Travelers can wax lyrical about the cultural icons of the places that they visit, from royal palaces, towering monuments to military power and big clocks, but how much do these attractions really teach you about the country you’re in? Does a visit to Buckingham Palace teach you anything about the British? Does a trip to the Eiffel Tower give away any information about the French way of life? The answer is typically a resounding no. If you’re planning on absorbing the ways and wisdoms of the local populace, the best way to do so is undoubtedly through sports. To this effect, here’s some examples of how you can get to know some crucial things about different cultures through various national sports. In short, sports and travel go hand in hand.

Sports and Travel: Football in Spain

You can typically learn a lot about the passions and norms of any nation by observing their attitude to football, but the fiery Spaniards take this to a whole other level. Should you find yourself in the Spanish capital, when it comes to sports and travel a trip to a Real Madrid game is a once in a lifetime experience that you’ll never forget, as well as an eye-opening introduction to the Spanish. Rock up with a cerveza and empanada, and watch the almost religious fervour with which the locals cheer on their teams. Football is universal, but Spanish football is well and truly Spanish. Then again, after Barcelona nearly did the near-impossible and went unbeaten for a season, a trip to Catalonia may be on the cards.

Sports and Travel: Horse Racing in the UK

The U.K. is an inventor of many of the sports that are popular worldwide, including football, golf and cricket, but to get a real useful window into the culture of these islands, a day at the races is crucial. The biggest flat racing event is the Royal Ascot, which is so popular that even the queen goes, and it’s the place to witness a cross-section of British society in all of its gin-soaked and top hat wearing glory. Just know your Aidan O’Briens from your John Gosdens – tipped by Oddschecker as the favourite to take home the gong for being the best trainer, O’Brien claimed his fourth success in this year’s meet.

Sports and Travel: Hockey in Canada

Few countries have a sport that is truly original to their culture, but in Canada, that is without a doubt hockey. This hugely entertaining ice game is known as something of a brutal bloodsport, but get passed that, mix sports and travel and head to a Toronto game to see how Canadians embrace it. Make sure to fill yourself up on poutine, then settle in to watch as the locals oscillate from gentle, compassionate encouragement to raging anger as their chosen team’s fortunes fluctuate. It’s a heartwarming and educational experience.

If you can think of some sports which tell you a lot about the local culture, please share in the comments!