europe holidays
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Roman roaming: a tour of Italy’s Pontine IslandsMaldives? Seychelles? No, grazie. When Romans need a break they sail to the Pontine archipelago, a cluster of former prison islands packed with history and surrounded by pristine blue water
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Ports of call: a wine tour of the DouroPortugal’s Douro region is famous for its port, but also produces fine, good-value reds and top nosh. Perfect, then, for thirsty foodies like our writer -
Past glories: retro shopping on the back streets of IbizaVintage Icons and Echoes in Santa Eulalia is an Aladdin’s cave of clothes, artefacts and designer bargains -
Five of the best websites for family camping in FranceThere are hundreds of campsites across France so how do you choose one that’s right for your family? These small chains offer some of the best in the country – in fantastic locations with waterparks, an array of on-site activities and even spas
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10 of the best waterside holiday cabins in EuropeRomantic hideaways, back-to-basics eco-huts, treehouses and high-spec shacks for lapping up nature by lakes, rivers and fjords
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Ljubljana, Slovenia: what to see plus the best hotels, bars and restaurantsSlovenia’s – and now Europe’s – green capital is a laid-back charmer of a city. Easily walkable, it boasts striking architecture and a vibrant outdoor eating and drinking culture
top 10s
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Top 10 Soviet-era experiences in St PetersburgIt’s 25 years since the USSR imploded but in St Petersburg there are still plenty of places to experience the highs and lows of the communist era, some of which are looked upon nostalgically by Russians
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10 of the best glamping sites in the UKCamping purists may sneer but glamping is here to stay with hundreds of sites scattered across the UK. We pick 10 additions to Cool Camping’s new book, Glamping Getaways
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Top 10 jazz festivals in EuropeBlue notes and more can be found at these celebrations of all that jazz. Pay respect to artists old and new at venues from lakeside Montreux to piazzas in Perugia
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Amsterdam Noord: the best galleries, bars, restaurants and hotelsA’DAM Toren, a new multi-venue tower, is the latest addition to Amsterdam’s creative hub, where a former shipyard and warehouses have been transformed into the city’s coolest waterfront district
winter sports holidays
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Eddie the Eagle on the Italian ski resort that inspired himWhen learning to ski in the Italian Alps, Michael ‘Eddie the Eagle’ Edwards had no idea it would lead to Olympic stardom – or a new Hollywood biopic
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My big fat Italian bike tourThis season’s snowsports fad, an import from the US, is fat biking down the slopes. Sam Hadddad tried the alternative to skiing and snowboarding in the Dolomites. Plus five more places to try it
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Right on target: skiing and shooting in the French AlpsA fear of steep slopes put Kate Carter off winter sports as a child. But skiing with a laser gun? That was another story…
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Spanish steps: family hiking in the Picos de EuropaA family break in the mountains of northern Spain made for happy wanderers of all ages – though language skills and a cagoule may be essential
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Shiny happy campers: an Airstream stay near Venice1950s Americana isn’t something you associate with Venice, but a new Airstream park across the lagoon is an ideal base. Plus more Airstreams in western Europe
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beach holidays
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Ten tips on how not to get in trouble on your travelsWhether it’s burping in the streets of Vienna, bible bashing in the Maldives or gum smuggling in Singapore, here’s what you need to avoid
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activity holidays
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A classic cycle ride in Italy's Chianti countryTuscany’s exquisite fare is a superb support system for tackling the challenging Chianti stage of the Giro d’Italia
restaurants
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Holidays in Tuscany: readers’ travel tipsBesides Florence, Siena and San Gimignano, this beautiful region has many untrodden corners and family-run places to eat and stay. Readers pick their favourites
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10 of the best restaurants in BordeauxA new wave of chefs has swept into Bordeaux, propelling the city’s restaurants up France’s culinary pecking order. And they’re serving up at decent prices too
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Moscow restaurant draws on collective Soviet nostalgia – and adds a salad barNamed after communal housing in the days of the USSR, Kommunalka features an authentic menu, homemade vodka and a washing line
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The slow return to Paris: how tourism is taking time to recoverThree months after the November terror attacks and the French capital’s bars, hotels and restaurants are beginning to see an upturn. But, convincing visitors to return hasn’t been easy
France fuel strike leads to tourist anxiety ahead of bank holiday weekend