Once you’re done with all those romantic gondola rides up the Grand Canal, selfies by the gold-leafed dome of Saint Mark’s Basilica, and tasty frutti di mare pastas, why not plot a course to Florence? It’s the obvious next step for art lovers and culture buffs traveling through Italy. A smidgen over 120 miles to … Read more
Just 35 miles and a few bends of the Danube River separate the two capitals of Vienna and Bratislava. That means you can gaze wide-eyed at the Neo-Classical palaces of the Habsburgs and munch on Viennese strudels come morning and then be walking the Old Town of Slovakia’s biggest city between the cheap taverns and … Read more
Barcelona might have the great Neo-Gothic cathedral of La Sagrada Familia and the bustling bars of Las Ramblas, but Valencia touts one of the most famous science museums in Europe, gorgeous urban parks, and – of course – that legendary spiced rice that is paella. Thankfully, you might not even have to decide between the … Read more
Paris steals the hearts of travelers like no other city on the globe. With its proud Haussmannian blocks and look-at-me palaces, its tree-lined boulevards and uber-romantic bistros, it oozes a style and pizzazz that other capitals can only dream of. Then you throw in the world-class museum exhibits of the Orsay and the Louvre (hello, … Read more
As the Vltava River snakes its way through the heart of Prague, it passes the great Gothic rises of one of Europe’s largest castles, countless church spires, and the haunting saintly statues of Charles Bridge. And that’s just the beginning. This bucket-list city conceals beer taverns that slosh with Czech brews and bagel joints and … Read more
Verona hits the headlines on account of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. It was between the marble-carved balconies and cobbled lanes of this old city that the great English bard chose to play out his tale of love and tragedy. But there’s also much more to it than that. With the Alps and the glistening waters … Read more
The gateway to the sun-splashed Costa del Sol is a fascinating city of Moorish spires and majestic Christian churches, hugging a wide bay and harbour that are threaded by energetic fishing ports and glinting beaches alike. This is not your usual sand and sea Spanish destination. It might be surrounded by good-time resorts, but Malaga … Read more
With its twisting canals and bobbing gondolas, its Renaissance church domes and coffee-clinking piazzas by the Adriatic, Venice reigns as one of the most iconic cityscapes on the planet. It’s amazing, but not just because it’s built on water! A onetime trading empire that spread to China and India found its epicentre here, which explains … Read more
Mallorca sits like a pearl in the tiara of islands that is the Spanish Balearics. Rolling down from the craggy tops of the Serra de Tramantura, it drops to gorgeous bays of white pebbles and rugged headlands topped by stone pines. The waters are famously blue and clear. The beach towns are every inch the … Read more
Free-living and downright fun, but also brimming with Golden Age art and fantabulous Flemish architecture, Amsterdam is a corker of an urban break destination. Strolling the UNESCO-tagged canals, you just get the feeling that the Dutch really know how to live. They’re either munching on caramel-glazed stroopwafel or glugging a cold beer by the tram … Read more
Athens isn’t just about the Acropolis, you know. Yes, that mighty landmark is a must for first-time visitors. It shoulders its way above the metropolis with its 2,500-year-old temples and mighty Parthenon, heralding tales of the world’s first democracies and great wars that forged the map of Europe. But in the districts below – the … Read more
Fairy-tale architecture joins hands with a rambunctious nightlife scene right on the edge of the Mediterranean Sea to make Barcelona one of the most attractive city break destinations in the world. There’s a little bit of everything here. Your culture comes from the glut of museums that showcase everything from Catalan painting to Picasso. Your … Read more
Cool Copenhagen is one of northern Europe’s most enticing capitals. The birthplace of New Nordic cooking and a hub for Scandinavian fashion design and furniture craft, it’s a dream-come-true for creatives. Meanwhile, the legacy of Hans Christian Andersen – Denmark’s own – oozes from the charming old town area, where the cobbled lanes and crooked … Read more
Strung like a tiara around the glistening Bay of Naples, this southern Italian jewel has been a favourite holiday retreat since the times of the Romans. It was rocked by the eruption of smoking Mount Vesuvius – the hulking volcano that overlooks the town – back in 79 AD, and you can still seek out … Read more