It is the UK’s favourite holiday destination, but few British tourists explore these stunning tucked-away beaches, sleepy villages and rugged national parksHidden Croatia | Hidden Greece | Hidden France A lot of us have been rather surprised to discover how much we like being in nature and all that outdoorsy stuff over the past couple […]

Winemaker and rugby player Gérard Bertrand on the best 6am steaks, nightlife and coastal action in this relaxed Mediterranean town Food Our food scene revolves around The Halles of Narbonnea splendid covered market and architectural gem from the late 19th century. It is open every day and is everyone’s favourite meeting place. More than a […]

Discovering a great local place to eat is often the highlight of a trip and a way of understanding a culture 35 of Europe’s best restaurants Though I have a photograph of me standing on the Great Wall of China, my sole memory of the visit is the noodles I had for lunch in a […]

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 […]