Liv Kelly

There’s a long (and we mean really long) list of reasons why one might choose to visit old New York—the food, the theatre, the bars and the art galleries, to name a few—but up there with the best things about this city is, without a doubt, its skyline. And while heading up to Top of the Rock or the One World Observatory are worthy ways to soak it up, your hotel room could be, too. So, that’s why we’ve compiled a round up of the best hotels in NYC with proper, show-stopping views. Sit back and enjoy. 📍 Discover our ultimate guide to the best hotels in New York City 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. 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 links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines. 🛏 Check out the best Airbnbs in New York City

Planning your travels for the new year? You should absolutely factor in those long-standing bucket list entries, but if you’re looking for some fresh inspiration, 2026 promises a world of brand-new travel experiences.  From sleeping over in an open-air museum to journeying through ancient landscapes on e-bikes, ziplining over glorious wildlife reserves and partying through a solar eclipse – yes, really – there’s a shedload of off-the-beaten-track, out-of-the-box stuff happening over the next 12 months. Scroll on for our handpicked selection of the 26 coolest, weirdest and most exciting things to do in 2026.  RECOMMENDED:🎶 The biggest and best music festivals in 2026🛍️ The coolest streets in the world🏘️ The coolest neighbourhoods in the world🌃 The best cities in the world right now Stay in the loop: sign up to our free Time Out Travel newsletter for all the latest travel news and best stuff happening across the world.

Reminiscing on festival season 2025? Well, the good times ain’t over yet, and if you ask us, it’s never too early to start planning which festivals to book in next year. Loads of great music festivals have already announced their headliners, and some of them kick off as early as January.  It’s worth noting that, in 2026, one of the planet’s biggest and best music festivals is not happening. That’s right – after an electric 2025, good old Glastonbury is on a fallow year to allow the land a bit of TLC. Not to worry, mind. No matter your music taste, who you’re going with, your weather preference or your capacity for camping, the world will have a festival that’s right for you, from Europe to the USA, Canada to Japan and Australia to India.  The best festivals in the world at a glance: ☮️ Best for hedonists and hippies: Boomtown 🔈 Best for beat freaks: Outlook 💡 Best for discovering something new: Tremor 🎵 Best for R&B and afrobeats: Afro Nation 🗽 Best city festival: Governors Ball 🎸 Best rock festival: Fuji Rock 🤩 Best for big names: Primavera Sound 🌠 Best for escaping reality: Big Red Bash Overwhelmed? Don’t sweat – here’s our comprehensive roundup of the best festivals in the world taking place in 2026. RECOMMENDED:🌍 The 26 best new things to do in the world in 2026🌤️ The best festivals in Europe in 2026🎭 The world’s coolest neighbourhoods to explore🌃 The best cities in the world right now

It’s been another stellar year for music in 2025, packed full of belters, breakouts and hook-laden earworms.  Lorde returned to her angsty roots, Pulp dropped their first album since, and Bad Bunny reigned supreme on the streamers. We were blessed with new music from pop heavyweights Lady Gaga, Lily Allen and Robyn. In a plot twist, Rosalía dropped a classical album packed with religious references, and Turnstile made hardcore mainstream. Breakout stars CMAT, Addison Rae and Jim Legxacy proved that they are here to stay. Here Time Out editors and contributors have hand-picked the tracks they’ve had on repeat this year. These are the 40 best songs of 2025.  RECOMMENDED: The 25 best albums of 2025. 

Visiting New York is a frantic experience, and when you’ve only got a number of days to get through shedloads of dining, cocktail-drinking, sightseeing and museum-hopping, that oh-so-precious shut-eye becomes all the more important. Thankfully, even though New York’s famous moniker is the ‘city that never sleeps’, the Big Apple is brimming with stylish, innovative, and world-renowned hotels. So, we’ve combed through all the neighborhoods and avenues to bring you this hand-picked roundup of the very best, from swish new-openings in Brooklyn to opulent institutions in Manhattan.  New additions for fall 2025 include Brooklyn’s gleaming William Vale, Manhattan’s iconic Knickerbocker, the elegant, Park Avenue-adjacent Loews Regency and the beachy Rockaway Hotel. But that’s only the beginning—scroll on for Time Out’s fresh roundup of the best places to stay in New York City.  📍 Discover our ultimate guide to the best budget and Midtown hotels in New York City 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. 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 links. These links have no influence on our editorial content.

This list is old. Here are the best things to do in the world in 2026.  2025 is set to be a momentous year when it comes to travel. Citywide celebrations and milestone anniversaries will be taking place in Amsterdam and Rome, sparkling new cultural centres are flinging open their doors in Rotterdam, New York and Abu Dhabi, and there are fresh chances to see some wonderful wildlife in Australia, Singapore and Greenland – but that’s just the beginning. Read on for our roundup of the 25 coolest, weirdest and most adventurous new things to do across the world in 2025, no matter your whereabouts or budget. RECOMMENDED:🇬🇧 The best things to do in the UK in 2025🛍️ The coolest neighbourhoods in the world🎪 The world’s best music festivals for 2025🌃 The best cities in the world right now  

This year of music has started with a bang. We’ve seen Chappell Roan go country, Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco smothering audiences with gushy love songs and Playboi Carti’s rapturous return from the underground. We've even been blessed with the return of Lorde! Alongside these pop heavyweights, we’re witnessing rap superstar Doechii continue her chart domination and the breakthrough of Gen Z artists like 2hollis, Tate McRae and Kai Bosch. What songs are defining 2025? Well, we’ve searched through our playlists and extracted the best songs of the year so far, to give you a mid-year vibe check of where we are currently at. But it doesn’t stop there. Keep your eyes peeled for updates to this list throughout the year as we’re still awaiting albums from Turnstile, Miley Cyrus, Pulp, A$AP Rocky and many more. RECOMMENDED: 🎧 The best albums of 2025 (so far)🎥 The best movies of 2025 (so far)📺 The best TV of 2025 (so far)

It's easy to get so tangled up in the tinsel-decked glories of Christmas that you forget there's another big bash, just a week later. But New Year's Eve is the kind of night that you forget at your peril. Attempt to wing it and you might well end up stuck at home in front of Jools Holland's Hootenanny, because all London's best clubs and parties book out weeks or months in advance.  But fear not, we're here to make sure you give 2025 a seriously good send-off. Here's our list of London best NYE bashes for ringing in 2026, from never-ending club nights to LGBTQ+ friendly celebrations. Assemble your crew, book your tickets, plan the perfect ‘fit and prepare to say a big fat goodbye to the year gone by. London’s best NYE parties at a glance 🎆 Best for views of the fireworks: New Year’s Eve at Sky Garden 🦖 Best for a one-of-a-kind party: NYE at the Natural History Museum 🍴 Best for midnight snacks: New Year's Eve at Aram, Somerset House  🏳️‍🌈  Best for LGBTQ+: Horse Meat Disco at Village Underground 🌟 Best for glitz and glamour: New Year's Eve at W London RECOMMENDED: Find things to do in London on New Year’s Day.

City breaks in the summer holidays are fun and all, but we’d go as far as to argue that a ton of the most well-loved holiday hotspots in Europe are even better in winter. After all, winter is when summer destinations lose their throngs of tourists, and cosy wintery cities lean into the wintery-ness.  If we’ve tempted you into heading out on a very wintery city break this year, don’t go anywhere. We’ve rounded our favourite winter city breaks on the continent for 2025, including famous classics, underrated spots and cities with packed-out festive events calendars. Here are the best winter city breaks in Europe for 2025, chosen by our experts.  Europe’s best city breaks at a glance 💏 Best for couples: Paris, France 🍜 Best for foodies: Edinburgh, Scotland 🎊 Best for families: Zagreb, Croatia 💎 Most underrated: Ljubljana, Slovenia At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by experts across Europe 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. 

The humble brunch is perhaps one of the greatest inventions of the modern age, especially if it incorporates pancakes, bacon and those aforementioned eggs. (Or you can enjoy a totally vegan take on proceedings at LD’s at The Black Heart). London is particularly well stocked with places to indulge in the famous breakfast/lunch hybrid. Let us guide you to the best restaurants for a fabulous brunch, from a traditional full English to innovative twists on the majestic meal, such as a bacon bao brunch or fried eggs on chilli-cheese crumpets. Booze optional.  Best brunches in London at a glance: 🌽 Best for vegans: LD’s at The Black Heart, Camden 🍖 Best for Spanish-style brunch: Lolo, Bermondsey 🏰 Best for a spectacular setting: Aram, Somerset House 🌳 Best for an al fresco brunch: Pavilion Cafe, Victoria Park  🌮 Best for a Mexican feast: Corrochio’s, Stoke Newington  RECOMMENDED: Like unlimited fizz with your fry-up? Here are the best bottomless brunches in London.  Leonie Cooper is Time Out London’s Food and Drink Editor. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. December 2025: Now that we're fully into cosy season, we've highlighted some of the more appropriate seasonal spots for brunch. Sulk in the dark like a massive (vegan) goth at LD's at The Black Heart in Camden; try Lolo in Bermondsey if you want a Spanish take on brunch; start your day with some heat at Chet's; and feast on prawn toast scotch eggs at Jikoni in Marylebone. We've also included a few

As you've almost certainly noticed, December's here and that means that this city is going into festive overdrive. All around London, people are untangling fairy lights, crowding into tinsel-decked pubs and pacing the streets in search of pressies. But isn't it time you slowed down a bit and did something a little cosier? As winter arrives, Christmassy pop-ups spring up all over central London, with plenty of fairylit atmosphere that makes them perfect for a festive tete-a-tete. We’re talking riverside heated igloos, Alpine-themed lodges and kitschy nostalgia-themed bars that will keep you warm and, most importantly, full of food and festive drinks. Here are the best hideaways, markets and quirky festive experiences waiting to lure you in from the cheek-tingling cold in 2025. London's best winter pop-ups at a glance: 🎢 Best for coaster kids: Winter Funland, West Kensington🎅 Best for partying with Santa: Humbug, Waterloo🥌 Best for silly sports: Club Curling, various locations🐷 Best for old-school feasting: The Great Christmas Feast, West Kensington🥶 Best for daredevils: Up at the O2's snow globe climbs, Greenwich PeninsulaRECOMMENDED: Here are the best things do in London this Christmas

Can you believe December is here already? One day you're necking tinned cocktails on a picnic blanket in a packed summer park, the next you're looking up mulled wine recipes and wondering why you don't seem to have a night off til January. But make some time in your packed schedule and you'll find loads to do: you can shop in quaint Christmas markets, arrange family pantomime outing, drag your friends to a jolly carol service, check out seasonal pop-ups and get stellar pics of London's OTT light displays. Time Out’s editorial team started thinking about Christmas long before the first autumn leaves flutter to the ground. We've beaten the crowds for a spot at Somerset House ice rink and strolled around the Southbank Centre’s Winter Market, year after year, and we're ready to show you some more leftfield, imaginative ways to celebrate the season. Read on for everything you need to make the absolute most of the holiday season, London style. London’s best Christmas events at a glance:  Best for families: The Magic of Christmas at London Zoo Best for buying gifts: DIY Christmas Art Market  Best for a party: Humbug: The Immersive Christmas Dive Bar Best for music: Raymond Gubbay Christmas Festival Best for festive feels: Christmas at Kew  RECOMMENDED: 🎅Check out our full guide to Christmas in London🎄Discover the best hotels in London for unforgettable Christmas stays

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

Given it’s the second largest island in the Mediterranean (after Sicily), Sardinia brags quite a lot of coastline – 2,000 km, to be exact. Scenic beaches aren’t hard to come by here, but Delphina’s Valle dell’Erica occupies a particularly glorious spot on the island’s northern tip, on a plush green hillside where the coastal breeze ripples through the grass. Sounds lovely, right? On a clear day you can see across to Corsica, and when it’s hazy – as it was on my visit – you’re still surrounded by the ocean. Long story short, spectacular views are guaranteed.  Such vistas are best soaked in from the panoramic breakfast terrace in the main hotel building. Incidentally, the breakfast buffet is the only place where you’ll actually remember you’re in a resort. Valle Dell’Erica feels more like a small hilltop town: there are seven bars, seven restaurants, four pools, an enormous spa and a whopping 273 rooms. This sprawling complex houses two separate hotels: Hotel Erica (a slightly larger space with 148 rooms, catered to families) and Hotel La Licciola (a smaller, couple-oriented hotel, where 17 of the 125 rooms have access to an exclusive area and private pool). Rooms are cloistered in small blocks of three or four, each comfortably if plainly furnished, and are built with local granite and cork. From the resort’s beaches, the buildings appear to dissipate into the land – the brand calls this design ‘low visual impact’, a move to protect Sardinia’s coastline from the threat of towe

Given it’s the second largest island in the Mediterranean (after Sicily), Sardinia brags quite a lot of coastline – 2,000 km, to be exact. Scenic beaches aren’t hard to come by here, but Delphina’s Valle dell’Erica occupies a particularly glorious spot on the island’s northern tip, on a plush green hillside where the coastal breeze ripples through the grass. Sounds lovely, right? On a clear day you can see across to Corsica, and when it’s hazy – as it was on my visit – you’re still surrounded by the ocean. Long story short, spectacular views are guaranteed.  Such vistas are best soaked in from the panoramic breakfast terrace in the main hotel building. Incidentally, the breakfast buffet is the only place where you’ll actually remember you’re in a resort. Valle Dell’Erica feels more like a small hilltop town: there are seven bars, seven restaurants, four pools, an enormous spa and a whopping 273 rooms. This sprawling complex houses two separate hotels: Hotel Erica (a slightly larger space with 148 rooms, catered to families) and Hotel La Licciola (a smaller, couple-oriented hotel, where 17 of the 125 rooms have access to an exclusive area and private pool). Rooms are cloistered in small blocks of three or four, each comfortably if plainly furnished, and are built with local granite and cork. From the resort’s beaches, the buildings appear to dissipate into the land – the brand calls this design ‘low visual impact’, a move to protect Sardinia’s coastline from the threat of towe

Given it’s the second largest island in the Mediterranean (after Sicily), Sardinia brags quite a lot of coastline – 2,000 km, to be exact. Scenic beaches aren’t hard to come by here, but Delphina’s Valle dell’Erica occupies a particularly glorious spot on the island’s northern tip, on a plush green hillside where the coastal breeze ripples through the grass. Sounds lovely, right? On a clear day you can see across to Corsica, and when it’s hazy – as it was on my visit – you’re still surrounded by the ocean. Long story short, spectacular views are guaranteed.  Such vistas are best soaked in from the panoramic breakfast terrace in the main hotel building. Incidentally, the breakfast buffet is the only place where you’ll actually remember you’re in a resort. Valle Dell’Erica feels more like a small hilltop town: there are seven bars, seven restaurants, four pools, an enormous spa and a whopping 273 rooms. This sprawling complex houses two separate hotels: Hotel Erica (a slightly larger space with 148 rooms, catered to families) and Hotel La Licciola (a smaller, couple-oriented hotel, where 17 of the 125 rooms have access to an exclusive area and private pool). Rooms are cloistered in small blocks of three or four, each comfortably if plainly furnished, and are built with local granite and cork. From the resort’s beaches, the buildings appear to dissipate into the land – the brand calls this design ‘low visual impact’, a move to protect Sardinia’s coastline from the threat of towe

Landing in Keflavik on a frosty 2C afternoon is a bit of a shock to the system compared to the balmy October temperatures of the UK, but once we start winding through the snow-dusted, ash-coloured peaks that loom moodily over Iceland’s coast, the biting cold feels appropriate.  Thankfully, the nippy feeling doesn’t last long. ION’s collection of hotels includes four properties – ION City and Hotel Von (starting rates are €430 and €175 respectively) where we stay in Reykjavik, Hotel Budir (from €277), our first stop nestled cosily between the mountains and the lapping shore of the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, and ION Adventure (€565) which is celebrating its tenth anniversary in 2024. Each embody the Nordic concept of ‘hygge’, that feeling of convivial cosiness that you can only really experience in such perishingly cold places.  All are intrinsically Icelandic, but ION Adventure is the true show-stopper. A sleek glass box emerging from the moss-laden Mount Hengill, the hotel is a bold contrast to the tumbling volcanic landscape around it. But that landscape is still incorporated into the design, with furniture made from locally-sheered wool and actual lava. Sustainability is at the heart of these designs – even the sinks are made from recycled tires – and much of the interior is crafted by Icelandic architects. The hallway leading to the brand-new wing of 23 rooms (where we stayed) features bare concrete walls which will not be painted – paint is bad for the environment, guys – an

You’d be forgiven for feeling a little intimidated upon approaching Eastwell Manor. Its stern, neo-Elizabethan stone façade is dotted with boxy windows which appear as if they allow little light, and reaching reception involves dragging your luggage through an eerily still, imposing courtyard. But the vibe’s pretty different inside.  Through the comically large, dark-wood doors, the formality of the building does match the tone of the service, but we were warmly greeted by wafts from the restaurant, the excited buzz of guests from a wedding party and formally dressed but amicable team members. And that’s what’s unexpected about this place – how homely a massive country estate (particularly one with a tennis court, a hawking centre and beehives) can feel as soon as you arrive.  Our room, in the cottage buildings in the west corner of the grounds, was one designated for people on a spa break (it’s only a two-minute walk from the spa building) and other guests were flitting between the two buildings in just their dressing gowns, despite the October chill. The spa itself, the facilities of which include a swimming pool, jacuzzi, sauna and steam room on the ground floor, as well as a restaurant, plus treatment and ‘relaxation’ rooms upstairs, does all the things a good spa should do, but is perhaps not quite matched to the size of the hotel – we arrived mid-afternoon to cop a poolside seat but were left with only one available spot to plonk ourselves. But the hotel doesn’t just of

En noviembre de 2025 se anunció que la compañía European Sleeper comenzaría a operar una nueva ruta de tren nocturno entre París y Berlín el 26 de marzo de 2026, con tres viajes semanales en cada dirección. El tren pasará por Bruselas y se prevé que los billetes para todas las clases, con precios que arrancan desde unos 60 € por trayecto en compartimento de litera, se pongan a la venta el 16 de diciembre de 2025. Ahora, el operador, lejos de frenar la expansión de su red, acaba de anunciar que hay otra ruta totalmente nueva prevista para 2026. Actualmente, Bruselas, Ámsterdam, Berlín, Dresde y Praga están conectadas por servicios que circulan tres veces por semana. Según European Sleeper, 750 trenes han transportado a más de 240.000 pasajeros desde que comenzaron a operar en 2023. La nueva incorporación a la lista es un servicio que conectará Ámsterdam y Bruselas con Berna y Milán, creando "una importante conexión norte-sur a escala europea", según la compañía. Esta ruta complementará otros servicios ferroviarios regionales: Bruselas (con conexiones a Londres), Colonia (con servicios hacia Hamburgo y Berlín), Berna (para llegar a Zúrich y Ginebra) y Milán (hacia Venecia, Florencia y Roma). Photograph: Shutterstock Más concretamente, las salidas desde Ámsterdam y Bruselas están programadas para las tardes de lunes, jueves y sábado. El primer trayecto se realizará el 18 de junio de 2026 y llegará a Milán a la mañana siguiente. Los trenes saldrán de las capitales belga y neerl

While brilliant food, nightlife or cultural spots might be your favourite thing about your city, there are a lot of other factors that go into making cities nice places to live. ECA International assesses cities against a breadth of criteria – infrastructure, air quality, access to healthcare, personal safety, political tensions, access to a social network and leisure facilities, housing and utilities, and the climate – in order to create their annual 2025-26 Location Ratings. This year, of the 275 cities analysed, European cities claimed 38 of the top 50 spots as well as the entirety of the top 10, with Bern in Switzerland being crowned overall champion. ‘Europe’s strong performance reflects decades of investment in clean environments, world-class healthcare and infrastructure,’ said ECA International, ‘Notably, no European city appears in the bottom 50, underscoring the continent’s attractiveness.’ Recommended: The 31 coolest streets in the world for 2025, according to Time Out.  And sure, Bern is safe and liveable, but is it a fun place to live? Well, it is beautiful. The de facto capital of Switzerland is built around a crook in the Aare River, and its Old Town (Altstadt) dates back to the twelfth century.  If you’re headed to the city, be sure to visit Freibad Marzili, a popular bathing spot where you can dip into gleaming turquoise waters, and Kulturzentrum Reitschule, a social and events space in the city that plays host to gigs, theatre performances and film screeni

January is right around the corner, so it’s likely that you’re beginning to think about your travel plans for 2026. Handily, Time Out has got just the list to help you narrow down your options.  Our roundup of all the best new things happening in the world in 2026 landed last week, and it includes seven different openings and launches in Europe. In fact, the best thing to do in the entire world next year is taking place in Paris next summer. That’s right – from June 6 to 28, the French capital’s oldest bridge will play host to a striking new immersive art installation, inspired by the landmark work of Christie and Jean-Claude, Pont Neuf Wrapped, back in 1985.  Image: Courtesy Atelier JR With a nod to the quarries from which the original rocks were extracted, the project by street artist and photographer JR will see the bridge encased in a huge, jagged rock formation, and the best part is it will be completely free to visitors.  Speaking of art, ‘master of light’ James Turrell’s ‘largest and most ambitious’ Skyspace installation will be opening in a brand-new domed space next to ARoS Aarhus Art Museum on June 19, and there’s also set to be an enormous new dedication to immersive art in Hamburg, courtesy of teamLab art collective.  Photograph: Photo: Mads Smidstrup © ARoS, 2025. Partying under celestial phenomena in rugged and remote landscapes more your kinda thing? Head to Iceland Eclipse, a music festival taking place in the country’s Snæfellsnes Peninsula from August 12

Al novembre de 2025 es va anunciar que la companyia European Sleeper començarà a operar una nova ruta de tren nocturn d'entre París i Berlín el 26 de març de 2026, amb tres viatges setmanals en cada direcció. El tren passarà per Brussel·les i es preveu que els bitllets per a totes les classes, amb preus que arrenquen des d'uns 60 € per trajecte en compartiment de llitera, es posin a la venda el 16 de desembre del 2025. Ara, l'operador, lluny de frenar l'expansió de la seva xarxa, acaba d'anunciar que hi ha una altra ruta totalment nova prevista per al 2026. Actualment, Brussel·les, Amsterdam, Berlín, Dresden i Praga estan connectades per serveis que circulen tres cops per setmana. Segons European Sleeper, 750 trens han transportat més de 240.000 passatgers des que van començar a operar el 2023. La nova incorporació a la llista és un servei que connectarà Amsterdam i Brussel·les amb Berna i Milà, creant "una important connexió nord-sud a escala europea", segons la companyia. Aquesta ruta complementarà altres serveis ferroviaris regionals: Brussel·les (amb connexions a Londres), Colònia (amb serveis cap a Hamburg i Berlín), Berna (per arribar a Zúric i Ginebra) i Milà (cap a Venècia, Florència i Roma). Stresa, Lago Maggiore | Photograph: Shutterstock Més concretament, les sortides des d'Amsterdam i Brussel·les estan programades per als vespres de dilluns, dijous i dissabte. El primer trajecte es farà el 18 de juny de 2026 i arribarà a Milà l'endemà al matí. Els trens sortiran

You might think the youth go about avoiding all responsibility and zig-zagging across the globe for months on end, but according to Airbnb, the stats tell a different story.  The holiday rental platform has found that Gen Z (currently aged between 13 and 28, but we’d guess they’re referring to those old enough to book their own trips) are gravitating more towards what Airbnb calls ‘quick trips’. Inspired by the extreme day-tripping trend (and doing what we can with limited PTO), international getaways of just a couple of days are in vogue. Gen Zers are choosing to travel to cities packed with music, dance, lip-smacking local food and historical sites.  Time Out recently produced its very own roundup of the best cities for Gen Z to live in, but which destinations are young travellers flocking to for culture-packed quick trips? Recommended: The 31 coolest streets in the world in 2025.  On the roundup is Busan, a port city in South Korea, which, according to the holiday rental booking platform, ‘blends coastal hikes and neon-lit street food alleys for a dynamic city vibe’. Bupyeong Kkangtong Market, for example, is the first permanent night market in Korea, and it is home to an explosion of different cuisines – head here between 7.30pm and midnight for a street food crawl. Elsewhere on the list is Marrakech, the busy, brilliant Moroccan city full of souks, stylish rooftop lounges and fragrant, delicious food. Stockholm, the chic Scandinavian capital, also features. Across its 14

December is already pretty darn joyful, but why not up the merry ante with a peruse of the winners of this year’s Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards? The winner for 2025 is (drum roll, please!) Mark Meth-Cohn, who snapped an adorable picture of a dancing gorilla, entitled ‘High Five’.  Recommended: The winning shots of the Northern Lights Photographer of the Year 2025, in pictures.  Photograph: Mark Meth-Cohn / Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards 2025 But this was far from the only charming image recognised at this year’s awards – we covered a roundup of all finalists back in October, but below are our handpicked favourites of the 2025 champions, which includes the winner of the Thinktank Bird and Junior Photographer categories.  Photograph: Grayson Bell / Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards 2025 Photograph: Valtteri Mulkahainen / Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards 2025 Photograph: Warren Price / Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards 2025 Photograph: Kalin Botev / Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards 2025 Photograph: Alison Tuck / Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards 2025 Keen to get involved next year? The Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards will be open for new submissions on March 14. Oh, and here are the champions from the 2024 competition.  Did you see that this city officially has the best hot chocolate in Europe, according to a new ranking? Plus: The world’s best tourism villages to visit in 2026 have been named.  Stay in the loop: sign up to our free Time Out Travel newsletter for all the latest travel news and b

Fresh off the news that European Sleeper is about to launch a Paris-Berlin night train, the operator is far from pulling the brakes on the expansion of its network, and another brand-new route is apparently planned for 2026. Currently, Brussels, Amsterdam, Berlin, Dresden and Prague are connected by services three times each week, and according to European Sleeper, 750 trains have transported more than 240,000 passengers since they launched in 2023.  But the newest addition to the roster is a service that will connect Amsterdam and Brussels with Bern and Milan, creating ‘an important north-south connection at European level’, according to the operator. The route will supplement other regional rail services: Brussels (which has connections to London), Cologne (with services to Hamburg and Berlin), Bern (to reach Zurich and Geneva) and Milan (for Venice, Florence, and Rome). Recommended: I’m a travel writer obsessed with trains – these are Europe’s best Christmas train journeys.  More specifically, departures from Amsterdam and Brussels will be scheduled for Monday, Thursday and Saturday evenings, with the first taking place on June 18 2026, arriving in Milan the next morning. Trains will depart from the Belgian and Dutch capitals before converging in Cologne.  Once in Switzerland, the route will journey on the historic Simplon route through Bern, Brig and Domodossola into northern Italy, making a stop on the shores of Lago Maggiore at Stresa before terminating in Milan. There’

Japan is no stranger to earthquakes – the country sits on the ‘Pacific Ring of Fire’, which is a tectonic belt of volcanoes and earthquakes, and experiences an estimated 1,500 tremors per year.  However, at around 11pm local time on Monday December 8, a 7.5 magnitude quake struck around 80km off the country’s coast, and triggered power outages, suspensions to public transport, and tsunami warnings. Though tsunami warnings have since been lifted, the effects of the earthquake continue, so we’ve compiled all the most up-to-date information about whether or not it’s safe to travel. Read on for everything you need to know.  Where did the earthquake hit in Japan? The earthquake took place around 80km off the northeast coast at around 11.15pm local time, reaching a magnitude of 7.5.  Areas that experienced damage include Hachionhe, where several people in a hotel were injured and where one resident said that glasses and bowls fell from shelves and smashed on the floor because of the shaking. Around 480 people took shelter in the city’s Air Base, according to defence minister Shinjiro Koizumi.  Is there a tsunami warning? A tsunami warning was issued for three Japanese prefectures in the north, which included orders for 90,000 residents to be evacuated, and waves of up to 70cm were reported along northeastern shores such as in Kuji port in Iwate prefecture, which is south of Aomori.  Is it safe to travel?  So far, it seems that 23 people were injured, but the earthquake has only cau

観光に関する国際機関、国連世界観光機関（UN Tourism）が主催する「Best Tourism Villages by UN Tourism 2025 Ceremony」が、中国・湖州市で開催された。 世界でも特に観光客が集まる人気の旅行先では、観光に対する不満やフラストレーションが渦巻いている場所もある。今年で5年目となる同プログラムは、観光を通じて文化遺産を守り、持続可能な開発に取り組む地域を認定するプロジェクト。表彰される村は、SDGsに基づいて選ばれている。 2025年は、52の地域が選ばれた。選定された村は、インフラや交通、文化・自然資源、環境の持続可能性など、地域を支える9つの視点で評価されている。また、今年新たにリスト入りした村により、認定された農村コミュニティーは合計319に達した。認定基準に向けて支援する「アップグレード・プログラム」には、20の村が追加されている。 Photograph: ShutterstockAntônio Prado, Brazil 今年は、19世紀にイタリア移民が築いたブラジルの自治体アントニオ・プラドや、トルコ・ムーラ地方のアクヤカといった地域のほか、日本から奈良県の明日香村、和歌山県の高野山、香川県の土庄町が選ばれた点も注目だ。 UN Tourism事務局長のズラブ・ポロリカシュヴィリ（Zurab Pololikashvili）はこう語っている。  「2025年の選定プログラムは、文化遺産を守り、自然資源を保全し、観光を通じて経済的な機会を生み出しているコミュニティを称えるものです。これらの村は観光を受け入れることで、地域の人々がつながり、誰も取り残されない未来を作れることを示しています」 リストは以下の通り。 ＜アルゼンチン＞ カルロス・ペレグリーニ／マイマラ ＜アゼルバイジャン＞ ヒナリグ ＜ボスニア・ヘルツェゴビナ＞ クルパ・ナ・ヴルバス ＜ブラジル＞ アントニオ・プラド ＜中国＞ ディガン／ドンロオ／フアンガン／ジーカイ ＜コロンビア＞ ムリリョ ＜クロアチア＞ カシュテリール・ラビンツィ ＜エクアドル＞ パクト ＜フランス＞ ポン＝クロワ ＜ドイツ＞ フレッサーシュタット・シルタッハ／ヒンドラング ＜グアテマラ＞ アルデア・サン・クリストバル・エル・アルト Photograph: ShutterstockShafiabad, Iran ＜イラン＞ ソヘイリ／カンデロス／シャフィアバード ＜イスラエル＞ ネオット・セマダール ＜イタリア＞ アルクァー・ペトラルカ／アゾロ／ベッラーノ Photograph: Shutterstock明日香村 ＜日本＞ 明日香村（奈良県）／高野山（和歌山県）／小豆島町（香川県）／土庄町（香川県） ＜ハンガリー＞ ホッスーへテーニ／モーラハロム ＜ヨルダン＞ ノース・アズラク ＜リトアニア＞ プラテリアイ ＜モーリシャス＞ シャマレル／グランド・リバー・サウス・イースト ＜ポルトガル＞ ロリガ／メルトラ／ヴィラ・ノゲイラ・デ・アゼイタオン ＜スロベニア＞ ブレッド ＜インドネシア＞ ペムテラン ＜韓国＞ ムジュ・ビレッジ／ヤンスリ ＜スペイン＞ アガエテ／エスカライ ＜スイス＞ ヴァレンダス Photograph: ShutterstockAkyaka, Türkiye ＜トルコ＞ アクヤカ／アヌトゥル／バルバロス／カレ・ウチャーウズ ＜ウクライナ＞ コロチャヴァ／シネヴィルスカ・ポリャーナ ＜アラブ首長国連邦＞ マスフート ＜ベトナム＞ ロー

A relação entre turistas e habitantes de alguns dos destinos de férias mais visitados do mundo está cada vez mais precária. Há tensão, há desgaste. Mas nas melhores aldeias e vilas turísticas do planeta – 52 das quais acabam de ser anunciadas pela UN Tourism, numa cerimónia especial na cidade de Huzhou, na China –, as comunidades encontram no turismo uma força positiva. 2025 marca o quinto ano em que a ONU destaca comunidades rurais que apostam num turismo mais sustentável. As aldeias candidatas foram avaliadas em nove áreas distintas, incluindo infra-estruturas e acessibilidade, recursos culturais e naturais e sustentabilidade ambiental. As aldeias acrescentadas este ano fazem subir para 319 o número total de comunidades rurais reconhecidas. Outras 20 entraram no Programa de Melhoria, que apoia “aldeias com elevado potencial no seu caminho para cumprir os critérios de reconhecimento”. Entre os destaques estão Antônio Prado, um município no Brasil conhecido pela preservação firme da cultura italiana; Asuka, uma aldeia na província de Nara, no Japão, famosa pelas suas colinas em socalcos; e Akyaka, um local deslumbrante e surpreendentemente bem preservado na província de Muğla, na Turquia. Portugal também entra na nova lista, com três localidades: Loriga, vila que integra o Parque Natural da Serra da Estrela; Mértola, vila raiana do Baixo Alentejo; e Azeitão, concelho de Setúbal. “Os nossos Best Tourism Villages 2025 destacam comunidades que trabalham para proteger o seu patri

Whether you love or loathe the cold, there’s a good chance that glimpsing the elusive Northern Lights features on your bucket list.  For those of us who are yet to witness the phenomenon, you’re in luck – 2026 is set to be a particularly good year to do so. However, 2025 also delivered some rather magnificent skies thanks to where we are in the current solar cycle.  The Northern Lights Photographer of the Year awards, organised by photography blog Capture The Atlas, showcases the most spectacular snaps of the aurora borealis captured by professional photographers this year. The winning photos were taken in destinations ranging from Alaska to Iceland, New Zealand to Norway, plus many, many more.  Have a look below at our selection of favourites from this year’s winners. Recommended: These are the best places in the world to see the Northern Lights.  Photograph: Nikola Vukotić Photograph: Vincent Beudez Photograph: Marc Rassel Photograph: Sara Aurorae Photograph: Jeff Cullen Photograph: Tori Harp Photograph: Sadeq Hayati Photograph: Mari Jääskeläinen If all that wasn’t awe-inspiring enough, you can also have a look at the winners from last year’s competition.  Did you see that this incredible immersive artwork is officially the best new thing to do in the world in 2026? Plus: The world’s best tourism villages to visit in 2026 have been named.  Stay in the loop: sign up to our free Time Out Travel newsletter for all the latest travel news and best stuff happening

Long gone are the days when you had to be greeted by a real life human to check into your holiday accommodation, however, it looks like one city in Italy is about to take a step back from self check-ins – at least at short-term holiday rentals.  Authorities in Milan have issued a directive that calls on all short-term holiday rental owners to remove self-check-in keyboxes from public areas. From January, those failing to comply will be slapped with a fine of €400. The move comes after Florence implemented similar rules earlier this year.  But what’s the big deal? Well, while self check-in keyboxes are convenient for visitors, particularly if you’re checking in at an awkward time, critics have apparently described the boxes as eyesores, which ‘raise significant security concerns’ due to lack of face-to-face interaction, according to the Independent.  ‘Self check-ins by guests lead to the improper use of public space for the benefit of private individuals,’ city councillor Michele Albiani said in a statement. ‘Furthermore, the uncontrolled proliferation of lockboxes may cause inconvenience for residents.’ So, if you’re planning on visiting Milan in the new year, it might not be as easy as dialling in a code to collect your key and gain access to your apartment. Why not have a look at our favourite hotels in the city? Why are short-term lets so controversial? The proliferation of short-term holiday lets has been blamed for the rise in rent costs in cities across Europe. A long l