From ancient philosophy to Irish folklore and alpine music, these hotels turn local culture into a catalyst for curiosity, creativity, and connection .
Where I live in NewYork City, my gym has become some what of my wellness sanctuary. I can join a hot vinyasa class, sweat out the city’s toxins in the steam room, and order a smoothie for a light lunch. Contemporary life moves at a dizzying clip, and every other conversation I have in my creative work seems to digress to a discussion about the influence of AI and its incursions on our bastions of culture.
Hotels around the world are responding to the call by looking back in time, inviting local experts, artists, and thinkers to share in their traditions. Instead of worrying about whether a movie or film clip is made by a computer, I sit with an Irish writer who tells me intergenerational sagas and teaches me about the country’s relationship with fairies. A Greek philosopher, who studied archaeology under the influence of Indiana Jones, educates me about the Presocratics and Stoics.
From Indonesia to the alpine peaks of Austria, these properties are finding inventive ways to help guests slow down, get in touch with culture, and expand their minds.
Go Deep at Anthology of Athens
It’s not every day that, when checking into a five star boutique hotel, you’re given a copy of the stoic philosopher Marcus Aurelius’ work. At Anthology of Athens, an 18-suite property located a stone’s throw from the Acropolis, this welcome gift perfectly sets the scene.
I meet with Professor Despina Iosif, a professor at College Year in Athens and the Hellenic Open University, for a dialogue that examines the legacy of ancient Greece on democracy, science, philosophy, art, architecture, education, and Western civilization. Guests can select from a whole menu of these dialogues to enrich their exploration of Athens. Having recently seen Christopher Nolan’s adaptation of The Odyssey, a film that dramatizes a society’s anxieties surrounding the coming fall of their civilization, I’m keen on learning what insight the Greeks might have on medicine, democracy, and technology. “The temple of Asclepius very often had baths, theaters, and athletic establishments because of the holistic approach of ancient Greek medicine,” says Iosif. “If you have a health problem today, which physician advises you to attend a theatrical performance or a musical performance?”
“I like the Greek ideal of the balance between body and mind,” she adds, “that we shouldn’t focus on one at the expense of the other. This is a very important lesson, which, if we keep in mind, our lives will be better.”
We talk about religion and illness, how when ancient Greeks fell ill, they would visit the baths, or a local wise woman who would suggest they use a spell, or travel to one of Asclepius’ temples and sleep under the watchful eye of the healer god to open one self to a cure. While a large part of their approach to healthcare was religious, the Greeks also saw wellness as a practice involving the entirety of a person.
“If you have a health problem today, which physician advises you to attend a theatrical performance or a musical performance?”
—Despina Iosif, professor, College Year in Athens and the Hellenic Open University
Connect With the Spirit of Bhutan at Six Senses
Spread across five lodges tucked into Bhutan’s western and central valleys, Six Senses is a chance to meet the country face-to-face, through customs, religion, and a landscape you won’t soon forget. Sit with monks, then step into monasteries that have stood for centuries. Take to the trails through the hills, have a go at traditional archery, and let the ordinary, unplanned moments with local communities round out your experience as you travel from one valley to the next.
As evening settles in, you’ll likely find yourself drawn back to the spa, for a Bhutanese herbal treatment, a short meditation, or a massage that puts you back in your body. When it’s time to go, you leave with more than snapshots; there’s a real tie to the land, and a journey that lingers long after you’re home.
Study Fine Art in Kenmare
Park Hotel Kenmare, set along the shores of Kenmare Bay in County Kerry, is a grand estate steeped in Ireland’s rich creative and cultural heritage. Under the vision of owners Bryan and TaraMeehan, the historic property has evolved into a distinctive artistic retreat where the character of the Emerald Isle is woven into every aspect of the experience.
The crown jewel of the hotel’s offerings is its extraordinary art collection, which features works by Andy Warhol, Sean Scully, Dorothy Cross, Theaster Gates, Park Seo-Bo, Guggi, Elizabeth Colomba, and Damien Hirst. The Victorian backdrop for the hotel’s gallery promotes an active dialogue around the hotel’s history and Irish and global perspectives in contemporary art, which is facilitated during daily guided art tours.
Park Hotel Kenmare takes this artistic imperative seriously. All year, the property hosts artist talks, exhibitions, and salons during which guests can connect with contemporary authorities in the art world. And with County Kerry acting as a hotspot for local music and artisans, a day spent in town also promises to offer visitors a compelling new perspective.
At the Amanjiwo resort in Indonesia, culture isn’t something you stand back and look at, it’s meant to be lived.
—Despina Iosif, professor, College Year in Athens and the Hellenic Open University
Immerse Yourself in Local Culture at Amanjiwo
At the Amanjiwo resort in Indonesia, culture isn’t something you stand back and look at, it’s meant to be lived. With Borobudur temple rising close by as a striking presence, the resort’s three-night Cultural Trails escape opens the door to Javanese traditions in a hands-on way: guided visits to temples, sessions learning Aksara Jawa scriptwriting, cooking lessons, and walks that wind through the Menoreh Hills.
Beyond that, there’s time to wander local markets, pedal along quiet roads through nearby villages, or sit down to a classic Javanese dinner, each experience drawing you closer to the place and its story.
When the day finally slows, the spa becomes the natural next stop, with treatments grounded in old Javanese healing and beauty practices, prepared with local ingredients and carried out with techniques passed down over time.
Appreciate the Sound of Music atAustria’s Stanglwirt
Under the shadow of the Wilder Kaiser Mountains, guests will find the relaxed and picturesque organic wellness resort, Stanglwirt. Family owned since1722, the 170-key hotel touts its commitment to Tyrolean hospitality, and while the spa, saunas, and steam baths are certainly serene, Stanglwirt specializes in other alpine delights. In addition to a golf school and driving range, the property is home to a horseback riding school with Lipizzaner horses, and the 160-acre farm provides fresh fare for their restaurants.
And an hour and a half from Salzburg, the backdrop of The Sound of Music, Stanglwirt carries the von Trapp family’s artistic torch in its own way, too. The family performs music, and an annual singers’ gathering every November show cases the property’s 400-year tradition of Austrian and Tyrolean folk songs.
Paint at La Compañía del Valle: An Art and Wellness Sanctuary
Nestled inside an extinct volcanic crater in Panama, La Compañía del Valle offers an extraordinary setting where natural topography, wellness, and artistic expression converge. The property’s Tuscan inspired architecture, winding stone paths, and manicured lawns and courtyards give way to the dramatic mountain landscape of El Valle de Antón, setting the scene for deep restoration and creative immersion. Sculptures adorn the grounds, corridors, and walls, while each restaurant serves artistically presented dishes. Suites feature a mini easel, canvas, paints, and brushes, inviting guests to reflect on the stunning views through mindful painting.
At the center of this sanctuary lies Elysium Spa where a hydrothermal begins the journey. The spa also offers a dry sauna, aromatherapy steam room, a cold plunge, an open-air secret garden with waterfall, a rasul mud application area, a Himalayan salt room, a grand flotation dome, and a traditional marble-platform hammam.
Discover the Stories of Kilkenny at Mount Juliet Estate
One would be forgiven for traveling to Mount Juliet Estate—a 500-acre expanse outside of Kilkenny, Ireland—and contenting oneself with the endless slate of activities: horseback riding, laser clay shooting, the Jack Nicklaus golf course, the spa. And yet, the highlight of a visit just may be a fireside chat with on-property historian, Sean Maher. Every Thursday and Saturday evening, Maher, who worked as a journalist and Waterford tour guide, tours guests through the Georgian estate’s history, centuries of power and heirs, all leading to the beautifully restored manor that visitors know and love today.
We sit in the parlor, the afternoon light golden through the handmade glass windows. He tells me about the families that owned the estate, the fairies that live in the land. After asking if I have Irish family, he tells me I have some connection to a man named Neville in Waterford.
Ireland has an incredibly rich history of folklore and oral storytelling. My conversation with Maher deepens my appreciation as I walk the estate’s grounds and hear more stories about its families during a guided horseback tour of the property.
