Art in the Arctic: exploring Bodø, Norway, European capital of culture for 2024

The Norwegian town, just inside the Arctic Circle, makes a picturesque (and unusual) setting for a programme of exhibitions, gigs and outdoor activities – and the sun doesn’t set all summer

South of France, but not as we know it: exploring Nîmes and the Gard

Unesco listing for the city’s Roman temple put this city on the map last year, but there are uncharted delights in the surrounding towns as well

A festival of music, film and spectacle: the best of Belfast 2024

A year-long celebration aims to start a new chapter for Belfast, forging better connections and conversations within communities through creativity and culture

48 hours in Cologne, Germany’s most laid-back city

Cologne cathedral, Europe’s biggest collection of pop art and vintage shops are all less than four and a half hours from London by train

Extra time at Euro 2024: day trips and more from Berlin, Hamburg, Munich and Leipzig

Spectacular scenery and rich culture from the Alps to the North Sea are just a train ride away from the main hubs at this summer’s football tournament

Germany’s football factory: a travel guide to the Ruhr

All eyes will be on Germany’s industrial heartland next month as Euro 2024 kicks off. We explore the region’s heritage, renewal and sporting history

A trail of two cities: an alternative guide to Salford and Manchester

Sunday’s Sounds from the Other City festival is a joyful celebration of Greater Manchester’s leftfield culture

A musical tour of Manchester: from the Hallé to the Happy Mondays

Every genre of music has made its mark on Manchester, including dialect ballads, classical, TV theme tunes and all the strands of post-punk. Welcome to the north-west sound

Where tourists seldom tread part 9: four more British towns with secret histories

Railway nostalgia, the world’s oldest football, fenland skies and a little-known bard are among the highlights of Crewe, Stirling, Boston and Barnstaple

An alternative guide to Leeds: a city with an independent spirit

A book club in a disused petrol station, an electronic music hub in an old bus garage … Yorkshire’s largest city is a hotbed of grassroots creativity

We found a swimming pool in every city on our Interrail trip around Europe

Swimming at every stop left us fresh and invigorated – and led us to parts of cities that tourists seldom visit

Breaking the ice – Estonia comes in from the cold

Tartu’s year as a European capital of culture shines a spotlight on this creative and youthful city and its love of street art, folklore and nature

Sun, sea and rock’n’roll: how Torremolinos got its groove back

A February festival brings a touch of glamour to the Costa del Sol resort – and a welcome off-season tourism boost

A local’s guide to Maastricht, Netherlands: the best bars, culture and hotels

Art, history and cafes abound in this often overlooked Dutch city, says a local microbrewery co-owner

Baroque’s off: my mission to seek out Vienna’s modernist masterpieces

Vienna’s art nouveau movement inspired buildings – from villas to underground stations – that should receive as many plaudits as its imperial palaces