John Bills

  ‘Boutique hotel’ can be a bit of an overused term, but essentially it means somewhere small, stylish and unique – somewhere that favours design and thoughtful touches over granduer and in-your-face luxury. And yes, you might have guessed it, but the boutique offerings in Paris are some of the best in the game. There’s no better way to live out your Emily in Paris dreams than by staying at one of these charming hotels – and they include everything from affordable boltholes to luxurious stays. Here are our favourite boutique hotels in Paris.  The best Paris boutique hotels at a glance 💑 Best for couples: Monsieur George Hotel & Spa 🏭 Best for design: Maison Delano Paris 🥐 Best in the Marais: Hôtel Monsieur Aristide 💎 Best hidden gem: Hotel Les Deux Gares 🍴 Best for foodies: Grand Pigalle Hotel 🏨 RECOMMENDED: Our ultimate guide to hotels in Paris How we curate our hotel lists Our team of writers and travel experts review hotels all over the world – new openings, old classics and everything in between – to bring you fresh, honest recommendations, all year round. Though we have reviewed many of the hotels we feature, we may not have stayed at every single one. Any we haven’t stayed in have been selected by experts based on their amenities, features, pricing and more. By the way, this article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines. 📍 Things to do on your next trip in Paris

If your ideal Paris break revolves around very nice architecture, indie boutiques and a steady rotation of excellent (and occasionally extravagant) places to eat, then can you hear that? Yes, it’s the Marais calling. The chicest and most Instagrammable neighbourhood in Paris never goes out of style, and staying here is probably the closest you’ll get to the Paris you envisioned in your dreams. It’s also, unsurprisingly, home to some of the best boutique hotels in the city – and we’ve listed our favourites right here. Here are the best hotels to stay in the Marais in 2026, for every kind of traveller.  The best hotels in the Marais at a glance ✨ Most stylish: 9 Confidentiel 🎀 Best boutique: Hôtel du Petit Moulin 🥂 Best luxury: Le Pavillon de la Reine 🍭 Most unique: Maison Saintonge 👶 Best for families: Le Grand Mazarin 🏨 RECOMMENDED: Our ultimate guide to hotels in Paris How we curate our hotel lists Our team of writers and travel experts review hotels all over the world – new openings, old classics and everything in between – to bring you fresh, honest recommendations, all year round. Though we have reviewed many of the hotels we feature, we may not have stayed at every single one. Any we haven’t stayed in have been selected by experts based on their amenities, features, pricing and more. By the way, this article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines. 📍 Things to do on your

Every year, Time Out names its ‘top underrated destinations in Europe’ for the year ahead. We called it on a number of places that ended up being the Euro destination of their summer – the likes of Albania, Marseille and Montenegro – and this year, we’re highlighting Bulgaria, specifically its magical second city, Plovdiv.  Plovdiv has long been an if-you-know-you-know kind of city, a quiet blend of old and new, which frequently gets overshadowed by the country’s capital Sofia, as well as the many well-trodden hotspots in neighbouring countries. But with a brand-new music festival, PhilGood happening this summer (ft. The Cure, Gorillaz and more), we reckon there’s about to be a load more eyes on this cultural hotspot. So what’s it like in our favourite underrated destination right now? Here’s our writer John Bills’ account – and why you should add it to your travel list for 2026.  ➡️ READ MORE: Our full list of the most underrated places in Europe Photograph: Shutterstock Get you a city that can do both. Are we still doing that? Well, trends come and go, but Plovdiv is eternal. In fact, it might outlast eternity, although that might be taking things a little too far. Still, Bulgaria’s second city is one of the oldest on the planet, the oldest continually inhabited city in Europe, yet somehow Plovdiv remains ahead of the curve. Yes, it has been around for millennia, but Plovdiv is also Bulgaria’s most exciting, creative city, a place with an unrivalled cafe culture, a joyou

Albania is a special place. Things work a little differently here, and despite being very much on the tourist radar (partly thanks to Dua Lipa and partly to its incredible music festivals and magnificent beaches), it is a country that marches to the beat of its own drum. Albania has it all, from beautiful beaches, city breaks, and fascinating history to mountainous national parks, old towns, and more, with delicious food and an underrated wine scene ready to provide sustenance along the way. Is Albania cheap to visit? Albania remains delightfully affordable for most, although the days of it being a budget-saver are long gone. Tirana even took top billing on our list of affordable places to visit in Europe in 2026, primarily due to the abundance of wallet-friendly food, drink, and accommodation. The more popular seaside resorts are getting pricier and pricier (particularly in the summer), but Albania, on the whole, remains a destination offering incredible value for money. Top tips for visiting Albania in 2026 The Albanian calendar is packed with exciting annual events across the country, ranging from traditional folklore festivals (Gjirokastër is the place to go) to modern beer festivals (the Korça Beer Festival is one of the country’s great celebrations). However, while Albania’s tourist infrastructure continues to improve, public transport remains somewhat spotty. The best way to make the most of any trip here is to rent a car and hit the road, allowing you to cover culture

There’s nowhere in Europe quite like Albania. The cities, towns, and villages of this fascinating spot in Southeastern Europe shimmer with energy and excitement, but it is the country’s increasingly popular coastline that stands tall as the main event. Stretching for over 450 kilometres (nearly 300 miles), Albania’s seaside is packed with winsome fishing villages, secluded coves, and views for days, offering up a sense of the Mediterranean that you may have feared was lost to history. And what is a coast without its beaches? The best beaches in Albania showcase everything that makes the coast special, from the sandy stretches of the Adriatic in the North to the rocky charmers of the Ionian in the south. True, some of the country’s beaches are as busy as other parts of the Mediterranean, but you are never more than a short walk down a dusty track through alluring olive groves away from tranquil seclusion. Pack the sunscreen and shorts, it’s time for the beach. RECOMMENDED:🇦🇱 The best places to visit in Albania🏖 The best alternative Mediterranean beach breaks☀️ The best beaches in Europe🧳 The most underrated destinations in Europe Stuart Butler is a travel writer who has travelled extensively in Albania. John Bills also contributed to this article. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. This guide includes affiliate links, which have no influence on o

A red sandstone amphitheatre. An ancient woodland on the English coast. A teeny tiny island with a black sand beach. Beauty comes in all shapes and sizes – luckily, the world isn’t held to the same rigid beauty standards as humans are – and we’ve curated this list to celebrate that.  It goes without saying that Time Out’s ranking of the world’s most beautiful places is entirely subjective and by no means exhaustive, but what we can guarantee is real-life experience. Every single beach, lake, city and valley on this list has been visited and vetted by our globetrotting network of travel writers. In short, they’re all well worth making the journey to see for yourself (no social media fakery here).We update this list regularly, ensuring we’re including the big-hitters while considering the impact of overtourism and spotlighting lesser-known beauty spots. So here it is: Time Out’s guide to the most beautiful places on planet Earth. Happy travels!Updated March 2026: There are seven new additions to the list this year, including a terracotta-coloured Old Town in Italy, an opulent Renaissance-style library in New York and a compact mountain range in northern Spain.Grace Beard is Time Out’s travel editor, based in London. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. RECOMMENDED:⛰️ The most beautiful UNESCO World Heritage Sites🗺 The most underrated travel destinations i

In 2026, European travel is shifting fast. We’ve seen overcrowding, overheating and plenty of anti-tourism measures across the continent – and as a result, travellers are actively seeking out quieter, lesser-known destinations away from the tourist crowds. And if that sounds like you, you’re in luck – here at Time Out, underrated destinations are our bread and butter.  This list has been updated for 2026 by Time Out’s global network of local experts who have been to every single destination featured (often multiple times), highlighting destinations that are not only overlooked, but genuinely worth visiting right now. We’ve got alternative Scandinavian city breaks, remote islands only accessible by ferry, and destination dupes for some of Europe’s hottest beach holidays, from the Algarve to the Amalfi Coast.  ➡️ Discover the best city breaks in Europe for 2026 Why travel to underrated destinations in 2026? Sure, we love the classics for a reason. But if you’ve ever queued an hour for a pastry, spent your day’s budget on a coffee or had to book a museum three months in advance, you’ll know why more and more of us are searching for under-the-radar breaks: it’s the crowds. In fact, in some cities – the likes of Amsterdam, Venice, Barcelona – overtourism is so bad, they’ve been forced to clamp down on crowds with anti-tourism measures, from daily visitor limits to outright bans on new hotels. If you’re coming up against these, then we’d say that’s a pretty good reason to head some

Much of the northern hemisphere is set to shiver through single-digit temperatures for the forseeable. And while even southern Europe won’t reach properly hot temperatures until springtime 2026 at the earliest, there are still a handful of perfectly warm European destinations to visit in the mean time. From Greek Islands to the coasts of Spain and Portugal, parts of the continent experience wonderfully mild weather, even in the coldest winter months. Tans are not garuanteed, but balmy, sunny t-shirt weather? Most certainly. Here are our top picks in Europe for a healthy dose of glorious winter sun. What is the warmest place in Europe in winter? The undisputed champion of European heat in December and January? Unsurprisingly, Spain’s Canary Islands take the title. This archipelago of eight inhabited islands just off the coast of northwestern Africa is Europe’s winter sun champion, sitting pretty with December and January temperatures that many towns in Northern Europe would be happy with at the height of summer. The Canaries are particularly delightful at this time, and you might even spot some migrating humpback and fin whales. If it’s good enough for the world’s largest mammals, it is good enough for us. Besides, does it get much better than Christmas on the beach in the Canary Islands?  Europe’s best winter sun destinations at a glance ☀️ Best for scorching heat: The Canary Islands 🏛️ Best for a balmy city break: Cadiz, Spain 🏞️ Best for hiking and scenery: Madeira 📍 D

City life is kind of our thing here at Time Out. And we truly believe there’s no better way to spend a long weekend than cramming in as much nightlife, food and culture as possible in one of Europe’s many great metropolises. And in 2026, there’s a whole new host of reasons to get out there and explore – everything from international sports events to fantastic festivals, and major anniversaries to all-new art exhibitions.  But with hundreds of cities to choose from, where should be top of your travel list this year? Fear not: we’ve done the hard work and narrowed it down for you. Along with our experts across the continent, I’ve rounded up the very best city breaks money can buy this year, from the cities having a huge moment in 2026 to the old classics that are always great – and why this is the year to visit every single one. Itching to start booking? Me too. Here’s our ultimate city break guide for 2026. Enjoy! RECOMMENDED:💸 The best cheap city breaks in Europe🗺 The most underrated cities in Europe📍 Ultimate guide to hotels in Europe Ella Doyle is Time Out’s Europe editor. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by experts across Europe. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. This guide includes affiliate links, which have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines. 

Travel is one of life’s great luxuries. Experiencing the world without taking out a new mortgage? Even better. Luckily for budget-conscious adventurers, there are plenty of countries around the globe that offer serious bang for your buck, places that engage and excite while keeping prices in the workable range. Europe has plenty such spots, and these six countries stand tall as the cheapest. Of course, a disclaimer is required; by ‘cheap’ we mean ‘inexpensive,’ with a focus on value for money and overall affordability. Western Europe leaves much to be desired on this front, with the eastern side of the continent doing all the heavy lifting. Well, all of the lifting, full stop. It’s time for an adventure, and there’s no need to smash the piggy jar before packing your bags.  ➡️ READ MORE: The cheapest city breaks in Europe, ranked John Bills is a writer for Time Out Travel. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by experts across Europe. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. This guide may include affiliate links, which have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines. 

Trends come and go, but the combination of sun, sea, and sand remains undefeated. Nothing says ‘vacation mode’ quite like rocking up to the beach and spending the day in the sun, letting the rays wash over you as the world goes about its business. When it comes to holidays, the beach is best. That all sounds delightful, but there is a minor problem; everyone else seems to have the same idea. Beaches are brilliant, but a busy beach can be a less-than-brilliant experience. Luckily for intrepid explorers, there are plenty of special strips of seaside that remain off the tourist radar (for the time being). Europe has no shortage of underrated and hidden beaches, and this list could be a (nautical) mile long. For now, consider this your new beach bucket list. 📍 RECOMMENDED: Our ultimate guide to destinations in Europe John Bills is a writer at Time Out travel. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers and destination experts. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. This guide includes affiliate links, which have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines. 

​​Boutique hotels have been popping up around Malta’s historic capital of Valletta in recent years, returning dilapidated palazzos to their Baroque glory. If you’re looking for independent, design-led spots to rest your head, there’s a wealth of places to choose from. That does mean that sometimes trips err on the more expensive side, but you can also discover Asti Malta for mid-range stays and Gozo if you’re confined to a budget. For old-school grandeur, check out Mdina, the former capital which is now referred to as the ‘silent city’ for its nighttime calm. Conversely, the waterfront town of St Julian’s is unrestrained with its flashy local entertainment. Get a deeper look at the best hotels in Malta with our ultimate guide to them all here. 🛏️ RECOMMENDED: Where to stay in Malta Malta’s best hotels at a glance ⛪ Best in Valletta: Iniala Harbour House 💍 Best for couples: The Xara Palace ⭐ Best five-star: The Phoenicia 👪 Best for families: Malta Marriott Resort & Spa 🤫 Best for a quiet stay: Cugó Gran Macina Who makes the cut? Our team of writers and travel experts review hotels all over the world – new openings, old classics and everything in between – to bring you fresh, honest recommendations, all year round. We have reviewed many of the hotels featured below, but we may not have stayed at every single one. Any we haven’t stayed in have been selected by experts based on their amenities, features, pricing and more. By the way, this article includes affiliate link

Hotel Theodore is a modern four-star boutique hotel located in the heart of downtown Seattle. I arrived by taxi on a Sunday, a few hours early for check-in, but was accommodated nonetheless. My first impression of the hotel was that it was a relatively uniform downtown accommodation, which swayed away from notable quirks or aesthetic touches and instead leaned into sleek, sophisticated, pseudo-minimalist design. Where the Hotel Theodore shined was its location—here’s what we thought of it. Why stay at Hotel Theodore? The main reason to stay at Hotel Theodore is its fantastic downtown location—it’s not a bold alternative to its competition, but there is nothing disappointing about it, either. The beds are comfortable, there are nods to history throughout the building, and it ticks most of the boxes anyone wants from a downtown hotel—it’s a whole lot more than an acceptable option, which sits right in the heart of the Emerald City. If anything, the main grab of Hotel Theodore is its history. This place started life in 1929 as the Hotel Roosevelt, which explains the neon “Roosevelt” sign that still sits atop the building. The 18-story structure is another Art Deco masterpiece in the heart of Seattle and was the city's tallest hotel for many years. What are the rooms like at Hotel Theodore? My first impression of the rooms at Hotel Theodore was that they are a little on the small side. I stayed in a standard king room, and the large, comfortable bed took up the majority of the sp

*]:pointer-events-auto [content-visibility:auto] supports-[content-visibility:auto]:[contain-intrinsic-size:auto_100lvh] scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" tabindex="-1" data-turn-id="request-WEB:26654764-50b8-4594-893e-df18da220579-7" data-testid="conversation-turn-16" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn="assistant"> *]:pointer-events-auto [content-visibility:auto] supports-[content-visibility:auto]:[contain-intrinsic-size:auto_100lvh] scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" tabindex="-1" data-turn-id="request-WEB:26654764-50b8-4594-893e-df18da220579-14" data-testid="conversation-turn-30" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn="assistant"> *]:pointer-events-auto [content-visibility:auto] supports-[content-visibility:auto]:[contain-intrinsic-size:auto_100lvh] scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" tabindex="-1" data-turn-id="request-WEB:26654764-50b8-4594-893e-df18da220579-16" data-testid="conversation-turn-34" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn="assistant"> Chaque hiver, quand le thermomètre parisien flirte avec les 3 °C et que le ciel reste désespérément gris, une partie des habitants de la capitale file vers le sud en quête de vitamine D. Un réflexe bien parisien : fuir la grisaille dès que possible, quitte à travailler à distance entre deux baignades. Et ils ont de quoi faire : si une grande partie de l’hémisphère nord connaîtra des tempé

Fundada en 1945, la UNESCO (Organización de las Naciones Unidas para la Educación, la Ciencia y la Cultura) se ha convertido en una especie de guía de la majestuosidad del mundo. La Convención del Patrimonio Mundial se sumó en 1972 y la organización se dedicó a elaborar un catálogo de las maravillas más increíbles del mundo, desde montañas y mares hasta obras de la arquitectura espectaculares hechas por el ser humano. Tras ser actualizada, esta lista impresionante incluye ahora 1.223 puestos de 168 países, desde Afganistán hasta Zimbabue, con mucha historia a sus espaldas. Incluso en una lista tan completa, ciertos sitios destacan, sobre todo si nos fijamos solo en su belleza. La UNESCO sabe lo que se hace y nosotros hemos cogido algunos de los espacios incluidos para elaborar el ranking de los 15 lugares más bonitos de la tierra declarados patrimonio de la humanidad por la UNESCO. 1. Islas Galápagos, Ecuador Foto: Shutterstock Si queremos empezar una recopilación de los lugares más extraordinarios del mundo, nada mejor que hacerlo por las islas Galápagos. Este fue el primer lugar inscrito en la lista del Patrimonio de la UNESCO y es uno de los lugares más increíbles del planeta. Las islas son más famosas por su única fauna, pero no podemos pasar por alto la espectacularidad de los paisajes. Las Galápagos son un mundo de aguas cian, vegetación exuberante y una atmósfera que no se puede encontrar en ningún otro sitio del planeta. 2. Venecia, Italia Foto: Shutterstock Venec

Fundada el 1945, la UNESCO (Organització de les Nacions Unides per a l'Educació, la Ciència i la Cultura) s'ha convertit en una mena de guia de la majestuositat del món. La Convenció del Patrimoni Mundial es va afegir l'any 1972 i l'organització es va dedicar a elaborar un catàleg de les meravelles més increïbles del món, des de muntanyes i mars fins a obres de l'arquitectura espectaculars fetes per l'ésser humà. Després de ser actualitzada, aquesta llista impressionant ara inclou 1.223 llocs de 168 països, des de l'Afganistan fins a Zimbàbue, amb molta història a les seves espatlles. Fins i tot en una llista tan completa, certs llocs destaquen, sobretot si ens fixem només en la seva bellesa. La UNESCO sap el que es fa i nosaltres hem agafat alguns dels espais que hi han inclòs per elaborar el rànquing dels 15 llocs més bonics de la terra declarats patrimoni de la humanitat per la UNESCO. 1. Illes Galápagos, Equador Foto: Shutterstock   Si volem començar un recull dels llocs més extraordinaris del món, res millor que fer-ho per les illes Galápagos. Aquest va ser el primer lloc inscrit a la llista del Patrimoni de la UNESCO i és un dels indrets més increïbles del planeta. Les illes són més famoses per la seva fauna única, però no podem passar per alt l'espectacularitat dels paisatges. Les Galápagos són un món d'aigües cian, vegetació exuberant i una atmosfera que no es pot trobar a cap altre lloc del planeta. 2. Venècia, Itàlia  Foto: Shutterstock   Venècia continua lluita

El món és un lloc terrorífic. Els esperits habiten tots els racons del planeta, perduts entre aquest món i l'altre, a la recerca de la pau, la serenitat o potser d'algunes persones vives per espantar (no tenim criteri per assegurar els motius dels fantasmes, després de tot). Els llocs més embruixats del món són una barreja de racons clàssics fantasmagòrics i alguns llocs menys previsibles; des d'antics hospitals i mansions fins a pubs de muntanya i pobles abandonats. Les celebracions de la temporada més esgarrifosa estan en marxa, però aquests cementiris i fortaleses aterridores poden fer que la por sigui massa real. Passes? Xiuxiueigs? Sanglots de vídues pretèrites? No sabem de què parleu... 1. Poveglia, Itàlia Foto: Shutterstock Venècia pot ser el lloc més romàntic d'Europa, però també és un dels més encantats. Podeu inserir aquí el vostre comentari sobre l'amor maleït, però sort per trobar la teva veu al fred de Poveglia. Aquesta illa abandonada es va utilitzar com a estació de quarantena durant més d'un segle abans d'acollir un hospital psiquiàtric, que va tancar el 1968. Fa tanta por que els visitants estan prohibits, presumiblement per por de... Bé, per por. 2. La Isla de las Muñecas, Mèxic Foto: Shutterstock La Isla de la Muñecas en realitat encara fa més por del que indica el nom. El propietari d'aquesta illa situada al sud de la Ciutat de Mèxic va començar a penjar ninots dels arbres a la dècada del 1940, aparentment per allunyar els mals esperits, i va acabar cr

El mundo es un sitio terrorífico. Los espíritus habitan todos los rincones del planeta, perdidos entre este mundo y el otro, en busca de la paz, la serenidad o quizás de algunas personas vivas a quien asustar (al fin y al cabo, no tenemos criterio para asegurar los motivos de los fantasmas). Los lugares más embrujados del mundo son una mezcla de rincones clásicos fantasmagóricos y algunos sitios menos previsibles; desde antiguos hospitales y mansiones hasta pubs de montaña y pueblos abandonados. Las celebraciones de la temporada más escalofriante están en marcha, pero estos cementerios y fortalezas aterradoras pueden hacer que el miedo sea demasiado real. ¿Pasos? ¿Susurros? No sabemos de qué habláis... 1. Poveglia, Italia Foto: Shutterstock Venecia puede ser el sitio más romántico de Europa, pero también es uno de los más encantados. Puedes insertar aquí su comentario sobre el amor maldito, pero suerte para encontrar tu voz en el frío de Poveglia. Esta isla abandonada se utilizó como estación de cuarentena durante más de un siglo antes de acoger un hospital psiquiátrico, que cerró en 1968. Da tanto miedo de que los visitantes están prohibidos, por miedo a... Bueno, por miedo. 2. La Isla de las Muñecas, México Foto: Shutterstock La Isla de las Muñecas en realidad aún da más miedo de lo que indica el nombre. El propietario de esta isla, situada al sur de la Ciudad de México, empezó a colgar muñecos de los árboles en la década de 1940, aparentemente para alejar a los malos

¿Dónde estaríamos sin el transporte público? Nuestro mundo está cada vez más dominado por ciudades que crecen día a día, y cada vez más está más claro de que el tráfico de automóviles en constante aumento es una mala noticia para nosotros y para el planeta. En este contexto, los trenes, autobuses y tranvías son los héroes anónimos que, literalmente, podrían salvar el mundo. Está claro que un autobús abarrotado en hora punta no es exactamente la experiencia de un viaje de ensueño. Pero cuando se trata de explorar alguna de las mejores ciudades del mundo, no hay mejor forma que coger un tren y descubrirla a través de los ojos de quienes las habitan. Y algunas de las mejores redes de transporte público del mundo funcionan incluso como una experiencia cultural en sí misma, con diseños y calidades sublimes. Para identificar las ciudades con mejor transporte público, encuestamos a más de 20.000 habitantes de 50 ciudades de todo el mundo. Simplemente preguntamos: ¿es fácil moverse por tu ciudad en transporte público? Y en las ciudades que se muestran a continuación, al menos cuatro de cada cinco habitantes tenían cosas buenas que decir sobre la red de transporte público de su ciudad.  Madrid, en el puesto número 12  La clasificación la encabeza Berlín, con un 97% de los encuestados satisfechos con su red de transporte público. A la capital alemana le sigue Praga y Tokio, con un 96% y un 94% de satisfacción respectivamente.  Para encontrar una ciudad española tenemos que bajar hasta

After years of working to meet requirements, Bosnia and Herzegovina is finally on the highway to EU membership. The European Commission has granted candidate status for the country – and the skies over Sarajevo, Banja Luka, Mostar and the rest shine a little brighter (though the autumn weather might also have something to do with that).  What does that mean for travellers? Good things, hopefully. Having lived here on and off for the last 13 years, I’ve heard the term ‘undiscovered gem’ get drilled deep into the ground – but I’m more than happy to say that Bosnia and Herzegovina might just be the most underrated travel destination in Europe. EU status would likely bring improvements to infrastructure, road and air connections and the rest, while the possibility of Schengen status has clear benefits for friction-free border crossings. We’ll wait and see what happens, but there are plenty of reasons for optimism, both for Bosnians and travellers. So why should you be excited? Because Bosnia and Herzegovina is a stunning conveyor belt of beauty packed with history, culture, great food and great people. Sarajevo teems with history, while the Stari Most (Old Bridge) in Mostar is one of the most impressive bridges on the planet; the nightlife in Banja Luka goes all night long, while the streets of Tuzla, Trebinje and Bihać are packed with charming cafes and romantic restaurants. On the subject of the latter, you haven’t eaten grilled meat until you’ve done so in Travnik, with the el