Healing waters: 10 of the best spa towns in Europe for a restorative autumn break
From Alpine valleys to belle époque towns, dip your toes in the therapeutic waters and steaming mineral pools at spa hotels offering centuries-old healing treatments
I hitchhiked from Sydney to Perth, and found comfort in the company of strangers
The lost practice of hitchhiking is a subculture, an art, and a way of travel that satisfies wanderlust like no other trip. Plus, it costs nothing
‘A candlelit spa, followed by an ice-cold plunge and a nightcap’: readers’ favourite European wellbeing breaks
From a historic bathhouse in Sweden to forest bathing in Croatia, readers share their favourite places to relax and recharge
‘Vibrant, design-led and surprisingly green’: why the Dutch city of Eindhoven is perfect for a relaxed arty break
After electronics giant Philips left, the city reinvented itself as a multicultural hub for creativity and innovation, and the home of Dutch Design Week
‘It’s hard to imagine the fires of July’: a bike ride through the Cairngorms in Scotland
Wildfires raged through the national park this summer, but much of the landscape remains untouched – and autumn is the perfect time to go
Fine scenery, historic towns and great pubs: a weekend walk on the Shropshire Way
A new series of rambles cuts the 185-mile trail into bitesize portions reachable by train, with urban beavers the Devil’s Chair tor and some delicious food along the way
Send us a travel tip on a small ski resort in Europe
Tell us about a European ski resort that has retained its relaxed, uncrowded feel – the best tip wins £200 towards a Coolstays break
My search for the perfect Italian aperitivo in Verona
The classic pre-dinner drink and snack combo varies depending where you are in Italy. In this fair city, it’s an institution that can even be enjoyed first thing
Alone with the stars, lynx and wolves in ‘Empty Spain’
A world away from the tourist hotspots of the coast, Extremadura and Castile and León offer unpolluted skies, lower prices – and hope for the future of vulnerable wildlife
I travelled all over the country on a €63 monthly rail pass: readers’ favourite holidays in Germany
From cycling in Berlin and the Black Forest to world-class cocktail bars in Cologne and magical North Sea beaches, readers share their travel tips
Stepping back in time: a historic walk along Dorset’s Jurassic Coast
A ride in a water taxi transforms a stunning hike from Lyme Regis to West Bay into a perfect circular route
‘Delays are always welcome’: 10 of the best railway station pubs in England
Converted from Victorian buffet bars, ticket offices and waiting rooms, these station pubs offer beautifully restored interiors, real ales and a slice of railway history
Saunas, cinnamon buns and coastal scenery on the new rail route from Malmö to Oslo
A new direct train service connects the far south of Sweden to the Norwegian capital in just over six hours, with the option of stopping off in the seaside town of Varberg or lively Gothenburg en route
Share a tip on a sunny autumn break in Europe
Tell us about a favourite trip with autumn sun – the best tip wins £200 towards a Coolstays break
‘The champagne of pale ales’: my search for the perfect kölsch beer in Cologne
‘Kölsch is not a drink, it is a religion’ in Cologne, and it’s only brewed in and around the German city. But which of the many beautiful, storied beer halls serves up the best?