A taste of Swedish island life – but on the mainland, near Stockholm
Stockholm’s 30,000-strong archipelago is rightly famous, but the sandy beaches and cabins just down the coast are more accessible and full of local flavour
A cooler costa: the summer glories of northern Spain’s Costa Trasmiera
Find the Med a bit too hot to handle? Then head for the more temperate Cantabrian coast and its fantastic beaches, superb seafood and relaxed vibes
Family ski trips are etched deep in my memory. So I took my grandkids to the snow
A trip to Perisher with four kids might put their inheritance on ice, but I’d rather spend it with them than leave it to them
‘Who needs the scorching Med?’ Readers’ tips for cooler European coastal holidays
From the deserted Danish Riviera to the unspoilt beaches of Poland, our readers share their favourite, more chilled European coastlines
Where tourists seldom tread, part 18: three seaside towns that defy the tides of fashion
Ayr, Bangor and Millom routinely bring up the rear in coastal town polls, but they offer a calmer alternative to the brash traditional seaside resorts
Balkan bounty: the little-known corner of Greece now ripe for walkers and nature tourism
Mountains, butterflies, bears and pelicans are among the natural wonders in the stunning Prespa lakes region, which straddles three countries
Six of the best ferry crossings in the UK – from the Isles of Scilly to the Outer Hebrides
With unique views, fascinating history and opportunities for wildlife-spotting, taking a small boat across a river or to an island can be a holiday highlight
Share a travel tip on a rail holiday in the UK or Europe
Tell us about your favourite rail adventure – the best tip wins £200 towards a Coolstays break
‘The river becomes an otherworldly bayou’: five of the best paddleboard and kayak adventures in the UK
Navigating to a backwater pub or brewery and paddling around one of Britain’s last wildernesses is a magical way to explore
Women at the helm: an all-female sailing weekend on the Norfolk Broads
The mazy channels, reeds and and big skies of the Broads are the perfect setting for a sailing holiday with wellbeing on the agenda
Deep impact: touring central Australia’s cosmic craters
The luminous Milky Way is not the only feature that makes space feel close in the Central Desert – you can also witness the aftermath of stars that fell to Earth
A pristine alternative to the Channel: long-distance swimming in Croatia
A new company is offering swimmers the chance to cover the same distance as a cross-Channel swim but in friendlier waters – and with some tempting stops en route
Tell us: share your experiences of traveling with friends
We’d like to hear from people on the best and worst things about traveling with friends
‘Sipping a pint while trout splashed in the river on a perfect summer’s day’: readers’ favourite UK waterside pubs
Our tipsters choose charming pubs on rivers, canals and lakes from Cornwall to Cumbria
10 of the best secret gardens in Europe’s major cities
From Paris to Athens, we pick hidden havens to escape the summer heat and tourist crowds