Holidays that hit the high notes

Culture is at the heart of any destination. So whether it’s sampling prosecco and learning how to make tortellini in the foothills of the Dolomites or watching the Hamburg Philharmonic State Orchestra perform at the recently opened Elbphilharmonie in lively Hamburg, there’s no better way to understand a country, city or region than through its food, music, history and art.

So, where to begin? To help you get started, we have chosen this year’s 50 best cultural tours. The itineraries described in the following pages are either new or have been updated for 2017.

Of course, each year there are destinations and trends in the spotlight, and 2017 is no exception. One is a fascination with all things Nordic. Forget Nordic noir – things are looking very bright indeed in the region, as travellers flock to sample its culinary, art and musical delights. Following the opening of chef René Redzepi’s award-winning Noma (which closes next month but is due to reopen in another location in late 2017), there’s been a growing appetite for Nordic cuisine. And it’s no wonder – Copenhagen alone has 20 Michelinstarred restaurants. But if that’s not enough to satisfy the foodie, then Aarhus has another three. As reported earlier in this section, Denmark’s second city is this year’s European Capital of Culture, as well as a European Region of Gastronomy, which means that there will be plenty of free events in the city throughout the year, from a Viking saga performed on the grass-covered roof of Moesgaard Museum to an outdoor garden exhibition. There is still time to book a trip to Aarhus to make it in time for the inauguration ceremony on January 21. “It takes off with a procession of Viking ships, lanterns, choir singers and musicians and locals carrying illuminated Gaudí’s Casa Batlló in Barcelona, right. Previous page: the Florence skyline All prices are per person sharing a twin or double and include entry fees unless stated otherwise. They are subject to change but were correct when we went to press. ships,” said Suzel Taber-Shaw, managing director at Scandinavia Only, a specialist tour operator to the region.

Finland hopes to share the limelight as it celebrates 100 years of independence from Russia. There’s been a steady surge of interest in the country in recent years. “Our bookings for Finland have increased year on year for the past three years,” said Clive Stacey, managing director at Discover the World. The Northern Lights might be the main draw but there are many other reasons to visit the country, including a vibrant design and culinary scene in Helsinki. And let’s not forget about saunas. The country has more than three million, so there is no excuse not to soak up the country’s sauna culture.

Another emerging trend this year is the growth of the cooking holiday. Michael Edwards, the UK managing director at Intrepid Travel, explained the phenomenon: “The recent surge of TV cookery shows, food bloggers and the rise of Instagram – there are 178million photos tagged #food – has created a new craving for travel in which cooking takes centre stage.” This year, Intrepid is launching its biggest ever programme of Real Food Adventures, which sees participants foraging through local markets and creating traditional dishes.

One thing we’re sure to see in 2017 is the rise of the all-inclusive holiday, as holidaymakers seek to protect themselves against fluctuations in the value of the pound. It makes sense. With the right operator, you travel better in every way – and often for less. Many all-inclusive tours featured here are great value for money and offer special experiences and access, from hard-to-book tickets to the Mozart Festival in Salzburg to expert guides who are also lecturers at leading institutions, such as Christie’s, the Courtauld and the V&A.