Time Out contributors

Happy Pride Month, one and all! It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and to celebrate, we asked Time Out’s LGBTQ+-identifying writers and editors to tell us all about their favourite city on the planet. The resulting list covers all four corners of the globe, from the beaches of Brazil to the creative hub of Glasgow’s Southside. These are cities with a vibrant queer community, cities that support and protect LGBTQ+ citizens and visitors, and cities that are notable hubs for LGBTQ+ life in their respective countries and regions. So, what are the world’s most LGBTQ+-friendly cities? While we couldn’t possibly name them all, these are some of our favourites. RECOMMENDED:🗻 The world’s best places to travel alone🗺 The world’s most underrated travel destinations😎 The coolest neighbourhoods in the world  

Want to make 2023 the year you travel somewhere new? Well, we’ve got some pretty spectacular suggestions for you. We asked our global network of travel writers and editors to tell us what they think is the world’s most overlooked travel destination. The resulting list spans everything from tiny islands and seaside towns to massive lakes and whole countries – and makes for some serious travel inspo.  What, exactly, makes a destination underrated? Are we talking about places that don’t regularly appear on top travel lists? Places that don’t get their fair share of tourism? Places that are legitimate hidden gems, off-the-tourist-trail, or offer great (or quiet) alternatives to popular spots in the same region? The destinations on this list fall into at least one of those categories. From Bali’s overlooked neighbour to an untouched area of natural beauty in Zimbabwe, these are the world’s most underrated places to travel to this year. RECOMMENDED:🏰 The most underrated travel destinations in Europe💘 The most romantic places in the world🌈 The most colourful places in the world

It goes almost without saying that Europe is full of incredible places. But a lot of those places are also kind of obvious. Barcelona, Venice, Amsterdam, the Amalfi Coast… yes, they’re amazing. But the problem is that everyone and their mums want to go there, meaning many of the continent’s capitals, cultural hubs and beauty spots are majorly overcrowded and eye-wateringly expensive. Some of these major travel destinations have even started saying that they want tourists to stay away. But for every place that’s bursting at the seams with visitors, there are a host that are unfairly overlooked: places where you can spend hours and not see another tourist, or at least low-key alternatives to the regular holiday hotspots. So here’s what we’re suggesting: this summer, save yourself the neck crane trying to glimpse the Mona Lisa. Skip the Vatican queues. Step out of the Sagrada Família crowds – and travel to some of the continent’s lesser-known destinations. From the Balkans to the Baltics, from the North Atlantic sea to the Adriatic coast, we’ve tapped up seasoned travel writers and local experts to uncover Europe’s underrated cities, islands, regions, beaches, towns, lakes – and everything in between. Looking to venture outside of Europe? Read our guide to the most underrated destinations in the world. RECOMMENDED:🏰 The best city breaks in Europe💘 The most romantic places in the world🚞 The ultimate three-week Europe train itinerary

Looking for some classic summer fun? Roller coasters and thrill rides are not just for kids, and there are a slew of amusement parks near NYC where you can chase those heart-palpitating plunges and scream-inducing twists that take you back to your carefree days. Hitting up an amusement park can be as easy as taking the subway to Coney Island, but go a little further—say, New Jersey or Pennsylvania—and you’re in for even more thrills. You might encounter hordes of teens or families during peak times, but that’s all part of the fun. If you’re not into the jaw-dropping speeds and dizzying heights of an amusement park, there are plenty of thrilling day trips from NYC that don’t involve near-death feelings. If you need a little down time after getting jazzed up with all that amusement park stimulation, check out one of NYC’s hotel pools open to the public.

NYC is world-renowned for its restaurants, obviously. Contrary to what you might think, some of these top restaurants welcome kids. While there are plenty of entertainment-heavy restaurants geared towards keeping the kids occupied while serving so-so food, many kid-friendly restaurants in NYC are both fun and delicious. These spots are great for the whole family. The kids will be excited to go, and you won’t have to choke down a sad slice of pizza and pretend to enjoy it. You can expect a quality meal, options for the pickiest of eaters and welcoming vibes that lets kids be kids. From pizza and tacos to theme restaurants and outdoor restaurants, there’s no shortage of destinations that offer great food and a kid-friendly environment.

A little bit of realistic thinking is required. It is important to accept that covering everything in France is an impossible task that would take several lifetimes to complete. Best to focus on the best of the best then, right? The best things to do in France are enough to make travel obsessives out of cynics, covering everything from the tops of mountains to secret coves between the seas. France is famous for many reasons, but ‘being France’ is probably the most important.Paris gets most of the attention, yet falling in love with a beautiful village here is almost a rite of passage. The cuisine is as good as our species has produced, while the beaches somehow stay rugged and stylish. France is France, and it can never be anything else. This is the best that France has to offer. RECOMMENDED:🛏 The best hotels in the South of France🏰 The best French châteaux you can rent on Airbnb😋 The best restaurants in France

A country of phenomenal natural beauty mixed with rich culture, it's not surprising Croatia has risen in popularity in recent years. And, the country is extremely good value for money, cheaper than your typical European weekend hotspots. To ensure you get the true, authentic Croatian experience on your trip, booking an Airbnb is a must. From 19th-century lighthouses to luxurious beachside villas, Croatia is home to some of Europe’s most stunning rentals, plenty of which are near famous tourist hotspots. So below we’ve rounded up some of our favourites of the best Airbnbs in Croatia. RECOMMENDED: The best hotels in Croatia This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, click here. 

Milan is world-famous as the fashion centre of Italy and is considered one of the main art cities in the country, too. An enchanting mixture of old and new: a place where chic fashion houses, stylish boutiques and chi-chi restaurants sit next to churches, museums and other historical attractions. It really is a gorgeous city with some stunning architecture and culture. If you're looking at taking a trip to Milan, you'll want accommodation to match the vibes of the city. And luckily, Airbnb has a ton on offer. We’ve done lots of searching and scrolling for you, and have put together this list of Milan’s best Airbnbs. Take a look below and start exploring a city with a whole host of things to do. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, click here.

If you're looking for the best alcohol delivery in NYC, we have so many to choose from. New Yorkers order so many things direct to their homes that 'the city that never sleeps' might as well be renamed 'the city that never schleps'. Seriously, there’s no end to what you can get dropped off at your door: groceries, flowers and even cleaning services in NYC are all readily available at the click of a mouse or tap of an app. Even alcohol: why carry around cases of beer and bottles of wine to your fourth-floor walkup when there are so many delivery services that can do it for you? You'll still have to show your ID to the delivery person and chill your champagne, but the last thing you'll have to worry about is running out of booze. Recommended: the best options for flower delivery in NYCRecommended: the best grocery delivery in NYC This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, click here.

Based on the sheer volume of stand-up comedy shows that happen in Los Angeles on any given night, it’s safe to say we’re the center of the comedy universe. So how do you choose where to go? (Especially as some longstanding venues have gone dark, while at the same time shows increasingly pop up in unconventional venues.) We’ve made things a bit easier by picking out the very best comedy clubs in L.A., including Sunset Strip venues where you’ll catch well-known names and live podcast tapings, plus spots as diverse as an old-school haunt in West Hollywood, a laid-back bar in Northeast L.A. and an intimate theater on the edge of Koreatown. Bring your sense of humor and prepare to laugh the night away at the best comedy clubs in L.A. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best things to do in Los Angeles

Tothom té les seves preferides, per això, qualsevol debat sobre quines són les millors pel·lícules de tots els temps es pot allargar hores (o, en el nostre cas, tota la vida). Hi pot haver alguna llista que les agrupi a totes? És difícil, però hem intentat incorporar-hi des de les revolucions més clàssiques de la història del cinema fins a les més modernes, tots els gèneres, països, èpoques i per a tots els gustos... tot fent equilibris entre la racionalitat i el sentimentalisme. El repte ha sigut enormement complicat, però no ens hem pogut resistir a elaborar una bona llista, la nostra llista. Feu-nos saber fins a quin punt ens hem equivocat. Ah, al final en comptareu 53, considereu-les 'bonus tracks', algunes de ben recents. NO T'HO PERDIS: Les 29 pel·lícules més esperades del 2023

Diners are an iconic part of New York City’s history. Beloved by regulars and tourists alike, the very best diners in NYC are where old New York meets new culinary traditions. While NYC is known for some of the best fine dining in the world, you just can’t beat a hot cup of coffee poured into a white mug in a greasy spoon. These 21 diners are slinging sandwiches, burgers and egg creams that are more than just a meal; they’re a view into the past and future of NYC.   RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best restaurants in NYC

Free from the robot clutches of the Transformers franchise and his last, direct-to-Netflix thriller 6 Underground, Michael Bay returns where he belongs: a car chase in Los Angeles surrounded by muscled, sweaty men.  War veteran Will Sharp (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II), in dire need of cash to pay for his wife’s unspecified surgery, asks his career criminal adoptive brother Danny (Jake Gyllenhaal) for help as a last recourse. Abdul-Mateen II is the more grounded of the two while Gyllenhaal is giving us crazy-eyes. What’s supposed to be an easy job gets really messy, really quickly, and the two brothers find themselves in a LA-wide police chase with an injured cop in the back of the ambulance they’ve hijacked. If he dies, their sentences will be much more severe. The steely EMT Cam (Eliza Gonzalez) rounds off this unhinged scenario, a relatively sane counterweight to the odd-couple brothers as she tries to keep the cop alive.  Ambulance is a remake of a 2005 Danish film of the same name, but pimped up à la Bay. Something is always happening, very loudly, and everyone is concerned with looking very cool while it happens. Most of the action happens inside the titular ambulance, and credit to Bay for making it feel as cramped and frenetic as the story demands through sweaty close-ups and lunatic banter. His camera goes from trembling close-ups to swooping helicopter shots of his beloved LA at dizzying speed. Something is always happening, very loudly, and everyone is concerned with loo

The Who—that is, Pete Townshend, Roger Daltrey, some other musicians and two very prominent ghosts—come to town on their “The Who Hits Back!” tour. See them in Anaheim at the Honda Center or at the Hollywood Bowl.

After enduring the long and lonely lockdown, most of us are bursting for things to do over the approaching summer, and here’s a brilliant idea: the picnics-on-the-lawn summer series at Chiswick.   A mainstay of the flashy Eastern suburb of Woollahra, Chiswick has long been one of Sydney’s top dining destinations, whether it be for business lunches, birthdays, weddings or hens-parties. No matter the occasion, it’s hard to think of many venues that so comfortably caters for, and excels at accommodating larger groups. And in a stunning setting to boot. Picnics on the Lawn takes the experience one step further by moving the party out the side door and straight into the garden. Picnics became an unlikely beacon of hope a few months back, signalling our impending release from this latest lockdown. Suddenly Sydney couldn’t get enough of them; we could actually socialise again, outside, with friends, at a picnic! And let’s face it, when the sun is shining there are few places you’d rather be than Sydney. Therein lies the beauty of Picnics on the Lawn. Chiswick has teamed up with Bombay Gin and local luxury picnic purveyors To Dine For to create a carefree, relaxed and totally bougie afternoon in the sun, on the lovely lawns of the Chiswick Gardens. Next time you’re craving a picnic, grab a bunch of your besties and book yourselves in for this truly dreamy experience, all you have to do is turn up. A neatly arranged row of low-lying tables sit atop earthy-toned picnic rugs, plush cush

If you’re making a list and checking it twice, consider this annual shopping event for unique kitchen, pantry and tabletop finds, plus all sorts of foodie goodies. Though GCM has yet to announce a formal holiday market this year, it has started hosting a bazaar every Friday through Sunday in the downstairs basement event space. 

KIIS FM’s annual holiday behemoth’s lineup reads like a roll call of the station’s playlist: Dua Lipa, Jack Harlow, Pitbull, Khalid, Bebe Rexha, Lewis Capaldi, Ava Max, Dove Cameron, Jax and Nicky Youre will all take over the Forum this holiday season. The best seats will cost you a boatload, so look out for news of a free pre-show that usually precedes the main event.

You know it’s summer in L.A. when the live outdoor music starts swelling all over the city, including at MacArthur Park’s Levitt Pavilion. The Westlake concert series returns this summer with free shows every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Expect a genre-spanning mix of local acts that range from cumbia to ska to EDM. Check out the full season lineup below. Courtesy Levitt Pavilion

Throughout the summer, Lower East Side hidden gem Sesh Comedy is hosting a BYOB summer pop-up. Each ticket comes with an alcoholic drink of choice, while BYOB is still encouraged. Each night hosts two shows that run for 75 minutes each, and features comedians from Comedy Central, HBO, Colbert, Netflix, Amazon, and more. Lineups change weekly, so be sure to check out @seshcomedy on Instagram for weekly show details!

Looking for some hilarious free fun this summer? Every Tuesday night at Pete’s Candy Store in Williamsburg, the “The Biggest Little Venue in NYC”, comedy fans can gather for a free show at 7pm! The lineups change weekly and can be found on the show’s Instagram and Facebook pages. For the safety of both the performers and the audience, proof of full vaccination is required for attendance. A full-service bar will be available with drinks and snacks for purchase throughout the show. 

Hudson River Park is currently displaying a new public art exhibition, displaying works by graduates from NYC SALT, an arts nonprofit photography program that gives students the opportunity to develop both their artistic and career skills in the field. The exhibition focuses on the diverse and dynamic communities throughout the city that the SALT alumni call home, and features 22 works displayed on 7-by-9 foot panels along the park.

Immersive art exhibit Arcadia Earth has reopened after being closed due to the pandemic, and it looks better than ever! The exhibit aims to inspire visitors artistically and ethically, as it uses 15 rooms to spotlight the environmental challenges that our planet is facing (such as overfishing, food waste, and climate change). This exhibit will not only leave visitors in awe, but it will help support Oceanic Global, an organization devoted to raising awareness around our aquatic ecosystems. In addition, a tree will also be planted for every ticket sold, making it a perfect gift for your eco-conscious friends!

Em maedos da década de 
80, Tommaso Buscetta, um importante membro da Cosa Nostra, a máfia da Sicília, tornou-se num dos primeiros arrependidos da história desta organização, fornecendo informações ao juiz anti-máfia Giovanni Falcone. Alguns anos mais tarde, a sua delação levaria à prisão de Totò Riina, o líder
 da Cosa Nostra, desferindo um sério golpe na organização, e conduziria até o antigo primeiro-ministro Giulio Andreotti à barra do tribunal (seria ilibado). Há em Itália uma longa tradição de “filmes de máfia”
(e de séries e telefilmes), sejam mais policiais e de acção, sejam mais documentais ou políticos. O Traidor, de Marco Bellochio, que conta a história de Buscetta, essencialmente a partir da altura em que passou a colaborar com as autoridades, é uma contribuição maior para este acervo. Bellochio apresenta-nos um Buscetta membro da Cosa Nostra “à antiga”. Isto é, antes que o tráfico de droga tenha substituído o de tabaco como a mais lucrativa actividade da organização, levando o monstruoso Riina
ao poder, desencadeando uma guerra no meio do crime siciliano e fazendo tábua rasa dos valores que a orientavam (nunca matar mulheres ou crianças, por exemplo). A certa altura, Buscetta 
(o magnificamente sóbrio Pierfrancesco Favino, que já vimos em Romanzo Criminale ou em Suburra), diz a Falcone ser um desses “homens de honra” dos tempos pré-tráfico de droga 
e massacres indiscriminados. Ao que este responde estar farto do “mito da máfia nobre e honrada”. Bellochio não min

Editor's note: the event is cancelled until further notice. The Wings for Life World Run is a charity running competition that's been held on the first weekend of May since 2014. Zadar is the only Wings for Life World Run race whose route extends along the sea, taking in the beautiful Adriatic coastline as well as much of the pretty city of Zadar. It is the third-largest in the world by the number of participants. In terms of the population of Croatia, it is the largest race of its kind in the country, as well as the race with the highest number of student entrants. In 2019, there were 9000 participants from more than 25 countries.RECOMMENDED: More great sports events in Croatia where you can join in

Just celebrating its 18th anniversary, the Zagreb Surf Club Tri strjele offers expert tuition in windsurfing and SUP at Lake Jarun where the organisation is based. Five sporting young locals founded ‘The Three Arrows’ to practise the kind of sporting activity usually associated with the Adriatic coast. As the head of Tri strjele Marko Murgić explains, “Our club is open all summer. It is best to register for the courses a little earlier so that there are no crowds and in order to prepare all the equipment”. Marko has spent several winters surfing on the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, but his favourite destination was Morocco. “The basics of windsurfing can be learned in three visits of a few hours each. To move to a higher level, you need to set aside a week or two and go to the sea.” For details of how to join Tri strjele, see here.  Paula Bosančić

Health tourism is now big business in Croatia, travellers able to combine a visit for medical reasons with a holiday by the sea or near a beautiful national park. Changing trends, old remedies An initiative announced a few years ago that the Ministry of Tourism was investing €400 million in health tourism as well as €250,000 to promote it has since allowed a number of trusted companies across Croatia to attract and train high-quality professionals in various fields of treatment provision, to buy in state-of-the-art equipment and upgrade facilities. A spa at Stubičke Toplice, within easy reach of Zagreb, has installed a cryosauna, exposing the body to extremely low temperatures for positive effects on the skin, the raising of immunity levels and help towards weight loss. Ziga Intihar/Terme Tuhelj As ever more foreign visitors chose Croatia over their own country for dental and other health procedures, opting for affordability, reliability and convenience, spa centres here decided to widen their remit. Among the wider range of facial and full-body treatments, those from the Far East, most notably Thailand, began to feature, while other centres looked closer to home for inspiration and, indeed, actual materials. For centuries, Croatia’s healing waters have been aided recuperation and relaxation – evidence of Roman recreation 2,000 years ago can be found at Istarske Toplice in northern Istria. The Romans would have also known about the therapeutic muds that also extend across n

Over the weekend of April 29-30, the village of Donji Kraljevec will again become the home of Croatian speedway, with fans flying into Zagreb and making their way to the unique track of Goričan, reopened in 2022. Bars and trackside will be bubbling with the babble of speedway jargon that connects fans who travel Europe throughout the year, often to places off the typical tourist map. Here, they’ll be in pleasant surroundings near the border with Hungary, in the wine-making country of the Alpine foothills where many choose to locate their holiday homes. This is also where Daryl Mersom catches up with Tai Woffinden ahead of the race to discuss what makes Croatia a special place for him. Three-time Speedway World Champion, Tai has been racing at Croatia’s first track at Goričan since his early twenties, his opponents including the son of the family that owns the 305-metre loop. FIM Speedway, Goričan They built racer Jurica Pavlić a track in his backyard, every motorsport-obsessed kid’s dream, catapulting him to success as 2007 Individual European Champion. Jurica went on to ride in the Polish Ekstraliga, the world’s pre-eminent speedway league.  Tai now shares his memories of Goričan, looks forward to the season ahead and talks about other side projects he is involved with. Time Out Croatia: What stands out for you about the stadium in Goričan? Tai Woffinden: The Pavlić family runs it. They’ve been heavily involved in speedway for a long time, at least as long as I can rememb

Croatian seniors Marica and Mijat Barišić are riding all the way from Vir near Zadar to Liverpool to see local band Let 3 perform at Eurovision in May. Their chosen mode of transport is a tractor, linking in with the Let 3 song chosen for the event, Mama ŠČ!, whose refrain, ‘Mama bought a tractor!’, is a dig at the leaders of Russia and Belarus currently involved in the Ukrainian conflict. The couple’s trip also echoes a hitchhiking tour they did in the 1960s, when they saw the Beatles’ famous rooftop show. They were later on the same plane as the Rolling Stones for a concert in Zagreb, and managed to grab Mick and Charlie for autographs. Sime Zelic/PIXSELL “We’ve been to a crazy Beatles concert, an even crazier Rolling Stones concert, and now we expect to be at the craziest concert of our own Let 3 in Liverpool,” says Marica. The pair will first hitch from their home in Vir to Rijeka, the port city where Let 3 are based, hooking up with the band for a performance there on Thursday, April 27. The tractor that is part of the stage act is then going to Liverpool, although it’s not yet clear if the couple can drive it the whole distance of 1,500km, given the tortuous post-Brexit bureaucracy at the border. However they travel the long and winding road, the pair will certainly be up for a party in Liverpool come May 13. Katarina Grgurić 

Croatia has always been ahead of the game where health tourism is concerned. Well over a century ago, the elegant resort of Opatija would attract Europe’s crème de la crème for what would today be termed wellness breaks by the Adriatic. Whereas the spectacular settings haven’t changed – you can still combine visits to Croatia for medical reasons with a holiday by the sea or by a beautiful national park – the treatments on offer are far more specialised and customer-focused. Health visits spur tourism This is particularly true when it comes to dental tourism. A few years ago, Croatia’s Ministry of Tourism not only announced a €400 million investment in health tourism but a budget of more than €250,000 to actually promote it. This allowed companies across the country to attract and train high-quality professionals in all areas of treatment provision, buy in state-of-the-art equipment and generally upgrade facilities. As word spread, more and more foreign visitors began to choose Croatia over their own, particularly for dental procedures, whose costs could be astronomical back home. Croatian communities within a short drive of Italy, Austria and Slovenia saw top-quality clinics open, the practices taking advantage of their location to offer patients affordable, reliable and convenient service and after-service. Regions close to Central Europe, or facilitated by international airports, also witnessed an influx of dental tourists, in Istria, Kvarner and the City of Zagreb. These a

Almost 15 years after planting their first olive tree in Istria's historic red earth, the team at Istriana has just announced the launch of their Istriana Premium Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Istriana is milled from estate-grown, organically cultivated olives, with great care taken to ensure that their unique aromas and flavours are protected from their farm to your table. Here, attention to detail is everything. Producing in limited quantities enables Istriana to ensure the quality of its olive oil and oversee every step of the process from cultivation, harvesting, selection, milling and blending – all to preserve the truest form of the olives' natural flavour. The unique packaging design is inspired by fragments found of Roman-era clay amphorae once baked in the villages of southern Istria. Istriana's bottle design invokes this heritage and each bottle is hand-signed and numbered by the producer. Istriana This is where history, expertise and modern technologies meet to showcase a carefully curated blend of Leccino, Pendolino and Rosignola olive varieties. As Istriana describes it, ‘Centuries of Istrian tradition in every drop'. Following Istriana's award-winning appearances at international olive oil competitions earning gold medals in New York, Japan, Italy and London, Istriana is now making their Premium Blend available at select food stores and gourmet specialty shops in the United States and Europe. In Istria, you can find Istriana at the Karlić Tartufi truffle shops in B

Whether you’re looking for challenge or panoramic views, light outdoor exercise or a strenuous workout, Croatia is a great place to hike. The key here is variety. Routes, tracks and trails can be tackled by almost all age groups and skill levels, and natural hazards are few – although fortune favours the prepared. Decent hiking boots are a must, water, too, especially in summer. If you’re hiking in high season, take a hat and sunscreen, and try to avoid the heat of the day in the early afternoon if you can avoid it. If you’re heading out in winter, check the weather forecast and, yes, it does snow in Croatia. Slopes may not reach over 2,000 metres but you wouldn’t want to leave yourself open to the elements if the temperature drops significantly. Information boards and a safety infrastructure are in place. The ideal times to hike are in autumn and spring, when the temperature should be neither boiling nor freezing, and the views should be spectacular. Marjan To combine a fascinating city break with an enjoyable hike of under three hours, then a climb up and around Marjan, the hill overlooking Split, is a good suggestion. There are steep sections in parts, but overall, this route of around eight kilometres should be pretty accessible for all. And the most calf-crunching section is right at the start, the 300 or so steps, the Marjanske skale, that lead up from setting-off point near Trumbićeva obala, were you’ll also find a tourist information office. The steps begin where Draž

Croatia’s varying landscapes, dramatic scenery and propensity for outdoor adventure mean that it is perfect cycling country. Four EuroVelo routes pass through its territory. One follows the coast as part of the Mediterranean-hugging trek between Spain and Greece, passing through Pula, Zadar, Split, Dubrovnik and the protected area of Velebit, while another cuts through inland Slavonia along the former borders of the old Iron Curtain. Of course, you can arrange your own itinerary, allowing you to discover parts of Croatia you wouldn’t ordinarily see through a car window.   Here are three key areas whose terrain and stop-off merit discovery. CNTB/Aleksandar GospićParenzana Istria Some roads asphalt, some more challenging, the many routes around Istria are cannot fail to be picturesque. Trails stretching for 2,600 kilometres cross the region in every direction, with cyclist-friendly hotels and rental companies along the way, and the reward of fine cuisine pasta and superb local wine at the end of a satisfyingly tiring day. Of the many routes tracing the undulating interior, one combining both grit and gourmet is the Truffle’s Trail, which begins and ends in Buzet. Starting at the foot of the Ćićarija Mountains, the route covers nearly 35 kilometres and takes three hours to complete, with an elevation gain of 870 metres. The Bella Vista trail, which begins and ends in Labin, lives up to its name with magnificent panoramas of the Kvarner Bay and a continuous string of photo-ops

Croatia’s 12 nature parks stretch from Učka fringing Istria in the north-west to Kopački Rit in eastern Slavonia, and down to the Lastovo Islands way out in the southern Adriatic. They also include Medvednica, so close to Zagreb, it’s within easy reach of the city’s public-transport system. Without the crowds of Croatia’s most popular national parks, nature parks offer not only stunning landscapes and rare flora and fauna, but also tranquillity. You can explore the wetlands of Kopački Rit by boat or scale the forested slopes of the Žumberak-Samobor hills and hardly see another soul. Biokovo The mountain range of Biokovo overlooks the holiday-focused Makarska Riviera in central Dalmatia, best viewed from the nature park’s recently opened vantage point, Skywalk. This sits 1,228 metres above sea level and offers incredible views of the Adriatic and the islands of Brač and Hvar. Extending some 12 metres out into the skies from the mountain at Ravna Vlaska, the viewing platform will surely test the nerve of anyone who gets vertigo when high up, not least because much of the structure is built from super-thick glass. Formerly a toll road, from just outside Baška Voda, a route allows you to pass through the mountain range via the free Tunel Sveti Ilija to experience the hinterland and great natural features such as the Red and Blue lakes at Imotski, a great swimming spot. Dinara The most recent natural attraction to receive the status of a nature park is Dinara, referring both to th

Vegetarians and vegans will have a field day in Istria thanks to its top-quality, seasonal produce available at shops, restaurants and markets across the region. Farm to table has long been a concept embraced in Istria, where small-batch producers work with the bounty around them, the fertile terrain cultivated in Roman times and by Illyrian tribes before them. Vineyards and olive groves have been a welcome feature on the Istrian landscape for 2,000 years at least. In recent years, Istria’s modern-day wine and olive-oil industries have lifted the region to global prominence, while the rise of agritourism has allowed visitors to spend time on family-run farms, sleeping there and sampling the produce grown there. Many operate as taverns, a few tables set up in rural surroundings, with a daily menu drawn up according to what’s available and what’s in season. Guests can even help the owners milk the animals and see how their herbs and crops are grown. CNTBMotovun The Istrian calendar Passing expertise down from generation to generation, Istrians work with the seasons. Wild asparagus appear on menus and market stalls in spring, truffles and mushrooms in autumn. Rich in minerals and vitamins, wild asparagus was once gathered by Istrian shepherds and families on spring outings. Now it’s considered a delicacy and essential to dishes such as fritaja, a mix of scrambled eggs and chopped asparagus stalks. Thick green bunches are sold at markets. Truffles are a signature delicacy in th

With Valentine's Day quickly approaching, here are a few suggestions for places to take your loved one on February 14 – or get them flowers beforehand. Cvjetni trg & DolacSay it with flowers they say, and the stalls at Cvjetni trg, and the steps in front of Dolac market, are the best places to find the freshest and brightest ones in town.  Bacchus Jazz BarBy Trg Kralja Tomislava, Bacchus is one of Zagreb's most intimate music venues. The small bar has a cosy candlelit atmosphere and booths perfect for couples. The bar is often full, so it's advisable to book a table, particularly for Valentine's when it opens until midnight. Trg Kralja Tomislava 16. BooksaIf you’re looking for a low-key location for a first date or to celebrate a relationship, try out Booksa, close to central Zagreb. The café is also a bookshop and cultural centre, and the perfect spot for quiet and intimate conversation over an exotic tea. Open on Valentine's between 10am-6pm. Martićeva 14d.  Kino TuškanacIf you’re more interested in dinner and a movie, Zagreb’s main arthouse cinemas, Kino Tuškanac, is showing Terry Gilliam's classic Brazil at 7pm on Valentine's. This bizarre take on 1984 is a sci-fi love story with a difference. Tickets €4. Tuškanac 1. Museum of Broken RelationshipsFor an ironic but certainly memorable date, try out the Museum of Broken Relationships. A unique attraction in the historic Upper Town, it displays meaningful objects which were discarded after a break-up of some kind, with an ac

Featuring dinosaur footprints off the Istrian coast, cascading waterfalls and an idyllic Ancient Greek retreat near Dubrovnik, Croatia’s eight national parks are unique, varied and show a different aspect of this country’s quite astounding beauty. Brijuni Brijuni comprises 14 islands off the west coast of Istria, a short hop from Fažana, near Pula. Most are off limits but the main one, Veliki (‘Great’) Brijun, not only welcomes the public but has hosted royalty, film stars and world leaders. Visitors can observe zebras, llamas and elephants as they tour the island by a little tourist train that runs in season. But wildlife isn’t the only attraction on Veliki Brijun. Lining the rocky coastline, and indicated on the map you’ll see as your boat pulls into the harbour, are dinosaur footprints. Any hike of the island is also rewarded with Ancient Roman remains, even part of a settlement from the Bronze Age.A cycle route has also been set up to take in the main sights, starting out from the harbour where bikes can be rented. Kornati There is nothing quite like Kornati. An archipelago of 140 islands and islets, it has no permanent settlements, only the occasional house-cum-shelter used by fishermen and a votive chapel or two. Two-thirds of this dense cluster is a national park, created in 1980. This status has protected the rare marine life here, the coral and sponges, once trawled and hunted, now a visible attraction for those who go snorkelling. Kornati is best visited by excursio