Grace Beard

From the Alps in the north to the tip of Italy’s toe – plus its assorted islands – there’s a bewildering range of places to stay in this utterly enchanting country. Not surprisingly, in a land with such a long and fascinating history, it’s not too difficult to find hotels in converted Renaissance palaces, medieval towers and rustic farmhouses. Add to the rich mix some profound regional differences from north to south – in everything from architecture to food, culture and things to do – and you’ve got a country that hugely rewards those willing (and wealthy enough) to do a 21st-century style grand tour of its glorious span. We’ve picked some of the most outstanding hotels and resorts to help you do just that, and experience the trip of a lifetime.

Lisbon has become something of a tourist hotspot in recent years and with this comes the rise of big hotel chains. But as a Time Out reader, we know you'll be after somewhere with a little more je ne sais quoi. That's why, when we drew up this list, we took into account design, location, service, amenities, architecture and value for money, while also considering vibe and aesthetic. From low-key and tasteful boutiques to hotel spas bursting with luxury, the options are all here for you. Now, all you need to do is pick a fave… RECOMMENDED: The best things to do in LisbonThe best boutique hotels in LisbonThe best eateries at Time Out Market Lisboa Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in every hotel featured below, we've based our list on top reviews and amenities to find you the best stays. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.

We know that London is the best city in the world. But like any metropolis, it can also get a bit much sometimes. Occasionally, what you want isn’t to drink cocktails in a trendy bar after seeing the hottest Gen Z bedroom popstar at the Islington Assembly Hall, but a little peace and quiet, actually. Enter: the weekend getaway, invented by the Victorians (probably), there’s a reason why Londoners have been taking sojourns to the seaside on sunny bank holidays since the 1800s.  Together, we’ve come up with a cracking list of our favourite day trip destinations near London. There’s something for everyone here, from historic cities and cute villages to sandy beaches and rolling countryside. We've included some recommendations for ace restaurants, quaint little pubs, and our favourite things to do at each destination on the list – all of which are close enough to the city that you can get there and back in one sweet day.    RECOMMENDED:✨The best day trips an hour from London👪 The best family day trips from London☀️ The best weekend trips from London🏘️ The best Airbnbs near London🌳 The best quirky Airbnbs in the UK This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, click here.

Earlier this year, we published our annual hotlist of the world’s greatest cities. Some of them got top marks for food; others boast world-class public transport and walkable streets – but which are the best of the bunch when it comes to art and culture? To find out, we quizzed 18,500 locals in cities across the planet about the culture scene in their hometown. Based on their insights, each city was given a score for both the quality and affordability of its cultural offering, and only the highest-scoring cities for each country made the longlist. We then turned to Time Out’s culture experts – our global network of city editors and art and culture writers – to vote for their favourite destinations.  The result? The 20 most exciting, dynamic cultural hubs on the planet right now, where experiencing art in all its forms is affordable and accessible – both to those who live there and to those who visit. In each of these cities, culture isn’t only confined to museums, theatres and legacy art venues (though there are plenty of those). You’ll find pop-up festivals in unlikely locations, late-night museum parties, community gallery crawls, and a new cohort of creatives thinking up the next big thing. Ever been to a rave in a cave? Or a nature-inspired literary festival? You’ll find all that and more on this list. From Amsterdam to Abu Dhabi, these are today’s cultural capitals. See you out there! RECOMMENDED:🌃 The world’s best cities in 2025🍜 The world’s best cities for food righ

Whether you need to get away from it all, stretch your legs a bit, or remind yourself of how tiny and insignificant you are in the immensity of Mother Nature, there’s only one thing for it: it‘s time to take a hike. Be it a month-long spiritual pilgrimage, a coastal amble or a mountain scramble, there are magnificent trails the world over – and we’ve rounded up some of the very best on the planet to help you plan your next great hike. From red rock canyons in the American Southwest to the bonnie lochs of the West Highland Way, there’s a hike, trek or trail on this list that’s calling your name. With each hike tried and tested by our editors and writers, we’ve got all the info on where to go, when to go and how long to set aside, plus tips and tricks and the best sights to look for along the way. All you need to do is pack your bags. These are the world’s greatest hikes, according to Time Out. Updated April 2025: We’ve added four new trails to this list to help you plan for summer hikes – and moved a certain Spanish pilgrimage to the top spot. RECOMMENDED:🌲 The best national parks in the world ⛰️ The best destinations for solo female travellers🌊 The most spectacular places to swim in the world🏝️ The best beaches in the world🚂 The best train journeys around the world

Want a drink? You've come to the right place. This is Time Out’s list of best bars in London, our curated guide to London’s drinking scene, featuring the buzziest booze dens in the capital right now. If it’s on this list, it’s excellent. These are the 50 places we'd recommend to a friend, because we love drinking in them and have done many times over. From classy cocktail joints to delightful dives, hotel bars, speakeasys, bottle shops, rooftops and wine bars, London's got them all. But what makes a truly good bar? Well, our critieria for inclusion on this list is simple; a menu of genius drinks is important, but so is overall vibe – there’s no point having the perfect paloma if you have to drink it in a bar that smells of bins. To make the Top 50, a bar has to be fun, inclusive, and full of lovely folk as well as looking the part.  April 2025: A rash of great new bars have opened in London over the past year or so and many of them have made the immediate jump to our hallowed Top 50. The latest additions to our list include rowdy sports bar meets 80s horror movie set Bloodsports in Covent Garden, whisky wonderland Dram Bar on Denmark Street, the hypnotic Bar Lotus in Dalston, Below Stone Nest in Chinatown, Rasputin’s by London Fields, and Bar Lina, an Italian aperitivo spot underneath a famous Soho deli. Now go forth and drink. RECOMMENDED: Like bars? Then you'll love London's best pubs.  Leonie Cooper is Time Out London’s Food and Drink Editor, and she'll have a gibson marti

There’s no season more welcome than the start of summer. Brighter days, warmer temperatures and more time outdoors results in an uplifted mood and a general lust for life. It also helps when you have a stellar summer playlist – the kind that draws on golden classics and modern hits alike to really add a healthy dose of that feel-good feeling we all love. Here at Time Out, our team of writers and editors have you covered when it comes to the most essential summer anthems. From a Bill Withers staple to some Sabrina Carpenter sparkle, our playlist of the best summer songs captures all the fun, warmth and mood-lifting magic you want when it comes to soundtracking your summer months. RECOMMENDED: 🎤 The best karaoke songs ❤️ The best love songs🎉 The best party songs🕺 The best albums of 2025 so far

You’ve done the classics: the capital cities, the TikTok viral spots, the cities with their own Netflix show. And don’t get us wrong, we love the classics for a reason. But there’s a downside to these big, bustling, bucket-list-worthy travel destinations. If you’ve ever queued an hour for a pastry, spent your day’s budget on a coffee or had to book a museum three months in advance, you’ll know it as well as us: it’s the crowds.  And following a year of demonstrations and anti-tourism measures in European hotspots about overtourism, there’s never been a better time to think outside the box for your travels – especially when so many incredible European spots are getting overlooked. And hey, we’re not gatekeepers here, so we regularly update this list with places we think are being criminally overlooked, from culture-packed city breaks to under-the-radar national parks. So if you’re travelling on a budget, searching for quiet or just desperate to try somewhere new, these are the most underrated places to visit in Europe right now, according to Time Out experts.  RECOMMENDED:🏰 The best city breaks in Europe📍 The most beautiful places in Europe Ella Doyle and Grace Beard are Time Out’s travel editors. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. This guide includes affiliate links, which have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our aff

What is the most beautiful place in the world? Well, beauty is subjective – it’s in the eye of the beholder, so they say – so that’s really up to your own definition. To some, there’s nowhere more beautiful than Bolivia’s otherworldly mirrored salt flats; to others, California’s rugged coast takes the crown.  Luckily, the world isn’t held to the same rigid beauty standards as humans are. We asked our network of globetrotting travel writers to tell us the most beautiful place they’ve ever been to. The resulting list is a definitive, but by no means exhaustive, guide to the most stunning spots our planet has to offer. We update this list regularly, ensuring we’re including the big-hitters while considering the impact of overtourism and spotlighting lesser-known beauty spots. From gigantic glaciers and shape-shifting beaches to ancient woodland and lantern-lit cities, here’s what we reckon are the most beautiful places on Earth – chosen by travel writers who’ve seen them all IRL. Grace Beard is Time Out’s travel editor, based in London. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines and check out our latest travel guides written by local experts.RECOMMENDED:⛰️ The most beautiful UNESCO World Heritage Sites🗺 The most underrated travel destinations in the world🧭 The best places to travel solo🏝 The best beaches in the world

Lisbon is the city for aesthetes. Or rather, it’s the city for anyone who has ever accidentally walked into a lamppost, fallen down the curb or tripped over thin air trying to take the perfect shot of urban beauty. From massive monasteries to those gorgeous rambling streets and – oh! – the interiors of the churches, this city is a visual feast and then some. So where better to find somewhere equally lavish and artfully decked out to stay in than the Portuguese capital? When so many of a city’s hotels are, quite literally, named after palaces, you know you’re onto a winner when it comes to luxury accommodation options. We’ve rounded up a long-ish list of our favourites, including some longtime faves and a few characterful newbies. Trust us, you won’t be disappointed. Updated March 2025: We've updated our list with two five-star hotels: the well-named EPIC SANA Lisboa Hotel and the literary-loving Books & Wine boutique hotel.  RECOMMENDED:The best things to do in LisbonThe best Airbnbs in LisbonThe best boutique hotels in Lisbon Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in every hotel featured below, we've based our list on top reviews and amenities to find you the best stays. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.

In January, we published our annual ranking of the world’s best cities. To create the list, we quizzed city-dwellers on everything from happiness and nightlife to walkability – and while all these factors are important in making a city great, let’s face it: a city is nothing without its food. From street eats to fine dining, family-run taverns to cutting-edge kitchens, eating and drinking is the backbone of local culture in our cities and the reason many of us choose to travel.  So, in order to figure out the great culinary metropolises of today, we surveyed thousands of people around the world about food in their city. We asked locals to rate their city’s food scene across 18 different criteria, including quality, affordability and attributes from ‘family-friendly’ to ‘experimental’.  Each city was ranked according to quality and affordability ratings, alongside a score from a panel of Time Out food experts – editors, food critics and Time Out Market chefs – who were asked to share their insights into the most exciting cities for food right now. To create the final ranking, we included only the highest-scoring city for each country to ensure the list reflects culinary cities globally. We then asked our global network of food writers to tell us exactly what makes their city such an exciting place to eat right now. The result? A very tasty list indeed. In each of these 20 cities, you’ll find the best of the old-school and the new. There are long-standing street food stalls and

People who don’t live in cities will tell you they’re busy, lonely and expensive places. But there’s a reason so many people choose to live in them: with world-class art and culture, unbeatable food and nightlife, buzzing neighbourhoods and a dizzying amount of stuff to do and see, there’s simply no better place to be.  Every year, we take the pulse of city living by quizzing thousands of locals across the planet about life in their hometowns. This year, more than 18,500 city-dwellers shared their insights on everything from food, nightlife and culture to affordability, happiness and the overall city vibe. When urban living can sometimes feel isolating and costly, this year we wanted to get a sense of what, exactly, makes a city feel like home. Sure, the nightlife is great, but is the city safe and walkable? Is good quality food and art available at a reasonable price? Is it easy to make friends, find love, and access nature?  Livability was a key factor in our ranking this year. But a great city to live in is, naturally, a great city to visit. So, along with the thousands of responses from locals around the world, we asked Time Out’s global network of city experts to vote on the places they think are particularly exciting right now. After crunching all that data, here we are: Time Out’s definitive ranking of the world’s best cities in 2025. Read on to see how your hometown fared… RECOMMENDED:🛍️ The coolest neighbourhoods in the world right now🌎 The best things to do in the

If you’ve got a window seat on the right side of the plane landing at Tenerife South airport, it’s impossible to miss the terracotta labyrinth of Barceló Tenerife. This massive, 272-room hotel feels like a small town, with low buildings clustered around plant-filled courtyards and a river-like pool snaking through its centre. Once checked in, you’re given a map of the place, like you would at a zoo or a theme park. There are restaurants and bars, hairdressers and shops, a nightclub, a volleyball court, a climbing wall, a lake, even an on-site environmental reserve. In other words, there’s everything you could possibly need here from an all-inclusive – and then some.  Why stay at Barceló Tenerife? Barceló Tenerife is on the island’s sun-soaked southern coast, and like many of the chain’s properties, it’s beautiful in a way that makes every effort to preserve its natural environment, rather than impose on it. Between clay-coloured buildings (all of them low-lying – you won’t find towerblock hotels in this corner of the island), there are cacti-studded patios and palm tree-filled courtyards. Interiors are shady and calm, full of rattan furnishings, wood and ceramics. But Barceló Tenerife is as fun as it is relaxing – this is an all-inclusive, after all, with families and couples catered to with a huge breadth of entertainment, adventure and food and drink offerings.  What are the rooms like at Barceló Tenerife? The 272 rooms here range from poolside doubles and spacious family s

Other than an old sugar cane mill, a clifftop art museum and a beach with imported sand, there’s not much going on in Calheta. So you might wonder why this sleepy seaside town is home to two of Madeira’s seven Savoy hotels; the other five a forty-minute drive away in Funchal, the island’s capital. But after a long weekend spent at the newest offering, Savoy Signature’s glossy Saccharum Resort, I get why a hotel like this exists somewhere like Calheta. Saccharum makes the most of the area’s quiet, wild beauty, positioning the isolated town as a worthwhile spot to come for some real peace.  The resort is built between the hills and the ocean on the site of a former sugar cane mill; a heritage the hotel, like the town, flaunts with pride. There are chairs made from old barrels, railings modelled after sugarcanes, and random, massive pieces of old machinery sitting around. Even the restaurants are themed around the beloved regional product, with names like ‘Alambique’ and ‘Trapiche’ referencing sugarcane processes. (On that note, go to Trapiche for a poolside lunch and save the multi-course tasting menu at Alambique for that one blow-out dinner). An ocean-facing infinity pool is the hotel’s focal point; indeed, it feels like most of the hotel convenes here, some of them paying €35 (!) for the privilege of a poolside bed. ‘Premium’ guests get access to Bali beach beds and their own sundeck, but don’t worry, there are loads of vantage points to take in the island’s rugged splendour

Leave the latex at home – Bar Kinky is not a kinky bar, in the traditional sense. But that doesn’t mean it’s not sexy. Behind a curtain and down in the basement of Georgian restaurant Kinkally, this stripped-back cocktail den is all moody metals and concrete, livened up by sultry red lighting. And with only six or so seats at the bar, it’s as intimate as it gets. Allow the bartender to walk you through a menu of bold, playful cocktails with unlikely flavour combinations (vodka with beetroot, walnut and blue cheese, for example, or an elderflower spritz with a dash of soy sauce). If you’re not feeling too kinky, the team is happy to whip up any of the classics. A menu of ‘naughty nibbles’ is on hand for any hunger pangs, including delicious little beef tartare sandwiches and shrimp rolls.  Order this Guinness fans will enjoy the ‘Vision’ – sweet and creamy at the top, sour and slightly savoury at the bottom, made with whiskey, basil, coconut, horchata and milk tea. Time Out tip This place is walk-ins only, but if you’re worried about getting a seat, message the bar on Instagram and they’ll get back to you within minutes to let you know if they have any space. Big group? Ask about the private, bookable room.

Five years after opening in Soho, modern Sri Lankan restaurant Kolamba now has a second London venue. Unlike the first, which is next door to Dishoom on the perpetually thronging-with-crowds Kingly Street, Kolamba East sits on a quiet Shoreditch backstreet. Inside it’s equally calm: a large, warmly-lit warehouse space with sand-coloured furnishings, jazz playing through the speakers, and that pleasing low chatter that invites you to settle down and enjoy the vibe.  Even though mango achchuri makes my eyes water, I can’t stop going back for more Where the decor has understated nods to Sri Lanka, like palm tree print wallpaper in the loo, the menu is a dizzying showcase of the island nation’s brightest, boldest flavours. I love spice, but if you don’t, I wouldn’t bother booking: most dishes we try are seriously punchy. Take the mango achchuri, an option from the ‘snacks’ portion of the menu: cold slithers of mango soaked in a fiery chilli dressing. Even though it makes my eyes water – maybe because it makes my eyes water – I can’t stop going back for more. We move onto starters: hot butter soft shell crab (lovely and sweet, but more drowning than swimming in butter) and jackfruit roti (surprisingly plump, served with an energising little cucumber and coriander salad). Sri Lankan cooking uses a lot of dry spice, so you can expect a level of heat that chars the back of your throat – kind of like an illicit cigarette. Lamb shank is a buttery-tender hunk of meat, slow-cooked over

The first thing you should know about Ellenborough Park is that it’s posh – thoroughly posh, in all the ways you’d expect a stately country home bordering the Cheltenham Racecourse to be. There’s a boot room for renting Dubarry boots and wax jackets. Bookable activities include archery, polo, horseback riding and shooting. When the races are on, guests decked out in their finest tweeds and furs are chauffeured to the heart of the action in private luxury cars (it’s worth noting you can walk there in less than 20 minutes, but heels won’t do well with the mud).  A little hoity-toity maybe, but it’s all part of the fun of being here. When you stay in a fifteenth-century manor house, walking to your room means ducking under archways and tip-toeing along creaky floorboards in slightly wonky hallways. Gothic windows frame ridiculously idyllic views across manicured grounds and the Cotswolds hills (keep an eye out for deer). The floor and tables shake when someone walks across the restaurant. Ellenborough Park simply has character, even if that character wouldn’t be out of place in Saltburn. The 61 rooms, unique in size and shape – some regal, others cosy and cottage-like – have been crafted with class by luxury interior designer Nina Campbell. Ours is one of the three Manor Suites, tastefully decorated with navy walls, mahogany Chippendale furniture and plump floral armchairs. Everything has the exceptional attention to detail you only get in really nice hotels: perfectly chopped c

For most Londoners, Alexandra Park is synonymous with Alexandra Palace or ‘Ally Pally’, the Grade II-listed music venue that sits atop the park’s hill and hosts the annual unruly World Darts Championship. But the surrounding parkland is vast – 196 acres, no less – and drop-dead beautiful no matter the season. I’ve spent many summer days steering a giant unicorn around the boating lake, crunching through carpets of yellow leaves on the tree-lined avenues in autumn, and sledding down the hill (when we get enough snow) in winter. And, of course, that panoramic city view is there to admire year-round.

Amsterdam has its share of historic hotels, but none can boast the legacy of the Doelen. The oldest hotel in the Dutch capital and a designated national heritage site, it’s here in the old banquet hall that Rembrandt’s The Night Watch – one of the world’s most famous paintings – was first displayed, way back in the seventeenth century. While you’ll now find it hanging a ten-minute tram ride away in the Rijksmuseum, a copy of the original is still proudly displayed in the hotel’s Rembrandt Suite.  The entire hotel is modelled after the Dutch master, notably so in the on-site restaurant Omber, where the crockery, menus and even the flowers are all the same shade of deep orangey-brown (apparently Rembrandt’s favourite colour to paint with). The food, we’re told, is influenced by seventeenth-century Dutch flavours, which mostly translates to a lot of pickling and smoking (in other words, delicious).   The lobby could do with a hint of the restaurant’s dark-toned moodiness. It’s almost garishly opulent, coldly lit by a huge crystal chandelier, with ornate gold swirls bordering the walls and enormous vases of flowers, which look somehow a bit stiff and staged. But the rooms and suites are much less stuffy. Our canal-facing suite was the perfect mix of understated and sophisticated, simply decorated with quality furniture, complete with a plush king-sized bed. The best bit? The huge marble-floored bathroom with his-and-hers sinks and a free-standing tub. The Doelen was taken over by

I arrived at Mama Shelter from the beach – sand in my shoes, covered in sun lotion, hair stringy with seawater – and found myself sharing the lift with an impeccably dressed group ascending to the rooftop for sundowners. Not that anyone gave a damn, because anything goes here, the only Portuguese outpost of Mama Shelter’s brand of playful boutique hotels strung across the continent.  It’s as cheeky as its sister venues (sex toys for sale in the lobby, superhero masks on the lampshades, a pretty extensive adult film menu on the telly), but with little Portuguese flourishes to remind you where you are – the forest green tile-clad exterior, a Remodelado tram mural in the lift, ocean-wave carpets in the bedrooms, marine-themed decor in the restaurant and locally-made arts and crafts dotted all over the place.  But, let’s be real, you’re not about to forget you’re slap-bang in the heart of Lisbon. Mama Shelter is just off the lively central thoroughfare of Avenida da Liberdade, and in the other direction you have the boutiques and bars of Príncipe Real – honestly, take any route from the hotel’s corner doors and you’re in for a great walk. Before (or after) you go, though, stick around for a cocktail on Mama’s rooftop or a meal at Mama’s restaurant. Much like its outposts in London, Bordeaux and elsewhere, Mama Shelter is a neighbourhood attraction in its own right.  If the queue’s anything to go by, the rooftop is the place to be at sunset, with an unbeatable view over the city’s

Did you know you can go on safari in Kent? It turns out you can, and it’s actually really, really good. Hundreds of creatures roam the grounds of this 600-acre resort, from Big Five beasts to howler monkeys and bush dogs. Outside of the main wildlife park, safaris trundle guests up the slopes of the reserve to meet giraffes, zebras, rhinos and more. And the whole thing looks out over charming countryside right down to the Kent coast.  While Port Lympne makes for a perfect day trip, an overnight stay is where the magic happens. We camped out in the brand-new Lookout Bubble – and when I say ‘camped’, I mean we slept under the stars in the most luxurious transparent dome you’ve ever seen, complete with a freestanding tub, walk-in shower, seating area, surround sound speakers and a massive, comfy bed. It’s an experience hard to top, waking up to the sounds of animals and getting to explore the reserve before it officially opens for the day (in your very own golf buggy, no less). The Lookout Bubble is right next to the lion’s den, and we were lucky enough to spend an uninterrupted half hour watching the big cats pacing the grounds before anybody else came along.  The bubble’s only downfall? Our stay took place over a warm weekend, and the trapped heat in the dome made spending time inside of it almost unbearable during the day (thank God for the spacious terrace). Conversely, temperatures dropped drastically in the dome when the sun went down, but nothing jumping into bed (or the

Catching sight of My Arbor for the first time is an experience that can’t be overstated. First of all, you’ve already arrived in the impossibly beautiful, straight-from-a-fairytale town of Bressanone, and done the winding drive up green slopes where all you can hear is the faint tinkle of a cowbell. Now you’re in the trees, looking up at a wooden cuboid that seems precariously perched on the skinny trunks of the surrounding pines. My Arbor lives every bit upto its self-billed ‘tree hotel’ title. Inside, you’re hit with a tremendous view over the tree-blanketed South Tyrolean mountains from the hotel restaurant’s sweeping terrace. Above you, thick wooden branches hang like a chandelier. Even the reception desk is made up of two gigantic trunks. Our suite (we stayed in the ‘nest’) is appropriately wood-panelled, with a balcony and window nook overlooking the valley and hills. You could stay in your nook all day watching mountain peaks get swallowed by clouds, but you’re much better off donning your robe and taking the lift down to the spa, where you can drink in all those views from a hydrotherapy infinity pool.  By far the pièce de résistance, Spa Arboris is a maze of pools, saunas, steam rooms and relaxation zones spread across the hotel’s lower levels. After a morning hike (we went alone, but the hotel offers guided hikes, forest bathing and all sorts of other activities to guests), I spent an afternoon cocooned in calm here, swimming the length of the indoor-outdoor heated

It’s fair to expect any spa hotel in Leamington Spa, a Warwickshire town with a long history of harbouring bath houses built around its natural saline springs, to be worth its salt. Nineteenth-century Midlanders in need of some R&R would come to Leamington in search of ‘the cure’ to any number of ailments. Despite rapid development, today the town remains a go-to for weekenders in search of a reviving getaway – and they could do a lot worse than opting for Mallory Court, a palatial yet cosy country manor house and spa on the outskirts of town. Surrounded by endless countryside, we explored the vast grounds before dinner, strolling past manicured lawns, a rose garden bursting with blooms, a chef’s garden full of herbs and vegetables and an apiary. When the British summertime brought its inevitable drizzle, we were relaxing in the heated, bubbling outdoor vitality pool, so no complaints there. Completing the spa’s offerings is a Finnish-style sauna, small but ideal if you manage to get it to yourself or your group. The indoor pool with attached jacuzzi managed to be that perfect, just-right temperature, and felt like silk to swim in. The spa experience fell down for us slightly when we couldn’t get the indoor steam room to be as hot or steamy as we’d have liked, but that could’ve easily been our own oversight.  You’re spoiled for choice when it comes to treatment options. I opted for the full-body exfoliation (perfect) while my guest went for the drift away massage. She spoke a

Já todos sabemos que os Verões estão cada vez mais quentes. E, embora cada vez mais viajantes optem por deixar de lado os clássicos destinos mediterrânicos como Itália e Espanha, preferindo umas férias “frescas” no norte da Europa, muitos continuam com viagens marcadas para zonas que estão agora a escaldar com temperaturas a rondar os 40 °C. Uma onda de calor extrema está a afectar grande parte do sul da Europa, com algumas zonas de Espanha a registarem 46 °C durante o fim-de-semana. Prevê-se que esta semana continue abrasadora – por isso, o que deve fazer se tiver viagem marcada? Pode pedir um reembolso se decidir não viajar? Aqui fica tudo o que tem de saber sobre viajar na Europa durante esta onda de calor de Verão. Que países da Europa estão a atravessar uma onda de calor? Enquanto algumas zonas do Reino Unido chegam aos 33 °C, grande parte do sul da Europa está ainda mais quente. Vários destinos emitiram alertas vermelhos de calor e estes são os locais mais quentes do continente neste momento. EspanhaO sul de Espanha é a região mais afectada, com Sevilha e arredores a registarem temperaturas nos 40 °C médios. FrançaQuase toda a França continental está sob alerta severo de altas temperaturas, que deverá manter-se até ao final da semana. PortugalO IPMA emitiu avisos laranja para oito distritos do continente devido ao calor extremo até terça à noite, e avisos amarelos para quase todo o país até esta quinta-feira, 3 de Julho. Entre as muitas recomendações, a Direção-Geral da

We all know by now that summers are getting hotter every year. And while more and more travellers are choosing to forego classic Mediterranean holiday destinations like Italy, Spain and Portugal, opting instead for a ‘coolcation’ in northern Europe, plenty of holidaymakers will have trips planned to parts of Europe that are currently baking in 40C temperatures.  An extreme heatwave is engulfing much of southern Europe right now, with parts of Spain hitting 46C over the weekend. It’s expected to be sweltering this week – so, what should you do if you have a trip booked? Can you get a refund if you choose not to travel? Here’s the lowdown on travelling in Europe during this summer heatwave. Where in Europe is experiencing a heatwave? While parts of the UK are experiencing highs of 33C, much of southern Europe is boiling in even more extreme temperatures. Several destinations have issued ‘red heat’ alerts – these are the hottest places on the continent right now. Full list of destinations with ‘red heat’ warnings Spain Southern Spain has been the worst-hit region, with Seville and the surrounding area recording highs in the mid-40s. France Almost the entirety of mainland France has been placed under a severe high temperature alert, which is expected to last for the rest of the week. Portugal Portugal’s Directorate-General for Health (DGS) has issued a severe weather warning to citizens, advising that they stay indoors between 11am and 5pm. Italy Over 20 cities in Italy were plac

It’s a tough time to be working in the aviation industry. Faced with staff shortages and huge levels of disruption, many workers at airlines and airports are facing long, stressful hours and poor working conditions. And, thanks to the cost of living crisis, loads of them are doing it all for lower wages, too. Needless to say, it’s no wonder that so many staff at airports and airlines have been going on strike. From Italy and Belgium to Greece and France, airports across Europe have seen thousands of flights delayed and cancelled by industrial action. Strikes can, of course, have a serious impact on your holiday, so it’s best to be as informed about them as possible. Read on for our guide to who’s going on strike in Europe right now, where and when those strikes will happen – and whether you need to worry about them.     French air traffic control strikes Air traffic controllers in France are set to go on strike for two days from July 3-4, with workers citing understaffing and the UNSA-ICNA union citing ‘toxic’ and ‘authoritarian’ management, according to euronews. These strikes will affect flights arriving into and departing from French airports, as well as flights travelling through French airspace. The extent of flight cancellations, delays and diversions is not yet known, but the DGAC has said it will announce how many flights will need to be cancelled in the days leading up to the strikes. The strikes come at one of the busiest times of the year for air travel in the coun

Quem nunca passou por isto, ponha a mão no ar: encontra um voo aparentemente económico para um destino europeu e, no momento de pagar, aparece aquela taxa inesperada (e exorbitante) pela bagagem de mão. Pois bem, parece que esses dias estão prestes a chegar ao fim, já que os legisladores votaram a favor do fim das taxas aplicadas à bagagem de mão nas companhias aéreas que operam na União Europeia. A proposta vai permitir que os passageiros viajem com uma mala de cabine até 7 quilos sem qualquer custo adicional – isto para além da habitual mochila que se pode colocar debaixo do assento. De acordo com o comunicado do Parlamento Europeu, o vice-presidente da Comissão dos Transportes e Turismo, Matteo Ricci, afirmou que esta medida "representa um passo importante rumo a viagens mais justas e transparentes", acrescentando que irá "introduzir medidas concretas, como a definição clara do que constitui bagagem de mão gratuita, até ao tamanho máximo de 100 cm – um direito fundamental que evita custos extra injustificados." Naturalmente, trata-se de uma excelente notícia para os viajantes, mas nem todos estão satisfeitos. A medida deverá ter um impacto significativo nas companhias aéreas de baixo custo – a Ryanair, por exemplo, arrecadou 4,7 mil milhões de euros no último ano em taxas adicionais, como a marcação de assentos e os custos com bagagem. As associações do sector já alertaram que esta decisão poderá levar a um aumento no preço dos bilhetes, de forma a compensar as perdas. No

We’ve all been there – you think you’ve found a decently priced budget flight to a European destination, only to be hit with a huge fee for your overhead bag. Well, it looks like those days are numbered, as lawmakers have just voted to scrap hand luggage fees on airlines across the European Union. The proposal will allow holidaymakers to travel with carry-on luggage up to 7 kilograms with no extra fee – and that’s on top of your under-the-seat backpack, too. According to the European Parliament’s press release, vice-president of the EU Committee on Transport and Tourism Matteo Ricci said the move ‘marks an important step toward fairer and more transparent travel’ and will ‘introduce concrete measures such as the clear definition of free hand luggage up to a maximum size of 100cm, a fundamental right to avoid unjustified extra costs.’ Obviously, this is a massive win for travellers, but not everyone’s happy about it. It’s expected to hit low-cost airlines particularly hard – Ryanair, for example, made €4.7 billion last year from charging extra fees like seat selection and baggage costs. While airline lobbies have warned that the ruling could mean carriers will end up increasing their ticket prices to make up for the costs, the new measure is part of wider reforms proposed by the European Parliament on passenger rights.  Further measures include allowing children under 12 to sit with their accompanying passenger free of charge, granting free seats to carers of people with reduc

Todos hemos pasado por eso: encuentras un vuelo barato a un destino europeo, pero cuando llegas al momento de pagar, te cobran un suplemento exagerado por el equipaje de mano que hace que te vayas cinco días con una mochila del colegio. Pues ahora parece que eso se va a acabar, porque los legisladores acaban de votar a favor de eliminar las tarifas por el equipaje de mano en todas las aerolíneas de la Unión Europea (UE). La propuesta permitirá a los viajeros llevar una pieza de equipaje de mano de hasta siete kilos sin coste adicional –y eso se suma a la mochila o bolso pequeño que puedes llevar debajo del asiento. Según un comunicado de prensa del Parlamento Europeo, el vicepresidente de la Comisión de Transportes y Turismo, Matteo Ricci, ha declarado que esta medida “supone un paso importante hacia un viaje más justo y transparente” y que “introducirá medidas concretas, como la definición clara de equipaje de mano gratuito hasta un tamaño máximo de 100 centímetros, un derecho fundamental para evitar costes adicionales injustificados”. Foto: Shutterstock Esto supone una gran victoria para los viajeros, pero no todo el mundo está contento. Se prevé que afecte especialmente a las aerolíneas de bajo coste –por ejemplo, Ryanair ingresó 4.700 millones de euros en 2024 solo con tarifas adicionales como la selección de asientos o los costes de equipaje. Aunque las asociaciones del sector aéreo han advertido que la normativa podría suponer un aumento en el precio de los billetes p

Reckon you could navigate your way across a huge patch of the planet with no flights, no phones and only around £2,000 between you and your travel companion? While most of us probably fancy our chances when we’re curled up on the sofa, it’s a reality for the five duos competing in the BBC’s fifth series of Race Across The World.  Series one saw participants race from London to Singapore, and series two kicked off in Mexico City and culminated in Ushuaia, Argentina, the world’s southernmost city. Series three was a race across Canada from Vancouver to Newfoundland and Labrador, and series four launched in Japan with the finish line in Indonesia.  So, what about series five? This time the teams will be racing 14,000km across Asia, beginning in China and travelling through Nepal before reaching the finish line in Kanniyakumari, the southernmost point of India, all with the lowest budget in the show’s history – just £1,000 per person.  These are all the locations on Race Across The World series 5 so far Episode one The Great Wall of China  In the first episode of series 5, the race begins at the Great Wall of China, overlooking Huanghuacheng, a village 80km north of Beijing.  Photograph: Shutterstock Beijing China’s sprawling capital city is the first challenge for the racers (no spoilers, but this is where some contestants find themselves stuck). Photograph: Shutterstock Huangling  This village, made up of Hui-style buildings hanging off a hillside, is the first checkpoint

Learning a language – particularly when you’re not living in a country that speaks that language – is no easy feat. But if you’re keen to advance from ‘ciao, come stai?’ to holding an actual conversation, Memrise’s newly launched 30-day challenge might just be the kick up the backside you need. This month, the language-learning app is offering big rewards for one lucky learner: a whopping $1000 (around £735) prize to put their skills to use in a country that speaks the language they’re practicing.  So, how does it work? To enter, users will need to download or update the Memrise app and look out for the in-app prompt to join the challenge. Then they’ll need to commit to 30 days of daily learning – no days off. You’ll need to prove you’ve been practicing on the app daily, via screenshot, to be in with a chance of winning. The idea is to help users develop a daily language-learning habit, which could then be put to use IRL in a country that speaks that language. Picture it now: one day you’re learning French grammar rules on your sofa, the next you’re confidently ordering a meal in a Parisian bistro (and, hopefully, not getting scoffed at by your waiter). The challenge kicked off on June 2, but users can register until Friday, June 6 to be in with a chance of winning. The lucky winner will be selected and random and notified via email on July 7. For more information, head to Memrise’s website. Bonne chance! Did you see that road-tripping on this European island just got a whole

We know a thing or two about good pizza at Time Out. In March, we released our global guide to the world’s best pizzas, where you’ll find everything from a classic Neapolitan margherita in Naples to porteño-style pies in Buenos Aires. But we’re not the only ones chewing and cheese-pulling away to determine the planet’s tastiest pies. 50 Top Pizza is an influential industry guide that produces several annual pizzeria rankings – and they’ve just dropped their latest list of the greatest pizzerias in Europe.  Number one on the list for 2025 is Napoli on the Road, a London-based pizzeria with branches in Chiswick and Richmond. It’s the second year in a row the restaurant, opened by Italian-born pizza chef Michele Pascarella, has claimed the prize. Baldoria in Madrid came second on 50 Top Pizza’s ranking. Its signature Búfala Fest pizza featured on our own list, with Time Out Madrid’s editor Gorka Elorrieta calling it ‘a delightful surprise for cheese lovers’.   In third place was a tie between Sartoria Panatieri in Barcelona and Via Toledo in Vienna – though the most represented city overall was none other than Paris. If you’re wondering where on earth Italy is in all of this, rest assured the pizza motherland has its own dedicated ranking, the winners of which will be announced on July 15 in Milan. Here’s the full list of Europe’s best pizzerias in 2025 1. Napoli on the Road – London, England 2. Baldoria – Madrid, Spain =3. Sartoria Panatieri – Barcelona, Spain =3. Via Toledo

Et si on oubliait Lisbonne, Rome et les Cyclades cet été ? À l’été 2024, Marseille a concentré tous les regards, et tous les flux. Sur les réseaux, la cité phocéenne défilait en boucle : bacs de vinyles, eaux turquoise des Calanques, fresques du Cours Julien… Même les chiens semblaient avoir adopté la tendance. Deux ans plus tôt, c’est l’Albanie qui créait la surprise : ses plages discrètes et ses festivals en plein essor lui avaient valu le surnom de « nouvelle Croatie ». Alors, quelle destination s’imposera comme le point de chute incontournable de l’été 2025 ? Les journalistes voyage de Time Out avancent quelques pistes. De la Belgique arty à l’Italie alpine, tour d’horizon des lieux qui risquent bien de coloniser vos fils cet été. Nos paris pour l’été 2025 : entre brutalisme, bikinis et bocaux de Spritz Anvers, d’abord. La ville belge s’affiche de plus en plus sur les réseaux sociaux. « Entre ses boulangeries design, ses bars à bières artisanales et vins nature, ses friperies pleines de pépites et ses lieux d’art comme le MAS ou le Musée d’Art Contemporain, Anvers pourrait bien être la réponse 2025 à Copenhague ou Berlin », observe Liv Kelly, journaliste voyage pour Time Out. Photo de Ernest Ojeh sur Unsplash Dans les Balkans, la tendance s’éloigne des plages au profit des villes de l’intérieur. « Le hype se déplace vers le Kosovo, Tirana ou Skopje – cette dernière étant un véritable paradis pour les amateurs de brutalisme », analyse Ed Cunningham, rédacteu

There are many different ways to ‘do’ Ibiza. But if you want to do it all – the superclubs, the quiet beaches, the hippie campsites – your best bet is to rent a vehicle and explore the island at your own leisure.  Car and campervan hire is a hugely popular way to explore Ibiza, but that popularity comes at a price. In the peak summer months, the island is blighted by traffic and congestion, making it hard for locals to get around. So, the government has decided to do something about it.  That’s right: it’ll now be a lot more difficult to road-trip around the White Isle this summer, as Ibiza is introducing strict new rules to limit the number of tourist vehicles on its roads. The daily number of vehicles used by non-residents will be capped at 20,168 from June 1 until the end of September. Around 16,000 permits will be reserved for rental cars, while just over 4,000 permits will be allocated to visitors bringing their cars onto the island via ferry.  Those wanting to drive their own vehicle on the island will need to apply for a permit ahead of time, according to The Independent, and permits will cost €1 per day. Caravans are also included in the restrictions. Though wild camping is already illegal on Ibiza, those wishing to bring or hire a caravan will now need to show proof that they’ve booked a spot at a designated campsite. So, why is this happening now? As you might expect, the move is one of many new measures to curb the impact of overtourism. The number of cars on Ibiza

We’ve all got preferences when it comes to hotels – city centre versus country bolthole; sleek and modern versus rustic and homely – but chances are you wouldn’t pass up the opportunity to stay at any one of the 10 super-luxe properties just named the world’s ‘finest’ by hospitality guide La Liste. The French guide is known for its culinary rankings, producing an annual list of the 1,000 best restaurants on the planet. Now, La Liste is using its same algorithm-based approach – which aggregates thousands of critical reviews, professional judgements and guest feedback – to award the world’s most exceptional places to stay. So, based on all that data, which hotels received the accolade this year? Six hotels in Europe, two in Asia, and two in the Americas made the 2025 list, with London and Paris boasting two hotels each. In London, the Grade II-listed Savoy and The Connaught, known for its butler service, were recognised by the ranking, while La Réserve and Cheval Blanc repped the French capital. Recommended: These are the best luxury hotels in Paris in 2025 Over in Asia, Mandarin Oriental Bangkok and The Peninsula Shanghai were included, while The Peninsula Chicago was the only hotel in the US to make the list.  ‘Our algorithm doesn’t lie: these establishments truly represent the pinnacle of global hospitality,’ said La Liste’s founder Philippe Faure. ‘Each transcends the simple concept of accommodation to offer a transformative experience to its guests.’  Here’s the full list