‘The air resounds with a Babel’s Tower of languages’: why I wrote a novel based in Victoria Square, Athens

It once housed the fanciest shops and restaurants in Greece’s capital city – then it crashed. Now the area is reborn as a vibrant, multicultural neighbourhood

Cool bars and friendly vibes: readers’ favourite city neighbourhoods in Europe

These are the less explored corners of Stockholm, Amsterdam, Berlin and Porto that you’ve ‘stumbled into and ended up staying’

10 of the best UK nature festivals for late spring and summer

The natural world is the headliner at these joyous gatherings, while the support acts include live music, immersive art and fire ceremonies

‘Wheeling through vineyards and chateaux country’: an ebike tour of France’s Loire valley

Gentle cycling is the perfect pace to enjoy the region’s sunflower fields and medieval towns – with gourmet food and fine wine along the way

A new long-distance walking trail in Wales takes in gorges, ruined abbeys and sweeping sands

From the Cambrian Mountains to Cardigan Bay, the 83-mile Teifi Valley Trail is a grassroots initiative designed to revive a once-thriving area

Share a tip on a favourite holiday in the UK

Tell us about a great place for a UK break – the best tip wins £200 towards a Coolstays break

Six of the best natural and free beaches in Italy

Private beach clubs dominate much of the Italian coast, but you can still find pristine stretches that are framed by nature and open to all

Forget Florence: six of the best towns in Tuscany to escape overtourism

Beyond the Tuscan capital, there are exquisite towns with Medici fortresses, stunning frescoes, Roman amphitheatres – and not a selfie stick in sight

Perfect Padua and a Greek theatre in Sicily: readers’ favourite places in Italy

From cycling in the Cinque Terre to sipping espresso at a secret spot overlooking the Colosseum, here are some of your Italian highlights

A fashion-lover’s guide to Antwerp, Europe’s alternative style capital

In the 1980s ‘the Antwerp Six’ put Flanders on the fashion map. Now a major new exhibition celebrates the designers’ legacy and provides the perfect excuse to visit Belgium’s vibrant second city

‘The horror – 14 alarms in the morning’: backpacker hostels evolve as young people seek privacy over packed dorms

Out with wild parties, in with soft lighting and wellness centres. Welcome to the new age of backpacking

Winnie-the-Pooh’s 100th birthday is a great excuse to explore the Sussex forest that inspired the books

To mark the anniversary there are dozens of events planned around Ashdown Forest (aka the Hundred Acre Wood) – and, of course, playing Pooh Sticks is always a good idea

Tell us: have your holiday plans changed in light of recent world events?

If you’ve changed your holiday plans, we’d like to hear from you

How to holiday as a single-parent family? A back-to-nature retreat in west Wales worked for us

Tucked away in a remote valley, these cosy off-grid cabins come with a wild-swimming pond, loads of wildlife and a farm where kids can run free

Share a tip on your favourite beach bar or restaurant in Europe, including the UK

Tell us about a great place to eat or drink on the beach – the best tip wins £200 towards a Coolstays break