Global Travel Guide: 7 Destinations That Decode World Cultures

When I was younger, I always dreamed of traveling the world. I wanted to visit every country from east to west, north to south.

That was a dream and still is. Many people have done it – they’ve traveled to more than 100 countries worldwide.

Little did I know that traveling the entire world and visiting every single country on every continent requires substantial savings, plenty of time, and experience to organize it all safely.

To open my mind and understand different cultures, I needed a way to grasp various ways of life.

Being raised in the Middle East, European culture, ways of living, and languages always fascinated me. Later, when I migrated to Australia, I fell in love with South American culture.

But how could I travel the world and see cultures and people up close?

I managed to travel to 20 countries before turning 30. I gained an extensive understanding of Asian culture from living 10 years in Malaysia and a moderate to good understanding of European culture from living in Australia.

But what about the rest of the world? African culture? South American? Central Asian?

At 30 years old, I certainly couldn’t leave my job to spend years visiting the rest of the world.

For months, I spent time watching YouTube, reading travel books, and talking with people from different cultures, hoping to understand their ways of life.

After years of contemplation, I concluded that just as there are similarities in languages, there are similarities in cultures as well.

If that’s true, then we can divide the world into key destinations/countries where visiting them gives you a clear picture of the culture, people, language, and business models.

On your path to becoming a global citizen, you need a good understanding of other destinations and cultures. This will help you discover possibilities and opportunities, allowing you to plan strategically for a better life.

In this article, I’m going to introduce seven areas or destinations of the world that, by visiting them, you can gain a good understanding of the entire world.

Let’s begin.

7 Key Destinations of World Cultures

Looking at the world map, we can divide it into seven different parts, with each part representing a culture.

You might be thinking of the five continents, but that’s not what I mean.

These seven places from West to East are:

• South America
• Europe
• Africa
• Middle East
• India
• Asia
• Pacific

You might ask about Southeast Asia and Central Asia. What about North America?

I’ll explain…

South America

Regarding the American continent, in the northern part, the culture and way of living are inherited from the European style. The culture is somewhat similar but with distinct differences.

Remember, in this article, we’re making it possible for a person to grasp a good idea of the entire world with minimum time and money. The goal isn’t to mention every detail and minor difference in cultures.

Let’s start with the countries in the American continent. We’ll review them one by one, then decide which country to visit for the best understanding of South America.

We said North America is mostly similar to Europe. Let’s start from the North with Canada.

Canada is a Commonwealth country established and ruled by the British Empire, so obviously this country has a European culture and many immigrants.

The same goes for America (USA). The history of this country spans less than 300 years and was established mostly by Europeans and immigrants from other countries.

That’s why I say visiting North America can’t give you a good idea of the worldview. Let’s call them Europe, just bigger and doing things slightly differently.

Now let’s move to Central America – countries like El Salvador, Mexico, Guatemala, Cuba, Nicaragua, and Belize.

These countries are very similar to South America but smaller in size and population, except for Mexico, which has a huge population.

The similarities between Central Americans and South Americans aren’t mainly in the Spanish or Portuguese languages that people in those areas speak. Even before Spanish colonization, these countries had similarities that came from their racial heritage.

To me, the fascinating thing that can give you an idea of the American continent is visiting South America. As we discussed, North America is very similar to Europe, so there’s no point in visiting North America if we’re looking for an efficient way of traveling and understanding the world.

But which country in South America? If we only have limited time and money and want to visit one country in South America, which should it be?

Well, in South America, there are two main languages, and as you know, language brings culture, way of life, style, dance, and food.

Although Spanish and Portuguese cultures are very similar, if it comes to visiting only one country in that part of the world, which should it be?

I would like to say Mexico, but Mexico lacks depth when it comes to South American culture, dance, coffee, and carnivals.

Between Colombia and Brazil, which would you choose?

The other countries in that part of the world like Peru, Chile, Ecuador, Venezuela, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Argentina are good choices.

But Colombia and Brazil have something different – they have everything the other countries have plus more when it comes to culture, language, and lifestyle. This doesn’t apply to food, however, as Mexico beats them all in cuisine.

Plus, countries like Chile, Argentina, and Paraguay have mainly European influence, much more than the rest of the countries in that part of the world.

When it comes to Brazil and Colombia, it’s your choice. If you want carnivals and beaches, go to Brazil. If you want to experience coffee, Spanish influence, salsa, green mountains, and food, then go to Colombia.

Colombia also offers digital nomad visas, long-stay visas, and language learning opportunities. You can apply for a resident permit, open a company there, participate in local businesses, and more.

Europe

If we divide Europe into two parts, east and west, there are many similarities but also many differences.

The rich culture, colors, foods, wine, lifestyle, and opportunities we’re looking for are mainly in Western Europe.

You can find that rich European lifestyle in Italy, France, Spain, Belgium, and other countries.

Northern Hampshire countries, or Scandinavian countries as we call them, have very similar cultures, mostly in cold weather and with small populations of 5 to 10 million people.

Of course, countries like Sweden, Norway, or even Estonia have a lot to offer, but remember we’re trying to be effective here.

In the south, Italy shines with its rich history and culture, relatively warm weather, rich agriculture, and cultural offerings.

Greece, Spain, and Malta also share similar values. Greece with its breathtaking islands like Santorini, or Spain with its beautiful Canary Islands are must-visit places.

One advantage of Europe is that countries are very close. Usually, with an hour’s flight, you can be in another country, or sometimes a 3-hour train ride can take you from the heart of Paris to London.

This is an advantage unique to Europe – nowhere else in the world can you find something similar. You might say that Southeast Asia is similar and countries are close, which is true, but not compared to Europe.

Germany, unfortunately, is very industrialized, and WWII left its mark there. During my visit to Berlin in 2015, I could see that the western part of the city was completely different from the east side. Younger and older generations were quite different, and due to economic advantages, there were many Romanian workers there.

Eastern European countries are also similar to the West, with differences of course, and some have safety issues that are best discussed another time.

Also, don’t forget most Eastern European countries were involved in WWII. You might think all of Europe was involved – yes, correct, but they each had their share of the war and recovery afterward.

If I had one choice and could only visit one country in Europe, I would go to France. If I could visit two countries, I would add Italy.

These two countries, in my view, are the most balanced and culturally rich with extensive histories that can show you the opportunities, lifestyle, culture, and living standards of Europe. These are similar to North America, Australia, New Zealand, and Balkan countries like Estonia, Lithuania, and Eastern Europe.

Because Germany is the strongest country in the EU and Schengen areas, it has always offered better economic opportunities, such as for registering a company or starting a business.

But this doesn’t necessarily represent the cultural benefits or lifestyle of Europe that you’re looking for.

If you’re planning to visit France, start with Paris, the most beautiful, vibrant, and touristy city, then move south to experience the wine culture, beach lifestyle, and warmer weather.

If you decide to visit Italy, start with Rome and its historical sites, which will give you a good idea of how far European and Roman empires have come to reach their current style of living. Then move through the country, visit farms and coastal cities, try Italian foods, and walk around the cities at night.

Africa

When it comes to geopolitics or geography, many people divide Africa into several parts. Some say East and West. Others say North, South, or Central.

But to me, Africa has only two parts: the North and the rest. Yes, you can argue that the West side is different, unsafe, has more French influence, etc. I understand that.

But they are very similar to the Central African countries. Maybe the language differences have a slight influence on the culture, but you get the picture.

North Africa is different, and there are reasons for this. One reason is the influence of ancient Egypt, another is the Muslim invasion of the Ottoman Empire, and the third is Spanish and French influence from the north.

All these reasons caused North Africa to be different from the rest of the countries on that continent.

Maybe we can argue that real Africa isn’t in the North, and that’s true to some extent. But Northern countries also have their share of influence on this vibrant African culture.

Egypt needs no introduction with its rich history, but can we compare Egypt with a country like Botswana? Not really. Both are on the same continent, not very far apart, but they have quite different cultures, languages, foods, and traditions.

Northern African countries don’t represent the real African culture. Countries such as Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco have all been influenced and mixed with other cultures. They are beautiful countries with rich histories, but that’s not where you can look for the real feel of Africa.

South Africa, as a country, also has many migrants and English/European influence. It’s a nice place to visit but again doesn’t represent real Africa.

In central Africa, poverty and safety are two concerns and believe me, these two factors in most cases prevent experiencing real Africa.

But if you want to experience the culture, wildlife, lifestyle, and vibrant African energy, I recommend visiting Kenya. Other countries worth visiting include Tanzania, Botswana, and Zimbabwe.

Kenya is a safe, touristy place with national parks and wildlife safaris, and historical cities like Mombasa, which is a mix of Muslim and African cultures with a rich history.

I believe visiting Africa is one of the best things you can do to understand global culture and our world. 

Africa can show you how life is different in this part of the world compared to others. You can experience the wildlife, and how the vibrant culture of traditional Black people can influence you and take you back to prehistoric times.

Middle East

West Asia or the Middle East is part of the Asian continent, but without visiting this region, you can’t fully grasp everything about people and world culture.

That’s mainly because of the rich history and religion in this part of the world. From the Ancient Babylonian, Sumerian, and Persian Empires to the Ottomans, it all happened here.

Moreover, this is the middle of the world, where the West and East merge, a point of exchange and change.

Even today, when someone travels from Japan or Australia to Europe, they usually stop in the Middle East to change flights and catch the next leg of their journey.

This has always been the case, even in ancient times when all exchanges happened in this part of the world. Whether it was a trade route, port exchange, or just a place to stop before continuing to the destination.

Because of these reasons and the resource-rich nature of this area, it has had an up-and-down history. The creation and fall of many empires happened here, and many powers of the time always tried to control this part of the world. This continues even today with America’s involvement in oil control and the never-ending wars in this region.

We can divide the Middle East into two categories: Arabs and non-Arabs.

Arab countries like Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Oman, Iraq, and Syria.

Non-Arab countries like Iran, Turkey, Israel, and Cyprus.

When we talk about the Middle East and its culture, we usually find it in non-Arab countries, mainly Iran or Turkey. 

This has several reasons. Most of the history happened in these two countries (apart from Babylonian civilization in Iraq and Sumerian in Syria which were all before Islam and Arabic language), and most Arab countries are in the desert without four-season weather or varied nature.

This caused people in ancient times to move to the northern part of the Middle East, which is currently Turkey, Iran, or North Iraq.

Arab countries inherited most of their culture, history, and traditions after Islam, but Iran, Egypt, and Turkey had cultures and civilizations even before Islam.

Although Turkey’s shining period was during the Islamic empire of the Ottomans, this country has its language, writing, culture, and history even before Islam.

One fact is that non-arab countries in the Middle East are Muslim (except Israel) and Islam influenced them, but they had unique cultures before Islam. This isn’t true for Arab nations.

Most Arab countries, except Egypt, had no unique history or civilizations before Islam. Egypt is an Arab country with a history, culture, and civilization predating Islam.

Modern-day Arab countries, under the influence of oil and global energy, are mostly modern-built cities serving as hubs for Western tourists or investors. But this doesn’t necessarily represent the true culture and traditions of the Middle East.

Most of these Arab nations around the Persian Gulf, known as Gulf countries, are rich in oil exports and famous for shiny cities and modern cars.

But they lack many other aspects of culture and tradition. These countries aren’t rich in production; actually, apart from oil, they don’t produce much else. They don’t have four-season weather, mines, or industries, and Islam as a religion is very dominant in this part of the world.

But where is the true culture of the Middle East? 

Well, you can find it in Turkey and Iran. Turkey is more modern due to European influence, while Iran is more traditional with a rich history dating back 7,000 years of civilization.

The eastern part of Turkey, which lies on the Asian side, is more traditional, while the western part near Greece and Cyprus has a more European style.

In Iran, there are many historical cities like Shiraz, Isfahan, and Mashhad in the northeast. In ancient times, these cities were important stops along the Silk Road and still have rich cultural heritage and traditions to showcase.

India

When it comes to India, another country in the Asian continent, we’re not just talking about India alone. Although this country is diverse and vast with a rich history equivalent to ten countries combined, India’s diversity in languages, food, races, and religions is beyond imagination.

When discussing India, we should also consider Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Myanmar (which represents a blend of Indian and Asian cultures), as these countries are geographically close and share many similarities.

For our purpose of visiting only one country from each part of the world, we should focus on India alone.

Trust me, you can’t consider yourself a truly globalized person without experiencing authentic Indian spices and cuisine. The yoga and meditation culture of this region, along with the temples and deities found throughout the country, offer unique and unforgettable experiences.

The blend of Buddhism and Hinduism, the beliefs of Brahmins, non-duality philosophy, and reincarnation are unique elements found specifically in India. With a population of 1.3 billion, this is truly a destination to experience and feel.

Beyond its spiritual heritage, India has emerged as a global hub for computer science and IT professionals, with one of the world’s largest concentrations of programmers.

When you visit India, you can grasp the culture of the entire region, from Pakistan to Bhutan, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal.

North India offers distinctly different experiences, cultural traditions, languages, and religious practices compared to the east, west, or south where the Tamil people live.

Yet the unique essence of India can be felt in its major cities if you know where to look.

Asia

Asia is the largest continent on Earth, with distinct regions from West to East and North to South, each offering unique experiences.

The western part of Asia has been covered under the Middle East, followed by India, which we can almost consider Middle Asia.

The northern part, starting from Central Asia, includes countries such as Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Mongolia, and extends to Russia in the East, China, Korea, and Japan.

Central Asia represents a fusion of Russian influence, Middle Eastern Muslim culture, and Chinese influences from the East. Most of these countries are Muslim, except for Mongolia. Due to these various influences and mixtures, this region doesn’t represent a single unique culture or set of traditions.

They have inherited elements from various civilizations. While these countries are beautiful to visit with their vast landscapes and unique horse culture, that’s a topic for another article as it doesn’t fit our current purpose.

Southeast Asia comprises 10 countries. These nations have been influenced by China from the North, Malay culture from the South, and European colonization by the Spanish and Portuguese.

These 10 countries—Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Brunei, Cambodia, and Myanmar—form the ASEAN nations.

Among them, Thailand stands out with its rich history and civilization of the Siam empire, as does Indonesia with its unique Malay culture.

These countries enjoy tropical weather due to their proximity to the equator. Their cuisine reflects influences from Chinese, Indian, and Indonesian cooking traditions, with Thai elements contributing significantly.

Vietnam also boasts unique cuisines that showcase its cultural richness, though looking closely, you’ll notice similarities among the regional differences.

Another fascinating aspect is that most of these countries have their own unique languages and writing systems, representing their distinct histories and civilizations.

Southeast Asia (SEA) differs markedly from Central Asia and East Asia; it’s a region everyone should experience firsthand.

In this part of the world, four major religions influence people’s lifestyles, cultures, and eating habits.

Buddhism predominates in Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, and Myanmar, while Islam is the main religion in Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia. Christianity is prevalent in the Philippines and East Malaysia, and Chinese Confucianism is present throughout all these countries.

People often confuse tourist destinations with places offering authentic culture, history, and opportunities. These are distinctly different experiences.

For example, while the Philippines and Thailand offer beautiful tropical destinations with paradise-like beaches and delicious cuisine, do they represent true Asian cultures?

Not really…

Though they lie in the heart of Asia, each country has its own unique blend of influences and has been shaped by various cultures.

Honestly, this region is one where you can’t recommend visiting just one country, as the cultures, histories, and traditions are distinctly different, beautiful, and vibrant.

Moving to East Asia, we have Japan, Korea, and China. Each possesses its own history, language, writing system, and national sports, all supported by ancient civilizations.

After World War II, Japan and Korea rapidly embraced globalization, becoming industrial nations and adopting Western influences, while still maintaining their traditions significantly.

China, however, remained more reserved until about 20 years ago.

During my travels through Asia, I encountered Chinese influence, culture, food, and religion everywhere. China is simply impossible to ignore.

Although recent decades of rapid economic growth and infrastructure development have impacted the visibility of China’s rich ancient history, Chinese influence remains dominant, not only within China but throughout Asia.

This isn’t true for Japan or Korea. You can explore every corner of Cambodia without finding traces of Korean or Japanese culture, yet Chinese culture, food, people, and religion are ubiquitous.

Therefore, for this article’s purpose of choosing one country to visit, China cannot be overlooked.

During my visit, while the culture and traditions fascinated me, I was most impressed by the people’s hard work and drive to become a global superpower.

I witnessed a unique kind of hope and courage, unlike anything I’d seen elsewhere, and it was remarkable to experience the largest nation on Earth and one of the world’s wealthiest countries.

You might question whether the USA isn’t the world’s richest nation. But consider the US debt—while China has debt too, it’s significantly lower in comparison.

China’s major cities are thoroughly modern and globalized, offering abundant business and income opportunities.

Southern cities feature distinctive cuisines and food cultures that are impossible to overlook.

Local markets and dragon traditions provide experiences unique to this nation, impossible to find elsewhere.

Moreover, the eastern part of the country near the Middle East differs completely from the western region, with each area offering its own distinct cultures.

Pacific

When I talk about the Pacific, I certainly don’t mean Australia or New Zealand. I’m referring to the Pacific Islands.

I was very unfamiliar with this part of the world, as I believe most people are. In 2018, I took a cruise ship from Port Sydney, Australia, to New Caledonia and Vanuatu.

Later in 2019, I traveled to Fiji and witnessed a unique culture and way of life that is rare.

I still believe your journey to discover the world won’t be complete without visiting this part of the world.

The islander culture is distinctly different from the rest of the world—their clothing, dance traditions, color preferences, and tribal customs are unique.

I consider the Pacific to extend from the easternmost Indonesian islands to Papua New Guinea, New Caledonia, Fiji, and other islands such as the Solomon Islands and Nauru.

Unfortunately, due to their strategic positions and lack of independence (at least to outside observers), these islands have historically been colonized, and most still are. For example, New Caledonia belongs to France, a European country 25,000 km away.

However, European colonization in this part of the world was mainly for strategic positioning and resource extraction; hence, much of the authentic culture and traditions remain intact.

Among these islands, Fiji is famous—a tourist destination with many Americans either visiting or living there.

Often in smaller islands like New Caledonia, you can find more of the indigenous culture, but even in capital cities, this is fading. During my visit to New Caledonia, I saw more authentic culture on a small island called Isle of Pines than in the capital city with its roads, cars, and large transport ships.

If you’re going to visit one place in this part of the world, I would suggest Vanuatu, solely because it’s no longer colonized, having gained independence in 1980 from joint British-French control.

This allowed me to see fewer cargo ships there, more local people, and more authentic culture and traditions.

Conclusion

In this article, I have demonstrated and discussed how by visiting seven countries on the planet—Colombia, France, Kenya, Turkey, India, China, and Vanuatu—you can gain a deep understanding of the entire world, its cultures, and the opportunities that await you as a global citizen.

If you are limited in time and financial resources, these countries can provide a good understanding, in my experience.

However, the principle that “the more you see, the more you understand” still applies, as we discussed areas like Southeast Asia, Central Asia, or North Africa where visiting them helps you connect more dots.

But even without visiting these destinations, you can still understand world cultures—maybe not 100%, but as efficiently as possible.

Hope that helped!