Destinations

Buildings in Puglia, Italy, are shown on a cliff overlooking the Mediterranean Sea (Credit: Alamy)

Europe's most exciting getaways for 2025 travel

From romantic retreats in the Mediterranean to fresh-air-filled Alpine hikes, these are the most exciting areas of Europe to visit this year.

People eating and drinking at a bar in East London (Credit: Stephen Emms)

London's newest hip area isn't where you think

A few miles from East London's perennially hip neighbourhoods, an explosion of art and culture is transforming a once-neglected stretch into one of the city's hottest destinations.

Two bears roaming near a stream (Credit: Alamy)

The European nation where bears are booming

As Romania's bear population grows, so do the opportunities for travellers to come face to face with the predators in a responsible way.

Aerial view of Kronborg Castle on promontory with Helsingør in background and the sea in the foreground (Credit: Thomas Rafn-Larsen)

Inside the fortress that inspired Hamlet

As Radiohead and the RSC launch an innovative reinterpretation of Hamlet, a visit to the play's setting in Denmark brings a new dimension to the tragedy.

A circular porthole window which looks out the landscape of Northern Iceland u2013 a whale's tail pokes out above the surface of the ocean and mountains in the background (Credit: Getty Images)

There's more to Iceland than Reykjavik

This more remote part of Iceland offers visitors a deep dive into its fascinating history and authentic culture.

More travel in Europe

Police officers standing outside the Louvre Museum in Paris behind a police tape barrier (Credit: Getty Images)

'Every museum in the world is stressing': What the rise in art heists means for visitors

A spate of audacious thefts has rocked European museums. Now, some institutions are rethinking what's worth displaying.

Portrait of King Harald Gormsson wearing a crown and holding a sceptre (Credit: Getty Images)

'The PR guys hated the name': The 1,000-year-old story behind Bluetooth

A pair of ancient runestones in Jelling tell the story of the Viking king who shaped Denmark – and inspired the name Bluetooth.

Tour guide pointing out architecture to a small group on a narrow Barcelona street (Credit: Getty Images)

How much should you actually pay on a 'free' walking tour?

They're advertised as free – but guides often pay a fee for every guest. Here's what travellers should know before joining one.

GLA Building and River Thames at sunset, with people walking on the riverfront in London, UK (Credit: Getty Images)

The world's top cities for 2026 – and why they stand out

From cultural investment to cutting-edge technology, the 2026 Global Cities Index reveals what makes the world's leading cities such compelling places to live and visit.

Green northern lights above a snow-covered road and red building on Stu00f8tt, Norway (Credit: Eva Ann Andersen)

The tiny Arctic island where travellers have found refuge since 1897

For centuries, this tiny Norwegian island sheltered fishermen from violent seas. Now one woman is using tourism to revive it – and offer travellers refuge from modern life.

Eric Idle holds an acoustic guitar and smiles at the camera, with a countryside view in the background

Why Monty Python star Eric Idle escaped to France

The Monty Python star bought a shack in Provence in 1972. Here's how he spent the next 55 years making it his refuge from fame – and how it somehow became a celebrity retreat.