10 of the best winter festivals in Europe: readers’ travel tips

Fun can be had hurling oranges, sipping sherry, hunting truffles or bathing in the glow of illuminated art installations from the Shetland Islands to Italy, say our tipsters

A local’s guide to Ljubljana, Slovenia: top 10 tips

In one of Europe’s greenest cities, visitors stroll pedestrianised streets or hop into electric taxis to discover modernist and medieval architecture, fantastic food and microbreweries

Plunge into a new pastime: 10 of the best creative breaks

From an art workshop in Tuscany and a sculpture course in Wales to crime writing in the Highlands, we pick our favourite learning retreats

Tour de northern France: a new cycling trail in Flanders

A 800km network across French Flanders is so easy to follow (and ride) you don’t even need a map to find the country’s favourite village, inspiring landscapes and great food

Go loco: top 10 autumn city breaks in Europe by train

With the crowds gone but the cultural scene buzzing, autumn is perfect for a European break. And our pick of destinations in five countries are reachable by train in less time than you might imagine

Great modern architecture in Europe: readers’ tips

Our readers’ selection of (mostly) urban design masterpieces contrast or harmonise with traditional surroundings

Into the past, and the woods, on a car-free break in Cheshire

Chester’s Roman treasures are just part of a trip (by rail, boat and on foot) exploring the area’s industrial heritage and natural beauty

10 of the best whisky distillery tours in Scotland

Dreaming of a dram? These distilleries offer an insight into one of the world’s great drinks, and are often in stunning locations, too

Jewel of the Atlas: mining for pleasure in a Berber retreat

Morocco’s Atlas mountains are a short hop from Marrakech – but a world away from frenetic city life

Beyond Seville: three ancient towns to visit in Andalucía

Carmona, Écija and Osuna are great places to explore between Spain’s bigger cities and are rich in history and sights – but have fewer crowds

Lausanne arts district launches on former train shed site

Plateforme 10 will unite three of the Swiss city’s museums and with free entry and a revamped station on the doorstep is set to be a major European arts hub

Jean genius: how Kojima became Japan’s denim mecca

The birthplace of Japanese denim has nearly 40 specialist shops to browse and gain an insight into the history and craftsmanship behind the world’s best jeans