Paris’s rewilded railway line: the disused track turned into a green space for wildlife and walkers

Inside the French capital’s ring road, the Petite Ceinture, a disused circular rail line, now abounds with nature trails, shared gardens – and even urban farms

Where tourists seldom tread, part 16: a trio of small historic cities

From Swansea, with its sweeping bay and artistic soul, to Doncaster’s Roman heritage and Carlisle’s literary past, this selection proves size doesn’t matter

Fancy a Belgian city break without the crowds of Ghent or Bruges? Mechelen might be the answer

The majestic Flemish city is dotted with renaissance palaces, great bars and eye-catching contemporary art – yet it’s firmly off the tourist trail

Where the art of Edvard Munch comes alive: a city break in Oslo

As a new exhibition celebrating the portraits of Edvard Munch opens at London’s National Portrait Gallery, we take a trip to the artist’s home city in Norway

Exploring Siena, Tuscany’s other artistic masterpiece

A major new exhibition at the National Gallery puts the spotlight on the Tuscan town’s artistic heritage. But nothing beats exploring its historic neighbourhoods on foot

Merchants of Venice: 10 of the city’s most beautiful historic shops

From an elegant apothercary to a jewellers in a baroque salon, these stores all have atmospheric interiors and a history of exquisite craftsmanship

When in Rome … go where the Romans go, not the tourist crowds

The Eternal City’s monuments and museums are busy at the best of times, but there remain myriad treasures to explore that are well off the beaten track

Six lines, six walks: we explore London’s Overground reboot on foot

The capital’s Overground routes have been rebranded to reflect the distinct flavours of neighbourhoods they cross – as these station to station strolls reveal

My secret corner of Paris: readers’ favourite places to visit in the French capital

From a traditional bonbon shop to a hidden jazz club, our tipsters share their favourite haunts in the City of Light

Winter rail adventures in Europe: three itineraries for the colder months

Our slow travel expert picks her favourite off-season trips by train to France, Germany, Austria and Italy

The joy of ‘winterrailing’: my off-season rail adventure in France, Germany and Switzerland

Golden landscapes, cosy cafes and crowd-free sightseeing are just some of the highlights of exploring central Europe by rail in the cooler months

Like a luxury spa – for £20: where to enjoy Britain’s Turkish baths revival

In 1900, there were 600 Turkish baths in Britain and Ireland. Today, only a handful survive. We enjoy a revived hammam in Newcastle and take a look at 10 more around the country

Is the party over for Belgrade’s club scene on the Danube?

Raft houses, known as ‘splavs’, became synonymous with the hedonistic nightclub scene in Serbia’s capital. Now they are being cleared from the river to make way for luxury flats, bars and shops

Second to none: why Porto is my number one for a city break in Portugal

Second cities can be more welcoming and fun than capitals, perhaps nowhere more so than Porto, with its less manicured charm

‘Joyce and Hemingway loved lingering here. I can see why’: readers’ favourite small cities in Europe

Art nouveau cafes, Ottoman architecture and beer halls make these modest cities a big draw away from the crowds