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
Foodie Finland: the best restaurants and cafes in Helsinki
Finns’ deep affinity with nature is blossoming in its restaurants, where a new generation of chefs are fusing local wild produce with more exotic flavours – all at reasoonable prices
Forget the stereotypes, Benidorm is the complete package
The resort was ahead of its time – built to handle industrial numbers of tourists while not displacing residents. And beyond the full English breakfasts and pub crawls, there’s an authentic Spanish side to it
Five of the best European city breaks for summer
With outdoor concerts, alfresco dining, rooftop bars and plenty of parks and places to swim outdoors, these cities make for a great summer getaway
From Joyce’s death mask to Bono’s sunglasses: a look around the Little Museum of Dublin’s grand curiosities
This people’s museum is crammed with curios donated by Dublin residents. A major facelift has added a library, archive and exhibition on ‘fearless women’
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
10 Lisbon restaurants I’d recommend to a friend visiting the city
A local food writer selects places to eat that offer a flavour of Lisbon’s fast-evolving restaurant scene
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