Liv Kelly

‘Overtourism’. It’s more than a buzzword – in the world’s most popular destinations, it’s a problem that affects almost every aspect of local life, from the environment to the cost of renting, transport and eating out. And when a place is overwhelmed by people, it’s not only locals’ quality of life that suffers; the quality of your trip does, too. But it’s not all bad. Destinations are coming up with ways to redistribute tourism from densely crowded hotspots to lesser-visited regions. Travellers are seeking cooler climes and embracing slow travel, allowing space to discover somewhere new. And they’re still riding the ‘destination dupes’ trend, where overrun holiday destinations are swapped out for less crowded, less expensive, but just-as-good alternatives. On our newly updated list of the world’s most underrated travel destinations, you won’t find your Bangkoks or your Balis, your Amalfis or your Amsterdams. What you will find is the hidden side of Yosemite, the French Riviera’s overlooked twin, a place where penguins outnumber people, and plenty more travel inspo where that came from.Why trust us? Because we’ve been to them all. Every spot on this list was picked by one of our expert editors and globetrotting travel writers, recommended because they offer great (or quiet) alternatives to the classics – and in many cases, because they’re places that actually want tourism. In other words, travelling to any of these 33 criminally overlooked destinations is a win-win situation.

From Portuguese classics steeped in history to big-name chains and burgeoning newbies, Lisbon boasts some of the best hotels in the world. And how do they claim that title? By offering all the services you need to make your stay as unfussy as possible – and even some services you've never thought of before. These are places designed to cater for the higher echelons of society, the kind who refuse to accept anything less than perfect. So find your perfect stay with a look through our pick of the best luxury hotels in Lisbon. Lisbon’s best luxury hotels at a glance 💕 Best for couples: Four Seasons 📍 Best in the city centre: ME Lisbon 🎀 Best boutique: The Lumiares 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. Along with our brilliant team over at Time Out Lisbon, every hotel on this list has been individually reviewed and selected for a reason: we’ve been there, we think it’s great and we’d genuinely recommend it. By the way, this article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines. 🏘️ Discover the best Airbnbs in Lisbon

We’ve made it through the coldest month of the year, the endless wait for that post-Christmas payday is finally over, and festival season 2026 is on our minds. By the time summer rolls around, Londoners will be absolutley spoilt for choice. With something taking place almost every weekend throughout the warmer months, you can forget trekking across the country to live in a field for five days; simply hop on the tube and before you know it you’re listening to your favourite artists, tinny to hand, knowing that there’s a hot shower and a cosy bed waiting for you once the day is over.  The future of events in Brockwell Park was thrown up in the air in 2025, but you’ll be glad to know that most of the south London park’s usual lineup of events will return in 2026, with Cross The Tracks, Field Day and Mighty Hoopla all in the diary for late May. And the line-up announcements for next year’s events are already coming in thick fast, with huge acts like Tyler, The Creator, Lewis Capaldi, Lorde, Lily Allen, Blood Orange and Deftones all set to take to London stages come the summer. Have a scroll through our comprehensive guide – which we keep meticulously updated with all the latest line-up announcements – and see what takes your fancy. RECOMMENDED: ⛺ The best UK music festivals🌍 The best festivals in Europe

Whether you’re an avid sunbather, sandcastle builder, swimmer or stroller, there are plenty of things that go into making a truly great beach. Is the scenery what you’re craving, or is it warm limpid waters? Are you a fan of endless stretches of sand, or more partial to charcoal-coloured pebbles? Thankfully, you don’t need to venture all the way to the Caribbean for brilliantly white shores, or all the way up into the mountains for some seriously dramatic landscapes. From the black sand of Iceland and the rugged coasts of Norway to the white sand of Croatia and tiny coves of Italy, Europe’s got us covered. Grab your sunnies, your beach towel, your bucket and spade – here’s our roundup of the continent's very best beaches. RECOMMENDED:🌃The best city breaks in Europe🌤️The most underrated travel destinations in Europe🏖️The best beaches in the world💕The most beautiful places in the world

Updated for 2026: Whatever you think of Netflix’s theatrical strategy, it continues to produce some of television’s most formally daring works, including Adolescence, a hard-to-watch but impossible to ignore limited series about an unimaginable crime. On the other end of the spectrum, there’s HBO’s hilariously profane The Righteous Gemstones, which stuck the landing in 2025 with its final season. In addition, we have moved Andor into the top 20 after its astounding second and final season.  Television used to be considered one of the lowest forms of entertainment. It was derided as ‘the idiot box’ and ‘the boob tube’. Edward R Murrow referred to it as ‘the opiate of the masses’, and the phrase ‘I don’t even own a TV’ was considered a major bragging right.  A lot has changed. Television is now the dominant medium in basically all of entertainment. The shift in perception is widely credited to the arrival of The Sopranos, which completely reinvented the notion of what a TV show could do. But that doesn’t mean everything that came before is primordial slurry. While this list of the greatest TV shows ever is dominated by 21st century programs, from The Wire to Succession to Adolescence, there are many shows that deserve credit for laying the groundwork for this current golden age.  Chiseling them down to a neat top 100 is difficult, so we elected to leave off talk shows, variety shows and sketch comedy, focusing on scripted, episodic dramas, comedies and miniseries. So don’t touc

Gig-tripping (that is, planning your holiday around a – you guessed it – gig) is not exactly a new phenomenon, but is instead proving to be a continuing trend of how we plan our holidays. Not only does planning a break around an event like seeing your favourite band instill the motivation you need to actually book, but it might well take you to cool, weird, and underrated places that you won’t have otherwise considered visiting.  In a brand new report published by travel search engine KAYAK, it seems that 44 percent of Gen Z plan on travelling for a music event this year. With that in mind, Time Out has compiled a list of all the most anticipated gigs, tours, and music events taking place across the world in 2026, which you most definitely should be travelling for.  RECOMMENDED:⚽ The biggest sport events worth travelling for in 2026🏜️ Time Out editors on where you should travel in 2026🌍 The best new things to do in the world this year Liv Kelly is Time Out’s travel writer. 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 our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.

Things are getting more and more expensive here in Europe, and many of our reliably ‘cheap’ cities aren’t so cheap anymore. The hotspots in Greece, Spain, Italy and more that are plagued with overtourism are seeing hiked prices to match, and starting to look startingly similar across the board. But don’t fear: if budgets are tight this year, there’s still plenty of spots that won’t break the bank.  The best part? On the most part, this list of budget-friendly destinations tend to come hand in hand with other wins – we mean less tourists, less crowds, and the flights there are likely to be much cheaper too. Of course, it goes without saying that a ‘cheap city’ is highly subjective, depending on a whole load of factors: which city you’ve travelled in from, what time of year you’re visiting, how bougie your tastes are and all the rest of it. But the spots you’ll find below are lively, culture-packed, and generally incredibly good value for money. Read on for the cheapest (and best) cities to visit in Europe in 2026.  RECOMMENDED:📍 The best city breaks in Europe for 2026🌃 The most underrated travel destinations 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. 

There’s a reason why so many romantic comedy films are set in London; quite simply, it’s one of the best places in the world to be loved up. The picturesque Little Venice, the historic Whispering Gallery at St Paul’s Cathedral, and the breathtaking Waterloo Bridge are among the many romantic places to visit at any time of year – and we can’t get enough. But to encourage your love to reach full bloom, it’s important to pick a hotel with the right kind of vibe. Breakfast in bed, complimentary cocktails upon arrival, and pampering spa packages are the sort of special touches that can make all the difference when you’re in the mood to woo... or maybe even pop the question! For the ultimate couple’s break, here are our hotels in London to cook up a bit of romance.  💞 January 2026: We’ve just added two of London’s best romantic hotel packages in time for Valentine’s Day in February – find them in spots number one and two on our list.   🛏️ Discover our list of the sexiest hotels in London How we curate our hotel lists Headed up by editor Joe Mackertich, our team at Time Out London spend their time reviewing hotels all over the Capital – new openings, old classics and everything in between – to bring you fresh, honest recommendations, all year round. Along with our pool of trusted hotel experts, every hotel on this list has been individually reviewed and selected for a reason: we’ve been there, we think it’s great and we’d genuinely recommend it. By the way, this article includes

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

January 2026: Take advantage of the big post-Christmas lull to beat the crowds and explore London’s museums this January. The capital’s iconic institutions will be blissfully quiet as you catch up with last year's biggest openings, from Wes Anderson at the Design Museum to Marie Antoinette Style at the V&A. Don't miss the final weeks of the Barbican's iconoclastic fashion show Dirty Looks, or neglect to navigate your way to British Library's intriguing Secret Maps exhibition, both of which close this month. Or find out more great things to see this year with our pick of 2026's cultural highlights. Museums are one of the things that London does best. This city boasts grand institutions housing ancient treasures, modern monoliths packed with intriguing exhibits, and tiny rooms containing deeply niche collections – and lots of them are totally free to anyone who wants to come in and take a gander. And with more than 170 London museums to choose from, there's bound to be one to pique your interest, whatever you're in to.  Want to explore the history of TfL? We’ve got a museum for that. Rather learn about advertising? We’ve got a museum for that too. History? Check. Science? Check. 1940s cinema memorabilia, grotesque eighteenth-century surgical instruments, or perhaps a wall of 4,000 mouse skeletons? Check, check and check! Being the cultured metropolitans that we are, Time Out’s editors love nothing more than a wholesome afternoon spent gawping at Churchill’s baby rattle or some

Whether you’re a fully-fledged railfan or just a traveller who loves convenience, 2024 has been an unmatched year when it comes to new night services. Countries throughout Europe, in bids to make travelling more planet-friendly and affordable, have launched countless sleeper routes this year, meaning most of us now have plenty of motivation to swap flights for night trains on our next trip. In other words, sleeper trains are back, baby, and at Time Out, we’re here for it. With the option to hop on a train, journey thousands of miles and wake up in your destination (hopefully with enough energy to go out and explore), night services are kind of ideal scenarios, right? And luckily, you’ve got us train afficionados on hand to point you in the right direction. So, pack your bag, embark your cabin and settle in – here are the most exciting sleeper trains we can’t wait to ride in 2025.  RECOMMENDED:🌤️The most scenic railway journeys in Europe🗺️The ultimate Interrail itinerary for Europe🚂The most beautiful European train journeys from London🚞The best train journeys in the world 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. 

Solo female travel has gone far beyond ‘having a moment’ as more women than ever before continue to jet off on their own adventures, and it doesn’t look like the trend is going anywhere. That’s where we come in – Time Out has already compiled a guide on how to maximise your safety and minimise your stress on your first, third, or thirtieth solo trip, but now we’re here with a comprehensive guide to the best destinations in Europe. So, from whole countries which are known for their safety to cities with some of the world’s most outstanding public transport – all complimented with a helping of brilliant culture, pretty streets and impeccable local food, of course – here are our top picks for the best solo female travel destinations in Europe, with tips by our editors.  📍 READ MORE: Time Out’s ultimate guide to Europe Liv Kelly is Time Out’s travel writer. 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. 

  Pass under the quintessential New York black awning, rotate through the revolving door and Sofitel New York greets you with a lengthy, imposing, Art Deco-esque lair of a lobby. It’s a lowly illuminated but pleasingly warm welcome from New York’s crispy late-fall streets, and while confusingly you’ll need to walk all the way towards the glitzy statement staircase at the far end to reach the actual reception, there are plenty of staff floating around to assist you.  This hotel is Sofitel’s new North American flagship property, which, after a substantial facelift, is a Midtown base that brims with potential. Despite a slightly bizarre entrance and shortcomings in the food offering, the hotel’s impressive location, immaculately designed beds and assured luxury service are where it gleams. Here’s what we thought of Sofitel New York.  Why stay at Sofitel New York? You probably haven’t traveled all the way to New York for a glimpse at the French way of life, but Sofitel is keen to deliver at least a flavor of it anyway. With the brand’s renewed emphasis on eating, drinking and sleeping well (which they refer to as the ‘French zest’), Sofitel New York has emerged from its site-wide renovation, striving and mostly succeeding to deliver on all those with polish.  The number one reason you should stay at this hotel is because of its prime—and we mean prime—location. Beyond having the Rockefeller Center, Empire State Building, Bryant Park, Central Park, Broadway and Times Square all w

Head along to University of East London’s Docklands campus after dark and you'll find this spectacular free festival brightening up the skies. This year, the theme is the four elements, which means there'll be tons to see inspired by the wonders of wind, earth, fire and water. Its eclectic line-up includes glowing hula hooping, fire acrobatics, a giant roaming octopus and dragon, and illuminated performers walking high above the crowds. There'll also be refreshments from local street food stalls throughout the evening. Book your free place to be part of the fun. 

Lisbon strikes an unmatched balance of spontaneous small town energy while ticking all the criteria a great city should – stellar restaurants and bars, cool museums, top-tier places to go shopping and plethora of unique and interesting neighbourhoods to explore. It’s that balance which is also somehow executed by ME Lisbon, a large luxury stay in Marquês do Pombal which, despite its glassy exterior, intimidatingly polished lobby and sheer size, is an unabashedly friendly and thoughtfully designed hotel that I would definitely return to.  Why stay at ME Lisbon? While this hotel is big, corporate, and ultra luxurious, the warmth of the service, the excellent restaurant and the tasteful design mean it still feels quintessentially Lisbon. Sure, it’s a far cry from the whimsical little boutique hotels you’ll find in Alfama or the city centre, but ME Lisbon, armed not only with a friendly team, good food and a marvellous scent (literally everything smells good – even the air in the lifts) but also a downright beautiful spa and rooftop pool mean you can properly kick back here.  What are the rooms like at ME Lisbon? There are 213 rooms at ME Lisbon, with a whopping 12 different types to choose from – we stayed in an expansive Beyond ME+ Suite Street View which overlooked Avenue António Augusto de Aguiar and bragged a walk-in dressing area with shedloads of storage, a bar and mini fridge, living space and Smart TV, plus a bedroom area and a vast and luxurious en suite.  The entire sp

It’s been four years since Mozart’s revered comedy was performed on a London stage, but the English National Opera’s upcoming production of Così fan tutte has had some whimsy injected thanks to a collaboration with Improbable, an improv-based theatre company. The opera follows the outcome the cynical placing of a bet by two soldiers, Ferrando and Guglielmo, that if tested their fiancées, Fiordiligi and Dorabella, would have affairs, and soprano Lucy Crowe OBE and mezzo-soprano Taylor Raven are starring as the two sisters.  With Olivier Award-winner Phelim McDermott at the helm and Critics’ Circle Young Talent Award winner Dinis Sousa conducting, this co-production (in partnership with New York’s Metropolitan Opera), written originally at the height of Mozart’s career in the 1790s, has now been transformed by set (by Tom Pye) and costume design (by Laura Hopkins) to unfurl on 1950s Coney Island.

Montreal is a cool city – and I don’t just mean literally. From its dazzling fine art museum whose architectural engineering is just as outstanding as its collections, to its hearty, diverse food, stylish bars, top-tier shopping and an actual underground network of streets (yes, really), it’s somewhere I recommend you move to the top of your bucket list for 2026. And when you do pay a visit, the Sofitel Montreal Golden Mile is ready and waiting to greet you. Just like the city, this hotel has an effortless, stylish je ne sais quoi about it, largely thanks to the conclusion of a recent site-wide refurbishment. The result? A comfortable and exceptionally well-run hotel, perched on one of the coolest streets in the world. Why stay at Sofitel Montreal Golden Mile? The Sofitel Montreal Golden Mile is, simply, an expertly run hotel. The service is attentive but not overbearing, the rooms and suites are spacious with considerate details, and you’re in a handy Downtown location, just minutes from the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts and Mount Royal.  On top of all that, the hotel has impressive environmental credentials – it was awarded 5 Green Keys in early 2025, the highest possible certification from eco-label programme Green Key Global, plus a local Montreal sustainability award – thanks to details such as its policy on using no paper or plastic bottles. It’s also platinum certified by SHe Travel Club, a certification platform for women travellers. What are the rooms like at Sofitel

Through the MacSmiths Repair Shop on Hackney Road is where you’ll find this cave-like, perfect-for-the-winter cocktail bar. We arrived drenched from the rain into the pleasantly toasty, warmly but lowly-lit space which sits at the bottom of a small staircase, and the vibe feels most like the den of a whacky old professor – think kooky portraits, cluttered old computer monitors and even something called a poem-o-graph. This is the place to come if you’re trying to ‘get into’ whisky. As of 2025, the bar is run by the same team behind the nearby Absinthe Parlour at The Last Tuesday Society, and not only does it have 24 different kinds on an evolving roster (when a bottle runs out, a new whisky replaces it), but they also have Whisky Wednesdays for tastings and specially curated cocktail menu. It’s no surprise they refer to themselves as a ‘whisky bunker’. For a crash course on whisky without committing to a full drink, there were three flight options on the menu: the ‘world wonderer’, the ‘smoke stack’ and the brilliant dessert trolley, which included notes of tropical vanilla, honeycomb and banana bread – it’s definitely one for those of us with a sweet tooth. Service is suitably laid-back, and if you’re overwhelmed by the lengthy list of options, you won’t feel too intimidated to seek out some recommendations from the bar staff about the drinks or well-paired snacks. Order this If, like me, you’re a fan of cocktails that’ll make your face scrunch up, order the Pickleback Sour.

St Martin's Voices and St Martin's Brass will this year be bringing us some stunningly festive performances of glorious music, carol singing and festive readings. Conducted by Andrew Earis, expect to hear beloved classic songs such as ‘The Holly and the Ivy’ and ‘O Holy Night’ plus the audience carols of ‘Hark! The Herald Angels Sing’ and ‘In the Bleak Midwinter’. Set against the beautiful backdrop of St Martin-in-the-Fields Church, these concerts promise to be a magical start to Christmas. 

What’s the vibe?  This space is one of Brighton’s most refined restaurants. It sits on Upper Market Street unbeknownst to the majority of passers-by, which gives it an exclusive, elevated vibe. The restaurant is tastefully and simply furnished with lots of pale wood and natural light giving it a beachhouse feel, and that is reflected in the menu.  What should I order?  The menu here changes regularly, but there’ll be a three-course set lunch menu for £35 per person or a decadent six-course option at dinner time which costs £85 per person. Each will include simple but super elegant seafood dishes, and the restaurant’s signature dish, the egg and soldiers, will (hopefully) be available at dinner time.

What’s the vibe?  In a nutshell, the vibe here is casual, speedy and really, really tasty. It’s unlikely you’ll wait long for your food to arrive, nor will you be at the table for much more than an hour, but we guarantee every second will be worth it. Why? Well, Bincho’s isn’t just a favourite of Brighton’s locals, but also of its chefs. What should I order? The chef here describes himself as an Izayaka fanatic, and after spending three years in Japan finessing the cooking techniques, you can bet that this is the most authentic take on southeast Asian cuisine that Brighton has to offer. There aren’t any duds on this menu – the only mistake would be not arriving ravenous.  

You might expect a Grade I National Trust property to be a bit of a stuffy and impersonal place to stay for a weekend, but Bodysgallen Hall, a lovingly restored manor house on Pydew Mountain in north Wales, is quite the opposite.  The hotel provided us tired, post-hike guests with a stay so comforting that, despite its looming size, felt more like we were at the home of an impossibly wealthy relative than a high-end hotel. Swathed by crackling fires, good, tasty food and amiable staff, this place is primed for a properly restful weekend.  Why stay at Bodysgallen Hall?  If you don’t just want a break from your day-to-day life but some proper respite from the 21st century, this is the place to stay. Bodysgallen Hall’s Main House feels a bit imposing as you approach it, but there’s something undeniably old-timey and welcoming about the place once you’ve stepped inside.  It brags all the traditional quirks that a proper country estate should, with comically low ground-floor ceilings, dark wood-panelled walls, heartily-stoked fires and marshmallow-like armchairs throughout the reception area and jumbled hallways, and much of it was built around 600 years ago. Though modern elements (speedy wifi and high-pressure showers) have seeped through, a weekend here still feels like you’ve dipped back into a different era.  What are the rooms like at Bodysgallen Hall? The Main House bedrooms could well remind you of a grandparent’s house, and I mean that as a compliment. The furnishings are

What’s the vibe?  Picture crisp white tablecloths, immaculately manicured waiters and an elevated, classy atmosphere, and you’ve pretty much got the opposite of Halisco. This is not the place for a formal evening dinner, but it most definitely is the place to take someone you’re trying to impress. Lip-smacking cocktails, inexplicably tasty Mexican-inspired small plates and an efficient, friendly, knowledgeable team of locals are what make this place so damn brilliant – and I bet my margarita that you’ll be telling your friends about it.  What are the prices like? The menu here follows a small-plates format – you’ll have snacks sitting around or just below £4, small plates, which range roughly from £8-£12, and of course the tacos, which tend to start at £9.50 for two. Lucky enough to swing by in the summer months? There could well be a salad and ceviche section, which last year started at £6. Mix it up, and don’t expect things to arrive in order.  What should I order? Halisco’s menu changes seasonally, but be sure to start your dinner with corn chips and guac, order the tenderstem broccoli (if it’s available) in whatever form it comes, and – even if you’re a meat eater – the oyster mushroom birria tacos. To wash it down, my go-tos are either a hibiscus margarita or a modelo chelada.  What’s worth visiting nearby? The newly opened Bar Halisco! Perched just over the road is Halisco’s brand-new sister venue, which opened just in time for National Margarita Day 2025. It’s got all

Despite being labelled by a cursive, neon pink signpost above its entrance, you could easily miss Viajante87 – it’s hidden in plain sight amidst the noise and fluorescence of Notting Hill Gate, and once you’re inside, feels miles away from all that too. The room is draped in moody layers and furnishings of rich teal with touches of gold, giving it a particularly luxe feel which is matched by the vibe of the service. Everything here is quite formal: we were met by a security guard who radioed a host to collect us at the bottom of the stairs, and, behind a heavy velvet curtain, were greeted with a cheery and unnervingly synchronised ‘hola!’ from the bartenders. That’s because, as is detailed on the cocktail menu, Viajante87 is based around the concept of ‘drinking like a local’, with your choices all inspired by flavours which hail from Central and South America. The three main sections on the menu are organised to mimic the stages of a journey: they’re branded as ‘comfortable’ (aperitif-like drinks), ‘curious’ (a little stronger) and ‘courageous’ (digestifs). If you’re feeling really courageous, you could even ignore the order in which they’ve designed the menu, though this lot clearly know what they’re doing.  Order this On the ‘be curious’ page of the menu, you’ll find the Pura Pache, a clean and fruity long drink which is a good light cocktail to kick things off. But if you’re a fan of bitter, negroni-esque flavours, don’t skip over the Blood Moon.  Time Out tip While this

While we hope some parts of our cities never change, the most effective use of space and need for new infrastructure is always shifting, and it’s just been unveiled that this neighbourhood in Barcelona is slated to get an enormous makeover.  The sprawling 35,000 square-metre Illa Citroën plot in La Bordeta, Sants-Montjuïc is set to undergo an unrecognisable transformation which strives to offer the surrounding neighbourhoods a huge new green space and more than 100 social housing apartments.  Barcelona’s City Council initially gave the plans a thumbs-up in January, and though the final rubber stamp from the Generalitat (that’s the Catalan government) isn’t expected until the second half of 2026, let’s take a look at the plans anyway.  Foto: Ajuntament de Barcelona Foto: Ajuntament de Barcelona So, which areas will actually be affected? Well, the project covers the 19,000 square-metre site currently occupied by the Stellantis (formerly Citroën) car facilities, plus various surrounding municipal plots between Rambla de Badal and Riera Blanca. Local residents in the area have long been calling for more green space, and that’s exactly what the proposal entails. A new park will utilise 54 percent of the current industrial site, and old factory buildings will be demolished to create accessible walkways that connect with Rambla de Badal and the elevated Sants Gardens.  However, lots of new housing has also been factored in. There’ll reportedly be 104 apartments at social housing

Antoni Gaudí’s glorious Sagrada Familia is on every traveller’s Barcelona bucket list, but the chance to soak up all its architectural splendour without spending a single cent? That’s an opportunity too good to pass up.  To mark this year’s Festa Santa Eulàlia – that’s Barcelona’s annual Winter Festival, which celebrates the eponymous patron saint of the city – 8,500 tickets to visit the Basilica, the museum and its shiny new immersive room (which only opened its doors in December), plus the Schools, are being raffled off.  Recommended: The 31 best things to do in Barcelona, according to Time Out.  Open days will take place on February 14 and 15, with free ticket holders eligible to enter between 3pm – 5.30pm and 3pm – 7pm respectively. Planning to be in Barcelona on those dates? Listen up.  To enter the competition for free tickets, you’ll need to register via the form on the official website by 9pm local time on Sunday February 8. The lucky list of winners will be published there on Monday February 9, and should you be successful, you’ll be granted not two, not three, but four tickets for your selected time slot.  Oh, and if you’re a Barcelona resident but have no luck in the draw this time, never fear. To mark the centenary of Gaudí’s passing, 2026 has been dubbed ‘Gaudí Year’ by the city, and locals can benefit from 50 percent discounts on Sagrada Familia tickets.  ICYMI: A brand-new art gallery has just opened in Gaudí’s house in Barcelona. Did you see that locals in thi

A widely used marker of affordability when it comes to living costs is whether you spend 30 percent or less of your salary on your rent, and according to brand-new research by British finance journal The Economist, only eight major European cities can be deemed ‘affordable’.  For the second year, the publication has conducted research and produced a European ‘Carrie Bradshaw Index’. To do this, it used the latest rents for one-bedroom flats (based on Eurostats data), and calculated how much locals would need to earn to spend a maximum of 30 percent of their salary on it.  Recommended: These are the world’s best cities for Gen Z to live in.  Each major European city was given a ‘Bradshaw score’, and only eight of the hubs analysed scored more than 1, deeming them affordable. The most budget-friendly city? That’d be Bonn, a city in western Germany that straddles the Rhine River, which scores 1.33 on the index.  Bonn, Germany | Photograph: Shutterstock Lyon followed closely behind, and Bern, Brussels and Helsinki round out the top five. In eighth place, and scraping its way into the affordable category with a score of 1.01 was the German capital of Berlin. The average salary here is €55,000 (around £47,500), which comfortably covers a monthly rent of €1,350.  These are Europe’s most affordable cities for solo renters Bonn Lyon Bern Brussels Helsinki Vienna Luxembourg  Berlin At the other end of the scale, London, Geneva, and Stockholm ranked as some of the least affordable c

Look, we’re big, big fans of travelling to new places, but some places are packed with so much to see, be it a plethora of magnetic cities, unbelievable scenery or too much amazing food to eat in one go, that before you’ve even left you find yourself fantasising about returning.  To find out the top destinations that leave travellers wanting more, SCS Chauffeurs, a luxury airport transport provider, analysed more than 8,000 online reviews and upvotes to identify where travellers are most likely to visit again and recommend to others.  Topping that list, with 895 mentions and upvotes, is Costa Rica. The Central American country has featured on a whole load of ‘where to travel’ lists for 2026, and its northern region is home to a well-traversed backpacker route which extends from San Jose to the Monteverde Cloud Forest, Tamarindo and to Manuel Antonio National Park.  Photograph: SL-Photography/Shutterstock However, Costa Rica is also home to a region which has occupied the top spot on Time Out’s roundup of the world’s most underrated destinations since September – the Osa Peninsula. Grace Beard, Time Out’s travel editor who recently ventured to the wild and remote region, described it as ‘one of the world’s greatest eco-adventures’.  ‘It’s miles – both literally, and in terms of tourism infrastructure – from the well-trodden backpacker route in the country’s north … but those seeking ‘pura vida’, Costa Rica’s national motto meaning ‘pure life’, will find it at its most authen

Europe has long been the most visited continent on the planet, but there are still countries in this lovely part of the world that remain relatively slept on by international travellers.  Where, you ask? Well, Riviera Travel is here to tell us. The cruise operator has looked into data from Eurostats on Europe’s least visited countries, using statistics on the number of nights spent at tourist accommodation in each country.  Recommended: The most underrated destinations in Europe to visit in 2026, according to Time Out.  Topping that list is Liechtenstein, which apparently only had 228,579 nights spent in tourist accommodation in 2024 (the latest data used in this study). Given its location between Austria and Switzerland, it’s hardly surprising this teeny little country delivers on magnificent scenery – the capital, Vaduz, is home to a famous castle which offers visitors sweeping views of the Rhine Valley – but Liechtenstein is often visited as a day trip from one of its neighbouring nations, which explains such low visitor numbers.  Rounding out the top three are North Macedonia, which saw just over 2 million nights spent there in 2024, and in third was Luxembourg, which welcomed around 3.6 million. Latvia and Montenegro follow behind in fourth and fifth place. Have a read of the full top 10 below.  These are the 10 European countries with the fewest tourists Liechtenstein North Macedonia Luxembourg Latvia Montenegro Estonia Albania Lithuania Malta Serbia While we’re on th

The concept of destination dupes has been around for a while now, but as fresh new destinations continue to become the coolest go-to places, it means that just as brilliant but lesser-known alternatives also keep cropping up.  To reveal which underrated places are going to be in the spotlight for 2026, Airbnb has crunched some search data and produced this list of destination dupes for beachy holidays, city breaks and adventurous, well, adventures.  So, where should you be heading to soak up some rays? Well, if Santorini has long been on your bucket list but the crowds and peak summer prices put you off, opt for Altea instead – it’s a pleasing little town around 10km from Benidorm, and it’s characterised by, you guessed it, cobbled alleyways, cobalt blue domed roofs and pristine white walls. Have a look at all the loveliest local Airbnbs here for some inspiration.   Photograph: Shutterstock The rental booking platform also recommends swapping Bali for Devon’s ‘surfing paradise’ Croyde, and Marbella instead for Denia, which is a just-as-lovely but much lesser known port city on the Costa Blanca.  Now, for the city break. We’ve just compiled a brand-new list of Europe’s best city breaks for the year ahead, but Airbnb’s dupe suggestions include swapping Rome for Genoa, Dubrovnik for Perast in Montenegro, and Prague for the charming Georgian capital of Tbilisi.  Photograph: Shutterstock The city has buckets of natural wine and an impressive roster of innovative nightclubs to

An airport’s primary function is to be functional and efficient, but many of them are also impressive feats of stylish architecture. Gelephu International Airport in Bhutan was recently crowned winner of Future Project of the Year by the World Architecture Festival, but now, plans for an even more impressive undertaking have been unveiled in Africa.  Zaha Hadid Architects, an esteemed British design firm founded by the late eponymous architect, has begun building work on Bishoftu International Airport in Ethiopia. Once it’s complete, it will be the largest air hub in Africa. The site is 40 km south of Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa, and it will eventually have a capacity quadruple the size of the country’s current main airport.  Recommended: The 24 most beautiful buildings in the world.  So, what’s the plan? Well, as is typical of large infrastructure projects, the construction will be organised in phases. The first of these is earmarked for completion in 2030 where a 660,000 square-metre terminal and two runways, operated by Ethiopian Airlines and equipped to welcome 60 million passengers, will open.  However, the plan for the whole site is much larger: four runways and parking for a whopping 270 aircraft will be built around a central spine, which is modelled on the Great Rift Valley. Each pier will feature colour palettes and artworks which are inspired by Ethiopia’s diverse environment, and the concrete and steel used will be locally manufactured. Scroll on for some imag

Loads of cities are known for their architecture, but few are as synonymous with one designer as Barcelona is with Antoni Gaudí.  The Catalan architect’s distinct organic and decorative technique – known as ‘modernisme’, which is essentially the region’s answer to art nouveau – is universally renowned, and his house, Casa Batlló, is not only a shining example of this style but also one of Barcelona’s most-visited tourist attractions.  The rear façade of the building underwent extensive renovations in 2025, and now, a brand-new modern art gallery has opened within the building’s walls – Casa Batlló Contemporary.  Recommended: The 19 biggest and best exhibitions worth travelling for in 2026. Originally residential apartments and then a maintenance workshop, the second-floor space has been transformed by local architecture and design studio Mesura, who describe this project as ‘a dialogue with Gaudí’s work rather than an imposition upon it,’ according to Wallpaper. Inside Casa Batlló Contemporary, Mesura has installed a glimmery, undulating silver ceiling which nods to Gaudí’s fascination with nature and is inspired by the Mediterranean sea. Its rippling shape and texture were created by using impulsion-based metal forming, a process often implemented when producing motor vehicles.  The floor is made from a material called microcement, which acts as a smooth surface to juxtapose and emphasise the ceiling, and once it’s finished in May will appear green and pick up on the façade’

There are many exciting exhibitions worth travelling for this year, from dazzling fashion retrospectives to city-wide biennales. But European fans of the vibrant, neo-expressionist work of Jean-Michel Basquiat are in for a treat this January, as Denmark’s Louisiana Museum of Modern Art is set to exhibit some long-undiscovered sketches from the American artist. Basquiat is known for his abstract, colourful paintings of heads and skulls. This showcase is anchored by ‘Untitled’, a figurative, graffiti-like painting of a skull which, when sold at Sotheby’s New York to Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa in 2017 at the staggering price of $110.5 million, became the most expensive piece of art ever sold by an American artist. The exhibition is called Basquiat: Headstrong, and it’s taking place at the serenely beautiful Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, just outside of Copenhagen, from Friday January 30 until May 17. What can visitors expect? Well, lots of heads, by the sounds of it. The Art Newspaper outlines that this exhibition is the first one dedicated to displaying Basquiat’s drawn depictions of the human head which he sketched between 1981-83 (as well as the first solo presentation of the artist’s work in Scandinavia).  Photograph: Courtesy of Colour Themes Photograph: Camilla Stephan courtesy Louisiana Museum of Modern Art Photograph: Courtesy of Colour Themes Photograph: Camilla Stephan courtesy Louisiana Museum of Modern Art Photograph: Courtesy of Colour Themes Th

Tourism can do wonders for small communities, but if the last couple of years have taught us anything, it’s that popularity among international travellers can be both a blessing and a curse.  That’s certainly how residents of Vlkolínec seem to feel. The village, tucked away in central Slovakia, was granted status as a Unesco World Heritage site back in 1993, and the body describes it as a ‘remarkably intact settlement of 45 buildings with the traditional features of a central European village. It is the region’s most complete group of these kinds of traditional log houses, often found in mountainous areas.’ However, resident numbers have shrunk by 50 percent over the last three decades, and the current permanent population of just 14 people are staggeringly outnumbered by the 100,000 annual visitors who travel to see the village.  But, it’s not necessarily the number of people who visit that’s the issue – it’s more how they behave. One local told The Mirror that ‘Unesco has turned us into a tourist ‘zoo’’ and that they feel their lives are being ‘crushed’ by the crowds, with anti-social behaviour like sneakily taking photos through windows or entering private gardens being reported.  Recommended: The most underrated destinations in Europe to visit in 2026, according to Time Out.  Hardly sounds like a fun living situation, does it? Despite the village’s appeal being largely down to the fact that it is a lived-in place and not some vacant ‘open-air museum’, according to heritag

Calling all introverts who breathe a sigh of relief when they’re no longer obliged to respond to texts and emails thanks to being on a plane – we’ve got some bad news. Dutch operator KLM has just launched free Wi-Fi on its European flights, so it looks like you’ll have nowhere to hide.  The airline is striving to improve the in-flight experience on its short-haul services. After adding brand-new, modern aircraft to its European fleet in August, the airline has now officially launched free internet access.  ‘We listen carefully to what our passengers value, and free internet has been on their wish list for some time,’ said Stephanie Putzeist, responsible for customer experience at KLM, according to Travel Tomorrow. ‘By offering complimentary Wi-Fi, we are making travel within Europe more personal and comfortable.’ Recommended: The most exciting new flight routes launching in 2026. So, how does it actually work? To gain access, passengers will need to log in or sign up for a Flying Blue frequent flyer account (for which registration is free). Then, you’ll be able to send emails, listen to music, play games and stream movies during your flight – from your device, that is. Free WiFi hasn’t been made available on all flights straight away. Instead, around half of the planes operating in Europe currently offer passengers internet access, and that will soon be expanded to all aircrafts (that’s every single Airbus A321neo and Embraer 195-E2 plane, as well as some Boeing 737-800s).  I

Grandes resorts à beira-mar ou hotéis boutique em centros urbanos históricos, contemporâneos e inovadores, ou encantadores e rústicos: os hotéis existem em todas as formas e tamanhos, e aquilo que define um bom hotel não depende apenas da qualidade do serviço ou da localização, mas também do gosto pessoal de cada um. Ainda assim, um pouco de orientação especializada nunca fez mal a ninguém, e não foi há muito tempo que a World’s 50 Best anunciou a sua lista dos melhores hotéis do mundo para 2025. Agora, para complementar esse ranking, a plataforma revelou também uma lista das mais luxuosas, apetecíveis e idílicas aberturas que podemos esperar para 2026 – e há verdadeiros pesos pesados entre as novidades. A primeira é o Amanvari, um conjunto de villas modernas e elegantes ao longo da costa do Mar de Cortés, na Baixa Califórnia, no México. Aquilo a que a marca chama “design orgânico contemporâneo” traduz-se em tons terra, muita madeira e paredes envidraçadas do chão ao tecto, que deixam a natureza envolvente entrar nos interiores. Imagem: Kulu Ora Lodge by Wildplaces Africa Imagem: Kulu Ora Lodge by Wildplaces Africa Outra abertura que deve estar no radar de quem gosta de natureza é o Kulu Ora Lodge, da Wildplaces Africa, situado no Parque Nacional de Murchison Falls, no Uganda. Está previsto abrir no início do ano e terá 11 suites em tendas individuais, todas com banheiras de cobre e piscinas privadas. Impressionantemente, tudo funciona com energia solar, e parte do valor