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<dc:date>2024-04-29T03:44:01Z</dc:date>
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<dc:date>2024-04-27T10:00:33Z</dc:date>
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<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?><rss xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" version="2.0"> <channel> <title>Europe holidays | The Guardian</title> <link>https://www.theguardian.com/travel/europe</link> <description>Europe holiday features and tips, accommodation and restaurant reviews, plus ideas for skiing, beach, budget, family and sport breaks</description> <language>en-gb</language> <copyright>Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. 2024</copyright> <pubDate>Mon, 29 Apr 2024 03:44:01 GMT</pubDate> <dc:date>2024-04-29T03:44:01Z</dc:date> <dc:language>en-gb</dc:language> <dc:rights>Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. 2024</dc:rights> <image> <title>The Guardian</title> <url>https://assets.guim.co.uk/images/guardian-logo-rss.c45beb1bafa34b347ac333af2e6fe23f.png</url> <link>https://www.theguardian.com</link> </image> <item> <title>My four-day rail and ferry adventure from the UK to Albania</title> <link>https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2024/apr/27/my-four-day-rail-and-ferry-adventure-from-the-uk-to-albania</link> <description><p>From London to Tirana, via Chambéry’s medieval streets, bustling Bari and Albania’s dynamic capital, this trip across Europe has treats at every turn</p><p>My overriding memories of crossing countries by train, on a trip from London to Albania, are of half-empty carriages and countryside sweeping past windows bathed in the soft orange glow of sunset. I remember cypress trees, red-roofed villages with square churches, farmland in neat strips and row upon row of vineyards.</p><p>On my London-Paris-Chambéry-Turin-Bari-Tirana journey over land and sea, there was, for long stretches, little to do. The wifi was patchy. It took a while to adapt to having so much time to simply watch the world go by, travelling through landscapes without having to navigate them.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2024/apr/27/my-four-day-rail-and-ferry-adventure-from-the-uk-to-albania">Continue reading...</a></description> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/slow-travel">Slow Travel</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/adventure">Adventure travel</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/public-transport-trips">Public transport trips</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/railtravel">Rail travel</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/france">France holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/albania">Albania holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/italy">Italy holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/turin">Turin holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/europe">Europe holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/travel">Travel</category> <pubDate>Sat, 27 Apr 2024 10:00:33 GMT</pubDate> <guid>https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2024/apr/27/my-four-day-rail-and-ferry-adventure-from-the-uk-to-albania</guid> <media:content width="140" url="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d928f064d1b4bfbdf8621c00a945285d0bab2723/0_371_5568_3341/master/5568.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=626fbd5b39e67f9194eb04ea58f6f680"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Photograph: Simona Abbondio/Alamy</media:credit> </media:content> <media:content width="460" url="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d928f064d1b4bfbdf8621c00a945285d0bab2723/0_371_5568_3341/master/5568.jpg?width=460&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=ec680598608d0c7dba46df86d23c0cd8"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Photograph: Simona Abbondio/Alamy</media:credit> </media:content> <dc:creator>Rachel Mills</dc:creator> <dc:date>2024-04-27T10:00:33Z</dc:date> </item> <item> <title>‘Ahead lay cypress-lined Tuscan roads waiting to be discovered’: readers’ best road trips</title> <link>https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2024/apr/26/readers-favourite-road-trips-europe</link> <description><p>Our tipsters navigate Alpine passes, serene backcountry and dramatic coastlines across Europe, stopping off for the odd hike, cycle or dip in the sea</p><p>Driving through the Tuscan hills, the sun beginning its slow descent in the hazy, glowing heat on an August evening was one of the most exquisite experiences I have ever had. Travelling slowly along small, winding roads near Siena in our old Polo, we settled in to the rhythm the locals live by. The peaceful embrace of the Tuscan way of life was felt at every turn, with every smile we saw and every vineyard we gazed across. The cypress trees lining other, yet-to-be-discovered roads in the distance added to our awe at our surroundings.<br><strong>Lotta</strong></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2024/apr/26/readers-favourite-road-trips-europe">Continue reading...</a></description> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/road-trips">Road trips</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/europe">Europe holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/travel">Travel</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/top10">Top 10s</category> <pubDate>Fri, 26 Apr 2024 06:00:31 GMT</pubDate> <guid>https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2024/apr/26/readers-favourite-road-trips-europe</guid> <media:content width="140" url="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/1b83e825e7ac176f77a1b0f4653870f58db31039/0_0_7502_4503/master/7502.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=2852040f9c50844a0056e0312d58ad03"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Photograph: Karl Hendon/Getty Images</media:credit> </media:content> <media:content width="460" url="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/1b83e825e7ac176f77a1b0f4653870f58db31039/0_0_7502_4503/master/7502.jpg?width=460&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=b3fdf93a3a7a544ff98ba515fa0dd2af"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Photograph: Karl Hendon/Getty Images</media:credit> </media:content> <dc:creator>Guardian readers</dc:creator> <dc:date>2024-04-26T06:00:31Z</dc:date> </item> <item> <title>Rail route of the month: vines on the line from Avignon to Lyon, France</title> <link>https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2024/apr/24/rail-route-of-the-month-avignon-to-lyon-france-wine</link> <description><p>Our slow travel expert takes the train through the Rhône’s wine country, hoping for grand cru views and a glass of Condrieu</p><p>Trains and wine make natural partners, be it a glass of crisp white over a leisurely lunch in a restaurant car while cruising through the Alps or a rail itinerary that meanders through a region noted for its fine wines. Many of Europe’s most prized wine regions lend themselves naturally to exploration by rail.</p><p>Take the train from São Bento station in Porto to Pocinho, for example, for fine views of the estates that have underpinned the port trade. Other classic European wine regions where trains weave through vineyards include Tokay in Hungary, Germany’s Moselle valley, the Ebro valley in Spain (for fine Rioja) and Switzerland’s <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2023/jun/30/smoke-on-the-water-music-montreux-jazz-festival-switzerland-wine">Lavaux region</a> where one grand cru white, made from Chasselas grapes, even plays up the rail connection: the Massy family’s classy Dézaley is called <a href="https://www.massy-vins.ch/en/our-wines/dezaley-chemin-de-fer">Chemin de Fer</a>.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2024/apr/24/rail-route-of-the-month-avignon-to-lyon-france-wine">Continue reading...</a></description> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/france">France holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/wine-holidays">Wine holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/travelfoodanddrink">Food and drink</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/travel">Travel</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/europe">Europe holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/public-transport-trips">Public transport trips</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/railtravel">Rail travel</category> <pubDate>Wed, 24 Apr 2024 06:00:33 GMT</pubDate> <guid>https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2024/apr/24/rail-route-of-the-month-avignon-to-lyon-france-wine</guid> <media:content width="140" url="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/cf7d836a919e55285e2ea39d180c28a2528c5b1e/0_0_3775_2265/master/3775.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=f8ff29bf0759224457889cbe281eff0d"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Photograph: Hemis/Alamy</media:credit> </media:content> <media:content width="460" url="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/cf7d836a919e55285e2ea39d180c28a2528c5b1e/0_0_3775_2265/master/3775.jpg?width=460&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=f314de67ef2c231373c6020eb87d99d2"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Photograph: Hemis/Alamy</media:credit> </media:content> <dc:creator>Nicky Gardner</dc:creator> <dc:date>2024-04-24T06:00:33Z</dc:date> </item> <item> <title>Autism makes travel a challenge. Here’s how I learned to cope</title> <link>https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2024/apr/22/autism-makes-travel-a-challenge-heres-how-i-learned-to-cope</link> <description><p>Busy places and unexpected events used to send me into meltdown on holiday. An autism diagnosis helped me to adapt my plans and rediscover the joy of travelling</p><p>Wandering hand-in-hand through the medieval streets of Bologna, my boyfriend and I were in awe of the sweeping porticoes and distinctive rust-red brickwork of the city. It was our first holiday together. We’d wanted to find somewhere beyond the obvious that would marry our respective interests in architecture and history. Bologna was the perfect fit.</p><p>We admired the <a href="https://www.bolognawelcome.com/en/places/religious-buildings/church-of-santa-maria-della-vita">Church of Santa Maria della Vita</a>, with its imposing baroque interior, lavishly decorated in colourful frescoes and marble carvings. We caught a little red and blue express train up into the hills to the <a href="https://www.bolognawelcome.com/en/places/religious-buildings/sanctuary-of-san-luca-eng">Santuario della Madonna di San Luca</a>, and climbed the bell tower of the <a href="https://www.bolognawelcome.com/en/places/religious-buildings/basilica-of-san-petronio-eng">Basilica di San Petronio</a> for panoramic views across the city.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2024/apr/22/autism-makes-travel-a-challenge-heres-how-i-learned-to-cope">Continue reading...</a></description> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/europe">Europe holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/travel">Travel</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/books/travel-writing">Travel writing</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/society/autism">Autism</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/society/society">Society</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/books/books">Books</category> <pubDate>Mon, 22 Apr 2024 06:00:19 GMT</pubDate> <guid>https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2024/apr/22/autism-makes-travel-a-challenge-heres-how-i-learned-to-cope</guid> <media:content width="140" url="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/9c4b4b2fc974e58b41afc5724fd225c07ae13a1b/0_238_1600_960/master/1600.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=ea12f23102dee8dc7e01a4bd10392fdd"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Photograph: Chris Moore</media:credit> </media:content> <media:content width="460" url="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/9c4b4b2fc974e58b41afc5724fd225c07ae13a1b/0_238_1600_960/master/1600.jpg?width=460&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=5f706f9bf3004b591884fb55ede9eed3"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Photograph: Chris Moore</media:credit> </media:content> <dc:creator>Allie Mason</dc:creator> <dc:date>2024-04-22T06:00:19Z</dc:date> </item> <item> <title>Five of Europe’s best national parks – with all the beauty but none of the crowds</title> <link>https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2024/apr/20/five-best-national-parks-in-europe-france-germany-croatia-portugal-spain</link> <description><p>Offering exquisite scenery, rare wildlife and spectacular trails, these under-the-radar national parks are worth tracking down</p><p>There is a wild and wonderful water world in the north-eastern corner of Spain. The <a href="https://www.spain.info/en/nature/aiguestortes-national-park/">Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici national park</a>, in the central Pyrenees north of Lleida, is characterised by more than 200 lakes fed by melting snow and ice, plus rivers and streams, gorges, waterfalls and marshes. (<em>Aigüestortes</em> means “winding waters” in Catalan, and Sant Maurici is the biggest lake.)</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2024/apr/20/five-best-national-parks-in-europe-france-germany-croatia-portugal-spain">Continue reading...</a></description> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/europe">Europe holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/walkingholidays">Walking holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/wildlifeholidays">Wildlife holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/travel">Travel</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/walking">Walking</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/lifeandstyle">Life and style</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/croatia">Croatia holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/spain">Spain holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/france">France holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/germany">Germany holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/portugal">Portugal holidays</category> <pubDate>Sat, 20 Apr 2024 10:00:26 GMT</pubDate> <guid>https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2024/apr/20/five-best-national-parks-in-europe-france-germany-croatia-portugal-spain</guid> <media:content width="140" url="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7a57eec4deafcf5d4d3ca9fafc7a09760c46404e/0_78_6016_3611/master/6016.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=a8adda63a3d43bb4ad4d47504f1542bd"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Photograph: Sergi Boixader/Alamy</media:credit> </media:content> <media:content width="460" url="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7a57eec4deafcf5d4d3ca9fafc7a09760c46404e/0_78_6016_3611/master/6016.jpg?width=460&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=acbff04660ed616861031c7cf3901769"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Photograph: Sergi Boixader/Alamy</media:credit> </media:content> <dc:creator>Rachel Dixon</dc:creator> <dc:date>2024-04-20T10:00:26Z</dc:date> </item> <item> <title>A gentler side of the Dolomites: a summer break in Italy’s Adamello-Brenta natural park</title> <link>https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2024/apr/20/family-holiday-italy-adamello-brenta-national-park-dolomites</link> <description><p>Its peaks are a big draw for adrenaline junkies, but this natural park’s newer attractions offer more inclusive family activities</p><p>The pool was empty – perhaps because at about 22C, the water was too cold for Italians. It was also about to close. Whatever the reason, we had the glorious Biolago di Pinzolo, a spring-fed, plant-filtered swimming lake, to ourselves. As my son and I swam, we could just make out the tiny red-roofed hermitage of San Martino on the forested slope above, where, according to legend, a hermit survived on bread provided by a tame bear.</p><p>We’d come to the mountains of northern Italy for an alternative family break, away from the honeypot cities and beach resorts further south.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2024/apr/20/family-holiday-italy-adamello-brenta-national-park-dolomites">Continue reading...</a></description> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/dolomites">Dolomites holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/italy">Italy holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/alps">Alps holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/familyholidays">Family holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/europe">Europe holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/travel">Travel</category> <pubDate>Sat, 20 Apr 2024 06:00:20 GMT</pubDate> <guid>https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2024/apr/20/family-holiday-italy-adamello-brenta-national-park-dolomites</guid> <media:content width="140" url="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a28ffa3ac47e8a8ffa3722a2d0fb034c489d9fec/0_35_2000_1200/master/2000.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=e5deb65cd431e51993b637b9883c3916"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Photograph: Foto Bisti/Bisti Luconi Paolo</media:credit> </media:content> <media:content width="460" url="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a28ffa3ac47e8a8ffa3722a2d0fb034c489d9fec/0_35_2000_1200/master/2000.jpg?width=460&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=8d6afb15fa8140ea406f962ae3f2a8b7"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Photograph: Foto Bisti/Bisti Luconi Paolo</media:credit> </media:content> <dc:creator>Isabel Choat</dc:creator> <dc:date>2024-04-20T06:00:20Z</dc:date> </item> <item> <title>‘The real life of Athens is here’ – look beyond the Acropolis for the hidden gems of the city</title> <link>https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2022/sep/07/the-real-life-of-athens-is-here-hidden-gems-beyond-and-beneath-the-acropolis</link> <description><p>The Acropolis Museum’s underground lab, the ancient Hadrian aqueduct and an arts festival in an old factory offer a more personal view of the Greek capital</p><p>It’s the most exclusive lost property office in the world. Deep underground, in a thrumming, humidified laboratory, a world-historical statue is being reunited with its ancient marble foot. Of all the rooms at the Acropolis Museum in Athens, this is the most pulse-quickening, which is saying something considering that the building houses treasures of antiquity including friezes from the Parthenon.</p><p>Prof Nikolaos Stampolidis, director-general of the museum, is playing the role of an archaeological Prince Charming: he must decide if the deftly chiselled toes are a match for the sculpture of a <em>kouros</em>, or naked youth on display as part of the permanent collection until conservators began to suspect that the foot bone connected to the leg bone might be the wrong one. Perhaps the foot in the lab, which was found elsewhere at the Acropolis, will be a perfect fit. If museum staff are right, these jigsaw pieces, separated for millennia, have been within just a few square metres of one another.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2022/sep/07/the-real-life-of-athens-is-here-hidden-gems-beyond-and-beneath-the-acropolis">Continue reading...</a></description> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/athens">Athens holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/greece">Greece holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/europe">Europe holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/cultural-trips">Cultural trips</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/city-breaks">City breaks</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/weekends">Weekend breaks</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/travel">Travel</category> <pubDate>Wed, 07 Sep 2022 06:00:40 GMT</pubDate> <guid>https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2022/sep/07/the-real-life-of-athens-is-here-hidden-gems-beyond-and-beneath-the-acropolis</guid> <media:content width="140" url="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/bf20c8f02225265ad265a2438d3b8af5b1ce2045/0_365_5681_3408/master/5681.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=accbac62ee182f831e3628be96bf95f1"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Photograph: AegeanPhoto/Alamy</media:credit> </media:content> <media:content width="460" url="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/bf20c8f02225265ad265a2438d3b8af5b1ce2045/0_365_5681_3408/master/5681.jpg?width=460&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=1284d0c2d51dfafc648431aae0a73c54"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Photograph: AegeanPhoto/Alamy</media:credit> </media:content> <dc:creator>Stephen Smith</dc:creator> <dc:date>2022-09-07T06:00:40Z</dc:date> </item> <item> <title>A local’s guide to Narbonne, France: late-night dancing, seafood and seaside cycle rides</title> <link>https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2022/aug/15/a-locals-guide-to-narbonne-france-late-night-dancing-seafood-and-seaside-cycle-rides</link> <description><p>Winemaker and rugby player Gérard Bertrand on the best 6am steaks, nightlife and coastal action in this relaxed Mediterranean town</p><p>Our food scene revolves around <a href="https://www.narbonne.halles.fr/" title="">Les Halles de Narbonne</a>, a splendid covered market and architectural gem from the late 19th century. It is open every day and is everyone’s favourite meeting place. More than a market, it has wine bars, bistros and tapas counters, plus fishmongers where you can feast on plump oysters and shrimps. I go there every Sunday to do my shopping. When I played rugby for Narbonne, the “third half” would sometimes carry on until morning, when we would arrive at 6am for a steak. And you’ll still find this ambience in Les Halles – along with great grilled meat – at <a href="https://www.chez-bebelle.fr/narbonne/" title="">Chez Bebelle</a>.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2022/aug/15/a-locals-guide-to-narbonne-france-late-night-dancing-seafood-and-seaside-cycle-rides">Continue reading...</a></description> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/france">France holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/city-breaks">City breaks</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/europe">Europe holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/bars">Bars, pubs and clubs</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/travel">Travel</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/culture/museums">Museums</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/culture/culture">Culture</category> <pubDate>Mon, 15 Aug 2022 06:00:31 GMT</pubDate> <guid>https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2022/aug/15/a-locals-guide-to-narbonne-france-late-night-dancing-seafood-and-seaside-cycle-rides</guid> <media:content width="140" url="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/ac7d16ac5a56e517a53951f2f6486468e051431c/0_0_1575_945/master/1575.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=cd1d76ac2335b14723b0253acb2ea132"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Illustration: Hennie Haworth/The Guardian</media:credit> </media:content> <media:content width="460" url="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/ac7d16ac5a56e517a53951f2f6486468e051431c/0_0_1575_945/master/1575.jpg?width=460&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=f1dae61fc05d65301e8ad7da9ae834a2"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Illustration: Hennie Haworth/The Guardian</media:credit> </media:content> <dc:creator>Interview by John Brunton</dc:creator> <dc:date>2022-08-15T06:00:31Z</dc:date> </item> <item> <title>Hidden Spain: where to stay and what to do off the beaten track</title> <link>https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2022/jun/25/hidden-spain-where-to-stay-and-what-to-do-off-the-beaten-track</link> <description><p>It is the UK’s favourite holiday destination, but few British tourists explore these stunning tucked-away beaches, sleepy villages and rugged national parks<br><strong><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2022/mar/26/hidden-croatia-where-to-stay-and-what-to-do-off-the-beaten-track">Hidden Croatia </a>| <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2022/apr/02/hidden-greece-where-to-stay-and-what-to-do-away-from-the-beaten-track">Hidden Greece</a> | <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2022/jun/18/hidden-france-where-to-stay-and-what-to-do-off-the-beaten-track">Hidden France</a></strong></p><p>A lot of us have been rather surprised to discover how much we like being in nature and all that outdoorsy stuff over the past couple of years. Of course, we all still love our city breaks – nothing like an exhilarating weekend in Madrid, Barcelona or Valencia to pep us up – but Spain is also really good for getting away from it all, whether in the mountains, an unspoiled stretch of coast or in a village you just happen to come across on a road trip. The Spanish love rural tourism and there are gorgeous small hotels and self-catering places all over the country.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2022/jun/25/hidden-spain-where-to-stay-and-what-to-do-off-the-beaten-track">Continue reading...</a></description> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/spain">Spain holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/travel">Travel</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/europe">Europe holidays</category> <pubDate>Sat, 25 Jun 2022 09:00:10 GMT</pubDate> <guid>https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2022/jun/25/hidden-spain-where-to-stay-and-what-to-do-off-the-beaten-track</guid> <media:content width="140" url="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a8daff93b5fa07be063e6ff38434ba1bd05fb4a2/0_0_4608_2764/master/4608.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=2661f675f6797b8d9b2423fa6e0c879e"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Photograph: agefotostock/Alamy</media:credit> </media:content> <media:content width="460" url="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a8daff93b5fa07be063e6ff38434ba1bd05fb4a2/0_0_4608_2764/master/4608.jpg?width=460&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=27b13ca631ba704a8b2855fb0cef0143"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Photograph: agefotostock/Alamy</media:credit> </media:content> <dc:creator>Annie Bennett</dc:creator> <dc:date>2022-06-25T09:00:10Z</dc:date> </item> <item> <title>Hidden France: where to stay and what to do off the beaten track</title> <link>https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2022/jun/18/hidden-france-where-to-stay-and-what-to-do-off-the-beaten-track</link> <description><p>If you dream of salt pans and chalets on stilts, wild heather-clad hillsides and car-free isles …<br><strong>Hidden … <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2022/apr/02/hidden-greece-where-to-stay-and-what-to-do-away-from-the-beaten-track">Greece</a> | <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2022/mar/26/hidden-croatia-where-to-stay-and-what-to-do-off-the-beaten-track">Croatia</a> | <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2022/apr/09/hidden-italy-where-to-stay-and-what-to-do-off-the-beaten-track">Italy</a> | <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2022/jun/11/hidden-portugal-where-to-stay-and-what-to-do-off-the-beaten-track">Portugal</a></strong></p><p>France, the world’s most popular tourist destination, is getting back on track this summer with a focus (and a €50m government investment) on eco-friendly holidays, slow travel and sustainable tourism. That means going beyond the usual hotspots to an unexplored France of bamboo forests, pink salt pans, chalets on stilts, prehistoric horses and maybe a weekend as a lighthouse keeper.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2022/jun/18/hidden-france-where-to-stay-and-what-to-do-off-the-beaten-track">Continue reading...</a></description> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/france">France holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/europe">Europe holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/cultural-trips">Cultural trips</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/travel">Travel</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/familyholidays">Family holidays</category> <pubDate>Sat, 18 Jun 2022 10:00:15 GMT</pubDate> <guid>https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2022/jun/18/hidden-france-where-to-stay-and-what-to-do-off-the-beaten-track</guid> <media:content width="140" url="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/3b0a34a5e59b8d9785a6feeab24e5e1715a44010/0_189_4000_2400/master/4000.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=8e9462b8edd88439343c3d279386c88c"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Photograph: Andia/Alamy</media:credit> </media:content> <media:content width="460" url="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/3b0a34a5e59b8d9785a6feeab24e5e1715a44010/0_189_4000_2400/master/4000.jpg?width=460&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=ca45b06534edd4925948d194a18fedc9"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Photograph: Andia/Alamy</media:credit> </media:content> <dc:creator>Jon Bryant</dc:creator> <dc:date>2022-06-18T10:00:15Z</dc:date> </item> <item> <title>Hidden Portugal: where to stay and what to do off the beaten track</title> <link>https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2022/jun/11/hidden-portugal-where-to-stay-and-what-to-do-off-the-beaten-track</link> <description><p>Hauntingly beautiful villages, thermal springs, unspoilt beaches, fairytale castles ... Portugal has so much more to offer than the bustle of the Algarve<br><strong>Hidden …<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2022/apr/02/hidden-greece-where-to-stay-and-what-to-do-away-from-the-beaten-track"> Greece</a> | <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2022/mar/26/hidden-croatia-where-to-stay-and-what-to-do-off-the-beaten-track">Croatia</a> | <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2022/apr/09/hidden-italy-where-to-stay-and-what-to-do-off-the-beaten-track">Italy</a></strong></p><p>Britain’s love affair with its <a href="https://www.historyextra.com/period/medieval/qa-why-is-portugal-known-as-britains-oldest-ally/">oldest ally</a> is set to be reignited this summer. The UK is Portugal’s biggest overseas tourist market, and it became the first EU country to allow Britons fast-tracked entry, post-Brexit, via electronic passport gates. Thanks to the easing of Covid travel restrictions, hundreds of thousands of British travellers are expected to head back there this summer, drawn mainly by its sunny south coast. But Portugal has so much more to offer than the beaches and bars of the Algarve.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2022/jun/11/hidden-portugal-where-to-stay-and-what-to-do-off-the-beaten-track">Continue reading...</a></description> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/portugal">Portugal holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/europe">Europe holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/beach">Beach holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/summer-holidays">Summer holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/familyholidays">Family holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/travel">Travel</category> <pubDate>Sat, 11 Jun 2022 10:00:16 GMT</pubDate> <guid>https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2022/jun/11/hidden-portugal-where-to-stay-and-what-to-do-off-the-beaten-track</guid> <media:content width="140" url="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/5a80dbe134ed453599f5864d5a21386dcf6ac4c8/0_0_6000_3600/master/6000.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=c4b22934e436b7497d2efe667db4f2b6"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Photograph: Jacek Sopotnicki/Alamy</media:credit> </media:content> <media:content width="460" url="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/5a80dbe134ed453599f5864d5a21386dcf6ac4c8/0_0_6000_3600/master/6000.jpg?width=460&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=3c59ae4881ebdf19c7c110381703627f"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Photograph: Jacek Sopotnicki/Alamy</media:credit> </media:content> <dc:creator>Paulo Anunciação</dc:creator> <dc:date>2022-06-11T10:00:16Z</dc:date> </item> <item> <title>Hidden Greece: where to stay and what to do away from the beaten track</title> <link>https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2022/apr/02/hidden-greece-where-to-stay-and-what-to-do-away-from-the-beaten-track</link> <description><p>Explore Greece’s wealth of secret beaches, mountains, sleepy islands and tempting tavernas<br><strong><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2022/apr/09/hidden-italy-where-to-stay-and-what-to-do-off-the-beaten-track">Hidden Italy </a>| <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2022/mar/26/hidden-croatia-where-to-stay-and-what-to-do-off-the-beaten-track">Hidden Croatia</a></strong></p><p>Gorgeous Greece has always been a classic, go-to summer holiday destination, and the pandemic served as a stark reminder that tourism is the main motor driving the economy. As a result, many new initiatives were rushed through: from improving infrastructure and promoting sustainability to developing lesser-known destinations.</p><p><a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/greece-kicks-off-tourist-season-early-meet-great-demand-2022-02-17/" title="">Early projections suggest</a> that these measures have succeeded and, if all goes well, 2022 could be a bumper season, with tourism reaching 80-90% of pre-Covid levels. So maybe this is the year to discover an out-of-the-way beach or an underrated resort, to recharge those sun-depleted batteries far from the madding holiday-deprived crowds, or to embark on a scenic mountain trek.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2022/apr/02/hidden-greece-where-to-stay-and-what-to-do-away-from-the-beaten-track">Continue reading...</a></description> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/greece">Greece holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/beach">Beach holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/summer-holidays">Summer holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/cultural-trips">Cultural trips</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/walkingholidays">Walking holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/greek-islands">Greek Islands holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/europe">Europe holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/familyholidays">Family holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/travel">Travel</category> <pubDate>Sat, 02 Apr 2022 09:00:47 GMT</pubDate> <guid>https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2022/apr/02/hidden-greece-where-to-stay-and-what-to-do-away-from-the-beaten-track</guid> <media:content width="140" url="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/964741bf7298ba2700ce9913e295783c00ff1da9/0_138_3775_2266/master/3775.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=2afc50fd0fdd3156148cb99291453d6b"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Photograph: Hemis/Alamy</media:credit> </media:content> <media:content width="460" url="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/964741bf7298ba2700ce9913e295783c00ff1da9/0_138_3775_2266/master/3775.jpg?width=460&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=dc8facee8349008bcc9ebbbe18d81a66"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Photograph: Hemis/Alamy</media:credit> </media:content> <dc:creator>John Malathronas</dc:creator> <dc:date>2022-04-02T09:00:47Z</dc:date> </item> <item> <title>Hidden Croatia: where to stay and what to do off the beaten track</title> <link>https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2022/mar/26/hidden-croatia-where-to-stay-and-what-to-do-off-the-beaten-track</link> <description><p>Explore the natural wonders, sleepy villages and car-free islands of seven lesser-known regions<br><strong><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2022/apr/02/hidden-greece-where-to-stay-and-what-to-do-away-from-the-beaten-track">Hidden Greece</a> | <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2022/apr/09/hidden-italy-where-to-stay-and-what-to-do-off-the-beaten-track">Hidden Italy</a></strong></p><p>Despite all the restrictions and uncertainty caused by the pandemic, Croatia’s tourism industry made a decent show of bouncing back last year – to about two-thirds of its 2019 levels. And the perennial hotspots of Dubrovnik, Hvar, Brač and Korčula have been as popular as ever. But while millions of people spent last year beating a well-trodden path, there are still regions, islands and beaches where the tourist footprint is lighter, the crowds fewer and the atmosphere more mellow. If you’re looking for an escape and a new discovery this year – but not the crowds – you’ll find it in these places.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2022/mar/26/hidden-croatia-where-to-stay-and-what-to-do-off-the-beaten-track">Continue reading...</a></description> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/croatia">Croatia holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/europe">Europe holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/travel">Travel</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/short-breaks">Short breaks</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/beach">Beach holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/summer-holidays">Summer holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/walkingholidays">Walking holidays</category> <pubDate>Sat, 26 Mar 2022 10:00:54 GMT</pubDate> <guid>https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2022/mar/26/hidden-croatia-where-to-stay-and-what-to-do-off-the-beaten-track</guid> <media:content width="140" url="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/caa68cd4d88f448fc3508bdd74ed01bef0519be2/0_0_4750_2849/master/4750.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=5244d6e847432c9b217e6638853b36e0"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Photograph: Getty Images</media:credit> </media:content> <media:content width="460" url="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/caa68cd4d88f448fc3508bdd74ed01bef0519be2/0_0_4750_2849/master/4750.jpg?width=460&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=11f7d30792294899a420a3f3ef28c535"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Photograph: Getty Images</media:credit> </media:content> <dc:creator>Mary Novakovich</dc:creator> <dc:date>2022-03-26T10:00:54Z</dc:date> </item> <item> <title>A holiday guide to the Canary Islands</title> <link>https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2021/may/25/a-holiday-guide-to-the-canary-islands</link> <description><p>The Canaries are Spain’s most accessible destination under current UK travel rules – and home to historical towns, dramatic coastlines, wild walks and excellent seafood</p><p>Away from their pockets of mass-tourism development, Spain’s Canaries are an archipelago of endlessly varied landscapes, slow-going villages, lively towns, gastronomic delights and a thriving local culture that is at once firmly Spanish and distinctively Canarian. With two Unesco geoparks and four national parks, these eight sun-baked islands are home to a growing lineup of sustainable tourism initiatives – and you’re never far from a dip in the Atlantic.</p><p>This week, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2021/may/21/spain-to-drop-covid-restrictions-on-british-visitors-from-24-may">Spain opened its borders to British tourists</a>, allowing them to enter without a Covid test or proof of vaccination. The change prompted UK tour operators to resume holidays to the Canary Islands – the only part of Spain exempt from the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/spain">Foreign Office’s non-essential travel warning</a>. That doesn’t mean that going on holiday to the Canaries is completely straightforward – along with the rest of Spain the islands are on the<a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/red-amber-and-green-list-rules-for-entering-england#amber-list"> amber list</a>, meaning visitors returning to the UK are required to self-isolate for 10 days and take a Covid test before landing, and two more on days two and eight. In addition, a negative PCR test is required prior to arrival if staying in an official tourism establishment. After a flurry of contradictory comments by ministers last week,<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/may/19/ministers-accused-of-sowing-confusion-over-england-travel-advice"> Boris Johnson </a>said no one should be going on holiday to amber-list destinations, though that hasn’t stopped <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/may/23/yes-but-no-but-yes-flight-bookings-soar-despite-baffling-travel-rules">airlines increasing the number of flights to them</a>, encouraged by consumer demand. As travel expert Paul Charles put it: “Consumers are voting with their feet and booking trips to Spain; they know the rules, they know it’s not illegal and they know they have to self-isolate when they get home.”</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2021/may/25/a-holiday-guide-to-the-canary-islands">Continue reading...</a></description> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/canaryislands">Canary Islands holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/spain">Spain holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/beach">Beach holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/europe">Europe holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/travel">Travel</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/walkingholidays">Walking holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/travelfoodanddrink">Food and drink</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/cultural-trips">Cultural trips</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/national-parks">National parks</category> <pubDate>Tue, 25 May 2021 06:00:21 GMT</pubDate> <guid>https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2021/may/25/a-holiday-guide-to-the-canary-islands</guid> <media:content width="140" url="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/3a28fa2b075c897f71e054d0aab914adb109a5c0/0_302_5500_3300/master/5500.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=2c45e2ebbba6a03d4e90a3236e6d1579"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Photograph: mauritius images GmbH/Alamy</media:credit> </media:content> <media:content width="460" url="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/3a28fa2b075c897f71e054d0aab914adb109a5c0/0_302_5500_3300/master/5500.jpg?width=460&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=4274477e370b5848c6c74549ef9cb5b0"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Photograph: mauritius images GmbH/Alamy</media:credit> </media:content> <dc:creator>Isabella Noble</dc:creator> <dc:date>2021-05-25T06:00:21Z</dc:date> </item> <item> <title>Spain road trip: Granada to Almería</title> <link>https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2019/aug/07/spain-road-trip-granada-alhambra-almeria-spaghetti-western</link> <description><p>The Alhambra marks the start of a drive taking in historic cities, a river valley and mountains – and ends in Almería’s spaghetti western desert<br></p><p><strong>Granada</strong> is dominated by its mighty Moorish fortress, <strong><a href="https://www.alhambradegranada.org/en/info/ticketsale.asp" title="">the Alhambra</a></strong>. Book ahead and visit early, at its least-crowded, and then spend the afternoon meandering the narrow streets and plazas of the old town – the <strong>Albaicín</strong>. Stay in this area at the 16th-century <strong><a href="https://hotelsantaisabellareal.com/en-us" title="">Santa Isabel La Real</a></strong>, with its Alhambra views, (doubles from €95 B&amp;B, parking available).</p><p>On day two, take in the Alhambra’s Nasrid palaces, Generalife and the Alcazaba before driving north-west through rolling olive country to picturesque <strong>Priego de Córdoba</strong> (N-432 &amp; A-339, 76km). The town is a restful place to be, and feels like the essence of Andalucía; its <strong><a href="http://www.andalucia.org/en/cultural-tourism/visits/cordoba/other-visits/barrio-de-la-villa/" title="">Barrio de la Villa</a></strong> is a labyrinth of fountains, churches, geraniums, with castle and panoramic views. Take all that in while staying at quaint <strong><a href="http://www.priegorural.es/Hotel-Zahor%C3%AD-o-2.html" title="">Hotel Zahorí</a></strong> (double from €55 B&amp;B).</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2019/aug/07/spain-road-trip-granada-alhambra-almeria-spaghetti-western">Continue reading...</a></description> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/spain">Spain holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/road-trips">Road trips</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/cultural-trips">Cultural trips</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/heritage">Heritage</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/granada">Granada holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/andalucia">Andalucia holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/europe">Europe holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/travel">Travel</category> <pubDate>Wed, 07 Aug 2019 05:30:39 GMT</pubDate> <guid>https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2019/aug/07/spain-road-trip-granada-alhambra-almeria-spaghetti-western</guid> <media:content width="140" url="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/06b82282dcc1223a4b9849a3923301caa6af5b8a/0_135_4795_2877/master/4795.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=12ed34bbd97372525f11dfe6fa2067bc"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Photograph: Saturnino Perez Garrido/Alamy Stock Photo</media:credit> </media:content> <media:content width="460" url="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/06b82282dcc1223a4b9849a3923301caa6af5b8a/0_135_4795_2877/master/4795.jpg?width=460&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=96f072079a5990b5d69253d60cca6ec8"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Photograph: Saturnino Perez Garrido/Alamy Stock Photo</media:credit> </media:content> <dc:creator>Sorrel Downer</dc:creator> <dc:date>2019-08-07T05:30:39Z</dc:date> </item> <item> <title>‘I wanted the 17-hour trip to go slower, not faster’: readers’ favourite European journeys</title> <link>https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2024/apr/05/i-wanted-the-17-hour-trip-to-go-slower-not-faster-readers-favourite-european-journeys</link> <description><p>The excitement of the voyage itself grabbed our tipsters as they delighted in riding trains, ferries and buses across Europe to as far afield as Norway and Turkey</p><p>Instead of a four-hour road trip from Koman to Fierzë, relax and enjoy the Albanian fjords via the Drin River. We reversed on to the <a href="https://komanilakeferry.com/">Berisha ferry</a>, which takes 10 cars, plus foot passengers. Everyone sits on deck, regardless of the weather, to take in the views, which began with an incredibly straight white line high in the rock, showing the water level during the rainy season. The scenery was magnificent with forest-clad hills and high, rocky mountains with various coloured strata. Occasionally, a remote, isolated house could be seen. After two hours, we began spotting small tourist boats and hardy kayakers before arriving at Fierzë.<br><strong>Roy Messenger</strong></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2024/apr/05/i-wanted-the-17-hour-trip-to-go-slower-not-faster-readers-favourite-european-journeys">Continue reading...</a></description> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/europe">Europe holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/public-transport-trips">Public transport trips</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/top10">Top 10s</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/railtravel">Rail travel</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/travel">Travel</category> <pubDate>Fri, 05 Apr 2024 06:00:00 GMT</pubDate> <guid>https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2024/apr/05/i-wanted-the-17-hour-trip-to-go-slower-not-faster-readers-favourite-european-journeys</guid> <media:content width="140" url="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/223b771b314b2248757b2748f687f3a5c3b2b6f7/0_365_5472_3283/master/5472.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=145e53cf94cbe0471f031593990b1cfe"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Photograph: Hugh Mitton/Alamy</media:credit> </media:content> <media:content width="460" url="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/223b771b314b2248757b2748f687f3a5c3b2b6f7/0_365_5472_3283/master/5472.jpg?width=460&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=c904a22c2bf0e2357c242399311cd4f5"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Photograph: Hugh Mitton/Alamy</media:credit> </media:content> <dc:creator>Guardian readers</dc:creator> <dc:date>2024-04-05T06:00:00Z</dc:date> </item> <item> <title>‘This is the France you dream of’: readers’ favourite travel discoveries</title> <link>https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2024/mar/22/this-is-the-france-you-dream-of-readers-favourite-travel-discoveries</link> <description><p>Medieval villages, secret alleyways and Charles de Gaulle’s retreat are just some of our tipsters’ French finds</p><p>Climbing towards the basilica from the river, we explored a zigzag of secret staircases and hidden courtyards in Lyon. These <em>traboules</em> are hard to follow, and so we had to look out for the metal plates that mark some of the entrances. There’s almost no direct way up from the river, but these routes, originally for the city’s silk workers, reveal charming back streets and private courtyards, into which visitors can stare. At the top, breathless, we loved the Basilique Nôtre-Dame de Fourvière. In the crypt we made another exciting discovery: a huge mosaic of the sea battle of Lepanto, a site we’d recently visited in Greece. <br><strong>David Innes-Wilkin</strong></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2024/mar/22/this-is-the-france-you-dream-of-readers-favourite-travel-discoveries">Continue reading...</a></description> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/france">France holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/top10">Top 10s</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/europe">Europe holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/travel">Travel</category> <pubDate>Fri, 22 Mar 2024 07:00:30 GMT</pubDate> <guid>https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2024/mar/22/this-is-the-france-you-dream-of-readers-favourite-travel-discoveries</guid> <media:content width="140" url="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/07b5e4adc8f803ff4c07cb5e87a7f1a144a64a43/0_241_5616_3370/master/5616.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=ccc7e20918c43016050a57dfb47a54a9"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Photograph: Art Kowalsky/Alamy</media:credit> </media:content> <media:content width="460" url="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/07b5e4adc8f803ff4c07cb5e87a7f1a144a64a43/0_241_5616_3370/master/5616.jpg?width=460&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=d3788ed99ba28bf8e759cb57521e23d4"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Photograph: Art Kowalsky/Alamy</media:credit> </media:content> <dc:creator>Guardian readers</dc:creator> <dc:date>2024-03-22T07:00:30Z</dc:date> </item> <item> <title>Brilliant activity breaks by readers – from Portugal to the Lake District</title> <link>https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2024/mar/15/brilliant-activity-breaks-by-readers-from-portugal-to-the-lake-district</link> <description><p>River trekking, paragliding, cycling and via ferrata feature among our tipsters’ adventurous jaunts across Europe</p><p>Spring in northern Lake Garda is an adventure paradise. I’ve been several times and enjoyed the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2019/sep/17/via-ferrata-tour-the-dolomites-northern-italy">via ferratas</a>: iron cables fixed to scrambling routes, which require fitness and sense of adventure but not technical mountaineering skills (safety equipment required). The views are amazing and varied, from gorges and ledges to grassy mountaintop finishes and, for the bold, huge vertical ladders – with castles, bastions and shrines along the route. It’s a great area, too, for hiring a bike or picking one of the many apartments that include them, to explore the paths and see the lakes and mountains by pedal power. Bored with all that? There’s also paddleboarding, windsurfing, swimming and river boat trips. All accompanied by brilliant food and gelato.<br><strong>David Thomas</strong></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2024/mar/15/brilliant-activity-breaks-by-readers-from-portugal-to-the-lake-district">Continue reading...</a></description> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/europe">Europe holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/adventure">Adventure travel</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/top10">Top 10s</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/travel">Travel</category> <pubDate>Fri, 15 Mar 2024 07:00:43 GMT</pubDate> <guid>https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2024/mar/15/brilliant-activity-breaks-by-readers-from-portugal-to-the-lake-district</guid> <media:content width="140" url="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8b864e6f5843e73576da9135b28abe947e535137/1192_1012_4693_2816/master/4693.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=814c8d23202163f52cc839c6aba930c5"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Photograph: mauritius images GmbH/Alamy</media:credit> </media:content> <media:content width="460" url="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8b864e6f5843e73576da9135b28abe947e535137/1192_1012_4693_2816/master/4693.jpg?width=460&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=9b84e0ad261b5d628d040e91b99d9698"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Photograph: mauritius images GmbH/Alamy</media:credit> </media:content> <dc:creator>Guardian readers</dc:creator> <dc:date>2024-03-15T07:00:43Z</dc:date> </item> <item> <title>‘I’ve never seen lily pads so big’: readers’ favourite gardens in Europe</title> <link>https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2024/mar/08/readers-favourite-gardens-in-europe</link> <description><p>Our tipsters enjoy glorious fragrances and waves of shimmering colour at historic and absorbing gardens from Spain to Sweden</p><p><a href="https://www.lamortella.org/en/">La Mortella</a> is an extraordinary garden we visited on the island of Ischia in the Bay of Naples. It is a wonderland of exotic plants, created in 1958 by Argentinian <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/music/2010/mar/24/susana-walton-obituary">Susana Walton</a>. Unbelievably sumptuous were the hanging orchids, and the experience was full of other delights such as the biggest lily pads I have ever seen. We were guided by the receptionist (with a talking parrot) to the cafe, where we enjoyed fantastic food and then a concert featuring music written by Susana’s husband, Sir William. The gardens are open from 30 March to 3 November (entry €12) on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. Our memory is of music, food and glorious surroundings.<br><strong>David Innes-Wilkin</strong></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2024/mar/08/readers-favourite-gardens-in-europe">Continue reading...</a></description> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/parks-and-green-spaces">Parks and green spaces</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/europe">Europe holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/gardens">Gardens</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/travel">Travel</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/top10">Top 10s</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/lifeandstyle">Life and style</category> <pubDate>Fri, 08 Mar 2024 07:00:46 GMT</pubDate> <guid>https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2024/mar/08/readers-favourite-gardens-in-europe</guid> <media:content width="140" url="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/6291c70049985703d7e018c87afe46c1a93f12db/0_147_6000_3600/master/6000.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=6c51c47a2a042e50b498a0d815d66fba"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Photograph: Wirestock, Inc./Alamy</media:credit> </media:content> <media:content width="460" url="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/6291c70049985703d7e018c87afe46c1a93f12db/0_147_6000_3600/master/6000.jpg?width=460&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=ddbcd0bceebfc9b974ec3f8e20cec9de"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Photograph: Wirestock, Inc./Alamy</media:credit> </media:content> <dc:creator>Guardian readers</dc:creator> <dc:date>2024-03-08T07:00:46Z</dc:date> </item> <item> <title>Piste off! Skiers fear new lift will threaten La Grave’s old school charm</title> <link>https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2024/mar/05/piste-off-skiers-fear-new-lift-will-threaten-la-graves-old-school-charm</link> <description><p>Proposals to build a cable car to access the retreating glacier have sparked a debate about the future of this low-key resort loved by ski tourers</p><p>There’s nothing like scrambling along a jagged granite ridge resplendent in russet and lime-green lichen, when it should be covered in snow, to remind you that the climate crisis is in full swing. My guide, Maxant Danilo, and I are at an altitude of more than 2,500 metres in the Hautes-Alpes, but even though it’s late January, conditions on south-facing slopes such as these feel more like late spring. Our snowboards are strapped to our backpacks instead of our feet.</p><p>Danilo, who works for a guide collective based in nearby La Grave, tells me the resort actually had one of the strongest starts to a winter season in recent years, with plenty of snow and low temperatures from November until the middle of January. The problem is, the constant mild weather since has melted much of the snowpack.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2024/mar/05/piste-off-skiers-fear-new-lift-will-threaten-la-graves-old-school-charm">Continue reading...</a></description> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/skiing">Skiing holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/france">France holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/europe">Europe holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/green">Green travel</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/travel">Travel</category> <pubDate>Tue, 05 Mar 2024 07:00:02 GMT</pubDate> <guid>https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2024/mar/05/piste-off-skiers-fear-new-lift-will-threaten-la-graves-old-school-charm</guid> <media:content width="140" url="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/27c7c0c67d5efe79925461e815ee5ba1bd69cfcb/0_128_7360_4415/master/7360.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=500fd71fec85e153f6f8dc314c7d3799"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Photograph: Francois Roux/Alamy</media:credit> </media:content> <media:content width="460" url="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/27c7c0c67d5efe79925461e815ee5ba1bd69cfcb/0_128_7360_4415/master/7360.jpg?width=460&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=1b657f584a2053035d007da74a708030"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Photograph: Francois Roux/Alamy</media:credit> </media:content> <dc:creator>Sam Haddad</dc:creator> <dc:date>2024-03-05T07:00:02Z</dc:date> </item> <item> <title>Skiing without clutter: on the eco-friendly slopes of Slovenia’s Julian Alps</title> <link>https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2024/feb/15/skiing-without-clutter-on-the-eco-friendly-slopes-of-slovenias-pristine-julian-alps</link> <description><p>The Vogel-Bohinj ski area lets nature do the talking: billboards and snow cannons are banned, and cable cars and car parks are tucked away in woods</p><p>Winding through Slovenia’s Julian Alps, it’s easy to miss the signs to the Vogel ski centre and carry on driving. The cable car and car park are concealed deep in woods above beautiful Lake Bohinj – a deliberate policy to keep the landscape free from tourist clutter and visible ski infrastructure. The result is one of the most natural skiing areas in Europe.</p><p>From its hidden entrance in the woods, the cable car ascends to <a href="https://www.skiresort.info/ski-resort/vogel-bohinj/">Vogel</a> and the views open up: mountains soaring above, snowy churches below, and the deep blue lake dropping away beneath until it’s the size of a puddle.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2024/feb/15/skiing-without-clutter-on-the-eco-friendly-slopes-of-slovenias-pristine-julian-alps">Continue reading...</a></description> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/skiing">Skiing holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/slovenia">Slovenia holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/ski-resorts">Ski resorts</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/europe">Europe holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/green">Green travel</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/travel">Travel</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/lifeandstyle">Life and style</category> <pubDate>Thu, 15 Feb 2024 07:00:03 GMT</pubDate> <guid>https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2024/feb/15/skiing-without-clutter-on-the-eco-friendly-slopes-of-slovenias-pristine-julian-alps</guid> <media:content width="140" url="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/0bfe88d09762dcd858a31270a3ef0cda8d9cf5a2/0_571_1500_900/master/1500.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=e95db84466a64a35cd96935a6afb37ad"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Photograph: Camilla Bell-Davies</media:credit> </media:content> <media:content width="460" url="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/0bfe88d09762dcd858a31270a3ef0cda8d9cf5a2/0_571_1500_900/master/1500.jpg?width=460&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=613d45cedf760737ccee47420aa2c39b"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Photograph: Camilla Bell-Davies</media:credit> </media:content> <dc:creator>Camilla Bell-Davies</dc:creator> <dc:date>2024-02-15T07:00:03Z</dc:date> </item> <item> <title>100 years of Winter Olympic history: why Chamonix is still king of the slopes</title> <link>https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2024/feb/01/france-chamonix-ski-olympics-king-of-the-slopes</link> <description><p>On the centenary of it hosting the first winter games, the French town has lost none of the allure felt by pioneering skiers, curlers and skaters</p><p>On a chilly winter’s day, exactly 100 years ago, four smartly dressed men boarded a train in Edinburgh. Willie Jackson and his son Laurence were both farmers, dapper Thomas Murray bred sheep and cattle, and portly Robin Welsh was a member of Edinburgh city council. At 54, he was a little older than his pals. They had deliberated for months about whether to make their journey, but in the end went for it, and what an adventure it turned out to be.</p><p>They chugged to London, then on to Paris, before taking the 13-hour train to Chamonix. As the train wound its way through the snowy Alps, they alleviated the boredom by playing countless games of bridge. In the guard’s van were their curling stones.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2024/feb/01/france-chamonix-ski-olympics-king-of-the-slopes">Continue reading...</a></description> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/skiing">Skiing holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/france">France holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/travel">Travel</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/europe">Europe holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/winter-sports">Winter sports holidays</category> <pubDate>Thu, 01 Feb 2024 07:00:45 GMT</pubDate> <guid>https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2024/feb/01/france-chamonix-ski-olympics-king-of-the-slopes</guid> <media:content width="140" url="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/e7046b3fb8377ce652637aa33be7044f97aa809a/1307_1040_4046_2428/master/4046.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=e58d71a5c77e38bf7c13963e75f18b30"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Photograph: COUTTET, Auguste/©Musée Olympique Lausanne.</media:credit> </media:content> <media:content width="460" url="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/e7046b3fb8377ce652637aa33be7044f97aa809a/1307_1040_4046_2428/master/4046.jpg?width=460&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=0559bb177973ac61758d1342e15d9238"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Photograph: COUTTET, Auguste/©Musée Olympique Lausanne.</media:credit> </media:content> <dc:creator>Jonathan Samuels</dc:creator> <dc:date>2024-02-01T07:00:45Z</dc:date> </item> <item> <title>I’ve written about France for 20 years – here are my favourite places to visit</title> <link>https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2024/mar/23/ive-written-about-france-for-20-years-here-are-my-favourite-places-to-visit</link> <description><p>After a lifetime exploring the country’s cities, coast and countryside, our France expert chooses her personal highlights<br><strong><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2024/mar/23/my-top-restaurants-and-food-discoveries-from-20-years-of-writing-about-france">My favourite places to eat in France</a></strong></p><p>When you can gaze on the salt pans of Guérande, near Nantes, cycle through lavender fields in Drôme, in the south-east, and bask in the splendour of the Cirque de Gavarnie in the Pyrénees, you have to wonder how France got so lucky with its diverse landscapes. Most recently, the volcanic landscape of the Massif Central captured my heart. The chain of extinct volcanoes runs south from the highest, Le Puy de Dôme (there’s a <a href="https://www.clermontauvergnetourisme.com/en/pages/panoramic-domes-the-cog-railway/">rack railway</a> to the top) near Clermont-Ferrand.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2024/mar/23/ive-written-about-france-for-20-years-here-are-my-favourite-places-to-visit">Continue reading...</a></description> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/france">France holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/europe">Europe holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/familyholidays">Family holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/travel">Travel</category> <pubDate>Sat, 23 Mar 2024 11:00:19 GMT</pubDate> <guid>https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2024/mar/23/ive-written-about-france-for-20-years-here-are-my-favourite-places-to-visit</guid> <media:content width="140" url="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/087c68c4d29b0144802b228d4f4d6ac039292092/0_374_5616_3370/master/5616.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=6cb6f5ec2ede04e8856ebb910a1b4cbb"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Photograph: CW Images/Alamy</media:credit> </media:content> <media:content width="460" url="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/087c68c4d29b0144802b228d4f4d6ac039292092/0_374_5616_3370/master/5616.jpg?width=460&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=c6c4842edd6ee3afda3251ceceafe696"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Photograph: CW Images/Alamy</media:credit> </media:content> <dc:creator>Carolyn Boyd</dc:creator> <dc:date>2024-03-23T11:00:19Z</dc:date> </item> <item> <title>Breathtaking: 24 secret beaches in southern Europe</title> <link>https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2024/jan/20/24-of-the-best-under-the-radar-beaches-in-southern-europe-greece-spain-france-croatia-italy-portgual</link> <description><p>Dreaming of warm seas and quiet, sunny shores? Our travel writers pick their favourite beaches in Greece, Spain, France, Croatia, Italy and Portgual</p><p><strong>Seychelles, Ikaria<br></strong>One of Lonely Planet’s best-value destinations for 2024, the Blue Zone island of Ikaria is renowned for the longevity of its inhabitants. On an island dotted with spectacular coves, Seychelles beach, 15 miles west of the capital, Agios Kirikos, is still a major lure. It’s a steep scramble to reach the sand, which is indicated by a roughly painted arrow in the middle of the road near the remote port of Magganitis (itself famed for a taverna where they serve seafood fresh from the boat).</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2024/jan/20/24-of-the-best-under-the-radar-beaches-in-southern-europe-greece-spain-france-croatia-italy-portgual">Continue reading...</a></description> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/beach">Beach holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/europe">Europe holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/summer-holidays">Summer holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/familyholidays">Family holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/travel">Travel</category> <pubDate>Sat, 20 Jan 2024 07:00:53 GMT</pubDate> <guid>https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2024/jan/20/24-of-the-best-under-the-radar-beaches-in-southern-europe-greece-spain-france-croatia-italy-portgual</guid> <media:content width="140" url="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/380666174fad44d1a93e7ac88c17541550afab25/0_0_5464_3278/master/5464.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=4f8f77ce25c4fe23839e28374acb4a3e"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Photograph: Gatsi/Getty Images</media:credit> </media:content> <media:content width="460" url="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/380666174fad44d1a93e7ac88c17541550afab25/0_0_5464_3278/master/5464.jpg?width=460&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=96a75676a9443b54e83cbbea032d151e"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Photograph: Gatsi/Getty Images</media:credit> </media:content> <dc:creator>Sorrel Downer, Liz Boulter, Carolyn Boyd, Mary Novakovich, Audrey Gillan, Heidi Fuller-Love</dc:creator> <dc:date>2024-01-20T07:00:53Z</dc:date> </item> <item> <title>‘The old town is adorned with twinkling lights’: readers’ favourite Christmas breaks in Europe</title> <link>https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2023/dec/01/readers-favourite-christmas-breaks-europe-uk</link> <description><p>Our tipsters revel in Christmas markets, seasonal tipples and live choral performances from Bath to the Black Forest</p><p>Salzburg’s Christmas markets are among the very best, and there are plenty of them too, with at least 10 main ones across the season. The <a href="https://www.salzburg.info/en/salzburg/advent/salzburg-advent-singing">Salzburg Advent festival</a> (1-17 Dec) at the <a href="https://www.salzburgerfestspiele.at/en/l/grosses-festspielhaus">Great Festival Hall</a>, Residenzplatz, is a memorable show and highly recommended. With snow falling most winters, the city has that beautiful wintry romantic atmosphere. And best of all is a horse-drawn carriage ride through the snowy landscape, wrapped in a blanket, with a hot drink in hand. Especially perfect for a couples getaway.<br><strong>Colin Snoad</strong></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2023/dec/01/readers-favourite-christmas-breaks-europe-uk">Continue reading...</a></description> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/europe">Europe holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/shopping-trips">Shopping trips</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/short-breaks">Short breaks</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/christmas">Christmas</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/top10">Top 10s</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/lifeandstyle">Life and style</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/travel">Travel</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/city-breaks">City breaks</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/familyholidays">Family holidays</category> <pubDate>Fri, 01 Dec 2023 07:00:09 GMT</pubDate> <guid>https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2023/dec/01/readers-favourite-christmas-breaks-europe-uk</guid> <media:content width="140" url="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/77909378d7114ee374910e3a6a89307a0030d6b9/0_243_4507_2704/master/4507.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=db40b65a51d8533ddcd62d5b318a3697"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Photograph: SCStock/Getty Images/iStockphoto</media:credit> </media:content> <media:content width="460" url="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/77909378d7114ee374910e3a6a89307a0030d6b9/0_243_4507_2704/master/4507.jpg?width=460&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=04f46788bcb437b9761acc3e391dee7c"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Photograph: SCStock/Getty Images/iStockphoto</media:credit> </media:content> <dc:creator>Guardian readers</dc:creator> <dc:date>2023-12-01T07:00:09Z</dc:date> </item> <item> <title>Postcard from Bordighera: autumn sun on Italy’s Ligurian coast</title> <link>https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2023/sep/27/postcard-from-bordighera-autumn-sun-on-italys-ligurian-coast</link> <description><p>Extravagant villas, wonderful food, exotic gardens and a calm beach attracted British expats to Bordighera in the 1880s – and it’s just as enticing today</p><p>Leaving my wife and daughter under a parasol on Bordighera’s beach, my teenage son and I set off in search of the largest <em>Ficus macrophylla</em> in western Europe.</p><p>The tree, commonly known as the strangler fig, was planted in 1886 by Clarence Bicknell, British botanist, collector, lover of Esperanto and chaplain of Bordighera’s Anglican church.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2023/sep/27/postcard-from-bordighera-autumn-sun-on-italys-ligurian-coast">Continue reading...</a></description> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/italy">Italy holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/europe">Europe holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/beach">Beach holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/city-breaks">City breaks</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/travelfoodanddrink">Food and drink</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/familyholidays">Family holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/travel">Travel</category> <pubDate>Wed, 27 Sep 2023 06:00:50 GMT</pubDate> <guid>https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2023/sep/27/postcard-from-bordighera-autumn-sun-on-italys-ligurian-coast</guid> <media:content width="140" url="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/44c9150ed29417d2b93209a1afbad552805c4753/0_352_5315_3191/master/5315.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=e8a08f5837cbfc9f9253d39a555bf495"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Photograph: Vito Arcomano Photography/Alamy</media:credit> </media:content> <media:content width="460" url="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/44c9150ed29417d2b93209a1afbad552805c4753/0_352_5315_3191/master/5315.jpg?width=460&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=8cdeb5f16fe40fe3123c83d865388fb4"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Photograph: Vito Arcomano Photography/Alamy</media:credit> </media:content> <dc:creator>Jon Bryant</dc:creator> <dc:date>2023-09-27T06:00:50Z</dc:date> </item> <item> <title>A family rail adventure in Sicily</title> <link>https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2023/sep/09/family-rail-adventure-from-the-uk-to-sicily</link> <description><p>A family heads to Sicily and takes in Palermo, Catania and the circular narrow gauge railway around Mount Etna</p><p>It took the second thud to rouse me. Worried I’d slept through it, I slid up the blind to find our train pulling into the port city of Villa San Giovanni in Calabria, Italy. Not quite 6am, the last of the night’s sky was taking leave: navy clouds pulled apart before my eyes, a single neon-pink patch igniting the ridgeline of the Peloritani mountains in north-east Sicily.</p><p>As I watched the waters of the Messina Strait turn silver in the dawn light, the train jerked and we began to roll the way we’d come. Shunted back and forth, I realised the carriages were uncoupling: this was the moment I’d waited years to witness. Little legs in pink pyjamas appeared on the ladder and my five-year-old daughter climbed down from her berth. “Are we riding on the ferry yet?”</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2023/sep/09/family-rail-adventure-from-the-uk-to-sicily">Continue reading...</a></description> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/sicily">Sicily holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/italy">Italy holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/familyholidays">Family holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/europe">Europe holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/public-transport-trips">Public transport trips</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/travel">Travel</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/railtravel">Rail travel</category> <pubDate>Sat, 09 Sep 2023 06:00:16 GMT</pubDate> <guid>https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2023/sep/09/family-rail-adventure-from-the-uk-to-sicily</guid> <media:content width="140" url="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/ad9a58c0f94d33a9d89c78d2f7f090830569619c/0_0_5842_3506/master/5842.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=70d6abcb884399eb06bb1751d59f3626"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Photograph: NAPA/Alamy</media:credit> </media:content> <media:content width="460" url="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/ad9a58c0f94d33a9d89c78d2f7f090830569619c/0_0_5842_3506/master/5842.jpg?width=460&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=b5bc8f1a982f65a6dcacd2aaaa4c2010"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Photograph: NAPA/Alamy</media:credit> </media:content> <dc:creator>Monisha Rajesh</dc:creator> <dc:date>2023-09-09T06:00:16Z</dc:date> </item> <item> <title>Relaxed old-school glamour: springtime in Cefalù, Sicily</title> <link>https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2024/mar/09/relaxed-old-school-glamour-springtime-in-cefalu-sicily-italy</link> <description><p>With its extraordinary architecture, maze-like streets and ever-present sunshine, it’s no accident that so many film-makers have used the town as a location</p><p>I was eating homemade <em>crostata</em> (jam tart) on a roof terrace in the Sicilian town of Cefalù and reading about Helius, the ancient Greek god of the sun. Sicily is supposedly the inspiration for the deity’s island in The&nbsp;Odyssey and this makes perfect sense – with more than 300 days of sunshine a year, Helius would like it&nbsp;here. The island is especially lovely in spring, when it’s quieter, cooler and&nbsp;more peaceful than in the scorching summer.<br><br>Cefalù is an ancient fishing village almost exactly halfway along Sicily’s north coast. It’s prized by Italians as one of the island’s loveliest beach-side places. Barbara De Gaetani, a licensed tour guide who grew up here, told me&nbsp;the allure of the place is difficult to&nbsp;explain: “Many other places are gorgeous but not as seductive. You can&nbsp;feel life flowing here, and it’s no accident that many film-makers have used the town as a location.”</p><p>Compared with Sicily’s ritzier spots, to me it feels more authentic and has a&nbsp;sort of relaxed old-school glamour. It’s also easy to reach by train from Palermo (about 50 minutes); from Catania, on the other side of the island, it takes around four hours, including a&nbsp;change in Messina.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2024/mar/09/relaxed-old-school-glamour-springtime-in-cefalu-sicily-italy">Continue reading...</a></description> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/sicily">Sicily holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/italy">Italy holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/europe">Europe holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/beach">Beach holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/travelfoodanddrink">Food and drink</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/cultural-trips">Cultural trips</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/travel">Travel</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/lifeandstyle">Life and style</category> <pubDate>Sat, 09 Mar 2024 07:30:25 GMT</pubDate> <guid>https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2024/mar/09/relaxed-old-school-glamour-springtime-in-cefalu-sicily-italy</guid> <media:content width="140" url="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/79a71d722c888b6c8e7c1356dcc686d7bdba61e8/0_63_5910_3546/master/5910.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=5905194abc8f585c98a0c96c1a179af7"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Photograph: Mirko Costantini/Alamy</media:credit> </media:content> <media:content width="460" url="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/79a71d722c888b6c8e7c1356dcc686d7bdba61e8/0_63_5910_3546/master/5910.jpg?width=460&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=c069ee9b906da80827af58d24bb2f4bc"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Photograph: Mirko Costantini/Alamy</media:credit> </media:content> <dc:creator>Laura Coffey</dc:creator> <dc:date>2024-03-09T07:30:25Z</dc:date> </item> <item> <title>Brora, the best British beach you’ve never heard of</title> <link>https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2023/sep/06/brora-scotland-the-best-british-beach-youve-never-heard-of</link> <description><p>With great water sports, coastal walks, wildlife and an ice-cream parlour, this idyllic spot in Sutherland is the perfect hangout – and no one seems to know about it</p><p><br>I was weaving through an underwater forest, russet strands of seaweed billowing around me like mermaids’ hair. As we snorkelled, the water was at times shallow enough that my fins scraped the sand; at others, the kelp-smothered rocks seemed to drop away, leaving the seabed out of reach. A flicker of movement in the corner of my eye had me spinning around to find my guide, Rhionna, pointing to a small, crimson-red sea anemone on a dark rock, its tentacles quivering in the current.</p><p>Afterwards, we sat in the shallows and peeled off our fins, moving back and forth with the motion of the waves. A cluster of bemused campervanners were watching from above. And who could blame them? Like them, I’d never associated the North Sea – least of all far northern Scotland – with snorkelling. “How was it?” one asked once I’d dripped my way up to the car park. “Absolutely brilliant,” I said, my cheeks strained from smiling.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2023/sep/06/brora-scotland-the-best-british-beach-youve-never-heard-of">Continue reading...</a></description> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/scotland">Scotland holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/uk">United Kingdom holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/travel">Travel</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/europe">Europe holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/water-sports-holidays">Water sports holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/beach">Beach holidays</category> <pubDate>Wed, 06 Sep 2023 07:21:47 GMT</pubDate> <guid>https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2023/sep/06/brora-scotland-the-best-british-beach-youve-never-heard-of</guid> <media:content width="140" url="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/353a5abab39f2795ee8c367adfacdbf0c898b5be/0_1643_2998_1799/master/2998.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=53b3f91aa43da86b7f28b18c61fbce7a"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Photograph: Emma Gibbs</media:credit> </media:content> <media:content width="460" url="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/353a5abab39f2795ee8c367adfacdbf0c898b5be/0_1643_2998_1799/master/2998.jpg?width=460&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=80edcb4ea5ae6752671e7373e9874cb7"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Photograph: Emma Gibbs</media:credit> </media:content> <dc:creator>Emma Gibbs</dc:creator> <dc:date>2023-09-06T07:21:47Z</dc:date> </item> <item> <title>10 of the best seawater swimming pools in the UK and Europe</title> <link>https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2023/aug/26/10-of-the-best-seawater-swimming-pools-in-the-uk-and-europe</link> <description><p>From the Canaries to Norway via Brittany and Scotland, these coastal havens offer safer sea swimming without the swell of waves</p><p>Whether they are naturally formed, cast in concrete on a rock shelf or hewn from the rock itself, tidal pools solve a problem by providing safe access to the sea. Plunging into rich saltwater in a sheltered area protected from the turbulent waves, yet still refreshed by the tide twice a day, is an unfettered joy.</p><p>The idea of <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/swimming" title="">sea bathing</a> for health benefits became popular in the mid-18th century, and sea pools were a way to offer easy access. Beyond this, tidal pools became important as social infrastructure: they serve as vital community spaces, like village greens, town halls and other places we meet and socialise. After having being left to the elements for years, in recent times many tidal pools are being bolstered by communities looking to restore, protect and manage them. These include the dramatic Saltcoats Bathing Pond in North Ayrshire.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2023/aug/26/10-of-the-best-seawater-swimming-pools-in-the-uk-and-europe">Continue reading...</a></description> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/swimming-holidays">Swimming holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/beach">Beach holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/europe">Europe holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/lifeandstyle">Life and style</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/swimming">Swimming</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/travel">Travel</category> <pubDate>Sat, 26 Aug 2023 06:00:31 GMT</pubDate> <guid>https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2023/aug/26/10-of-the-best-seawater-swimming-pools-in-the-uk-and-europe</guid> <media:content width="140" url="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/aa9719912627cb4ddbd5dd2ec777e5a87573d809/0_10_4987_2993/master/4987.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=dca45e4e65aa6c4b019a56c9ec9352ef"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Photograph: Thibault Poriel</media:credit> </media:content> <media:content width="460" url="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/aa9719912627cb4ddbd5dd2ec777e5a87573d809/0_10_4987_2993/master/4987.jpg?width=460&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=68d9b14dec8ddd3a7b86207cb562bcbb"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Photograph: Thibault Poriel</media:credit> </media:content> <dc:creator>Chris Romer-Lee</dc:creator> <dc:date>2023-08-26T06:00:31Z</dc:date> </item> <item> <title>The Var side: the quieter corner of the French Riviera</title> <link>https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2023/aug/12/var-region-the-quieter-side-of-the-french-riviera-france</link> <description><p>The less-visited Var region of the Côte d’Azur is full of glorious beaches, heritage-rich towns and bucolic vineyards</p><p>Saint-Tropez may be known for glitz, but a few miles along the coast, the very ground beneath my feet glitters like a jet-setter hotel. I’m in the Var department in south-eastern France, where the Maures massif meets the Mediterranean and the bedrock is mica schist, a flaky stone that sparkles in the Provençal sunshine (and also makes for great wine).</p><p>This particular glitz is the only thing this quiet region has in common with better-known stretches of the Côte d’Azur. A glance at a map shows why: in much of the Riviera the railway hugs the shore, but at Saint-Raphaël it loops inland, rejoining the coast at Toulon, 60 miles away. (Some say farmers refused to sell their land in the 1860s.) No rail access has meant fewer tourists, less development and, today, an area of green hills and coast dotted with small towns and quiet, even wild, beaches.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2023/aug/12/var-region-the-quieter-side-of-the-french-riviera-france">Continue reading...</a></description> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/france">France holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/beach">Beach holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/travelfoodanddrink">Food and drink</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/europe">Europe holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/travel">Travel</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/summer-holidays">Summer holidays</category> <pubDate>Sat, 12 Aug 2023 06:00:10 GMT</pubDate> <guid>https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2023/aug/12/var-region-the-quieter-side-of-the-french-riviera-france</guid> <media:content width="140" url="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f5330f63a19152d739826aaa67a61eb8a76b4049/0_193_5279_3168/master/5279.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=9d364dc3bbb6a276e6b7bc3bda3ebabc"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Photograph: pr</media:credit> </media:content> <media:content width="460" url="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f5330f63a19152d739826aaa67a61eb8a76b4049/0_193_5279_3168/master/5279.jpg?width=460&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=cfebffbfd39e2f6d93e82370db73c2f4"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Photograph: pr</media:credit> </media:content> <dc:creator>Liz Boulter</dc:creator> <dc:date>2023-08-12T06:00:10Z</dc:date> </item> <item> <title>Nine of the best budget holidays in Europe for young people</title> <link>https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2023/jul/01/nine-of-the-best-budget-holidays-in-europe-for-young-people</link> <description><p>From beach breaks to bear spotting, here are ideas for trips to inspire without breaking the bank. Plus, top tips for cutting costs on trips</p><p><strong>Hike hut</strong><strong>-to</strong><strong>-hut on Austria’s </strong><strong>Eagle</strong><strong>’s Way</strong></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2023/jul/01/nine-of-the-best-budget-holidays-in-europe-for-young-people">Continue reading...</a></description> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/budget">Budget travel</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/adventure">Adventure travel</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/europe">Europe holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/beach">Beach holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/city-breaks">City breaks</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/travel">Travel</category> <pubDate>Sat, 01 Jul 2023 10:00:10 GMT</pubDate> <guid>https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2023/jul/01/nine-of-the-best-budget-holidays-in-europe-for-young-people</guid> <media:content width="140" url="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/0145ea176a496c7dd261cf010316cdb858ef33e0/0_495_7360_4417/master/7360.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=3ab0d76bc8a31cfe940c3c094a74df53"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Photograph: mauritius images GmbH/Alamy</media:credit> </media:content> <media:content width="460" url="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/0145ea176a496c7dd261cf010316cdb858ef33e0/0_495_7360_4417/master/7360.jpg?width=460&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=747532aa85a10c34908a2a02c28865d2"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Photograph: mauritius images GmbH/Alamy</media:credit> </media:content> <dc:creator>Guardian writers</dc:creator> <dc:date>2023-07-01T10:00:10Z</dc:date> </item> <item> <title>An Everest of elevation: bikepacking in Slovenia</title> <link>https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2024/apr/11/an-everest-of-elevation-bikepacking-in-slovenia</link> <description><p>It’s not for everyone – all you have to get you through are a bike, a bivvy bag and your aching limbs – but the views in the Julian Alps are simply sublime</p><p><br>“What did you do on your holiday?” “I slept rough for eight days and climbed the height of Everest on a bike.” Not likely to entice the average holidaymaker – but if you’re reading this, you’re probably not one of those. But you may be interested in a bikepacking, bivvying tour of the western Slovenian Alps.</p><p>This spectacular and varied loop inspired by the cycling guru Joe Cruz on <a href="https://bikepacking.com/routes/bikepacking-slovenia/">Bikepacking.com</a> takes some beating. It’s not the 260 miles (418km) that’s the challenge, but the roughly 9,000m (26,400ft) of total climbing. That’s a Ben Nevis a day.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2024/apr/11/an-everest-of-elevation-bikepacking-in-slovenia">Continue reading...</a></description> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/slovenia">Slovenia holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/europe">Europe holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/travel">Travel</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/cyclingholidays">Cycling holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/camping">Camping holidays</category> <pubDate>Wed, 10 Apr 2024 23:00:15 GMT</pubDate> <guid>https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2024/apr/11/an-everest-of-elevation-bikepacking-in-slovenia</guid> <dc:creator>Dave Hall</dc:creator> <dc:date>2024-04-10T23:00:15Z</dc:date> </item> <item> <title>My hike on the hardest trail in Europe – Corsica’s GR20</title> <link>https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2024/apr/10/my-hike-on-the-hardest-trail-in-europe-corsica-france-gr20</link> <description><p>Even an ‘easy’ part of this 125-mile walking trail on the French island presents challenges for mind and body, but the rewards for persistence are infinite</p><p>I’m on the easiest bit of one of the easiest legs of the GR20 – the self-styled hardest trek in Europe – so naturally here I am alone, lost in a cloud, with hands so cold I am seriously considering peeing on them.</p><p>In the guidebook, this was billed as a shortish, flattish day, a mere 10.2 miles (16.5km) with 670 metres of ascent. I had it circled as one to enjoy. Perhaps if it were warm, I would have a dip in Lac de Ninu, douse the fires in my calves. But when hail came, adding spikes to a slapping wind, and thunder began beating a drum behind the blank grey horizon, I thought: “Better put more layers on than take off.” I struggle with the zips, but just about find enough digital strength without resorting to anything unsanitary.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2024/apr/10/my-hike-on-the-hardest-trail-in-europe-corsica-france-gr20">Continue reading...</a></description> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/corsica">Corsica holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/france">France holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/walkingholidays">Walking holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/adventure">Adventure travel</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/europe">Europe holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/travel">Travel</category> <pubDate>Wed, 10 Apr 2024 06:00:41 GMT</pubDate> <guid>https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2024/apr/10/my-hike-on-the-hardest-trail-in-europe-corsica-france-gr20</guid> <media:content width="140" url="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7344027889f9f43f2c3472f5a6bdea21c618a6fb/0_506_4080_2449/master/4080.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=469d240b6532b69f0707bfa81771fb37"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Photograph: James Gingell</media:credit> </media:content> <media:content width="460" url="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7344027889f9f43f2c3472f5a6bdea21c618a6fb/0_506_4080_2449/master/4080.jpg?width=460&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=2657dca2fc893d0d792a709a168b5370"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Photograph: James Gingell</media:credit> </media:content> <dc:creator>James Gingell</dc:creator> <dc:date>2024-04-10T06:00:41Z</dc:date> </item> <item> <title>It’s like travelling back 700 years: healthy pleasures in rural Andalucía</title> <link>https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2024/mar/26/healthy-pleasures-in-rural-andalucia-spain</link> <description><p>A group of seven Moorish villages in southern Spain are the perfect place to recharge – offering mountain air, sparkling springs and any excuse for a party</p><p>On our first morning in Atalbéitar, I walk into the kitchen to make coffee and wonder if I’m feeling the effects of the previous night’s festivities. Then I remember it’s not me; it’s the kitchen floor, which is on a gentle slope. I have to be careful carrying the coffee back to bed as the steps are at different heights, and the doorways are small enough to bump your head on. As I lie there, beneath a ceiling constructed of woven chestnut branches and stone slabs, I survey my surroundings, and come to the pleasing conclusion that there’s not a single right angle in sight.</p><p>We are staying in a Moorish house in this Andalucían village, and I may as well have travelled back the 700 years to when it was first built. I’ve been visiting Spain for years, as my husband leads wilderness tours here and we’ve travelled from one end to the other, seeking out hidden corners and mountain trails. But arriving in Atalbéitar at night, negotiating its tangle of passageways, ducking under ancient covered walkways while spring water rushes past our feet, we both agree, we’ve never been anywhere quite like this. The village gives the impression of having grown out of the land, rather than been imposed upon it. Its streets are too narrow for cars, the village cats roam freely, and the only sound is the occasional bleating of goats across the slopes. As I look out over the valley on this crisp winter’s morning, the sun is blazing in a solid blue sky and early almond blossom adds splashes of pastel pink to the rocky hills. Everything is still and silent.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2024/mar/26/healthy-pleasures-in-rural-andalucia-spain">Continue reading...</a></description> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/travel">Travel</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/spain">Spain holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/andalucia">Andalucia holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/europe">Europe holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/walkingholidays">Walking holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/walking">Walking</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/culture/culture">Culture</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/heritage">Heritage</category> <pubDate>Tue, 26 Mar 2024 07:00:22 GMT</pubDate> <guid>https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2024/mar/26/healthy-pleasures-in-rural-andalucia-spain</guid> <media:content width="140" url="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/0f77ec294effc533efae80bd6a5ed5e926f0f1ab/0_352_4736_2843/master/4736.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=79084b13dd36bb833f22d8ff2b05948b"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Photograph: QCumber/Alamy</media:credit> </media:content> <media:content width="460" url="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/0f77ec294effc533efae80bd6a5ed5e926f0f1ab/0_352_4736_2843/master/4736.jpg?width=460&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=6b70f8067d415e2cce3cd534d21462ee"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Photograph: QCumber/Alamy</media:credit> </media:content> <dc:creator>Lois Pryce</dc:creator> <dc:date>2024-03-26T07:00:22Z</dc:date> </item> <item> <title>My hammock was my window on to the valley: a new type of walking trail in the Swiss Alps</title> <link>https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2024/mar/18/my-hammock-was-my-window-on-to-the-valley-a-new-type-of-walking-trail-in-the-swiss-alps</link> <description><p>The world’s first hammock hiking trail in southern Switzerland takes hikers into quiet corners of the Alps – with their beds in their backpack for lazy pit stops and overnight stays</p><p>It was a summer’s morning in the Lepontine Alps in Ticino, Switzerland’s Italian-speaking canton, and there was the vague threat of a&nbsp;storm on the horizon. I was already out on a&nbsp;trail through larch and hazelnut forest, backpack shouldered, aiming for a mountain pass. Up ahead, a herd of short-haired goats grazed, their bells chiming merrily, while behind me the peaks that tower over the <a href="https://www.ascona-locarno.com/en/explore/vallemaggia">Maggia Valley</a> shuffled in and out of view from behind the clouds – each top grimacing, stone teeth chipped and bared.</p><p>I hike in Switzerland every summer, but this time I’d been drawn to a new adventure, billed as the world’s first hammock hiking trail, west of popular Locarno. Launched last year, it begins in the village of <a href="https://www.ticino.ch/en/commons/details/Bosco-Gurin/134235.html">Bosco Gurin</a> and appeals to those who like combining vertiginous hikes with the more horizontal pastime of lounging in a&nbsp;hammock. It’s low-key, low-impact travel, offering a chance to get to know&nbsp;one of Switzerland’s most extraordinary valleys.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2024/mar/18/my-hammock-was-my-window-on-to-the-valley-a-new-type-of-walking-trail-in-the-swiss-alps">Continue reading...</a></description> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/switzerland">Switzerland holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/walkingholidays">Walking holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/camping">Camping holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/adventure">Adventure travel</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/europe">Europe holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/travel">Travel</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/green">Green travel</category> <pubDate>Mon, 18 Mar 2024 07:00:05 GMT</pubDate> <guid>https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2024/mar/18/my-hammock-was-my-window-on-to-the-valley-a-new-type-of-walking-trail-in-the-swiss-alps</guid> <media:content width="140" url="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/13e114d2443592f4c7350ff19818f9ef6f3da2eb/0_1699_3024_1814/master/3024.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=46f42d7bca0eddcff354916dcedfa0d7"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Photograph: Ggurijnar Hermi</media:credit> </media:content> <media:content width="460" url="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/13e114d2443592f4c7350ff19818f9ef6f3da2eb/0_1699_3024_1814/master/3024.jpg?width=460&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=a9274852300fc1ded24c0c19cb1b16ee"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Photograph: Ggurijnar Hermi</media:credit> </media:content> <dc:creator>Mike MacEacheran</dc:creator> <dc:date>2024-03-18T07:00:05Z</dc:date> </item> <item> <title>10 of the best European activity breaks with a spirit of adventure</title> <link>https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2024/mar/16/10-best-european-activity-breaks-with-a-spirit-of-adventure</link> <description><p>Fancy seatrekking, swimrunning or bodypainting? These and more familiar outdoor pursuits are on offer at destinations from northern Norway to the Greek islands</p><p>The Scotland-based company Slow Adventure advocates a more mindful approach to activity holidays. Options include climbing and yoga in the Italian Alps, mountain biking in Sweden and horse riding and rambling in Iceland. On the Finnish Happiness trip, guests stay in log cabins by a lake&nbsp;in Lapland and activities include canoeing under the midnight sun, hiking, swimming, swamp foraging and daily saunas. On all trips, 5% of the fee goes to local conservation projects, which in Finland could mean helping protect the rare Saimaa ringed seal, preserving forests or supporting a&nbsp;children’s environmental charity.<br><em>From £876 for five nights, <a href="https://www.slow-adventure.com/adventures">slow-adventure.com</a></em></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2024/mar/16/10-best-european-activity-breaks-with-a-spirit-of-adventure">Continue reading...</a></description> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/adventure">Adventure travel</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/travel">Travel</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/europe">Europe holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/croatia">Croatia holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/italy">Italy holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/sweden">Sweden holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/france">France holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/greece">Greece holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/poland">Poland holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/norway">Norway holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/finland">Finland holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/iceland">Iceland holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/spain">Spain holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/albania">Albania holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/portugal">Portugal holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/climbing-holidays">Climbing holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/swimming-holidays">Swimming holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/water-sports-holidays">Water sports holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/walkingholidays">Walking holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/horseriding">Horse riding holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/surfing">Surfing holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/yoga-holidays">Yoga holidays</category> <pubDate>Sat, 16 Mar 2024 11:00:04 GMT</pubDate> <guid>https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2024/mar/16/10-best-european-activity-breaks-with-a-spirit-of-adventure</guid> <media:content width="140" url="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/94247de0abc97f21a6f8dd58bf68fea9c1724b9b/0_0_1900_1140/master/1900.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=dfb53b140f11e18c22ba68412bb7b0fc"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Photograph: ©Metsä Kolo</media:credit> </media:content> <media:content width="460" url="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/94247de0abc97f21a6f8dd58bf68fea9c1724b9b/0_0_1900_1140/master/1900.jpg?width=460&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=4d77e13544c035555c576195a068ea3f"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Photograph: ©Metsä Kolo</media:credit> </media:content> <dc:creator>Rachel Dixon</dc:creator> <dc:date>2024-03-16T11:00:04Z</dc:date> </item> <item> <title>We found a swimming pool in every city on our Interrail trip around Europe</title> <link>https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2024/mar/16/we-found-a-swimming-pool-in-every-city-on-our-interrail-trip-around-europe</link> <description><p>Swimming at every stop left us fresh and invigorated – and led us to parts of cities that tourists seldom visit<br><br></p><p>Stepping into the lobby of&nbsp;the <a href="https://www.gellertbath.hu/">Gellért Baths</a> in Budapest is like stepping back in time. Having resisted the temptation to look at photos of the baths online, I was thrilled at my first sight of the spectacular art nouveau interior.<br><br>After changing, my husband and I did a few laps of the main indoor pool, admiring the intricately decorated columns surrounding us. Afterwards, we explored the building’s labyrinth of geothermal pools before emerging on to the enormous roof terrace. There, we swam in the heated outdoor pool under bright sunshine.</p><p>Less touristy than the more party-style <a href="https://www.szechenyibath.hu/">Széchenyi Baths</a>, the Gellért offered us the chance of a decent swim and steam.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2024/mar/16/we-found-a-swimming-pool-in-every-city-on-our-interrail-trip-around-europe">Continue reading...</a></description> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/europe">Europe holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/swimming-holidays">Swimming holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/railtravel">Rail travel</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/city-breaks">City breaks</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/public-transport-trips">Public transport trips</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/swimming">Swimming</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/travel">Travel</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/lifeandstyle">Life and style</category> <pubDate>Sat, 16 Mar 2024 07:00:03 GMT</pubDate> <guid>https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2024/mar/16/we-found-a-swimming-pool-in-every-city-on-our-interrail-trip-around-europe</guid> <media:content width="140" url="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/267ee1ec8984f5fdaa6192af24d35ab92ab55897/0_124_5760_3456/master/5760.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=becb9ca3646853585a97d470d1db5279"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Photograph: robertharding/Alamy</media:credit> </media:content> <media:content width="460" url="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/267ee1ec8984f5fdaa6192af24d35ab92ab55897/0_124_5760_3456/master/5760.jpg?width=460&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=9b2ad4e3f66b12ff135ea3ac8b7f1dbf"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Photograph: robertharding/Alamy</media:credit> </media:content> <dc:creator>Sarah Kovandzich</dc:creator> <dc:date>2024-03-16T07:00:03Z</dc:date> </item> <item> <title>Six of the best places in France for paddleboarding, kayaking and canoeing</title> <link>https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2024/mar/13/10-best-places-in-france-paddleboarding-kayaking-canoeing</link> <description><p>Turquoise seas, tranquil canals and glacial lakes … France offers some of the world’s most scenic paddling routes</p><p>When I first visited Corsica, I hiked down the spine of the Corsican mountains, barely seeing the sea except for glimpses from a bird’s eye perspective. This time, as I hugged the coastline, dipping in and out of sea caves, I felt as though I was winding through the arteries of Corsica. This route starts from Piantarella, just east of Bonifacio on the southern tip of the island. It’s a sheltered lagoon, a deceptive idyll before you head out into open water, fringed by the northernmost islets of the seabird-heavy Lavezzi Islands. As you paddle west along the coast, the cliffs get higher and the coast is so haphazardly splintered that it looks as though someone has taken a sledgehammer to it. At the end of the route, just before Bonifacio, is an extraordinary cave, the Grotte de Saint-Antoine, with an almost perfect circle carved into the roof and a tiny sliver of sand the colour of shortbread at the back of it. Allow for half a day at least: this route is the better part of nine miles there and back.<br><em><a href="https://acheda-hotel.com/">A Cheda</a>, just outside Bonifacio, has a garden full of palms and wall creepers and double rooms from </em>€<em>150</em></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2024/mar/13/10-best-places-in-france-paddleboarding-kayaking-canoeing">Continue reading...</a></description> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/canoeingandkayaking">Canoeing and kayaking holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/france">France holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/travel">Travel</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/europe">Europe holidays</category> <pubDate>Wed, 13 Mar 2024 07:00:06 GMT</pubDate> <guid>https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2024/mar/13/10-best-places-in-france-paddleboarding-kayaking-canoeing</guid> <media:content width="140" url="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a0699276087a8f3cf25cd6bbe0a37a4372177c01/0_0_3775_2264/master/3775.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=1bb20f966f8bdafd8c0652f30ce2ae39"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Photograph: Hemis/Alamy</media:credit> </media:content> <media:content width="460" url="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a0699276087a8f3cf25cd6bbe0a37a4372177c01/0_0_3775_2264/master/3775.jpg?width=460&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=2a47703f3d7c7b35b77a2bdaab644a6a"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Photograph: Hemis/Alamy</media:credit> </media:content> <dc:creator>Anna Richards</dc:creator> <dc:date>2024-03-13T07:00:06Z</dc:date> </item> <item> <title>My kayaking adventure off Sweden: If Henry Moore had designed an archipelago, this would be it</title> <link>https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2024/jan/03/my-kayaking-adventure-off-sweden</link> <description><p>Our writer and his son head off to explore a Swedish archipelago by kayak – but the World Cup and worsening weather intervene</p><p>I think of it as the “adventure moment”: when the guide says goodbye; when the boat unexpectedly pulls up to the riverbank and the captain tells you to get off; when no one speaks any language you understand; when you have to call on your own resources. The adventure starts when there is no one to tell you what to do next.</p><p>At the <a href="https://kajaktivtjorn.se/en/">Kajaktiv Tjörn</a> kayak centre on the Swedish island of Koön, my son Niall and I are about to have an adventure moment. We listen to the advice from the owner, Patrick. There is a bit about deteriorating weather three days ahead. I’m more concerned about where to wild camp tonight and getting a route marked on the map. Ahead lies the Bohuslän archipelago, a&nbsp;vast pointillist masterpiece in smooth granite: thousands of islets and outcrops along the west coast of Sweden, some the size of an overturned kayak, others large enough to land a rescue helicopter.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2024/jan/03/my-kayaking-adventure-off-sweden">Continue reading...</a></description> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/sweden">Sweden holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/canoeingandkayaking">Canoeing and kayaking holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/travel">Travel</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/europe">Europe holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/scandinavia-holidays">Scandinavia holidays</category> <pubDate>Wed, 03 Jan 2024 07:00:15 GMT</pubDate> <guid>https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2024/jan/03/my-kayaking-adventure-off-sweden</guid> <media:content width="140" url="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d19ac445cbcb8688308e18e5ef54a374ebfcd040/0_0_4090_2454/master/4090.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=4e14cdb83fb08ddc0686e620755e69cc"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Photograph: Kevin Rushby</media:credit> </media:content> <media:content width="460" url="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d19ac445cbcb8688308e18e5ef54a374ebfcd040/0_0_4090_2454/master/4090.jpg?width=460&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=517394671354fd687b3e67a5731ea348"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Photograph: Kevin Rushby</media:credit> </media:content> <dc:creator>Kevin Rushby</dc:creator> <dc:date>2024-01-03T07:00:15Z</dc:date> </item> <item> <title>I took on Europe’s toughest trek – Corsica’s spectacular GR20 – and came back changed for the better</title> <link>https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2024/jan/02/my-mountain-adventure-hiking-corsicas-spectacular-g20</link> <description><p>With a tent and little else our writer set off along the GR20, known as Europe’s toughest trek. It was an experience that sharpened the senses and offered rich rewards</p><p>How best to rejuvenate? Many opt for doing less: loafing, lounging, luxuriating. The problem with this is that modern life is lived mostly in the mind. Even if you don’t have a job that requires control of an inbox, the exhausting PR project of modern social interaction is inescapable. If you&nbsp;simply stop working, the same processes still whir on, even if in the background. By contrast, actively <em>doing</em> something entirely different, something requiring energy and devotion, draws voltage away from tired wires, lets them cool. That’s why I chose to do the GR20, the path that travels the length of Corsica. People call it the hardest trek in Europe, and that’s what I wanted: to descend from brain into body and restore myself through physical effort.</p><p>On the map, the challenge didn’t seem too daunting. I simply needed to take a bag containing a tent and little else to Calenzana in the north of the island, walk 15km or so every day, and end up in Conca in the south roughly 12 days later.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2024/jan/02/my-mountain-adventure-hiking-corsicas-spectacular-g20">Continue reading...</a></description> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/corsica">Corsica holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/france">France holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/europe">Europe holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/climbing-holidays">Climbing holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/walkingholidays">Walking holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/adventure">Adventure travel</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/travel">Travel</category> <pubDate>Tue, 02 Jan 2024 07:00:53 GMT</pubDate> <guid>https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2024/jan/02/my-mountain-adventure-hiking-corsicas-spectacular-g20</guid> <media:content width="140" url="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f73bab7ae04ab4bab426067262d7f3dca8f0ace2/0_371_7360_4417/master/7360.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=288f92cf36caafbb5d76bd26f1f8ebf1"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Photograph: robertharding/Alamy</media:credit> </media:content> <media:content width="460" url="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f73bab7ae04ab4bab426067262d7f3dca8f0ace2/0_371_7360_4417/master/7360.jpg?width=460&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=f78efefea0cd9413de950e58a989f95a"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Photograph: robertharding/Alamy</media:credit> </media:content> <dc:creator>James Gingell</dc:creator> <dc:date>2024-01-02T07:00:53Z</dc:date> </item> <item> <title>A taste of Spain’s sunshine coast: a foodie tour of Costa de la Luz</title> <link>https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2023/aug/26/foodie-tour-of-costa-de-la-luz-spain</link> <description><p>The coast around Cadiz is enjoying a foodie revolution, thanks to a growing number of cool and innovative beach restaurants</p><p>The Basques have Juan Mari and Elena <a href="https://www.arzak.es/en/" title="">Arzak</a>, the Catalans <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/food/ferran-adria" title="">Ferran Adrià</a>, and Andalucía has “el Chef del Mar” Ángel León – chefs who have put their region’s cuisine on the world food map.</p><p>The 46-year-old León is a celebrity in Spain. His fascination with sea rice and fish scales and his restaurant <a href="https://www.aponiente.com/" title="">Aponiente</a> in El Puerto de Santa María have attracted attention to the Costa de la Luz. It is the only restaurant in Andalucía to hold three Michelin stars and has made people think again about the town on the Cádiz coast that, until recently, could best be described as “faded”.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2023/aug/26/foodie-tour-of-costa-de-la-luz-spain">Continue reading...</a></description> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/andalucia">Andalucia holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/spain">Spain holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/europe">Europe holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/travelfoodanddrink">Food and drink</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/restaurants">Restaurants</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/travel">Travel</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/food/spanish">Spanish food and drink</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/food/food">Food</category> <pubDate>Sat, 26 Aug 2023 10:00:35 GMT</pubDate> <guid>https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2023/aug/26/foodie-tour-of-costa-de-la-luz-spain</guid> <media:content width="140" url="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a26d5a341e51c62c53e38f264a3af21547534185/0_350_7264_4359/master/7264.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=95051e6cff7a9805b60ea8a9474951b8"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Photograph: Josep Gallardo</media:credit> </media:content> <media:content width="460" url="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a26d5a341e51c62c53e38f264a3af21547534185/0_350_7264_4359/master/7264.jpg?width=460&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=080081786dd5b1945c8e203a80929262"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Photograph: Josep Gallardo</media:credit> </media:content> <dc:creator>Sorrel Downer</dc:creator> <dc:date>2023-08-26T10:00:35Z</dc:date> </item> <item> <title>‘The star was the teriyaki oxtail doughnut’: readers’ favourite restaurants and tapas bars in Spain</title> <link>https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2023/aug/25/readers-favourite-restaurants-tapas-bars-food-spain</link> <description><p>From a farm restaurant near Santiago de Compostela to a veggie-friendly Málaga diner, our tipsters share their gastronomic Spanish finds</p><p>If I had to recommend one place to eat tapas in Spain, it’s <a href="http://www.barpoe.com/index.asp">Bar Poë</a> in Granada, not only for the food, but for the atmosphere. It’s always bustling (come early to guarantee a seat) with a local and international crowd. Run by a friendly husband-and-wife duo, every drink comes with a free dish, and, unusually, you can choose your tapa. International and big on flavour, the menu includes Portuguese piri piri dishes, salt cod, curries and more. <br><strong>Jason Rich</strong></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2023/aug/25/readers-favourite-restaurants-tapas-bars-food-spain">Continue reading...</a></description> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/spain">Spain holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/restaurants">Restaurants</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/travelfoodanddrink">Food and drink</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/travel">Travel</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/top10">Top 10s</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/europe">Europe holidays</category> <pubDate>Fri, 25 Aug 2023 10:00:07 GMT</pubDate> <guid>https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2023/aug/25/readers-favourite-restaurants-tapas-bars-food-spain</guid> <media:content width="140" url="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/04315f2870ffd4ff46b42b3640467c5b8fc18543/0_0_5519_3312/master/5519.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=c402a41ae6a3a65496f763988a3563fd"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Photograph: Magdalena Bujak/Alamy</media:credit> </media:content> <media:content width="460" url="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/04315f2870ffd4ff46b42b3640467c5b8fc18543/0_0_5519_3312/master/5519.jpg?width=460&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=487cb6c76ea21d8c493d2443b09f1112"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Photograph: Magdalena Bujak/Alamy</media:credit> </media:content> <dc:creator>Guardian readers</dc:creator> <dc:date>2023-08-25T10:00:07Z</dc:date> </item> <item> <title>I ventured out of busy central Berlin – and it rose to the occasion</title> <link>https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2023/aug/24/i-ventured-out-of-busy-central-berlin-and-it-rose-to-the-occasion</link> <description><p>As the city grapples with over-tourism, a new initiative aims to promote its lesser-visited outer reaches, where a mix of funky culture, historic gems and untamed greenery awaits</p><p><strong> </strong><br>“A cable car? Here in Berlin?” The man cooking my burger at <a href="https://piris-chicken.com/">Piri’s</a> – a self-proclaimed dive bar diner in Neukölln, an inner-city neighbourhood in the south-east of the city - is sceptical. “Yeah,” says his Kiwi colleague. “My parents did it. There’s a garden or something.”</p><p>Both cooks have lived here for upwards of 10 years. They refer to Neukölln, affectionately, as “the ghetto”, seemingly oblivious to the presence of an 18th-century castle, <a href="https://schloss-gutshof-britz.de/">Schloss Britz</a>, and the 220 lush acres of <a href="https://www.britzergarten.de/">Britzer Garten</a> in the vicinity – let alone the cable car, in the north-eastern district of Marzahn, a 45-minute train ride away.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2023/aug/24/i-ventured-out-of-busy-central-berlin-and-it-rose-to-the-occasion">Continue reading...</a></description> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/berlin">Berlin holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/europe">Europe holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/travel">Travel</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/culture/culture">Culture</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/germany">Germany holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/walkingholidays">Walking holidays</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/world/holocaust">Holocaust</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/railtravel">Rail travel</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/restaurants">Restaurants</category> <pubDate>Thu, 24 Aug 2023 06:00:00 GMT</pubDate> <guid>https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2023/aug/24/i-ventured-out-of-busy-central-berlin-and-it-rose-to-the-occasion</guid> <media:content width="140" url="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/9fff1a89dfef46e2651ed0bf4a97c711dd381f35/0_374_5616_3370/master/5616.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=e2549e9a15c6177bdd6b2742c4947d28"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Photograph: Alamy</media:credit> </media:content> <media:content width="460" url="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/9fff1a89dfef46e2651ed0bf4a97c711dd381f35/0_374_5616_3370/master/5616.jpg?width=460&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=6d9a7bffa9006e5eafeb68b821e7063a"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Photograph: Alamy</media:credit> </media:content> <dc:creator>Sarah Rodrigues</dc:creator> <dc:date>2023-08-24T06:00:00Z</dc:date> </item> <item> <title>35 of the best restaurants in Europe</title> <link>https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2023/may/20/35-best-restaurants-in-europe</link> <description><p>From Ireland to Italy, our local writers reveal their favourite places to eat across the continent <br><strong><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2023/may/20/the-key-to-an-unforgettable-holiday-just-focus-on-the-food-felicity-cloake">Felicity Cloake: ‘Discovering a great restaurant can make a trip’</a></strong> </p><p><strong>Jah Izakaya and Sake Bar, Copenhagen</strong><strong><br></strong>Japanese and Korean restaurants are taking over Copenhagen at the moment, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/food/2020/feb/28/what-noma-did-next-new-nordic-food-rene-redzepi-claus-meyer-locavore-foraging" title="">fusing New Nordic philosophies</a> with the food of east Asia. Opened in 2018, Jah Izakaya, on a street near the meatpacking district, is an unpretentious, fun and inviting Japanese-inspired gastropub. It serves <em>gyoza</em>, <em>tonkatsu</em>, Danish squid and a fabulous beef car</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2023/may/20/35-best-restaurants-in-europe">Continue reading...</a></description> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/restaurants">Restaurants</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/travelfoodanddrink">Food and drink</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/food/restaurants">Restaurants</category> <category domain="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/europe">Europe holidays</category> <pubDate>Sat, 20 May 2023 06:00:50 GMT</pubDate> <guid>https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2023/may/20/35-best-restaurants-in-europe</guid> <media:content width="140" url="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/796bcbc528deba82d2967e5f6212bf3c42a46be6/0_100_4898_2940/master/4898.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=c0f7ad706f5e74676579a013d20b524b"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Photograph: Chris Tonnesen/JAH Izakaya</media:credit> </media:content> <media:content width="460" url="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/796bcbc528deba82d2967e5f6212bf3c42a46be6/0_100_4898_2940/master/4898.jpg?width=460&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=b8c2de78acd206013fcc6499a2264cc5"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Photograph: Chris Tonnesen/JAH Izakaya</media:credit> </media:content> <dc:creator>Guardian Staff</dc:creator> <dc:date>2023-05-20T06:00:50Z</dc:date> </item> </channel></rss> If you would like to create a banner that links to this page (i.e. this validation result), do the following:
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