Summer in Europe’s lakes and mountains: 15 of the best holidays
With cooler air, fewer crowds and lower prices, the mountains make a great alternative to the coast
‘On a peak under a blue sky’: the joy of summer in Europe’s mountains
Our writer recalls his favourite mountain experiences, from hard-won views to splendid isolation and the comforts of simple refuges
Remote and accessible: cycling New Zealand’s West Coast Wilderness Trail
Cyclists of varying abilities can tackle the 133km track, which hugs glacial rivers, pebbly beaches and mossy forests
‘Framed by jagged peaks, it felt like stepping into a dream’: readers’ favourite mountain trips in Europe
From the Alpujarras to the Dolomites, our tipsters hike, camp and devour hearty mountain food in some of Europe’s most spectacular scenery• Send us a tip on European wilderness – the best wins a £200 holiday voucher
The reinvention of Catania – Sicily’s once crime-ridden second city
A decades-long crackdown on organised crime is opening up Catania, with previous no-go areas now welcoming tourists and new businesses. Discover its restaurants and bars before the prices catch up
Down on the farm: a summer cabin stay in Somerset
How an enterprising couple have transformed their farm into a bucolic base amid cider orchards and vines – perfect for exploring an ancient landscape and flourishing arts scene
A brief history of the Earth on a walk around the Isle of Arran, Scotland
A six-day hike on Arran – a new Unesco Geopark – reveals tales of dinosaurs, tectonic plate collisions and lightning strikes from millions of years ago
Send us a tip on wild Europe
Tell us about your favourite wilderness or wild escape in Europe – the best tip wins £200 towards a Coolstays break
Riding high in Germany on the world’s oldest suspended railway
Still gliding above the town on an overhead track 125 years after it was built, the charming Schwebebahn in Wuppertal has lost none of its magic
The ruff guide to Europe: 15 dog-friendly holidays
From Baltic beach holidays to Spanish city breaks and cruising on French canals, here’s our pick of the best getaways for dogs – and their owners
Should you take your dog on holiday? We went on a European road trip with our border terrier to find out
Dogs have a sense of adventure, don’t they? We thought Missy would enjoy exploring France and Spain. She had other ideas
‘The hotel had a dog spa’: readers’ favourite dog-friendly holidays
Dog lovers share their tips on the best accommodation and beaches to set tails wagging across the UK and Ireland• Tell us about a midsummer trip – the best tip wins a £200 holiday voucher
A brush with Cezanne in Aix-en-Provence, France: a blockbuster retrospective comes to town
The city once neglected its most famous son. But this summer visitors can immerse themselves in a major new exhibition and see the artist’s restored studio, home and the landscapes that inspired him
‘The walk is shot through with melancholy and romance’: a new trail to the north face of the Eiger
The hike offers dramatic views of the Swiss Alps’ ‘murder wall’ – and poignant insights into the climbers who first braved it. For the son of one of those pioneers, it had a special resonance
Share a tip on a great midsummer trip
Tell us about your favourite midsummer adventure in the UK or Europe – the best tip wins £200 towards a Coolstays break