10 of the best free festivals in the UK
From family-friendly jamborees to tall ships races: as festival season kicks off, we highlight great events that don’t cost anything
Grand Torino: why the ‘cacophonous and intoxicating’ Italian city is a must-see
Roman ruins, art nouveau and industrial heritage add a patina of reality to underrated Turin, which feels more worn in than worn out
‘Astonishing, luminous beauty’: readers’ cultural highlights in Europe
The secrets to ancient Greek innovations, art in its rightful place, and gorgeous statues and views from Dublin to Albania
Missed out on Vermeer? Try these arty gems across Europe instead
With the Amsterdam blockbuster all sold out, our writer picks 10 alternative arty must-sees in Europe – all reachable by train
‘The music moved me to tears’: falling in love with Albania
After visiting 17 countries for his latest book, our writer leaves his heart in Albania – ‘a country of knotty history, boundless hospitality and infinite surprises’
Pole to Pole: 10 brilliant things to do in Poland
Buzzy cities offer museums of vodka, croissants or codebreaking, plus there are mountains, lakes and beaches – and piles of glorious food
‘The cycling was a breeze’: following the Seine through Normandy
The Seine à Vélo cycle route follows minor roads to major attractions, including a medieval chateau, Monet’s garden and Rouen cathedral
A local’s guide to Brno, Czech Republic: ‘How do you like your pilsner poured?’
Actor Ondřej Kokorský shows us around the country’s second city, taking in traditional beer halls, up-and-coming neighbourhoods and a pink theatre that offers English subtitles
‘Your tastebuds will go on their own journey’: readers’ tips on undiscovered Italy
Our tipsters pick cute and quiet towns, captivating views and food to melt your heart
Switzerland unplugged: a hike in the off-grid Bavona valley
Using paths surrounded by terraced chestnut groves, walkers can encounter a traditional corner of Europe untouched by mains electricity
‘A missing link in ancient Scottish history’: on the trail of the Picts
Pictish stones are the relics of a long-lost civilisation, and visiting them in Scotland makes for a fascinating trip starting in Edinburgh then heading north
Leeds must: 10 hidden gems to see during the city’s Year of Culture 2023
Leeds’ year-long festival is the perfect time to visit – and explore its ornate architecture, dynamic art scene and Britain’s only gaslit cinema
An arty weekend in … north Norfolk
Discover Rachel Whiteread in a PM’s parkland, Emin and Freud in the pub, and a picture-postcard beach
An arty weekend in … Southend-on-Sea, Essex
The seaside town hosts a street-art festival and the world’s first digital art park, while nearby Leigh is packed with galleries
An arty weekend in … Bishop Auckland, County Durham
The former mining town is home to Velázquez, Murillo and El Greco, the art of pitmen, and its own artist-designed tweed