From Ireland to Italy, our local writers reveal their favourite places to eat across the continent Felicity Cloake: ‘Discovering a great restaurant can make a trip’ Denmark Jah Izakaya and Sake Bar, CopenhagenJapanese and Korean restaurants are taking over Copenhagen at the moment, fusing New Nordic philosophies with the food of east Asia. Opened in […]

For a French holiday combining surf and Alpine turf without having to drive too far between destinations, head for southwest France. Hossegor, near Biarritz on the Atlantic coast, is the surf capital of France, and a destination for beginners and experts alike. Some 170km inland is the 19th-century spa resort of Luz-Saint-Sauveur, around 30km south […]

Dungannon, Burnley, Barrow-in-Furness, Harlow and Merthyr Tydfil may not be quaint, but these robust centres have a poetry that’s all their own part one | part two | part three | part four | part five Type the names of many ordinary towns into Google followed by “is” and the search engine often autocompletes with […]

From beach breaks to bear spotting, here are ideas for trips to inspire without breaking the bank. Plus, top tips for cutting costs on trips Adventures Hike hut-to-hut on Austria’s Eagle’s Way In 1829, the German poet Goethe arrived in Tirol. Perhaps he was gazing at the gorgeous Nordkette mountain, backdrop to the city of […]

The less-visited Var region of the Côte d’Azur is full of glorious beaches, heritage-rich towns and bucolic vineyards Saint-Tropez may be known for glitz, but a few miles along the coast, the very ground beneath my feet glitters like a jet-setter hotel. I’m in the Var department in south-eastern France, where the Maures massif meets […]

  A two-day adventure by rail offers iron age hill forts, Offa’s Dyke and a local straight out of The Archers   The brief is simple. A two-day hike with a railway station at either end and a pub with rooms in the middle. No need to carry much, just a change of clothes, some […]

  When you’ve admired the Golden Gate and done Haight-Ashbury’s hippie shake, skip the tourist trap restaurants and refuel at these local favourites   Golden Gate Bridge The Warming Hut The Golden Gate is immersed in parkland – the Headlands to the north, the Presidio to the south. While it may seem like food is […]

  Walking with snowmen, skating with penguins … get festive with our top 10 days out for children   Ice skating at Brighton Royal Pavilion With the majestic domes of the Royal Pavilion as its backdrop – lit in magical neon colours if you go after dark – this real ice rink is a popular […]

  A project to create Europe’s largest forested national park aims to protect 200,000 hectares of wilderness as well as boost ecotourism in support of local communities   Up on the hill we spy them: dark, imposing forms moving through the dense forest. It’s a group of bison wandering wild in Romania’s Făgăraș mountains. I […]

  Palm Springs’ modernist masterpieces are celebrated in this week’s fall preview but the mountain haven for the Hollywood set is worth a visit any time of year   Mid-century modernism and celebrity tours In the early 1920s, Hollywood stars adopted Palm Springs as a place to escape the travails of Tinseltown. They were wowed […]