Top 10 cities that will spark your curiosity

Rich in culture, deep in history and full of interesting tales, these cultural destinations will leave your cultural tastebuds tingling. Visit the galleries, museums, ancient ruins and understand the past of these intriguing cities.

Here are our favourite cultural holidays.

Delhi is a vibrant city with an array of sights and sounds all vying for your attention. The city is scattered with relics of ages gone by, tombs, mosques, monuments and temples that are placed next to modern buildings. You could spend months exploring Delhi. Looking for something different? Bollywood Indian dance workshops are offered by the Delhi Dance Academy.

Istanbul is the largest city in Turkey and the 7th largest city in the world. Considered a capital of culture in Europe, it offers visitors a vast array of historical, cultural and architectural sights sure to please any traveller. A major tourist hub in Europe, visitors spend their days marvelling at the incredible Ottoman Empire architecture, traditional art, busy bazaars and relaxing at Turkish baths.

Urumqi is a cultural gem. It is home to numerous cultural relics and historic treasures. It also has a tragic and interesting history, going through lots of changes of rule since the time of the Han Dynasty (206 BC - 220 AD). About ten percent of the population are ethnic minority people, mostly Uyghur with rich culture. Explore the ancient Silk Road, this cultural city and you'll be awed.

Visit the glories of ancient Rome - The Colosseum, a huge amphitheater, holding up to 55,000 people which was built by Emperor Vespasian in AD 80 and was the scene of many deadly gladiatorial and wild animal fights. Or visit Rome's Pantheon, the temple of all the gods which today is surrounded by lively establishments, a nice place to sit in the evening and enjoy a drink.

Paradise for the history lover, Athens is filled with precious ruins of ancient Greek civilization. The sites include many pillars of Western history - the Acropolis, Parthenon, Agora, Temple of Olympian Zeus, as well as treasures in the National Archaeological Museum. But to visit these attractions is merely to scratch the surface of what Athens has to offer.

The small print

• All fares are based on return trips per person, including all taxes.
• Fares are subject to availability.