10 of the best European cities for art deco design
Art deco’s straight lines and bold shapes were an expression of early-20th-century belief in technology and progress. Here are 10 cities around Europe that best showcase this exuberance
Dundee: ‘A little pot of gold at the end of the A92’
The city on the silvery Tay is often derided, but it has much to offer – not least its art, says Debbie Lawson, who has just added to its treasures
‘Boring’ Frankfurt gets the party started … finally
The Bahnhofsviertel area is combining street parties, art and food with its traditional edginess and helping Germany’s business capital overcome its reputation as being full of bankers
‘It’s a half-mile of magic’: Elaine Sciolino on rue des Martyrs, Paris
The former New York Times correspondent loves this sloping street and its 200 small businesses so much she’s written a whole book about it
Russia’s Golden Ring: day trips from Moscow into history and heritage
A short train ride north-east of Moscow lies a collection of towns foreign tourists often miss but they’re rich in culture, tradition and fantastic sights
Modernism on the coast: Le Corbusier and Eileen Gray shine at Cap Moderne
A peninsula near Monaco is home to an array of modernist architecture, including houses by two stars of the scene, and a revamped visitor centre is helping to show it all in the best light
Alt city guide to Belfast
The subculture that always existed beyond Northern Ireland’s old divisions has come to the fore in Belfast, energising the city’s music, food, drink and art scenes
Driven to distraction: the Norway road trip where cool design meets dramatic scenery
Norway’s roadside architecture project, part of its National Tourist Routes, has led to the creation of bridges and viewing platforms that make every journey a tour de force – and more new designs are on the horizon
Alt city guide to Bristol
Bristol projects its irreverent spirit and powerful sense of identity through its cutting-edge music, arts, clubs, bars, street festivals and food scenes
Baroque and roll: a cycling tour of south-east Sicily
This corner of the island – where the architecture is flamboyant, the chocolate weird, and the wine miraculous – offers plenty of cultural and calorific sustenance for cyclists
Once upon a time in the Midlands: a road trip from Shropshire to Worcestershire
At the wheel of her old MG, Emma John zooms past the clogged up Cotswolds to enjoy stately homes and less-trodden hills in the west Midlands counties
The Buenos Aires gallery illuminating Argentina past and present
The photography and art on show at Espacio Makarius offers visitors a window on the history and culture of the country
10 of the best doo wop venues on the Jersey Shore
Doo wop is a futuristic, gaudy architectural style marrying 1950s space-age dreams with a tropical seaside kiss-me-quick flavour. And the best place to see it is New Jersey’s Wildwood
Alt city guide to Edinburgh
The Edinburgh festival may dominate the headlines every summer, but all year round there’s a tight-knit local scene of off-beam music, grassroots art and theatre, and a stupidly good range of affordable grub and booze
Why I love being a pilot
Mark Vanhoenacker flies for a living yet the shock of arriving somewhere new with different air, different sounds, different everything still manages to surprise him. ‘Place lag,’ as he calls it, is a wondrous thing