Five great Interrail itineraries across Europe

Interrailing is an easy way to see the continent. We plot itineraries that cover the Med, the Alps and an affordable version of the Orient Express

Ice, fire and feuds: on the trail of Iceland’s sagas

The tales of heroes and feuding families in Iceland’s founding chronicles inspire this countrywide walking, hitchhiking and camping trip

Back to the wall: cycling Berlin’s Mauerweg

As the 30th anniversary of its fall approaches, a cycle ride along the route of the Berlin Wall reveals a once-divided city now open and welcoming

Magic and mystery on the Isle of Lewis, Scotland

Its ancient standing stones are a big draw at midsummer but Lewis is rich in treasures of many other kinds – historic, religious … and gloriously outrageous

Western Spain road trip: Madrid to Seville

The Extremadura region offers rolling countryside and Roman, Jewish and Arab history to explore. Plus, cool plazas and great food – when you stop

A tour of Orwell’s Jura, where he wrote 1984

The house where George Orwell penned his masterpiece, published 70 years ago today, has hardly changed, nor has the brooding and remote Scottish island he loved

A cycling tour of the Normandy D-day landing beaches

Taking in the heroics and horrors of the D-day sites is a moving experience for our writer – and a fitting way to mark the 75th anniversary

Amsterdam invites tourists to ‘marry’ a local for a day

Fake weddings aim to improve relations between residents and visitors and include a brief ‘honeymoon’ to explore the city’s less popular sights

A local’s guide to Prague: 10 top tips

Nearly 30 years on from the Velvet Revolution, the Czech capital is still evolving, epitomised by its new cultural attractions and diverse food and drink

City break in Turku – where the Finnish started

Finland’s oldest city and former capital is well worth a visit, with buzzing bars, restaurants and museums, plus 20,000 islets to explore

Eastern promise: contemporary art on the Norfolk coast

The county’s current open studios event is one of many reasons to tour coastal towns such as Great Yarmouth and King’s Lynn, where affordable spaces and special light are attracting young artists

Alternative city breaks: Genoa – restaurants, nightlife and shopping

Mixing high art with the down-to-earth feel of an ancient port, Genoa is a treasure trove of fine foods and unpretentious bars

Take the kids to … Millennium Gallery, Sheffield

This free art gallery and museum celebrates Sheffield steel along with big-name artists, including the work – and cats – of John Ruskin

Highland spring: escaping to an art hotel in the Cairngorms

Taxidermy, tartan walls and modern art give the revamped Fife Arms hotel, in Aberdeenshire, a shot of wild drama

Take the kids to … Bolton Abbey, Yorkshire Dales

Woodland trails, a river straddled by stepping stones and the ruins of a 12th-century priory make this beautiful swathe of countryside a brilliant adventure playground