From gentle strolls to zipline thrills: summer hiking in the Swiss Alps
The vertiginous Valais canton offers adventures aplenty, from abseiling down gorges to wild swims in glacial pools – and nights swapping hiking tales in mountain huts
The perfect base for a Wind in the Willows weekend: a stylish B&B in the Chilterns
Taking a leaf out of Kenneth Grahame’s book, our writer spends a few days getting lost among the woods and riverside villages of Oxfordshire and Berkshire
Share a tip on your favourite neighbourhood in a European city
Tell us about an area away from the centre and tourist hotspots in a European city, including the UK. The best tip wins £200 towards a Coolstays break
My search for the perfect bodega in Madrid
Good wine, cheap tapas, ramshackle decor and a sense of history are the key ingredients of these Madrileño institutions. I went on a bar crawl to find my favourite
Time-travelling in Cantabria: from the stone age to Sartre via the ‘prettiest town in Spain’
On the north coast of Spain you can see some of the world’s oldest art, explore a stunning medieval village, then watch surfers ride Atlantic swells
‘We are not like the rest of Andalucía’: the rugged charms of Almería, Spain’s desert city
While Málaga battles overtourism down the coast, this ‘forgotten’ working port city revels in its outsider status
What Australians and other international travellers need to know about the new EU travel rules
Borders for 29 countries will no longer have manual checks with machines instead used to scan your face, fingerprints and passport
‘Tranquil, natural and barely a tourist in sight’: readers’ favourite hidden gems in Spain
Your top off-the-beaten track discoveries, from gorges in Galicia to vineyards in La Rioja
Terrain in Spain: gravel biking in the mountains of Andalucía
A cycle tour of the Sierra Nevada backcountry proves a bumpy but beautiful ride through cinematic scenery
‘You can’t take that on the plane for free!’ How Ryanair turned its staff into bounty hunters
Ground staff earn €2.50 for every piece of oversized luggage that they intercept. Meanwhile, passengers who are caught out pay a much bigger penalty
An irresistible adventure activity for New Zealand visitors? Delivering the mail by boat
In the sparsely populated Queen Charlotte Sound, tourists can accompany the skipper-come-postman as parcels are dropped off via the scenic route. No heart rate check required
‘The vast wooded wilderness doesn’t look like England’: exploring Northumberland’s Kielder Forest
England’s largest forest has an aura reminiscent of parts of Canada or Finland. This year it celebrates its centenary with new trails and dark sky events
On the shoulders of giants: roaming among England’s famous chalk figures
Ancient hill carvings of horses, giants and gods have fascinated artists, writers and travellers for centuries. I went in search of their stories
Share a tip on a trip to Italy
Tell us about your favourite Italian holiday discovery – the best tip wins £200 towards a Coolstays break
From volcanic wilds to world-class art: 10 fun and fabulous reasons to visit France in 2026
Some of the best under-the-radar attractions across the Channel include steampunk wonders in Calais and the largest collection of impressionist works outside Paris