Four Historic Holidays for 2025

For some people, holidays are about rest and relaxation. For others, they’re a chance to try new things and explore outside of your comfort zone. And for some travellers, holidays present a unique chance to learn more about the history of a destination and the people that have lived there.

If you fall into the last category, you’re probably someone who enjoys museum trips and sightseeing tours when you travel. Historic holidays tend to be to places where there are still plenty of buildings, monuments and cultural influences from previous eras, bringing you places to significant past events and people.

Looking for your next historic holiday destination? Here are four that we suggest visiting in 2025.

Greece

Ancient Greece is a civilisation that is studied extensively, so it’s no surprise that the country is top of our list of holidays for history lovers. With approximately 40,000 years of history, there’s an incredible amount of ancient sites still preserved around the country, as well as countless museums and galleries showcasing artefacts from across the centuries. 

Athens is a classic destination for a historic trip to Greece, home to the Acropolis which features an impressive number of different remains from Ancient Greek times including the iconic Parthenon. Olympia on the Peloponnese Peninsula is another incredibly significant site with UNESCO status, home of the Olympic Games and featuring all kinds of historic remains.

You can stay in luxury holiday villas in Greece across a wide range of locations that feature in the stories and myths of old, including Delphi, Crete, Rhodes and Delos. When it comes to Greek islands, Santorini has one of the most impressive Bronze Age settlements in the world, whilst Lesbos was the birthplace of the famous poet Sappho and features plenty of historic churches and castles.

Vietnam

Vietnam is a country with a tragic and complicated history, but today it continues to blossom into a travel destination that has a lot to offer visitors who want to find out more about it. Many traces of the devastating 20th-century war have been left around the country as a reminder of what happened, and are a sobering but informative way to experience some of its most recent history.

Alongside the impact of conflict, historic travel in Vietnam also presents a great opportunity to admire some of the country’s most impressive ancient architecture. Visit places like the Hue Imperial Citadel or Mausoleum of Emperor Khai Dinh in Huế, the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long or the Temple Of Literature in Hanoi, and the My Son temple complex in the Central Quảng Nam Province, many of which are UNESCO World Heritage sites.

The city of Hội An is a highlight for historic trips to Vietnam, particularly the Old Town which features architectural influences from Chinese, Japanese and European inhabitants. One of the best ways to see and learn about as much of the country as possible is through a guided tour, where you’ll not only be able to hear stories and facts from an expert, but can guarantee you’ll see the best attractions Vietnam has to offer.

Mexico

If historic sightseeing is your cup of tea then you’ll be pleased to hear that Mexico is home to the largest number of UNESCO World Heritage sites in the Americas. With a history of inhabitants that stretches all the way back to the Mayans, there are layers upon layers of stories and cultures to uncover in this part of the world.

In Cancun in southeast Mexico, take a trip to the El Rey Archaeological Zone and witness Mayan ruins from 250 AD, or enjoy a mix of modern and ancient sites in nearby Tulum. After the Mayan population came the Aztecs and their empire, and you can see the best examples of this period of the country’s history in the city of Teotihuacán.

Mexico City is one of the best places to not only experience more modern Mexican history but also to properly immerse yourself in the country’s culture, from art and entertainment to food (which we definitely recommend). To surround yourself with more Indigenous culture and history, consider a trip to Oaxaca in the south, which is ideal for a really authentic-feeling experience of life in Mexico.

Sri Lanka

The South Asian island of Sri Lanka has flourished as a travel destination in recent years thanks to the sheer diversity of different things to see and do there. For historic experiences, look no further than the country’s famous ‘cultural triangle’.

Spanning the area between Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Dambulla, this popular part of Sri Lanka is home to hundreds of temples and monasteries in various states of ruin. There’s also a cave system visited by pilgrims, the significant Buddhist site of Mihintale and the rock formations and ancient fortress of Sigiriya, which is often referred to as the eighth wonder of the world.

One of the best ways to ensure that you get a full experience of the country’s history and culture is by booking a trip with Sri Lanka holiday specialists. Though the island is relatively small there’s a lot to take in, and a tour can be the best way to ensure an enriching experience without too much stress.

Some of the most impactful travel experiences are those where you return home feeling like you have broadened your horizons or gained a new perspective that you can take forward into the future. Visiting historic sites and learning about the culture of other countries is often a gateway to this, reminding us all that the world is filled with countless stories and experiences from thousands of years before us. These destinations are just a starting point for seeking out this kind of enlightenment.