroughly this is the tour to take.”
Benjamin, traveled in April
UNESCO sites like Dubrovnik's Old Town and Mostar Bridge showcase architectural mastery. Wine tasting in Sremski Karlovci and Sarajevo's Turkish Bazaar provide cultural immersion, while Hotel Art Sarajevo and Mark Hotel Belgrade offer upscale stays.
Duration 14 days Destinations Serbia, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro, Croatia, Bosnia Age Range All Ages Welcome Operator Victor Tours DMC From $5,035
12% Off- NZ$4,431You save $604
Spanish Culture - 9 Days
2 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“The places we visited were very interesting. He made the tour.”
Murray, traveled in October
Madrid's Royal Palace, Cordoba's Great Mosque, and Barcelona's Gothic Quarter showcase Europe's cultural heritage. Expert guides provide in-depth commentary at UNESCO sites, while luxury stays at Melia hotels complement authentic cultural experiences.
Duration 9 days Destinations Madrid, Toledo, Merida, Seville, Cordoba, Granada, Valencia, Barcelona Age Range All Ages Welcome Operated in English, Spanish Operator Click Tours From $3,662
28% Off- NZ$2,636You save $1,025
Delve into Europe's cultural crossroads at Athens' Acropolis Museum and Delphi's Temple of Apollo. Explore Byzantine art at Meteora's monasteries and Ottoman heritage in Prizren's Sinan Pasha Mosque. Visit Sofia's Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and Skopje's Stone Bridge.
Duration 9 days Destinations Greece, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Kosovo, Albania, Montenegro, Croatia Age Range Ages 6+ Operator Eskapas From $5,291
3% Off- NZ$5,132You save $159
Three countries share their UNESCO treasures, from Studenica monastery to Visegrad bridge. Traditional life flourishes at Sirogojno ethno village, while archaeological wonders await at Viminacium. Medieval towns of Pocitelj and Trebinje preserve their historic charm.
Duration 18 days Destinations Croatia, Bosnia, Serbia Age Range Ages 12+ Operated in English, Spanish Operator Monterrasol Travel From
15% Off- NZ$12,916
Cultural Europe Tour Reviews
- The Essence of Italian Culture - 8 Days
We did the equivalent of the 7 day Treasures of North Italy & Food Tour as a 5 day private tour. The private tour included drivers who picked us up in Milan and drove us to the various towns on the tour. They were all good drivers and great to chat with during our drives. The tour guides at each town were well informed, very helpful and friendly. The tour itinerary was excellent with stops in Parma, Bologna, Modena and Verona.
- Balkan Experience – seven countries in two weeks - SMALL GROUP
This is my third time in the area, but first time in this part of the Balkans. We are absolutely satisfied. We saw and experıenced so many beautıful places. I am still full of impressions. Perfect choice of the hotels, better than promised. The guide was friendly and knowledgeable, and a very safe driver. From day 1 we felt safe and peaceful. The communication with the office was also smooth. All in all - a faultless tour.
- Athens to Dubrovnik Adventure 7-countries (Small Group)
You get what you pay for in the sense it that this isn't an ultra luxury tour. No one is holding your hand but be respectful of the tour guides and transfers time and be on time. Understand that the tour operation is trying to give you a good time so they will do their best to help you. Know that tourradar is the middle man for the main tour operator and the tour guides are not part of the main tour operator. Changing anything on the tour can happen to up to a month and a half before the tour. The tickets and stuff get booked a few weeks before the tour after that nothing can really be changed. Always asked for a detailed itinerary and make sure that all everyone that is traveling is sent the same information. And that the tour operator is very clear on what time people fly in and out for the tour. This tour is pretty fast pace so there's a ton of checking the schedule constantly to be at places. Still this tour has lots of ambiguity and the tour guides are pretty easy going with the schedule you can request to go other places if you want. However, I was surprised how smoothly it went for so many places and ways of traveling. There were some slight hick ups mainly on miss communication, but nothing major. Overall my party enjoyed the trip. It's a great way to experience different ways to travel Turkey and get a taste of turkey while hitting some of the major sights. Be mindful of going in august its hot and lots of the tour is outside or with shade. September is recommended even by locals. Do the hot air balloons in Cappadocia, if it's extra. Ask if you can change the schedule to go to the underground cities in Cappadocia. Swirling darvishes in konya only dance Thursdays to Saturday. You can do paragliding and swim in cleopatrias pool in Pumakalie, but that is extra. Be ready to go to lots of weaving/tile/pottery exhibitions/shops. Luckily the guides are nice enough to understand you most likely wont buy anything and there's no pressure at the same time you can request to go somewhere, but it's better to have an idea of something else you want to see. Makes to much easier for the guide. Don't forget to tip all porters and tour guides if if they do a great job. So bring small American bills for the porters and like 20 usd or so a person for the guides if a small group. Also note that while some meals are provided any extr drinks you will need to pay for. 10% Tips for food if you have to go out to eat is standard. If your vegetarian let the tour operator know so they can tell the guides to make that adjustment. Most places serve meat. However lots of the tours meals you'll be brought to typical tour buffet places. Bule mosque is under construction (2022) and now hagi Sophia is now a mosque and the sides and upper floors no longer can be accessed. In istanbual we were booked the yagitalip hotel. 30 min walk to the old istanbual. I prefer closer to the water like the Armada when I go. If I were to do this trip over again I would ask for a list of the hotels and request ones closer to the sites. So on down time I can walk to the sites. Last thing for women. Make sure you have a head scarf and I'd recommend low profile socks for the mosques. Bring something called the wiz or something like that, to enable you to pee like a male. Flush toilets are around but be prepared for pit toilets more often than not. The train will not have flush toilets... For all, use common sense and be respectful as you are guest in someone elses country. Turkey is not a 3rd world country, but they do things a certain way and probably have history longer than your country. So be mindful of your comments and actions. The tour operator and the guides are doing what they can to give you a good experience. Have I been on better tours, certainly, but I've paid an armor a leg or it was a tour by people I know locally. Still a great tour and worth going on.
What our customers ask about Cultural Tours & Holidays in Europe
What unique cultural experiences can I expect on an In-depth Cultural tour in Europe?
European In-depth Cultural tours connect travelers with authentic local traditions through hands-on experiences. Visitors can taste wines at historic vineyards in Romania's Dealu Mare region learn traditional coppersmithing in Mostar's Old Town and explore lesser-known sites like the Sedlec Ossuary chapel in Kutna Hora which features decorative elements made from 40,000 human bones. Accommodations often include stays at properties that showcase regional architecture such as the Arbanashki Han in Bulgaria. One TourRadar traveler noted: "The history of these countries is very interesting. We saw wonderful churches mosques monasteries bazaars castles forts and walled cities."
What are the must-visit cultural highlights on a Europe In-depth Cultural tour?
The Balkans region contains a dense concentration of UNESCO World Heritage sites and cultural landmarks. Key stops include the rebuilt 16th-century Stari Most Bridge in Mostar the ancient Acropolis overlooking Athens and the rock-perched Meteora monasteries in Greece. Visitors explore Belgrade's Temple of Saint Sava stay at notable properties like the Hotel Moskva and wander through preserved medieval centers such as Kotor's old town. One TourRadar traveler noted "The monasteries and churches were absolutely breathtaking especially in Sarajevo where we experienced diverse Orthodox Catholic and Islamic cultures influencing local traditions."
When is the best time to take an In-depth Cultural tour in Europe?
May through June and September through October offer ideal conditions for cultural touring in Europe. These shoulder seasons bring comfortable temperatures and manageable crowd levels at major sites. The Balkans region sees temperatures of 20-25°C (68-77°F) in May making it comfortable to explore coastal cities like Dubrovnik and inland capitals like Athens. One TourRadar traveler noted "We went in September and it was ideal - not too hot for walking tours but still places like Sarajevo's Baščaršija." Properties like the Movenpick Hotel Sarajevo and Hotel Athenaeum Athens provide convenient bases during these months.
What type of accommodation can I expect on these cultural tours?
These tours prioritize 4-star hotels that combine local character with central locations near cultural sites. Properties range from the historic Hotel Moskva in Belgrade to the boutique Hotel Majestic in Budva. According to one TourRadar traveler "The Hotels like Central Sofia 4* were perfectly positioned for exploring cultural sites and had their own historical significance." Accommodations include restored Ottoman mansions and contemporary hotels chosen to deepen visitors' understanding of regional heritage.
What's included in terms of meals on these cultural tours?
Tours typically cover daily breakfasts while incorporating select cultural dining experiences. Special meals might include traditional Serbian barbecue dinners or wine tastings in North Macedonia's Vardar Valley. One TourRadar traveler shared "The cultural food experiences from street food in Sarajevo's Baščaršija to fine dining at the Hotel Europe 5* were highlights of the trip." Most itineraries include 15-18 breakfasts and 3-4 cultural dinners with meal packages ranging from 240-450 USD per person.
How physically demanding are In-depth Cultural tours in Europe?
These tours require moderate fitness for daily walking tours and site exploration. Expect 3-4 hours of walking each day often on cobblestone streets plus stairs at sites like Kotor's city walls and standing time in museums. Most tours are classified as 'Easy' to 'Moderate' with regular breaks. One TourRadar traveler noted "The walking tours in cities like Belgrade and Sarajevo while staying at hotels like the Royal Inn 4* were manageable but required comfortable shoes and stamina."
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