Hopeful holiday skiers pray for snow as Alps resorts feel the effects of warmer weather
Lift pass prices are slashed as weather forecasters warn that there’s more sun to come on the pistes
Mari Boine on Sámiland, northern Norway
The wild beauty of Sámiland (or Lapland) is way more magical than the Santa-themed tourism flogged to visitors, says the musician
Wanderlust Viking: my aeroplane-free aim to visit every country on £12 a day
Torbjørn Pedersen from Copenhagen is on a low-budget worldwide quest to visit 203 countries without using any aircraft, reports Helen Russell
The foodie traveller … on German tree cakes in Dresden
One of Germany’s most beloved cakes is also one of the hardest to make – but this family-run bakery has it down to an art
Travel tips: have a ball in Ramsgate, plus deals of the week
Sample the quiet pleasures of Kent, stay in London to do Christmas shopping, and roam Andalucia on horseback. By Joanne O’Connor
Sissel-Jo Gazan on Copenhagen
The Danish capital is a slow burner of a city but if you get on your bike, says the Nordic noir writer, its best bookshops, cafes, shops and open spaces will reveal themselves
Mary Angela Schroth on Rome’s Capo di Bove
This villa on the Appian Way gives an idea of what ancient Rome was like – and a feeling of calm away from the city’s bustle
Let’s go to … Ipswich, Suffolk
It’s overshadowed by prettier Suffolk neighbours but this ancient town has some great modern attractions – including a fab hotel
The foodie traveller: savoury cocktails in Italy
Cocktails sometimes err on the sweet side. No chance of that with these new wave Italian concoctions introducing onions, chilli and blue cheese into the mix
Hoyma – the Faroe Islands’ homespun music festival
The Faroe Islanders’ winter tradition of throwing their doors open to neighbours has inspired a new music festival, with village homes for stages. James Stewart visits Hoyma, and the wild landscape beyond
Food, beauty, anarchy: new guided tours of Barcelona by the locals
Barcelona is full of tourist traps, but new, bespoke walking tours, operated by locals – and backed by superstar chef Ferran Adrià – offer a glimpse into the hidden life of the city, says Paul Richardson
Cedar Lewisohn on the Jan van Eyck Academie, Maastricht, the Netherlands
The artist feels right at home at this utopian art and design institute, which also welcomes visitors for events and the best coffee in town
Bikes, kites and horses: eight fun alternatives to skiing
There’s more than one way to get down a mountain … None of these methods involve skis or a snowboard but, from snowbiking to Yooner (no, us neither), all of them look like loads of fun
Festive breaks in Europe: ’Tis the season
From the Marché de Noël to the Plaza de España… experts from five European cities share their favourite places to go and things to do
The foodie traveller: fusion pastries in Thessaloniki, Greece
What do you get when you combine a croissant with a Greek custard pie? Answer: a bougatsan, and a Instagram viral hit