Egypt’s tourism industry is still reeling but hope is on the horizon

Political upheaval, air crashes and fears over security at ancient sites have devastated the country’s tourism industry – but the return of flights from the UK to Luxor is a welcome step towards recovery

Halloween high jinks: half-term activities

Fancy a ghost trail, monster ball or learning spooky circus skills? Spotting red squirrels or drawing at the Tower of London? Here is our pick of the best ghoulish and seasonal activities for this half-term

Regional know-how: the best websites for contacting local guides

The best way to explore a destination is with a local. These websites connect travellers with small, independent companies on the ground or individual experts to help plan the perfect trip

10 tiny churches around the UK

Dixe Wills set off on a pilgrimage round Britain in search of diminutive places of worship. In an extract from his new book he picks 10 of the most unusual, from a cliffside chapel in Wales to a plywood labour of love in a Norfolk garden

Rhyme and reason: Seamus Heaney HomePlace pays lyrical tribute to the poet

A new arts hub in Bellaghy, mid-Ulster, celebrates the life and legacy of the Nobel prize-winning poet, while its rural surroundings offer glimpses of the landscape that inspired him

The Church of 100 doors, Paros, Greece

Christianity and Greek mythology meet at this fourth century church moments from the busy port – and in the island’s annual festivities

Why avant garde Graz is Vienna’s cooler little sister

A huge student community and a multicultural edge combine with a rich history of innovative art to make Austria’s second city an alluring city break choice

Friuli, Italy, guide: what to see plus the best bars, hotels and restaurants

This border region of north-east Italy has stayed out of the limelight but offers dramatic Alpine scenery, gorgeous Adriatic lagoons, and a wealth of local wine, fine cuisine and history

‘Everybody knows everybody’ – what the blues has given Chicago

Harmonica player Billy Branch, who’s played with Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker and BB King, hails the Windy City’s sense of community, its parks and its food

Isfahan museum’s homage to Iran’s rich musical traditions

A beguiling new museum in Iran’s most popular tourist city showcases instruments that were the precursors of today’s guitar and violin

Paris’s hip-hop cultural centre launches first season of events

The theme of Paris-New York is at the core of a series of hip-hop events and performances at La Place – part of the €1bn Canopée des Halles project – an innovative centre that showcases underground sounds

Las Pozas, Mexico, the folly and fantasy of a British eccentric

In the mid-20th century, poet Edward James created a ‘Surrealist Xanadu’ of concrete sculptures, waterfalls and ponds in the rainforest north of Mexico City

Sun, sea, sand and Sopot, a taste of Poland’s riviera

Close to Gdańsk, Sopot is where Poland comes to relax and party. And the period they call ‘golden autumn’ is one of the best times to visit, when you can saunter along an uncrowded promenade, eat in beachside restaurants and sip cocktails while watching a blood moon

Beirut’s art scene: a top 10 guide

As the city prepares for the Beirut Art Fair, we take a tour of new galleries, museums, shops and restaurants popping up in its bohemian neighbourhoods

The end of the road in Croatia: time to Split

Kevin Rushby brings his month-long odyssey to a close in Croatia’s most charismatic city, exploring its Roman vaults with a guide whose explanations are as ribald as they are revealing