Away with Adam Liaw: ‘One of my pet peeves when travelling is people who say they’re happy to go with the flow’

In Guardian Australia’s new series about travel, the Sydney cook and TV presenter explains why decisive people make the best travel companions

Vive la différence: a long weekend in Strasbourg and Paris

Two cities just a few hours distant, yet miles apart in terms of culture, crowds, and metropolitan swagger

The gentle magic of walking in Somerset’s Mendip Hills

John Harris and family revisit the first halfway serious hill-walk they made in a landscape that’s more comforting than challenging – just what they’re looking for at this time of year

Deserted beaches, wild rivers and seaside chill: four days walking in NSW’s largest coastal park

The Yuraygir coastal walk in northern NSW offers 65km of beachy bliss broken up by tiny towns with food and shelter – ideal for hardcore hikers and ragtag families alike

‘At the top it’s a different world, crisp and pure’: readers’ favourite winter walks

From golden Cornish sands to a Highland trail with beavers, our tipsters choose atmospheric walks to blow away the cobwebs

On the waterfront in Helsinki – a zen regeneration game

The world’s most sustainable travel destination is giving its harbour a facelift with an eco-friendly hotel that whispers cool Scandi minimalism while reconnecting guests with nature

Where in the world? The Christmas travel quiz

From flags to film locations, test your travel knowledge with our fiendish picture quiz

‘Bookings open 12 months in advance’: when to plan your Christmas 2025 holiday

Australian travel experts share the dates to save for securing your next summer getaway, and the destinations trending for 2025

Paris to Berlin by train is now faster by five hours. We try out the new service

The new direct daytime route, via Strasbourg, sweeps through enchanting landscapes from vineyards to forests. But some say it needs to be quicker still if the train is to be more attractive than flying

Look out for the stars of Bethlehem … in south Wales

Rain isn’t the only thing that’s biblical in these parts … We explore a holy land of walks, pubs and crystal-clear night skies in Carmarthenshire

Away with Heather Ewart: ‘An outback pub was the last place you’d expect a gourmet meal’

In Guardian Australia’s new series about travel, the host of Back Roads reveals her most memorable meal – and the first and last thing she does on holiday

My voyage of good cheer around Finland – the world’s happiest country

With clean air, vast green spaces and more saunas than cars, Finns have plenty of reasons to be cheerful

Christmas on tap: six of the best UK pubs for the festive season

Santa is coming and these pubs are going to town with their tinsel and fairy lights, as well as hosting special drinks and events over the festive season

My Christmas pilgrimage to Mark Rothko’s Latvia

I took the scenic route to Daugavpils, birthplace of the abstract artist – a world of breathtaking colour, kindness and cold

Tell us about your favourite wonder of the world

Share a tip on a peerless architectural or sculptural creation, ancient or modern – the best tip wins £200 towards a Coolstays break