Big, boisterous and bold, Hamburg is the largest port city in Germany, and boy does it show! This is a metropolis with plenty of attitude, not to mention history, up its sleeve. Once the epicentre of the powerful Hanseatic League, its trading tendrils swallowed up the whole of the Baltic basin, and then Europe, and … Read more
Madrid is the sleepless, spirited capital of Spain. Rolling out in the shadow of the Sierra de Guadarrama in the geographical centre of the country, it flits from moody medieval districts to chic modern areas that bustle with big business. The main attractions are vignettes of the Baroque and the beautiful, from the statue-topped Puerta … 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
Ah, New York. This land of bright lights and Broadway, of bagels and beeping taxis, has long inspired travelers to city breaks in the USA. Whether you come for a quick bout of shopping down 5th Avenue or a longer sojourn to explore the crevices of Midtown Manhattan and the beaches of Long Island, you’re … 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
Straddling seven hills above the Tagus estuary, Portugal’s fun-loving capital remains one of the top city break destinations on the continent. It’s easy to see why. There’s fantastic seafood straight from the Atlantic. There are enchanting medieval sights like the Moorish São Jorge Castle. There are neighbourhoods of winding lanes and sardine-sizzling cantinas. Topping it … Read more
Draped over the hills and plains that roll around the Danube as it snakes through central-north Hungary, Budapest is the only real metropolis in the country. It’s the heart and soul of the Magyar nation; a town of rambunctious ruin bars and wild nocturnal districts, of grand Habsburg-era palaces and stoic castles. The whole place … 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
Combining more than 2,500 years of history with mouthwatering Lazio cuisine, ancient temples raised by powerful emperors with some of the world’s most exquisite art collections, Rome is the enthralling Eternal City at the very heart of Italy. First-time visitors are often sent into a stupor by the whizzing Piaggio scooters and the babbling fountains, … Read more
A heady cocktail of whizzing Vespas and serene basilicas, ramshackle fish bazaars and Byzantine artworks, Palermo is a fine welcome to the island of Sicily. Tucked onto the northern shores, it’s the same hubbub of life it was during the ages of the Phoenician Greeks, the Romans, the Normans, the Moors – the list goes … 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
Perhaps you’re pining for a glimpse at Leonardo’s revered The Last Supper? Maybe you’re here for the Gucci boutiques and haute couture of the Quad d’Oro fashion mecca? Have you come to scale the Duomo? Or to taste saffron risotto? Or to breakaway to the glistening waters of Lake Como? Whatever it is, Italy’s grand … Read more
A jumble of pastel-painted mansions and honey-tinged churches that lurches high above the sky-blue Tyrrhenian Sea, Cagliari is the good-looking capital of the island of Sardinia. It’s not only an immersive city in its own right, packed with Roman relics, ancient ruins, rock-studded urban beaches and palm-threaded promenades awash with chic cafés. It’s also the … 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