Shrouded by the Moorish turrets of mighty Santa Barbara Castle and blessed with golden beaches by the Med, Alicante is up there with the top sun and sea holidaying spots in Spain. But what if you’re done tanning yourself and want to get your fix of culture in the museum-packed Spanish capital? This guide’s the … Read more
Dresden is a town that rarely fails to enthral and entertain. Although it was completely razed in WWII, it’s bounced back bigger and better than ever, with complete reconstructions of its stunning Baroque Frauenkirche and the flamboyant frontages of the Semperoper leading the way. Throw in a buzzy Neustadt area that’s packed with bars and … Read more
Salou is one of the dream destinations on the Spanish Med. Fringed by the golden sands of Llevant Beach and Playa de Ponent, it’s long been a top getaway for families and folk in search of sun and sea. Throw in a few rocky coves for the snorkelers, award-winning golf courses that creep into the … Read more
Rio de Janeiro is one full-on fiesta of a city. Spilling down from the Atlantic forests of Brazil’s tropical south, it has one foot in the jungle and another in the ocean. Glittering beaches packed with tanned bodies string their way along the bairros, from the bumping beachfront of Copacabana to the jazzy quarters of … Read more
Straddling its namesake river on the cusp of the US border in the east of Ontario, Ottawa is often overlooked by travelers making their way through Canada. But those who do decide to linger a couple of days often stay for many more. They’re beguiled by a surprisingly laid-back global capital that sports a majestic … Read more
Ditch the shisha pipes and Grand Bazaar of ancient Istanbul and set your sights on the sun-kissed south of Turkey. That’s where Antalya beckons with old Ottoman architecture and access to some of the very best beaches in the country. You’ll need to be ready to do a pretty long trip, because there’s over 500km … Read more
So, you’re looking to swap the hedonistic capital of Spain for the golden sands of the Costa del Sol? You’re going to need to make the hop from Madrid to Malaga. The destination? An enthralling city where Moorish-era castles loom above beautiful Baroque churches, sierras behind, sands in front. It’s hard to resist, which is … Read more
The Shangri-La of the United States lies thousands of miles out in the depths of the Pacific Ocean. A paradise of daffodil-tinged beaches that roll beneath pockets of palm trees, it’s long been a place to come for no-holes-barred R&R. Golf resorts collide with deluxe honeymoon hotels, all before the vibrant resorts of Waikiki and … Read more
Millions of travelers make the trip from Poland’s cultural capital of Krakow to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Auschwitz each year. They come to pay their respects and unravel the dark history of one of Europe’s most striking and sobering places: Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp. Between 1940 and 1945, it was one of the principal … Read more
To hop from Lisbon to Porto is to hop from Portugal’s vibrant capital to its culture-rich and bohemian second city. Both spots should definitely be on the itinerary of anyone looking to feel the true pulse of this wave-washed country at the end of Europe. First will come Lisbon’s hilltop Moorish castles and pumping nightlife … Read more
Get ready to be enchanted by Bruges. Leaving the big-city bustle of Brussels behind, you’re about to be immersed in a fairy tale of haunting churches and silhouette spires, of cobbled lanes and drifting canals. It’s considered to be one of the best-preserved medieval centres in all of Europe, with a good dollop of Belgian … Read more
So, you’re looking to trade those proud Habsburg palaces and manicured city parks for the snow-capped outline of the Austrian Alps? A trip from Vienna to Salzburg promises to do just that in a couple of hours. There might be 160 miles of rolling forests, winding rivers, and soft hills between them, but these two … Read more
Prague has a maze-like Old Town guarded by one of the biggest castles in the world. Budapest has a gritty nightlife quarter of ruin bars and a grand Neo-Classical palace that once housed the Habsburg emperors. Joining those together on the same itinerary is now possible for travelers keen to explore the jewels of Central … Read more
Every Spain bucket list should include both Barcelona and Madrid. One is the home of the spiked turrets of Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia, fringed by vibrant summer beaches, and cut through by the Art Deco playhouses of Las Ramblas. The other is the nation’s fun-loving, hedonistic capital, where nightlife pulses through the streets and the ghosts … Read more